But the Wildcats won't have long to celebrate as the WCAL is a meat grinder.
Serra was ripe for the upset as the Padres graduated 18 starters, and SI was up to the task in toppling a program that was the top-ranked NorCal team in 2021, '22 and last season.
These rankings include Central Section teams — Fresno, Bakersfield, Clovis — because the CIF seeding committee includes that section in NorCal playoff brackets.
St. Ignatius pulled off a 21-20 upset of Serra in the West Catholic Athletic League opener on Friday. It was one of the biggest upsets of the season thus far. (Photo: Weston Eichner)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat El Cerrito, 35-14
Next: Oct. 8 vs. NFL Academy of London
The top-ranked team by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, DLS knocked El Cerrito from the ranks of the unbeatens as
Jaden Jefferson returned a missed field goal 99 yards for a score, and
Toa Faavae had two scores. Next is a game in London, a Tuesday affair, and a first for a California team. Shoot, for any prep team.
2. (2) Pittsburg, (3-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Los Gatos
The Pirates had a week off to prepare for unbeaten Los Gatos and stand as the second best team in the North Coast Section behind De La Salle. The loss was to national power St. John Bosco.
3. (4) Folsom, (4-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Forfeit win over Davis
Next: Friday at Oak Ridge
The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee did not play its Homecoming game in Sierra Foothill League play due to Davis forfeiting with low roster numbers. Folsom has beaten Oak Ridge 21 consecutive times dating back to 2006. The loss was by a point to Serra.
4. (6) Central (Fresno), (5-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Clovis North
The top-ranked team by The Fresno Bee, the Bears bound into the Tri-River Athletic Conference that figures to be a wild race with unbeatens Central, Buchanan, Clovis and Clovis East. QB
Jelani Dippel has 17 touchdown passes.
5. (7) Clovis East (Clovis), 5-0
Section: Central
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Clovis West
The Timberwolves had an off week after beating Grant of Sacramento, 59-45 and head into Tri-River play as a contender.
6. (8) San Ramon Valley (Danville), (5-0)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Hayward, 48-0
Next: Friday vs. at Granada
The defense led the charge as
Marco Jones and
Kaleb Pleis returned fumbles for touchdowns. An earlier big win was over St. Ignatius of San Francisco, which just beat Serra.
7. (17) St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco), (3-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Serra, 21-20
Next: Saturday vs. Riordan
The Wildcats are all about resolve, rallying after trailing 20-7 in the fourth quarter.
Jarious Hogan had two scores and
Soren Hummel found
Zui Shelton for a touchdown pass.
8. (3) Serra (San Mateo), (1-3)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Lost to St. Ignatius, 21-20
Next: Saturday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Padres' chances ended on a turnover on downs with the ball at the St. Ignatius 25. The team's win was by a point over Folsom and the other losses were to De La Salle and Bosco.
9. (13) Clovis North (Fresno), (3-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Central
The Broncos are the defending Central Section Division I champions and have losses this season to state-ranked JSerra and Los Alamitos. This week is a rematch of last season's section title game, won by Clovis North, 24-14.
10. (5) St. Mary's (Stockton), (3-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Bishop Amat (La Puente), 56-21
Next: Friday vs. Lodi
The Rams bounced back from a 38-35 loss to De La Salle behind playmakers
Osani Gayles and
Kenneth Moore, who combined for six total scores. St. Mary's is the class of the Tri County Athletic League.
11. (9) Clovis, (5-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday at Buchanan
The Cougars open TRAC play against a fellow unbeaten. Big wins earlier included 52-27 over Frontier of Bakersfield and 41-14 over another section power, this one from the Central Coast, in Salinas.
12. (10) Los Gatos, (4-0)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday at Pittsburg
The Wildcats will find out in a hurry this week how they measure up against a Bay Area power. Los Gatos is the favorite in the Peninsula Bay League that starts next week.
13. (15) Saint Francis (Mountain View), (2-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Bellarmine, 48-7
Next: Friday at Archbishop Mitty
The Lancers piled up the most points against Bellarmine in the 78-year history of the series, highlighted by punt return touchdowns by
Kingston Keanaaina.
Aaron Knapp had two TD passes. What a way to start WCAL play. The loss was the De La Salle.
14. (11) Grant (Sacramento), (3-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Lost to Lincoln (San Diego), 49-19
Next: Friday vs. Kennedy
Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Pacers have played as tough of a schedule as anyone in these rankings with losses to De La Salle, Clovis East and to the top-ranked team in the San Diego Section.
15. (12) Rocklin, (4-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Jesuit, 52-14
Next: Friday at Whitney
The Thunder bounced back from the Folsom loss by piling up 600 yards of offense, led by runners
Derek Keeley and
Rafi Merino, who combined for four TDs. Next is the rivalry Quarry Bowl.
16. (14) Buchanan (Clovis), (5-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Paso Robles, 33-13
Next: Friday vs. Clovis
The Bears rolled in their nonleague finale behind QB
Joshua Madrigal and WR
Carvell Wafer. The Tri-River League race starts this week.
17. (16) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), (2-2)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, 63-34
Next: Saturday vs. St. Ignatius
The Crusaders rolled in their WCAL opener, scoring on nine of 10 possessions with
Adonyae Brown and
Jeremiah Jones combining for six scores and
Michael Mitchell passing for three. One loss was 56-42 to Pittsburg.
18. (20) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 5-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Pleasant Valley, 37-10
Next: Oct. 12 vs. Windsor
The Cardinals rolled the top-ranked team in the Northern Section, have a bye and will be favored to take the Adobe League. RB
Zachariah Raia ran for two scores and the defense was dominant.
19. (NR) El Cerrito, (4-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Lost to De La Salle, 35-14.
Next: Oct. 11 at Saint Mary's (Albany)
The Gauchos were right there with mighty DLS for a half, expecting to learn from the experience and to win the Tri-County Rock League.
20. (NR) California (San Ramon), 5-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Granada, 35-10
Next: Friday at Livermore
The Grizzlies expect to compete for the East Bay Mountain League crown, a race that includes De La Salle, behind QB
Arjun Banerjee and RB
Jhadis Luckey.
Joe Davidson has covered high school sports in Northern California since 1984, including at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow his work on sacbee.com, on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia
