Northern California high school football rankings: St. Mary's jumps to No. 3 after convincing 45-35 win over De La Salle

1. (Last week 1) Serra (San Mateo), 6-0
Last week: Defeated Bellarmine, 28-7
This week: vs. Riordan
Serra is cruising at 3-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League after Maealiuaki Smith passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The non-league big wins are 17-12 at Folsom and 24-21 at De La Salle. Serra reached the CIF State Open finals last season.

2. (2) Folsom, 6-1
Last week: Defeated Whitney, 55-7
This week: vs. Del Oro
The Bulldogs are the front runners in the Sierra Foothill League with wins over Oak Ridge and Whitney. Austin Mack completed 16 of 21 passes for 228 yards and four touchdowns and his defense came up with four turnovers. The loss was 17-12 to Serra. More big wins were 23-15 at Pittsburg and 24-20 at De La Salle.

3. (6) St. Mary's (Stockton), 7-0
Last week: Defeated De La Salle, 45-35
This week: vs. Tracy
After seven tries in the last decade or so, the Rams finally toppled De La Salle, rallying from 14-0 behind Samson Hunkin, who passed for three touchdowns. This is the class of the Tri-City Athletic League and maybe the entire section.

4. (3) De La Salle (Concord), 3-3
Last week: Lost to St. Mary's, 45-35
This week: vs. California
The Spartans haven't gotten off to this slow of a start since 2004 with a 2-3-2 showing and that team still won the North Coast Section championship. The losses this season are to Serra (24-21), Folsom (24-20) and to St. Mary's.

5. (5) Pittsburg, 5-1
Last week: Defeated Liberty, 31-29
This week: vs. Deer Valley
The Pirates had to sweat out their Bay Valley Athletic League victory over gritty Liberty and used a 23-yard field goal from Octavio Lopez to win it. The loss was 23-15 to Folsom.

6. (5) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 6-2
Last week: Defeated McClatchy (forfeit)
This week: Bye
The Mustangs did not play as McClatchy forfeited its Metro League game due to low varsity football roster numbers. The losses were to Folsom and De La Salle.

7. (7) Del Oro (Loomis), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Rocklin, 33-20
This week: at Folsom
The Golden Eagles have a nice resume this season outside the SFL, topping Clayton Valley Charter and Menlo-Atherton behind strong line play and rising-fast junior star QB Caden Pinnick. Now it's a date with Folsom.

8. (8) Clovis West (Fresno), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Clovis East, 42-30
This week: at Clovis North
The top-ranked team in the Central Section beat previously unbeaten Clovis East as Ryan Markarian passed for 370 yards and five touchdowns, three to Marshel Sanders. The Tri-River Athletic Conference is a fun one.



9. (9) Buchanan (Clovis), 6-1
Last week: Beat Central, 42-41
This week: vs. Clovis
The Tri-River Athletic Conference is a grinder, and Buchanan's loss was to Clovis West, 29-22. In the last game, Jayden Mandal passed for 315 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Runnels rushed for 144 yards and four scores.

10. (12) Salinas, 6-0
Last week: Bye
This week: at Aptos
The Cowboys prepare for a Pacific Coast Gabilan League contest with Aptos and are aiming for the top seed in the Central Coast Section Division I race. A big early win was over Clayton Valley Charter.

11. (11) Manteca, 6-0
Last week: Defeated Sierra, 68-0
This week: vs. East Union
The Buffaloes led 33-0 after the first quarter and rolled in the Valley Oak League with showdowns looming against Central Catholic of Modesto and Oakdale.

12. (12) Liberty (Bakersfield), 5-2
Last week: Defeated Stockdale, 42-0
This week: vs. Centennial (Bakersfield)
The Patriots were led by Jalen Hankins' 112 yards and two touchdowns and have a showdown in the Southwest Yosemite River League against 7-0 Centennial. The loss was to San Diego power Carlsbad.

13. (14) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 6-1
Last week: Defeated Granite Bay, 17-16
This week: vs. Whitney
The Trojans bounced back from their SFL loss to Folsom to beat Granite Bay on a sack by Markus Hoffmann as the Grizzlies attempted to win it with a 2-point conversion in the closing moment.

14. (15) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 6-0
Last week: Defeated Milpitas, 48-9
This week: vs. Palo Alto
The Chargers seek to earn the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section playoffs and that effort starts with star QB Armand Johnson, who had 221 yards passing and two scores.

15. (16) McClymonds (Oakland), 4-1
Last week: Defeated San Ramon Valley, 45-42
This week: At Skyline
Mack won a thriller as Jaivian Thomas rushed for 280 yards and four scores heading into Oakland Athletic League action. The loss was to Pittsburg, 39-21.



16. (13) Granite Bay, 5-2
Last week: Lost to Oak Ridge, 17-16
This week: vs. Rocklin
The Grizzlies have two losses to start SFL play and another big test this week. Granite Bay went for two and the win late against Oak Ridge and was stopped. The other loss was 21-10 to Del Oro.

17. (19) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 6-0
Last week: Defeated Tamalpais, 49-6
This week: vs. Archie Williams
The Wildcats won the Marin County Athletic League contest easily leading 35-0 at the half. San Marin is the only other unbeaten in league play.

18. (20) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 3-3
Last week: Defeated Sacred Heart Cathedral, 24-17
This week: at Valley Christian
The defending WCAL champion Lancers were paced by Matt Dougherty Jr., who passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The losses were to higher-ranked Monterey Trail De La Salle and Serra.

19. Central Catholic (Modesto), 3-3
Last week: Defeated Kimball, 49-13
This week: vs. Oakdale
The Raiders were led by Tyler Jacklich, who rushed for 162 yards and two scores in the Valley Oak League contest. That race includes Manteca and Oakdale. The losses were to Saint Francis, St. Mary's, Serra and Bosco.

20. San Ramon Valley (Danville), 5-1
Last week: Lost to McClymonds, 45-42
This week: vs. Clayton Valley Charter
The Wolves lost despite a monstrous effort by Luke Baker who passed for 513 yards and five touchdowns.

The next 10
21. Centennial (Bakersfield), 7-0
22. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose). 5-1
23. Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 5-1
24. El Cerrito, 6-0
25. Acalanes (Lafayette), 6-0
26. Campolindo (Moraga), 6-0
27. San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 5-2
28. Downey (Modesto), 7-0
29. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 5-1
30. Vacaville, 4-3