MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Football Rankings

The playoffs are here — the real season — with a four-week sprint to the Sac-Joaquin Section finals. Winners become NorCal Regional eligible.

Early talk is a dream matchup of Folsom against Grant in the NorCal Division I championship, which can happen, as Grant would be eligible to move up from D-II to NorCal D-I.

A Folsom-De La Salle NorCal Open will not happen because the Open game has been dropped. The CIF has decided that the top team in the North — pretty much De La Salle since 1991 — gets a bye to the CIF State Open game.

See pro photo galleries from last week's Sac-Joaquin Section football games


1. Folsom (last week: 1) 10-0
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Bulldogs capped their third successive 10-0 regular season and bound into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs as heavy favorites to three-peat behind Jake Browning, Sam Whitney and Bailey Laolagi. The last two losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle to cap 14-1 seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Next: vs. Stagg (Stockton), Saturday.

2. Grant (Sacramento) (2) 10-0
League: Delta
Result: The Pacers blasted No. 3 Jesuit 52-14, and head into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs as the overwhelming favorite to win the program's seventh title under coach Mike Alberghini since 1991. Deshawn Collins, Mike Green II and Donovan Brown provide a potent 1-2-3 backfield with Brown at quarterback.
Next: vs. Patterson, Friday.

3. Jesuit (Carmichael) (3) 8-2
League: Delta
Result: Despite a 52-14 loss to No. 2 Grant, Jesuit earned a No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs due to strength of league and overall schedule. An earlier win was 42-38 over No. 4 Elk Grove. The first loss was an opener to De La Salle.
Next: vs. Gregori (Modesto), Saturday.

4. Elk Grove (4) 8-2
League: Delta
Result: The Thundering Herd are the 2-seed for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs, heavy on the run with Eltoro Allen, Manny Scott-Anderson and Spencer Sheff. The losses were to No. 2 Grant 26-19 and to No. 3 Jesuit 42-38.
Next: vs. Vintage (Napa), Friday.

5. St. Mary's (Stockton) (5) 9-1
League: Tri-City
Result: The Rams earned a 3-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs on the same side as Rocklin, Burbank and Elk Grove. The loss was in double-overtime to then-NorCal ranked St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 27-24, on a field goal after missing one from 35 yards out on the final play of regulation. An earlier win includes NorCal ranked Los Gatos and No. 15 Central Catholic.
Next: vs. River Valley (Yuba City), Friday.

6. Merced (6) 8-2
League: Central California
Result: The Bears are the 4-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs on the same side as No. 1 Folsom. The losses were to Fresno powers Edison and Clovis West.
Next: vs. Tokay (Lodi), Friday.

7. Inderkum (Sacramento) (7) 9-1
League: Tri-County
Result: The Tigers are the top-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs on the same side as 10-0 El Dorado (Placerville), No. 23 Sacramento and defending champion Manteca. Larry Hardy, Austin Thurman and Jonathan Henry lead Inderkum. The loss was to then higher-ranked Monterey Trail when a last-play field goal missed.
Next: vs. Valley (Sacramento), Friday.

8. Napa (8) 8-2
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Indians are the 6-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs as MEL champions on the same side of the bracket as No. 3 Jesuit. An earlier win was over No. 9 Vacaville 26-14.
Next: vs. Pitman (Turlock), Friday.

9. Vacaville (9) 8-2
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Bulldogs are the 5-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs, the same side of the bracket with Grant and defending champion Del Oro. Chad Hekking leads Vacaville at quarterback. An earlier loss was 26-14 to No. 8 Napa with an early 13-7 win over No. 11 Granite Bay.
Next: vs. Yuba City, Friday.

10. Del Oro (Loomis,) (12) 5-5
Result: The Golden Eagles are the 4-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs as defending champions and second-place finishers in the SFL after beating No. 11 Granite Bay 20-7. The section selection committee recognized Del Oro's section-leading tough schedule with losses to De La Salle, Folsom and out-of-area heavies
with a win over state-ranked Vista Murrieta.
Next: vs. Roseville, Friday.

11. Granite Bay (10) 7-3
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Grizzlies earned the 3-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I field on the same side as Jesuit. The losses were to No. 1 Folsom, No. 9 Vacaville and No. 10 Del Oro.
Next: vs. Chavez (Stockton), Friday.

12. Rocklin (11) 8-2
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Thunder are the 6-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs on the same side as St. Mary's, Burbank and Elk Grove, seeking the program's second title since 2009. QB William Floyd leads the way. The losses are to No. 1 Folsom and No. 11 Granite Bay.
Next: vs. Del Campo (Fair Oaks), Friday.

