MaxPreps Final Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 high school football rankings

MaxPreps Final Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Football Rankings

1. Folsom (2) 14-0
The Bulldogs are Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champions for the second time in three years, with the same ingredients the key: ballistic offense, great line play, steady defense and superb coaching. Folsom beat Elk Grove 44-18 in facing a formidable defense and run game and sheets of sideways rain from the winds. Next is the all-time challenge against the all-time program in De La Salle in the first NorCal Regional game.

2012 Regional Bowl Preview: De La Salle vs. Folsom

2. Granite Bay (6) 11-3
The Grizzlies repeated as Sac-Joaquin Section D-I champions by taking down Oak Ridge 35-23 by piling up 606 yards of offense out of the Fly sweep offense with a great line, a steady quarterback leader in Grant Caraway and runners Tony Ellison, Taft Partridge and John Cooley. The defense has played a paramount role in the Grizzlies' 10-game winning streak that places them in the NorCal D-I game against St. Ignatius (San Francisco).

2012 Regional Bowl Preview: Granite Bay vs. St. Ignatius

3. Oakdale (11) (13-1)
The Mustangs beat Vista del Lago (Folsom) 22-9 to win the Sac-Joaquin Section D-III title in the program's 11th trip to a championship round. Coach Trent Merzon is an alum who played quarterback in two title games. Next is a NorCal D-II Regional game against Clayton Valley (Concord).

2012 Regional Bowl Preview: Clayton Valley vs. Oakdale

4. Franklin (Elk Grove) (1) 12-1
The Wildcats had their finest season in the school's 10-year varsity run come to a halt in a Sac-Joaquin Section D-I semifinal loss to Granite Bay. The wins included Grant and Elk Grove and playoff triumphs of Nevada Union (Grass Valley) and Lincoln (Stockton). A masterful job by coach Mike Johnson.

5. Elk Grove (3) 12-2
The Thundering Herd followed its 12-1 showing last season with another fine season, thanks to the wing-T offense that featured backs Robert Frazier and Wadus Parker and a fast, attacking defense that included Bwon Canada and Spencer Sheff. Playoff wins over Del Campo and Del Oro before falling to Folsom in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II finals. A host of talent returns for coach Chris Nixon.

6. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (7) 12-2
The Trojans lost only to Folsom in Delta River League action and to Granite Bay in a thriller of a Sac-Joaquin Section D-I final. Big seasons for senior leaders in Jason Samuels, Blake Martin, Zack Claiborne, Nick Gordon, Jacob Proul, Kareem Ballal and a host of others under coach Eric Cavaliere. Playoff efforts include a 24-6 win over a 12-0 Burbank team in a semifinal.

7. Burbank (Sacramento) (4) (12-1)
The Titans finished 12-1 after getting off to the best record in school history (opened in 1963) thanks to the triple-option run game headed by Isiah Williams, Calvin Green and Ernest Jenkins and a defense anchored by rising recruit prospect in DT Ngalu Tapa (22 sacks). Playoff wins over Grant and Pleasant Grove before falling to Oak Ridge in a semifinal.

8. Del Oro (Loomis) (8) 7-6
The Golden Eagles overcame a 1-4 start to place second in the Sierra Foothill League and beat higher-seeded Yuba City and St. Mary's (Stockton) in the D-II field before falling to Elk Grove 35-32 in a D-II semifinal thriller. Del Oro bids farewell to gritty senior quarterback Zach LaBar and all-time program great runner Brandon Monroe.

9. Buhach Colony (Atwater) (6) 10-3
The Thunder fell hard at Folsom in a D-II semifinal after taking down Antelope 31-24. No shame in losing to Folsom, of course. An earlier loss was 36-35 to NorCal power Serra (San Mateo). BC expects to return for another run.

10. Central Catholic (Modesto) (14) (11-3)
The Raiders belted Escalon to take the Sac-Joaquin Section D-IV title, the program's section-leading 16th overall small-school title. Season-opening loss to Placer turned out to be ancient history as the team continued to improve.

2012 Regional Bowl Preview: Central Catholic vs. McClymonds

11. Escalon (10) 10-3
The Cougars fell to Central Catholic in the section D-IV finals after beating Placer on a late field goal and inching past Los Banos in four overtimes. All in all, another great run for coach Mark Loureiro, who now has 250 career wins at his alma mater, eight shy of tying Max Miller (mostly at Cordova) for the all-time section lead. As classy as he is fun to watch.

12. Placer (Auburn) (12) 11-1
The season ended in stunning fashion, at home to powerhouse Escalon 27-26 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV quarterfinal. Placer managed three offensive plays in the fourth quarter. The Hillmen return a lot of talent but bid farewell to an all-time program great in USC-commit defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. Wins earlier included Central Catholic and Yuba City. The Hillmen finish below Central Catholic because CC beat Escalon a week after Escalon beat Placer.

13. Vista del Lago (Folsom) (15) 12-2
The Eagles had their finest season in the program's 6-year history, beating Lincoln, El Camino and Inderkum in the playoffs before falling to Oakdale 22-9 in the D-III finals. A ton of talent returns for coach Chris Jones, including quarterback Matt Jimison, who had 37 touchdown passes.

