The MaxPreps Northern California Top 20 football rankings are topped by a familiar program in the
De La Salle (Concord) Spartans, winners of so many North Coast Section trophies that they've run out of room to stack them.
No. 2
Pittsburg also hails from the NCS and is, remarkably, the last NCS team to defeat the Spartans. That was back in 1991. No typo — 1991.
No. 3
Serra (San Mateo) represents the Central Coast Section and has in the previous three seasons represented Northern California in the elite CIF State Open finals. Preseason NorCal No. 1
Folsom is the top team in the Sac-Joaquin Section and has a one-point loss to the Padres this season.
The Central Section has five ranked teams this week. Those teams are in the NorCal rankings because the CIF places Central Section teams in NorCal football playoff brackets to help balance the fields.
De La Salle is 4-0 this season and sits atop the Northern California high school football rankings. The Spartans have been at No. 1 or near the top of NorCal for the better part of 30-plus years. (Photo: Dennis Lee)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat St. Mary's (Stockton), 38-35
Next: Friday at El Cerrito
Comment: The Spartans played stellar defense in opening wins over Grant (42-14), Serra (39-10) and Saint Francis (42-7) and then ran into a buzz saw. Even in victory, wake-up calls are needed.
2. Pittsburg, (3-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Lost to St. John Bosco, 35-13
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Los Gatos
Comment: The Pirates were able to hang with the national powerhouse with a veteran lineup that helped them go 13-1 in 2023. This is the class of the Bay Valley League — again.
3. Serra (San Mateo), (1-2)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday at Sacred Heart Prep
The Padres own a 22-21 win at Folsom and have losses to De La Salle and Bosco but still stand as the favorite to defend their West Catholic Athletic League championship.
4. Folsom, (3-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Rocklin, 51-14
Next: TBA
The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee raced past then Bee No. 2-ranked Rocklin behind the efforts of five-star QB
Ryder Lyons (five total touchdowns) and a superb defense. Folsom's Sierra Foothill League game this week against Davis was forfeited by the Blue Devils, citing injuries.
5. St. Mary's (Stockton), (3-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Lost to De La Salle, 38-35
Next: Friday vs. Bishop Amat
The Rams opened with a loss at Bishop Manogue of Reno and followed with wins over Central Catholic of Modesto and Marin Catholic of Kentfield, and they had DLS on the ropes. The Rams solidified themselves as a serious SJS title contender, again.
6. Central (Fresno), (5-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Liberty (Bakersfield), 41-14
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Clovis North
Sophomore QB
Jelani Dippel is off to a roaring start with nine TD passes in his last two games and 17 for the season. The Tri-River League race will be one to the wire with the Clovis schools and Buchanan.
7. Clovis East (Clovis), 5-0
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Lemoore, 38-7
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Clovis West
The Timberwolves outpaced Grant 59-45 and kept the fireworks going last week with a bye to rest before the Tri-River League grinder schedule.
8. San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.), (4-0)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat McClymonds, 51-14
Next: Friday vs. Hayward
Rhett Thompson fired five TD passes and had 15 on the season for a team that will contend for the East Bay Mountain League crown.
9. Clovis, (5-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Bullard, 53-0
Next: Oct. 4 at Buchanan
The Cougars are rolling, having scored 231 points with just 53 allowed.
Deagan Rose already has 17 TD passes.
10. Los Gatos, (4-0)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Mountain View, 62-6
Next: Oct. 4 at Pittsburg
The Wildcats have another fine team, one that has outscored opponents 149-40 and faces another big test at Pittsburg before starting Peninsula Bay League action.
11. Grant (Sacramento), (3-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Destiny Christian, 31-10
Next: Friday vs. Lincoln-San Diego
The storied Pacers have losses to state-ranked De La Salle and Clovis East and prepare for another this week. Grant is ranked second by The Sacramento Bee.
12. Rocklin, (3-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Lost to Folsom, 51-14
Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (Sacramento)
The Thunder were in it against Folsom, taking the lead on a dynamic 43-yard TD romp by
Derek Keeley, but it was all Folsom from there.
13. Clovis North (Fresno), (3-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Lost to Los Alamitos, 35-13
Next: Oct. 4 vs. Central
The Broncos have losses to state-ranked JSerra Catholic (35-6) and Los Alamitos (35-14) and rest a week before league play starts.
14. Buchanan (Clovis), (4-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday at Paso Robles
Comment: The Bears can score and they can defend, including a 14-10 effort over Liberty of Bakersfield. The Tri-River League will be a race with Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis East, Central and others.
15. Saint Francis (Mountain View), (2-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: vs. Bellarmine
The Lancers have wins over Helix (35-14) and McClymonds (34-14) and a setback to De La Salle and now gear up for a wild ride in the West Catholic Athletic League.
16. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), (1-2)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Bye
The Crusaders can score, falling 56-42 to Pittsburg, and they have size in the 6-7, 340-pound
Tommy Tofi and the 6-6, 360-pound
Peter Langi, making this a big-time WCAL threat.
17. St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco), (2-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Serra
The Wildcats will be a factor in the WCAL and looked the part with a 16-14 win at San Diego powerhouse Cathedral Catholic and a loss to San Ramon Valley.
18. Granite Bay, (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Jesuit, 30-17
Next: Friday vs. Oak Ridge
The Grizzlies are a contender in the SFL and have a player in two-way terror
Isaiah Ene, a runner and a defender.
19. Liberty (Brentwood), (3-1)
Last week: Beat Amador Valley, 34-28
Section: North Coast
Next: Friday vs. Clayton Valley Charter
The Lions have a 38-21 loss to higher-ranked Los Gatos and will be a factor in the Bay Valley League race that includes Pittsburg.
20. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 4-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Bishop O'Dowd, 56-0
Next: Friday vs. Pleasant Valley
The storied Cardinals will be favored to win the Redwood Empire Adobe League and take on the top team in the Northern Section this week.
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