13. Oakdale (14) 9-1
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Mustangs are the 3-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs on the same side as No. 14 Sierra, Placer, Vista del Lago and Rio Linda. The loss was to Sierra when Oakdale had two turnovers inside the 10.
Next: vs. Pacheco (Los Banos), Friday.

14. Sierra (Manteca) (13) 9-1
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Timberwolves are the are the 2-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs on the same side as Placer, Rio Linda, Oakdale and No. 25 Vista del Lago. The loss was to No. 15 Manteca 34-20. An earlier win was over No. 13 Oakdale.
Next: vs. Rosemont (Sacramento), Friday.

15. Central Catholic (Modesto) (15) 7-3
League: Valley Oak
Result: The two-time defending CIF State Division IV champion Raiders are the top seed in the D-IV Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. RB Justin Rice and QB Hunter Petlansky lead the way. The losses were to No. 6 St. Mary's 18-13, No. 14 Sierra 17-14 and to No. 13 Oakdale 48-28.
Next: vs. Natomas (Sacramento), Friday.

16. Manteca (15) 8-2
League: Valley Oak
Result: The defending champion Buffaloes are the 4-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs on the same side as top-seeded Inderkum and upstarts El Dorado, Sacramento and Christian Bothers. The losses were to No. 13 Oakdale and No. 15 Central Catholic.
Next: vs. Vanden (Fairfield), Friday.

17. Downey (Modesto) (17) 9-1
League: Modesto Metro
Result: The Knights are an 8-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs despite the strong overall record but were docked for a not-so-strong overall league and schedule. The loss was 36-33 early to Pitman (Turlock).
Next: vs. Antelope, Friday.

18. Modesto (18) 9-1
League: Modesto Metro
Result: The Panthers are the 8-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs despite the overall record, but more for the strength of league and schedule. This side of the bracket includes No. 1 Folsom. The loss was to Downey 35-32.
Next: vs. No. 19 Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday

19. Franklin (Elk Grove) (20) 6-4
League: Delta
Result: The Wildcats earned a 9-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs with a tough opener and an even more taxing second-round possibility in three-time defending champion Folsom looming. The losses were to No. 3 Jesuit, No. 4 Elk Grove and NorCal-ranked Bellarmine (San Jose).
Next: at No. 18 Modesto, Friday.

20. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (NR) 8-2
League: Capital Valley Conference
Result: The Wolfpack earned a 5-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs behind quarterback Jaaron Stallworth and tough, attacking defense. This side of the bracket is no breeze with No. 1 Folsom looming, not to mention the opener. The losses were to Granite Bay and Rio Linda.
Next: vs. No. 21 Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Friday.

21. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) (21) 6-4
League: Delta
Result: The Mustangs earned a 12-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs after a competitive showing in the Delta League, losing 28-21 to No. 3 Jesuit and leading 15-14 at the half in a loss to No. 2 Grant and losing on the final play at No. 4 Elk Grove.
Next: at No. 20 Cosumnes Oaks, Friday.

22. Burbank (Sacramento) (22) 7-3
League: Metropolitan
Result: The Titans are the 7-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs and are led by quarterback Harrison Anderson and a fast defense. This side of the bracket includes Elk Grove, St. Mary's and Rocklin. The losses included No. 1 Folsom and No. 2 Grant.
Next: vs. Wood (Vacaville), Friday.

23. Sacramento (23) 8-2
League: Metropolitan
Result: The Dragons are the 5-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs after reaching the finals last season. Caden Voges and Lonny Powell lead the way. The losses were to No. 12 Rocklin and No. 22 Burbank.
Next: Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Saturday.

24. Tracy (25) 7-3
League: Tri-City Athletic
Result: The Bulldogs are the 7-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs and are on the same side as Granite Bay and Jesuit. The losses were to No. 6 St. Mary's and Bay Area powers Freedom (Oakley) 14-6 and Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) 14-7.
Next: vs. Turlock, Friday.

25. Vista del Lago (Folsom) (NR) 7-3
League: Capital Athletic
Result: The Eagles are the 6-seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs on the strength of a 7-game winning streak behind quarterback Matt Jimison and leading rusher Colby Carrera.
Next: vs. American Canyon, Friday.

The Sacramento Bee on the early breakdown of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs

The Sacramento Bee Preps TV Show

The Sacramento Bee on a high school coaching legend whose wing-T principals still work

The Sacramento Bee on how Folsom coach Kris Richardson avoided burnout on fast track to 100 wins in 10 seasons

The Sacramento Bee on how a winless team deals with defeat with a dose of humor

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.sacbee.com/preps. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty The Bee Preps Show that runs throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet.