MaxPreps 2017 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Dusty Frampton's highlights Cathedral Catholic High School
See the Rams' premiere back running in last season's state title game.


1. St. Mary's (Stockton)
2016 record: 14-2
Head coach: Tony Franks

The Rams have some unfinished business to take care of in 2017. Namely, finish off the season with a state title.

Last year, St. Mary's looked to have the CIF State Division 1-AA title in control, but dropped a wild 38-35 game to Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).

With eight starters back, including perhaps the section's top running back Dusty Frampton (2,345 rushing yards, 42 touchdowns), St. Mary's looks primed for another big season.



Other top returners are senior wide receiver/free safety Tre Jenkins (6-1, 195), senior receiver and cornerback Marcus Aponte (6-0, 185), and senior offensive tackle Max Barth (6-6, 285), who has nine college offers including Oregon, UCLA and Cal. Surprisingly, Frampton (5-11, 213) doesn't have a college offer.

Franks has once again scheduled ambitiously with a nonleague game against NorCal champion Serra (San Mateo) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana), the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

See the MaxPreps CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Folsom
2016 record: 12-2
Head coach: Kris Richardson

The Bulldogs return 13 starters from last year's squad and bring in plenty of talent from an 8-2 junior varsity team.

The team's top returners are junior wide receiver/defensive back Joe Ngata (6-3, 190), senior running back Brandon Rupchock (5-9, 170) and senior two-way lineman Noah Lunday (6-1, 255).



Richardson likes what he sees from the skill spots and feels good about the Bulldogs' depth. But inexperience at quarterback is a concern. Rarely has that position faltered with alums such as Heisman Trophy co-favorite Jake Browning and former MaxPreps National Player of the Year Dano Graves.

Folsom always finds a quarterback and this season it will be Kaiden Bennett.

See the MaxPreps CIF Sac-Joaquin Section football stat leaders

3. Granite Bay
2016 record: 4-7
Head coach: Jeff Evans

The Grizzlies struggled last year, but with 15 returning starters and a 9-1 junior varsity team along with some FBS recruits, they should return to the form that won them a state championship in 2012.

Will Craig, a 6-5, 275-pound tackle, has 10 college offers but has committed to Cal. He picked the Bears over Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, Notre Dame, UCLA and Washington among others.



Senior running back and outside linebacker Evan Tattersall (6-2, 225) has offers from Cal, Oregon, Washington State, Colorado and all the Mountain West and Ivy League schools.

Other top players include senior tight end/defensive end Ryan Smith (6-7, 210), two-way lineman Nathan Lee (6-2, 240), quarterback Jade Foddrill (6-0, 170) and tight end/linebacker Jack Powers (6-2, 210).

See the MaxPreps CIF Sac-Joaquin Section football playoff brackets

4. Manteca
2016 record: 12-2
Head coach: Eric Reis

The Buffaloes return a whopping 15 starters from last year's team and also will gain plenty of talent from a 9-1 junior varsity squad.

The defending section champs feature a stellar senior class, led by two-way lineman Justin Kakala (6-5, 275), who has an offer from Cal but has committed to Harvard. He's ranked the 125th top recruit in the state.



Other top returners are quarterback/defensive back Gino Campiotti (6-3, 195) and running back/inside linebacker Ferrin Manuleleua (6-0, 225).

See the MaxPreps CIF Sac-Joaquin Section football photo galleries

5. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
2016 record: 10-3
Head coach: Eric Cavaliere

Oak Ridge returns dynamic senior quarterback Marco Baldacchino, who last year passed for 1,841 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 991 yards and 17 more scores.

The swift 6-foot, 170-pounder rushed for a season-high 171 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-28 SJS playoff win over Cosumnes Oaks.

Baldacchino will no doubt connect with his favorite target from last season, 6-foot, 180-pound senior Justin Poerio, who had 41 catches for 558 yards.

The team's top tackler, linebacker Nate Otto (6-1, 205) also returns. He had 141 tackles last season.