Not including De La Salle, a pair of defending state champions — Bishop O'Dowd and Campolindo — lead NCS teams. Don't count out California, Pittsburg and Marin Catholic #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area - Rancho Cotate at Bishop O'Dowd
See highlights from the Dragons' big game last season.MaxPreps 2017 CIF North Coast Section Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
Note: De La Salle (Concord) was not eligible for this list
because they were part of California's overall Top 5 list.
1. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland)2016 record: 15-1
Head coach: Napoleon Kaufman
Known largely as a basketball school, O'Dowd took football to another level last year while winning the CIF State Division 5-AA title.
The Dragons return 13 starters, including Oregon-bound receiver and defensive back
Jevon Holland (6-foot-2, 190 pounds), third-year starting running back
Austin Jones (5-11, 190), a junior, and Cal-bound offensive lineman
Miles Owens (6-7, 310).
Another top prospect is
Quinn Brinnon (6-0, 180) for coach Kaufman, an All-American running back at Washington and starter for the Oakland Raiders.
See the MaxPreps California Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Pittsburg2016 record: 9-2
Head coach: Victor Galli
After winning 10 games three straight seasons, the Pirates fell just short last season in the NCS' new Open Division format. Galli returns a boatload of skill players, but lost five starting offensive linemen.
Their top returner is actually a junior in defensive tackle
Jacob Bandes (6-2, 275), one of the top juniors in the state.
Other top players include wide receivers
A'Jae Boyd, junior quarterback
Trey Turner and defensive end
Michael Pryor. The Pirates open at nationally ranked Centennial (Corona) in an ambitious Aug. 25 tilt.
See the MaxPreps California football stat leaders3. Campolindo (Moraga)2016 record: 12-3
Head coach: Kevin Macy
The defending state Division 4-AA champions put together a fantastic late-season run to win the school's second state title.
The Cougars return just seven starters, but one of them is quarterback-free safety
John Torchio, one of Northern California's top athletes. The 6-1, 180-pounder is the son of a former college quarterback at Cal and last year he had 10 interceptions at safety.
Other top returners are lineman
Chris Brahney (5-9, 210) and receiver-defensive back
Vincent Mossotti (6-0, 180). Macy has guided Campolindo to a record of 137-42 since 2003, including 77-9 since 2011.
See the MaxPreps California football playoff brackets
4. Marin Catholic (Kentfield)2016 record: 11-3
Head coach: Mazi Moayed
Spencer Petras (4), Marin Catholic
File photo by Greg Jungferman
The
Wildcats return just seven starters from last year's squad, but one of
them is the Bay Area's top-rated quarterback, Oregon State-bound
Spencer Petras (6-5, 225), who threw for 3,032 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2016.
Other top recruits are linebacker and fullback
Mack Roesner (6-2, 220) and receiver/free safety
Peter Brown (6-2, 190).
The
Wildcats, winners of 97 games over the last eight seasons, will find
out just where they stand in a Week 1 home tussle with Campolindo.
See the MaxPreps California football photo galleries
5. California (San Ramon)2016 record: 9-3
Head coach: Eric Billeci
The Grizzlies return one of Northern California's most efficient quarterbacks in
Ryan Wright (6-3, 225), who threw just 168 passes, but completed 103 for 1,806 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Running back
Hugh Savage rushed for 435 yards and four scores in limited duty and the defense was led by defensive end
Evan Potter (6-3, 190), who had 83 tackles.
The Grizzlies play in one of the region's best leagues, the East Bay Athletic League, and have gone 70-31 since Billeci took over in 2009.
