Sac-Joaquin Section high school football rankings: Folsom headlines preseason MaxPreps Top 25

By Steve Montoya Aug 15, 2022, 11:30am

After a state title appearance in 2021, Bulldogs reload with talent in hopes of another deep postseason run.

The Friday Night Lights will soon be on around the Sac-Joaquin Section beginning on Friday as the 2022 high school football season kicks off. A total of 75 games will take place, which includes 23 of the section's preseason Top 25 ranked teams.

Folsom starts another year off in the No. 2 spot as the Bulldogs look to win their seventh Division 1 section title in the past nine seasons. Coach Paul Doherty's squad is loaded with talent once again including four-star Notre Dame commit Rico Flores Jr. and Stanford commit Walker Lyons.

In addition to Folsom, the Sierra Foothill League (SFL) features six teams in the Top 25, including No. 3 Rocklin.

Central Catholic (Modesto) of the Valley Oak League (VOL) is no stranger to winning with a section-best 20 titles capped off by last year's 43-22 win over Monterey Trail in the Division II championship. The Raiders start the season in the two-spot as they return junior QB Tyler Wentworth and plenty more firepower.

Like the SFL, the VOL is loaded. Manteca returns one of the top players in the section in four-star do-it-all player Blake Nichelson. The Buffaloes start at No. 5. Oakdale is always a team to watch with Coach Merzon at the helm. The Mustangs begin at No. 8.
Folsom starts out the 2022 season as the No. 1 team in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
Folsom starts out the 2022 season as the No. 1 team in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
Photo: Patrick Pallari
Preseason Sac-Joaquin Section MaxPreps Top 25



1. Folsom, 11-4 in 2021
3. Rocklin, 12-1
5. Manteca, 10-4
8. Oakdale, 9-3
9. Escalon, 12-2
10. Granite Bay, 8-3
17. Antelope, 10-1
19. Merced, 9-4
22. Vacaville, 8-3
23. Yuba City, 7-4
24. Lodi, 8-4