MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 high school football rankings

The showdown between the Sac-Joaquin Section's top two teams offered atmosphere, fireworks and sportsmanship.

Top-ranked Folsom beat previous No. 2 Granite Bay 30-14. Other section showdowns included new No. 4 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) beating previous No. 9 Burbank (Sacramento) 14-12 and the Holy Bowl of No. 2 St. Mary's (Stockton) beating previous No. 13 Central Catholic (Modesto) 47-27.

MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Football Rankings



1. (Last week 1) Folsom 2-0
The Bulldogs beat previous No. 3 Granite Bay 30-14 in a showdown of the Sac-Joaquin Section's top two teams from the end of last season and this early season. Jake Browning passed for 220 yards and two touchdowns in again receiving superb protection from his line, and Bailey Laolagi rushed for 106 yards and a score. The Bulldogs are not just a pass-heavy team. They can run, rushing for 186 yards against a stout Granite Bay D.
Next: vs. No. 17 Roseville, Friday

2. (4) St. Mary's (Stockton) 2-0
The Rams belted rival and previous No. 13 Central Catholic (Modesto) 47-27 as Kaleb Parrish completed 9 of 11 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns, two to Jaelin Ratliff, and Marcus Lomas rushed for 157 yards and two scores in an impressive showing against the defending State D-III champions. Next is the four-time defending Open state champions in De La Salle, a year after a very competitive showing.
Next: vs. NorCal No. 1 De La Salle (Concord), Friday

3. (5) Elk Grove 2-0
The Thundering Herd, ranked second in the Sacramento region by The Sacramento Bee behind Folsom, rolled Foothill (Palo Cedro) of the Northern Section 60-7 behind three-year starters Tommy Arnold and Wadus Parker. Arnold completed all seven of his passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns to Shaunard Harts.
Next: vs. No. 22 Del Campo (Fair Oaks), Saturday

4. (6) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 2-0
Depth is a sign of a championship team, and the Eagles have some. Backup RB Demaree Morris rushed 31 times for 105 yards and a score, Deaundre Terrell ran for a score and the defense headed by LB Ennis Mayberry (13 tackles) was superb against a superb foe in exacting a measure of revenge with a 14-12 victory over Burbank (Sacramento). Burbank beat Pleasant Grove twice last season, including the playoffs.
Next: at Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday

5. (8) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 2-0
The Trojans beat Rocklin 23-21 in a thriller as sophomore QB Ian Book continued to sparkle, passing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Wellman ran for 72 yards and Drew Lackowski and Thomas Mahlman each had interceptions.
Next: at No. 14 Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday

6. (12) Grant (Sacramento) 2-0
The Pacers, looking strong in the early going, belted longtime rival Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 46-6 behind QB Donovan Brown (two touchdowns) and a punishing ground game headed by Deandre Whittington-Grays. The defense allowed less than 100 yards of offense. Next is one of the fun rivalry games within the Sac-Joaquin Section in rival Burbank (Sacramento).
Next: vs. No. 8 Burbank (Sacramento), Friday



7. (2) Granite Bay 0-1
The Grizzlies fell to Folsom, 30-14, in the most anticipated showdown within the Sac-Joaquin Section. Four turnovers stung, but the potential is there to make a run as Division I champions with emerging QB Josh Neal, Fly back blur Tony Ellison and a defense headed by LB Cameron Smith. Now it's All-American RB Joe Mixon on the immediate radar.
Next: vs. Freedom (Oakley), Friday

8. (9) Burbank (Sacramento) 1-1
The Titans have all the ingredients to make a run to a D-I championship run, but special teams have to improve, and point-after-touchdowns proved fatal in a 14-12 loss to Pleasant Grove. The next test is just as formidable. DT Ngalu Tapa is off to a good start.
Next: at No. 6 Grant (Sacramento), Friday

9. (14) Vacaville 1-0
The Bulldogs beat Valley Christian (San Jose) 20-17 with Chad Hekking passing for two touchdowns in the final eight minutes and also unleashing some timely punts. His go-ahead touchdown of 16 yards to David Mewborn was the difference. Mewborn had 133 yards rushing.
Next: at Lincoln (Stockton), Friday

10. (3) Del Oro (Loomis) 1-1
The Golden Eagles fell 41-24 to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in Oceanside in the Honor Bowl to honor Wounded Warriors, the highlights including Tyler Meteer catching two touchdowns from Michael Moore. The bad news was RB Tevon Rhyne going down with a dislocated ankle after rushing for 76 yards.
Next: at NorCal No. 1 De La Salle (Concord), Sept. 20