14. Los Banos (14) 11-1
The Tigers opened the season with a thrilling win over Escalon and ended it with a gut-wrenching loss to the Cougars in the D-IV semifinals. All in all, another banner season.

Tyrel Anderson, Center

Photo by David Barpal

15. Center (Antelope) (16) 10-3
The Cougars enjoyed their finest season, including rolling a 9-1 Dixon club 42-0 and edging 11-0 Argonaut in the D-IV playoffs before falling to Central Catholic in a semifinal. RB D'Juan Bellaire finished with a school-record 2,200 yards rushing for coach Digol J'Beily.

16. Inderkum (Sacramento) (16) 10-3
The Tigers fell to Vista del Lago in the closing moments of a thrilling D-III semifinal to cap the program's seventh consecutive 10-win season under coach Terry Stark and the wing-T express. Senior defensive end Dedric Allen had a monster season with 16.5 sacks and 104 tackles.

17. St. Mary's (Stockton) (17) 9-3
The Rams fell to Del Oro 21-10 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II quarterfinal, and they've had just about enough of DO. That's twice since 2009 that DO came to Stockton to end the Rams season. A lot of talent returns for coach Tony Franks. Other losses were to Central Catholic (Modesto) 28-21 and state-ranked No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) 21-13.

18. American Canyon (18) 11-1
A newer school storming onto the scene in a hurry with D-III playoff wins over River Valley and Cosumnes Oaks before falling at top-seeded Oakdale in a semifinal.

19. Downey (Modesto) (13) 10-2
After winning their first playoff game since 1987, Downey was blasted by defending D-I champion Granite Bay 56-20, drawing a curtain on the fine career of Aaron Zwahlen, who tossed 48 touchdowns this season.

20. Del Campo (Fair Oaks) (14) 9-3
The Cougars fell at Elk Grove 35-14 in a D-II quarterfinal despite a big rushing night by Josh Blumgold; DC had no answer for the Herd's big-play ability. Last loss was 20-16 to Elk Grove in a nonleague game.

21. Antelope (19) 10-2
The Titans had their finest season halted amid turnovers and a bruising run game by Buhach Colony, 35-28. The playoff win was a 31-24 thriller over Rocklin. A host of talent returns, but all-time program great Tyler Winston bows out.

22. Vacaville (22) 8-4
The defending Section D-II champions beat Rio Linda 35-21 in an opener and then fell at top-seeded Folsom. Other losses were to were to Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Deer Valley (Antioch). Plenty of talent returns for another title run. Bulldogs won section titles in 2006 and 2011.

23. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (20) 8-4
The Eagles stunned 9-1 Stagg 22-21 on a late field goal by sophomore Chad Phillips before falling at No. 2-seeded Burbank 32-27 in the D-I scramble. Versatile Dre Terrell heads a host of returners as a play-making quarterback, cornerback and special teams performer. Other losses were to Lincoln, Oak Ridge, Folsom and Inderkum.

24. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (25) 9-3
The Wolfpack beat Christian Brothers in a D-III opener then lost at American Canyon 28-20. A host of returning talent makes for a promising 2013, including national recruit receiver Alex Van Dyke and lineman Kameron Schroeder. Other losses were to No. 1 Franklin and to Vista del Lago.

25. Yuba City (25) 9-2
Lost to Del Oro in D-II opening-round play to end best season since 1987, when the Honkers last won a league title. Other loss was to Placer in a shootout. Win against Inderkum earlier snapped the Tigers' 5-year hold in Tri-County League play.

(TIE) 25. Rocklin (17) 5-6
Lost to Antelope 31-24 in D-II action. The Thunder will return quarterback Logan Webb, who flourished this season. Losses were to Del Oro (38-35), Pleasant Grove (35-21), Oak Ridge (16-7), Del Campo (21-20) and Granite Bay (41-34).

(TIE) 25. Stagg (Stockton) (19) 9-2
The Delta Kings enjoyed their finest season since the late 1970s, falling to Pleasant Grove 22-21 in a D-I opener. The other loss was to St. Mary's 43-34.

On the bubble: Sierra (Manteca) (11-2), El Camino (Sacramento) (8-3), Pitman (Turlock) (9-3), Ripon (11-1), Argonaut (Jackson) (11-1), Capital Christian (Sacramento) (10-2), Whitney (Rocklin) (8-3), Rio Linda (8-3), Nevada Union (Grass Valley) (5-6), Grant (Sacramento) (5-6), Ponderosa (Shingle Springs) (6-5), Dixon (9-2), Sacramento (8-3), Calaveras (San Andreas) (8-3), Benicia (7-4), Bear River (Grass Valley) (8-3)

For a look into the defensive coordinator and plan that led to the
last NorCal loss to De La Salle, here's a Sacramento Bee story...

Pleasant Grove football coach Joe Cattolico surprisingly stepped down
after a remarkable run of success for a new school. For The Sacramento
Bee story, go here..

Joe Davidson has covered high schools with The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD; on Facebook: sacbeepreps; and online: sacbee.com/preps; and radio podcasts: ESPN1320.net.