De La Salle, Central, Serra, Oak Ridge head MaxPreps NorCal Top 25 high school football rankings

1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Update: The Spartans rolled Pittsburg 49-7 for the program's 28th consecutive section banner, doing so against the last program to beat the Spartans way back in 1991. De La Salle's unbeaten streak against NorCal teams north of Fresno is 310 (with two ties). The Spartans are 395-5-2 against NorCal opponents since 1984. They now advance to the CIF State Open Division finals against national No. 1 Bosco. DLS has been to a record 14 successive CIF State finals (those games started in 2006) and 12 in succession in the elite Open Division.
Next: vs. Bosco, Dec. 14

2. (2) Central (Fresno), 13-0
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Coach: Kyle Biggs
Update: The Grizzlies beat Buchanan 28-21 to win the Central Section Division I title and return to the CIF NorCal Division I-AA title game for the third successive season, losing the previous two meetings against Folsom, a rival of its next opponent in Oak Ridge. Central went 13-1 last season, 12-2 in 2017 and 11-2 in 2016.
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Friday

3. (3) Serra (San Mateo), 12-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Update: Two time CIF Northern California winners in recent years, Serra beat league rival Valley Christian 17-0 to win the CCS Division I title. Serra won the first meeting between the teams 10-0. Serra advanced to the NorCal Division I-A final against Memorial of Fresno. Serra's best teams in recent years include the 13-2 team of 2017, the 10-5 group of 2015, the 11-3 team of 2013 and the 11-2 team of 2011.
Next: vs. Memorial, Saturday

4. (9) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 11-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Update: The Trojans beat Monterey Trail 35-27 in the SJS Division I finals as Justin Lamson rushed for three scores and passed for one in beating the team that eliminated Folsom. Oak Ridge landed in the NorCal Division I-AA slot that Folsom had been in each of the previous two seasons, beating Central both times. That's who Oak Ridge has next.
Next: vs. Central, Friday

5. (NR) San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 12-1
Section: Central
League: County/Metro
Coach: Anthony Goston
Update: The Panthers are now in these rankings after the CIF NorCal selection committee placed the program into the NorCal bracket. Memorial beat Tulare Western to win the Central Section Division II title to reach the NorCal Division I-A final against Serra in what should be a great game. Jordan Hornbeak has rushed for 1,569 yards and 17 touchdowns for Memorial, which went 14-1 a year ago and 11-3 the season before.
Next: vs. Serra, Saturday



6. (6) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 12-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: TJ Ewing
Update: The Mustangs lost to Oak Ridge in the SJS Division I finals 35-27 despite a four-touchdown show by Prophet Brown a week after eliminating seven-time champion Folsom.
Next: Season complete

7. (7) Folsom, (10-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Doherty
Update: The CIF State Division I-AA champions in 2017 and 2018, Bulldogs lost to Monterey Trail 35-23 in a D-I semifinal, undone by ball control and by having 10 snaps in the second half. The other loss this season was 42-27 to De La Salle. Folsom's lone loss last season was to De La Salle. Folsom went 136-12 this decade with four CIF State banners, seven section titles and nine league titles.
Next: Season complete

8. (4) Valley Christian (San Jose), 11-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Update: The 2018 CCS Open Division II champions lost to league rival Serra 17-0 in the CCS Division I finals, weeks after falling to the same team 10-0.
Next: Season complete

9. (5) Pittsburg 11-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Update: The Pirates lost to De La Salle 49-7 in the NCS Division I finals a week after beating Liberty 21-14. The other loss this season was to Serra. Pittsburg is the last NorCal program to defeat De La Salle, doing so in the 1991 North Coast Section finals.
Next: Season complete

10. (9) Liberty (Brentwood), 10-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Ryan Partridge
Update: The 2018 CIF State 1-A champion Lions lost 21-14 to Pittsburg in an NCS D-I semifinal, the second time this season Liberty fell to Pitt. Early Liberty wins included teams still alive in Cardinal Newman, Clayton Valley Charter and Oakdale.
Next: Season complete

11. (10) Inderkum (Sacramento), 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Terry Stark
Update: The Tigers lost to Oak Ridge 56-21 in an SJS D-I semifinal, losing steam after it was 28-21. Inderkum has gone 34-3 the last three seasons. An early big win was over Elk Grove, which is in the D-II section finals.
Next: Season complete



12. (11) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 12-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Update: The Cardinals beat Marin Catholic 13-10 in the NCS D-4 finals and play Los Gatos in the NorCal Division 3-AA finals. The loss this season was 17-13 to Liberty. The lone loss a year ago was to Liberty. This program in the 1970s had the state record for consecutive wins at 47.
Next: vs. Los Gatos, Friday