11. (10) Merced 2-0
The Bears rolled Downey (Modesto) 43-6 as Tyrone Williams passed for 248 yards in the first half and a touchdown and scored on two 1-yard runs. Merced squeaked out a 40-39 win over Clovis West (Fresno) in an opener.
Next: vs. Edison (Fresno), Friday

12. (13) Inderkum (Sacramento) 2-0
The Tigers ran the wing-T and spread to the tune of 444 yards on 44 carries in beating Bethel (Vallejo) 48-14. Tyler Dean rushed for 170 yards and a score and Terrence White went for 114 and three. White also caught a touchdown.
Next: at Casa Roble (Orangevale), Friday

13. (7) Central Catholic (Modesto) 1-1
The Raiders lost the annual Holy Bowl to new No. 2 St. Mary's, 47-27, a year after prevailing in this great rivalry, en route to a CIF State D-III championship. Matt Ringer rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and Reggie Bland went for 57 and two.
Next: vs. McClymonds (Oakland), Friday

14. (15) Franklin (Elk Grove) 2-0
The Wildcats steamed Tracy 45-14 with Lamar Jackson again sparkling at QB with three more touchdowns and Joey Banks playing double duty at RB and LB. The downer was losing WR Brandon Johnson, son of coach Mike Johnson, for the season.
Next: vs. No. 5 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Friday

15. (11) Rocklin 0-2
The Thunder have close losses of 28-14 to Pleasant Grove and 23-21 to Oak Ridge, so they remain in these rankings for such ambitious scheduling. QB Logan Webb had two touchdown passes against Oak Ridge.
Next: vs. Whitney (Rocklin), Friday



16. (16) Los Banos 2-0
The Tigers rolled Roosevelt (Fresno), 47-21, with more strong running and defense under coach Dustin Caropreso.
Next: vs. Manteca, Friday

17. (19) Roseville 2-0
The Tigers went 2-8 last season and are well past that pace now with spirited wins over previous No. 17 Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) and previous No. 18 Rio Linda. The Rio Linda win was secured when Matt Razzano blocked a game-winning field goal attempt and it was returned for a touchdown by Jake Vaughn as time ran out.
Next: at No. 1 Folsom, Friday.

18. (18) Rio Linda 1-1
The Knights lost a crusher at Roseville when a game-winning field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. RB Marcel Brown did not play due to a disciplinary measure.
Next: vs. No. 21 Antelope, Friday

19. (20) Center (Antelope) 2-0
The Cougars are surging behind RB Joe Swen, who rushed for three touchdowns to beat Chico of the Northern Section, 20-18.
Next: vs. River Valley (Yuba City), Friday

20. (NR) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 1-1
The Mustangs rolled previous No. 17 Antelope 32-21 with Trey Nahhas rushing for 150 yards and three touchdowns and QB Donovan Robinson running the veer. Paul Gooden had 18 tackles.
Next: vs. Valley (Sacramento), Friday

21. (17) Antelope 1-1
The Titans opened with a 14-7 victory over Del Campo (Fair Oaks) before falling to Monterey Trail, 32-21, despite Mister Harriel rushing for 120 yards and three touchdowns and Titus Vinson rushing for 128.
Next: at No. 18 Rio Linda, Friday

22. (21) Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 1-1
The Cougars have a 14-7 loss to Antelope and rolled Fairfield, 55-12, with the return of RB Austin Brown, who rushed for three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 84 yards for a score. The real test looms.
Next: at No. 3 Elk Grove, Saturday



23. (NR) Modesto 2-0
The Panthers can score, no doubt, dropping a 74-41 rout on Ceres and then a 36-32 shootout victory over previously ranked Stagg (Stockton) behind leaders T.J. Wolf, Lesean Collins and Caleb Sexson.
Next: vs. Pitman (Turlock), Thursday

24. (24) Napa 1-1
After opening with a loss to Burbank, the Indians beat Paradise of the Northern Section, 42-21, behind RB Derek Poteet, who rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns on just five caries. Napa trailed four times before surging ahead.
Next: vs. Casa Grande (Petaluma), Saturday

(TIE) 25. (25) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 1-1
The Wolfpack got back on track after opening with a 23-7 loss at Roseville, beating Sacramento 24-13. Alex Kropp hit Alex Van Dyke Jr. for a touchdown with Cal coaches in attendance.
Next: vs. No. 14 Franklin (Elk Grove), Sept. 20

(TIE) 25. (25) Vista del Lago (Folsom) 1-1
The Eagles roared back from their opening-night 38-0 loss to Oak Ridge by destroying Highlands 76-0 in a clear mismatch against a small school. It was 41-0 after the first quarter and 62-0 at the half as Matt Jimison tossed seven touchdown passes, four to Brad Rittenhouse, and Josh Pfeffer ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Next: at Laguna Creek (Elk Grove), Friday

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.