MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Football Rankings

There were no upsets of note in the Sac-Joaquin Section football playoffs with higher seeds mostly holding serve (12-seed Monterey Trail did beat 5-seed Cosumnes Oaks 29-28 in a battle of Elk Grove Unified School District teams).

The games expect to get a bit tighter now.

See the complete Sac-Joaquin Section football playoff brackets


1. Folsom (last week: 1) 11-0
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Bulldogs rolled Stagg (Stockton 70-14) in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as Jake Browning tossed a national-record tying eight first-half touchdowns before sitting the rest of the game. Josiah Deguara had four touchdown receptions and Sam Whittingham returned an interception 25 yards for a score as the Bulldogs extended their section playoff winning streak to nine. The last two losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle to cap 14-1 seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Next: vs. No. 18 Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday.



2. Grant (Sacramento) (2) 11-0
League: Delta
Result: The Pacers beat Patterson 45-23 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Deshawn Collins rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns. The Pacers had 11 sacks and three interceptions.
Next: vs. No. 17 Downey (Modesto), Friday.

3. Jesuit (Carmichael) (3) 9-2
League: Delta
Result: The Marauders beat Gregori (Modesto) 27-0 as Beau Bisharat rushed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the defense bounced back big after getting belted by No. 2 Grant 52-14 for the Delta League championship. The other loss was an opener to De La Salle. An earlier win was 42-38 over No. 4 Elk Grove.
Next: vs. No. 21 Tracy, Saturday.

4. Elk Grove (4) 9-2
League: Delta
Result: The Thundering Herd rolled Vintage (Napa) 69-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Eltoro Allen rushed for 205 yards on five carries and two scores and Manny Scott-Anderson ran for 71 and two scores. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The losses were to No. 2 Grant 26-19 and to No. 3 Jesuit 42-38.
Next: vs. No. 24 Wood (Vacaville), Friday.

5. St. Mary's (Stockton) (5) 10-1
League: Tri-City
Result: The Rams beat River Valley (Yuba City) 55-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Noah Righetti passed for five touchdowns. An earlier win includes NorCal ranked Los Gatos and No. 15 Central Catholic.
Next: vs. No. 12 Rocklin, Friday.

6. Merced (6) 9-2
League: Central California
Result: The Modesto Bee's top-ranked team rolled Tokay 66-27 with offensive balance in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener. The losses were to Fresno powers Edison and Clovis West.
Next: vs. No. 19 Monterey Trail, Friday.

7. Inderkum (Sacramento) (7) 10-1
League: Tri-County
Result: The Tigers rolled Valley (Sacramento) 60-8 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener as Larry Hardy and Austin Thurman combined for five touchdowns. The loss was to then higher-ranked Monterey Trail when a last-play field goal missed.
Next: vs. No. 25 Benicia, Friday.



8. Napa (8) 9-2
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Indians beat once-ranked Pitman (Turlock) 39-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener with offensive balance. An earlier win was over No. 9 Vacaville 26-14.
Next: at No. 11 Granite Bay, Friday.

9. Vacaville (9) 9-2
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Bulldogs beat Yuba City 42-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener behind veteran quarterback Chad Hekking. An earlier loss was 26-14 to No. 8 Napa with an early 13-7 win over No. 11 Granite Bay.
Next: vs. No. 10 Del Oro, Friday.

10. Del Oro (Loomis) (10) 6-5
Result: The defending champion Golden Eagles beat Roseville 14-6 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener on touchdown runs by Dalton Gee and Logan Hurst and two interceptions by Ben Hart. The losses included De La Salle and Folsom.
Next: vs. No. 9 Vacaville, Friday.

11. Granite Bay (11) 8-3
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Grizzlies beat Chavez (Stockton) 63-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as Justin Yeaton tossed two touchdown passes and Ben Smith ran for two in storming to a 56-0 halftime lead. The losses were to No. 1 Folsom, No. 9 Vacaville and No. 10 Del Oro.
Next: vs. No. 8 Napa, Friday.

12. Rocklin (12) 9-2
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Thunder beat Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 35-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as William Floyd tossed two touchdowns and Evyn Holtz ran for two. The losses are to No. 1 Folsom and No. 11 Granite Bay.
Next: vs. No. 5 St. Mary's, Friday.

13. Oakdale (13) 10-1
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Mustangs rolled Pacheco (Los Banos) 50-8 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener by rushing 59 times for 590 yards and seven touchdowns with Frankie Trent going for 117 and four. The loss was to No. 14 Sierra when Oakdale had two turnovers inside the 10.
Next: vs. No. 22 Vista del Lago (Folsom), Friday.