13. (12) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 9-3
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Paul Rosa
Update: The 2018 CIF State 3-A champion Chargers lost to Serra 27-14 in a CCS D-I semifinal. The career of running back Paul M. Rosa, son of the coach, included a farewell 188-yard rushing effort and two scores. The other losses this season were to Pittsburg and Valley Christian.
Next: Season complete

14. (19) Elk Grove, 10-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: John Heffernan
Update: The Thundering Herd rolled Whitney 35-0 to win the SJS Division II title behind a dominating offensive line, defense and the running of quarterback Carter Harris, who had a 92-yard touchdown sprint. Next is a team that also likes to run — Clayton Valley Charter — in the NorCal Division 2-AA finals.
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter, Friday

15. (NR) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 8-5
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Tim Murphy
Update: The Ugly Eagles — love the mascot! — beat Campolindo 27-7 to win the NCS Division II title behind its their staple of power running. Next is the NorCal Division 2-AA finals against another running team in Elk Grove. Coach Murphy has led teams of 12-2, 11-2, 15-1, 13-2 and 9-2 (twice.
Next: vs. Elk Grove, Friday

16. (13) McClymonds (Oakland), 10-0
Section: Oakland
League: OAL
Coach: Michael Peters
Update: The Warriors rolled to another section title and now play Manteca for the NorCal Division 2-A title, having won three CIF state banners in succession in lower divisions.
Next: vs. Manteca, Saturday

17. (17) Los Gatos, 12-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Mark Krail
Update: The Wildcats beat Oak Grove 21-0 to win the CCS Division II title to earn a shot against Cardinal Newman in the NorCal Division 3-AA finals. The loss was to Wilcox. The program has won 10 or more games 14 times since 2000.
Next: vs. Cardinal Newman, Friday

18. (22) Manteca, 11-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Mark Varnum
Update: The Buffaloes downed second-seeded Placer 33-14 in the SJS Division II finals for the program's sixth title this decade. Now its McClymonds in a NorCal Division 2-A final.
Next: vs. McClymonds, Saturday

19. (14) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 11-2
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Update: The Wildcats lost to Cardinal Newman 13-10 in the NCS Division 4 finals. The other loss was 19-7 to McClymonds. Marin Catholic teams have had teams go 12-1, 14-1, 14-2, 13-1, 12-2 and 12-1 this decade.
Next: Season complete



20. (15) St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 9-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: John Regalia
Update: The Wildcats were slowed by the flu and then undone by WCAL rival Valley Christian 28-7 in a CCS D-I semifinal, trailing 14-7 at the half. A highlight was tying for the WCAL title with Serra and Valley Christian.
Next: Season complete

21. (16) Placer (Auburn), 10-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Foothill Valley
Coach: Joey Montoya
Update: The Hillmen lost to Manteca 33-14 in the SJS Division II finals. One earlier loss was Cardinal Newman on the final play.
Next: Season complete

22. (26) Sutter, 12-1
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Update: The Huskies beat Paradise 20-7 in the Northern Section Division III finals in the rain behind defense and a running game featuring Daniel Cummings and Cory McIntyre. Next is the NorCal Division 4-AA final against Ripon.
Next: vs. Ripon, Friday

23. (18) Paradise, 12-1
Section: Northern
League: Freelance
Coach: Rick Prinz
Update: The Bobcats had their dream season end with a 20-7 loss to Sutterin the Northern Section Division III finals. Paradise roses from the ashes of the Camp Fire to put together an inspiration year that fell short of a section title. Coach Prinz led another powerhouse, having led six 11-1 teams and 10-2 clubs since 2004.
Next: Season complete

24 (NR) Ripon, 12-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Trans Valley
Coach: Chris Musseman
Update: The Indians beat previously unbeaten Center 21-13 in the SJS Division 5 finals behind Nico Ilardi, who passed for 179 yards and a score, and Danny Hernandez, who rushed for two scores to earn a shot against Sutter in the NorCal Division 4-AA finals.
Next: vs. Sutter, Friday

25. (24) Capital Christian (Sacramento), 9-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Casey Taylor
Update: The injury-depleted Cougars lost to Manteca 20-14 in a D-3 semifinal, the lone NorCal loss of the season. A big early win was 32-7 over Cosumnes Oaks, the only team to beat Monterey Trail this season.
Next: Season complete



The next 10
26. Whitney (Rocklin) — 7-7
27. Buhach Colony (Atwater) — 11-1
28. Campolindo (Moraga) — 10-3
29. Davis — 10-2
30. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) — 11-2
31. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) — 8-4
32. Rocklin — 7-4
33. East Nicolaus (Nicolaus) — 12-1
34. Half Moon Bay — 10-1