Video: A'jae Boyd's highlights vs. Liberty
See the Pittsburg wideout go for three scores.
There were no changes in the top seven spots, except a rapid rise for showdown implications. Freedom moves up to No. 6, a spot behind Pittsburg, as unbeatens meet on Friday. Oak Ridge has also moved up, and say hello to the best of the Northern Section as Sutter debuts at No. 25.
Northern California Top 25 football rankings
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 7-1Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: at Logan (Union City), Friday
Update: Top-ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle and Bay Area News Group, the Spartans beat No. 18 California 31-9 in rushing for 441 yards, including 223 and three scores by
Kairee Robinson. The NorCal unbeaten streak - north of Fresno - is now 277, dating back to 1992. The loss this season was 23-21 to the top-ranked team in Utah, East of Salt Lake City, on a late field goal. The Spartans have won 24 consecutive North Coast Section titles and 32 since 1982, and they have won six CIF State championships in seven seasons.
2. (2) St. Mary's (Stockton), 7-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. Lodi, Friday.
Update: Top ranked by the Stockton Record, the Rams rolled Tracy 57-21 for the program's 100th consecutive win against San Joaquin County competition since coach Franks returned to the program in 2002.
Jake Dunniway passed for 403 yards and five scores, and
Dusty Frampton rushed for 164 and two touchdowns. The loss was to state and national powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 55-16 after leading 10-7 early. Earlier wins include once-ranked Serra (San Mateo), ranked Central Catholic and ranked Cardinal Newman.
3. (3) Valley Christian (San Jose), 8-0Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: at No. 10 Saint Francis, Friday
Update: The top-ranked team in the CCS, the Warriors are the lone unbeatens in one of the strongest leagues in the state after downing St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 28-0.
Isaiah Rodriguez had 189 yards rushing and three scores and
Javon Sturns went for 115 with a touchdown. This is shaping up to be one of the best teams for coach Machado, who led 12-1 teams in 2004 and 2005, a 10-3 team in 2008, an 11-2 team in 2010 and a nine-game winner in 2014.
4. (4) Monte Vista (Danville), 8-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: vs. San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday
Update: The Mustangs beat Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 35-7 as
Jake Haener passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns and
Shane Perry rushed for 117 and a score. The defense has been strong, allowing seven or fewer points five times this season. A big early win was over No. 18 California. De La Salle looms in Week 10. Monte Vista last won nine games in a season in 2008, and it went 11-1 in 2005.
5. (5) Pittsburg, 8-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. No. 6 Freedom, Friday
Update: The Pirates welcomed back running back star
Montaz Thompson, who has been sidelined by injury for three games during a 56-7 rout of Liberty (Brentwood).
Seu Kuka passed for two scores and
A'jae Boyd scored three times. The showdown against No. 6 Freedom looms. Pittsburg has been a Bay Area power for decades and is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section Division I finals.
6. (13) Freedom (Oakley), 8-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: at No. 5 Pittsburg, Friday
Update: The Falcons rolled Heritage (Brentwood) 48-14 as
Ronnie Rivers rushed for 270 yards and two scores and Jonathan Pierce passed for four scores to extend the best start in program history. The real test looms next. Coach Hartwig seeks an eighth playoff appearance in nine years.
7. (6) Sacramento, 7-1League: Metropolitan
Coach: Justin Reber
Next: at Burbank (Sacramento), Saturday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons continue to devour league play, crushing Johnson (Sacramento) 65-0. The run game has been dominant with
Tariq Hollandsworth and the passing game has been strong with
Derek Shelton. The big win of the season for the entire section was downing the No. 2 Folsom 32-27, leading 32-14 at one point. The Folsom win halted the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Dragons start only four seniors and lost an opener to state-ranked JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) despite accumulating 496 yards.
8. (7) Folsom, 7-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Bulldogs had a bye. The biggest win of late was over then NorCal No. 2 Del Oro 42-7. The loss was to new No. 6 Sacramento early 32-27, halting a state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Bulldogs seek a fifth successive section championship and a third state title since 2010.
9. (9) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 7-1Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: at Las Lomas, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Acalanes (Lafayette) 57-6 as seven players scored, including
Junior Alatini twice. The defense was just as dominant, allowing just three yards rushing. A run-dominant team, CVC's lone setback was to state-ranked Helix (San Diego) 13-0. In the opener, the Ugly Eagles beat five-time defending Nevada state champion Reed 35-21. Clayton Valley Charter has reached a CIF Bowl the last two seasons.
10. (10) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 7-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 3 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Lancers beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 35-7 to remain within striking distance of Valley Christian for first place in league play. The teams play Friday with a lot at stake. The loss was in overtime to once-ranked Serra (San Mateo) 41-40. A recent big win was over ranked Bellarmine 21-12 to snap an 11-game losing streak to their chief rival. Saint Francis seeks its 17th Central Coast Section championships.
11. (11) Elk Grove, 7-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: vs. Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: The Thundering Herd withstood the punishing ground-and-clock control of Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) by delivering a 21-14 victory to remain in first place in the Delta that includes NorCal ranked Grant and Sheldon.
Zion Thomas has had a big season at running back. Big wins include Grant (24-17) and Jesuit (Carmichael) 23-6. The Herd has reached the a section final three times since 2012 and has been a power since the 1980s.
12. (16) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 7-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday
Update: The Trojans beat previous No. 8 Del Oro on the road 34-32 in a thriller to remain in a first-place tie with No. 8 Folsom (the teams meet in Week 10).
Marco Baldacchino fired a late touchdown pass, and
Parker Barry had a nifty trick-play 73-yard touchdown to highlight a 21-0 first-quarter surge. An earlier win was over then-No. 14 Rocklin 27-15. The loss was to 5-time Nevada state champion Reed of Nevada 55-34. Reed lost earlier to No. 9 Clayton Valley Charter.