14. Sierra (Manteca) (14) 10-1
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Timberwolves rolled Rosemont (Sacramento) 69-37 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener as Mark Paule Jr. and company ran wild. The loss was to No. 16 Manteca 34-20. An earlier win was over No. 13 Oakdale.
Next: vs. No. 23 Rio Linda, Friday.

15. Central Catholic (Modesto) (15) 8-3
League: Valley Oak
Result: The two-time defending CIF State Division IV champion Raiders beat Natomas (Sacramento) 63-10 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV opener as Justin Rice rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns. The losses were to No. 6 St. Mary's 18-13, No. 14 Sierra 17-14 and to No. 13 Oakdale 48-28.
Next: vs. Escalon, Friday.

16. Manteca (16) 9-2
League: Valley Oak
Result: The defending champion Buffaloes beat Vanden 49-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener with a punishing ground attack. The losses were to No. 13 Oakdale and No. 15 Central Catholic.
Next: vs. No. 20 Sacramento, Friday.

17. Downey (Modesto) (17) 10-1
League: Modesto Metro
Result: The Knights edged Antelope 20-19 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener in rallying from a 13-point deficit at the half as Paul Wilson hit Jeffry Jones for two touchdowns. The loss was 36-33 early to Pitman (Turlock).
Next: at No. 2 Grant, Friday.

18. Franklin (Elk Grove) (19) 7-4
League: Delta
Result: The Wildcats beat previous No. 18 Modesto 24-10 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener behind Lamar Jackson and Jacob Lopez. The losses were to No. 3 Jesuit, No. 4 Elk Grove and NorCal-ranked Bellarmine (San Jose).
Next: at No. 1 Folsom, Friday.

19. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) (21) 7-4
League: Delta
Result: The Mustangs beat previous No. 19 Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 29-28 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as Trey Nahhas rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and E.J. Viacrusis ran for a score and passed for one. The losses were to No. 2 Grant, No. 3 Jesuit (28-21) and No. 4 Elk Grove (34-27).
Next: At No. 6 Merced, Friday.



20. Sacramento (23) 9-2
League: Metropolitan
Result: The Dragons rolled Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 40-0 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener as Caden Voges accounted for five touchdowns and Kyron Basped dominated as a receiver and on special teams. A loss included No. 12 Rocklin.
Next: at No. 16 Manteca, Friday.

21. Tracy (24) 8-3
League: Tri-City Athletic
Result: The Bulldogs beat Turlock 21-19 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as a late 2-point conversion came up short for Turlock. Nate Jones rushed for 124 yards and two scores. The losses were to No. 6 St. Mary's and Bay Area powers Freedom (Oakley) 14-6 and Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) 14-7.
Next: at No. 3 Jesuit, Saturday.

22. Vista del Lago (Folsom) (25) 8-3
League: Capital Athletic
Result: The Eagles rallied to beat American Canyon 42-28 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener as Colby Carrera rushed for five touchdowns and Matt Jimison maintained balance with deft passing to extend the winning streak to eight.
Next: at No. 13 Oakdale, Friday.

23. Rio Linda (NR) 9-2
League: Tri-County
Result: Beat Placer (Auburn) 61-52 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener in rallying from 25 down in the first half. Marcel Brown had one of the greatest playoff outings in section history with 330 yards rushing and six touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return.
Next: at No. 14 Sierra, Friday.

24. Wood (Vacaville) 8-3
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Wildcats beat previously ranked Burbank (Sacramento) 34-33 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener with a late touchdown and 2-point conversion for the program's second playoff win.
Next: at No. 4 Elk Grove, Friday.

25. Benicia (NR) 7-4
League: Solano County Athletic
Result: Beat 10-0 El Dorado (Placerville) 45-27 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener behind quarterback Riley Pitkin and running back Tristen Batten.
Next: at No. 7 Inderkum, Friday.

The Sacramento Bee sizes up the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, from favorites, to contenders, to dark horses



The Sacramento Bee Preps TV Show previews top teams and players in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs

The Sacramento Bee on how great Folsom quarterback Jake Browning has been, amid humility, and how he rates among all-time greats

The Sacramento Bee on how an upstart rolled a rival, and how a visiting team was caught stealing from the host team before kickoff

The Sacramento Bee on a coach who lasted three weeks at a section powerhouse, was let go and re-emerged

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.sacbee.com/preps. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty The Bee Preps Show that runs throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet California.