13. (8) Del Oro (Loomis), 7-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. Woodcreek (Roseville), Nov. 4
Update: The Golden Eagles trailed 21-0 early and rallied before falling to new No. 12 Oak Ridge 34-32. The other loss was 42-7 to No. 8 Folsom. An earlier win was over then-No. 7 Bellarmine 16-14. The defending CIF State Division II-AA champion Golden Eagles seek a fourth CIF Bowl bid since 2011.
14. (15) Central Catholic (Modesto), 6-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger CanepaNext: vs. East Union (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Raiders rolled Sierra (Manteca) 70-10 as
Cole Petlansky passed for two early scores and
Jared Rice rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns to remain unbeaten in a strong league. The losses were to No. 2 St. Mary's and to state-ranked Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 28-25 after trailing by 18. Central Catholic is a four-time defending CIF state champion that has won a record 19 Sac-Joaquin Section titles.
15. (16) Pitman (Turlock), 8-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Central California
Coach: Tom Tyler
Next: at Golden Valley (Merced), Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Pride beat El Capitan (Merced) 31-0 by rushing 46 times for 350 yards.
Brandon Pacheco had 101 yards,
Devan Bass 93 and
AJ Encalade 63. A league-title showdown looms with Turlock in Week 10.
16. (NR) Sheldon (Sacramento), 6-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joe Cattolico
Next: vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove)
Update: The Huskies have been a powerhouse in basketball and softball and track and field, and here they come in football under a proven coach in Joe Cattolico, who built nearby Pleasant Grove into a monster after a good run in San Jose. His father Butch Cattolico was a 250-plus game winner at Los Gatos. Pop assists son now. Top players include
Graylon Lindsey,
Alex Cook and
Chancellor Lachapelle. The big win was beating previous No. 12 Grant 20-14 with a late score.
Sheldon has climbed into the NorCal top 25 rankings at No. 16.
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Davis, Friday
Update: The Pacers lead Sheldon 14-0 and then lost in the closing seconds 20-14. The other loss was to No. 11 Elk Grove 24-17. The home field was dedicated to Coach Alberghini before the opener, his 25 consecutive playoff berths and seven section championships just a sliver of his impact.
18. (18) California (San Ramon, Calif.), 6-2Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Eric Billeci
Next: vs. Dublin, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies lost to top-ranked De La Salle 31-9 after trailing just 7-3 at the half.
Ryan Wright passed for 194 yards, hitting
Brandon Perrilliat six times for 102 yards. The other loss was to No. 4 Monte Vista 27-24 on a last-play field goal.
19. (19) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 5-3Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at Mitty (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Bells blasted Riordan (San Francisco) 55-14 as
Brendan Manigo accounted for four scores and produced 472 yards of offense on Senior Night. One loss was to No. 3 Valley Christian 28-7. Another loss was to then-No. 4 Saint Francis 21-12 despite allowing just one offensive touchdown. The other setback was 16-14 to then-No. 2 Del Oro. Bellarmine is the defending Division I NorCal champions, and they seek a fifth section title under famed coach Janda, winner of a section-record 275 games.
20. (21) Antioch, 5-3Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: vs. Heritage (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Panthers beat Deer Valley (Antioch) 44-19 in the annual Mayor's Cup, scoring three touchdowns in the final minutes.
Najee Harris rushed for 215 yards and four touchdowns, three in the second half, and he canceled a late-night flight to Alabama to remain with his team. Antioch pushed top-ranked De La Salle to the wire, losing 28-21. Antioch last season posted its first 10-0 regular season last fall since 1977.
21. (21) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 7-1Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: vs. Santa Rosa, Friday
Update: The Cardinals beat Windsor 51-14 as
Jordon Brookshire accounted for four touchdowns and
Tanner Mendoza rushed for a pair of scores to remain in control of the league race. The loss was to No. 2 St. Mary's 49-32. Cardinal Newman once held the state-record for the longest winning streak of 47 in the 1970s.
22. (22) San Benito (Hollister), 8-0Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Bryan Smith
Next: at North Salinas, Friday
Update: The Haybalers were idle. They are one of four unbeaten teams in this section, and they were a section champion from 2012.The program won nine or more games in 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2014.
23. (23) Manteca, 7-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: vs. Oakdale, Friday
Update: The Buffaloes beat Lathrop 32-6 as
Gino Campiotti passed for 170 yards and a touchdown, and the team grinded out 185 yards on 34 carries. The loss was to a four-time defending CIF State Champion powerhouse in Central Catholic 32-14. Manteca won section titles in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2013 and have won nine or more games 10 times since 2001.
24. (25) Campolindo (Moraga), 6-2Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: vs. Acalanes (Lafayette), Friday
Update: The Cougars won their 33rd consecutive league game with a 38-0 rout over a strong Concord team as
Jacob Westphal passed for 355 yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars lost to No. 3 Valley Christian 21-7 in an opener. The program went 14-1 in 2011, 10-2 in 2012, 11-1 in 2013, 16-0 in 2014 and 14-2 in 2015.
25 (NR) Sutter, 8-0Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: vs. Orland
Update: The top team in the Northern Section has been a powerhouse for years, including 12-0 seasons in 2004 and 2007 and 13-1 seasons in 2012 and 2014.
Tyler Reynolds, son of the coach, has passed for 1,552 yards and 15 touchdown and rushed for 524 and nine. Trever Facey has rushed for 1,064 yards and 15 scores.
The Sacramento Bee on how trick plays may define the rest of the season, and The Bee's Top 20 rankings...
click hereThe Sacramento Bee on how unsung players and upstart teams have taken notice, and a peek at the top career rushers in regional history...
click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps
