Video: MaxPreps Sacramento powered by SMUDThe gun lap to the final stretch of the regular season approaches. The only real surprise is Del Oro (Loomis) not gaining any big wins, as the Golden Eagles have slipped out of the Top 25 with more close, agonizing losses than anyone in Loomis cares to remember.
De La Salle rumbles on, and Clovis in the Central Section fumes — falling in a game in which a late drive came against 13 defenders on several snaps. A game of note is Thursday when No. 16 Rocklin visits No. 2 Folsom in a Sierra Foothill League classic.
MaxPreps NorCal Top 25 Football Rankings
Saint Francis moved into the No. 7 spot in this week's NorCal Rankings.
Photo by Ted Walker
North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Del Oro (Loomis), Friday
Update: The preseason national No. 1 Spartans beat state powerhouse Long Beach Poly 52-6, holding the visitors to 83 yards of offense and allowing just a kickoff for a score. The one concern is turnovers and fumbles. The Spartans know they have to clean that up. Now it's back to the NorCal feeding frenzy. De La Salle has gone unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 263 games. The loss was to 8-0 Trinity in Texas as a game-winning catch in the closing seconds just missed.
2. (2) Folsom (7-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: vs. No. 16 Rocklin, Thursday.
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs were idle. Folsom has a state-leading 23-game winning streak and a state-leading 38-game regular-season winning streak, dating back to 2011. Tackles
Kooper Richardson and
Jonah Williams have been stellar.
3. (3) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (6-1)Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Concord, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Northgate 41-3 in devouring early league foes.
Ray Jackson III ran for 128 yards and a score and
Luis Ramos had 119 and two while the defense forced four turnovers. An earlier win was 21-17 over then-No. 13 Monte Vista. The loss was 27-26 to No. 2 Folsom in an opening game that came down to the wire.
4. (4) Elk Grove (7-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: at Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Thundering Herd rolled Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 63-13 as
Ryan Robards scored six more times — he averages 24 points a game — as the team rushed for 370 yards on 49 carries. The defense and offensive line have been exceptional. An earlier win was 42-7 at then-No. 3 Grant as Robards scored six times.
5. (5) Foothill (Pleasanton) (8-0)Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: at California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Falcons beat ranked Monte Vista (Danville) 35-27 as
Cash Connolly and
Isaiah Floyd again led the running game. Foothill cleared its first tough test smoothly.
6. (6) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (5-1)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at No. 7 Saint Francis, Saturday
Update: The Bells bounced back from the 35-28 loss to ranked Mitty to beat ranked Riordan 14-6 as backup quarterback
Ike Ogbogu was strong again in relief of star quarterback
Troy Martig, sidelined with injury. The defense earned game balls here.
7. (10) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (6-0)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 6 Bellarmine, Saturday
Update: Top ranked by The San Jose Mercury News, the Lancers beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 28-21 after downing then-No. 6 Valley Christian 21-16 to emerge as the last unbeaten team in WCAL play. An earlier win was over No. 24 Palma.
8. (8) Grant (Sacramento) (6-1)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Sheldon (Sacramento), Friday
Update: The Pacers beat Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 21-6 as
DeShawn Collins and
Mike Green II combined for 272 yards rushing and three scores and
David Moala and
Jemel Johnson combined for 19 tackles. An earlier win was 14-7 over ranked Bullard. The loss was to No. 3 Elk Grove.
9. (8) Central Catholic (Modesto) (7-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Sierra (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat Manteca 28-6 as
Justin Rice ran for 285 yards and three scores and the team rushed 45 times for 390 yards. Central Catholic is the three-time defending CIF State Division IV champion, now playing up a division.
10. (9) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (5-1)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: at St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Crusaders lost to Bellarmine 14-6 after beating then-No. 8 Serra, 66-45. An earlier win was over Mitty, 37-21.
11. (11) Valley Christian (San Jose) (5-1)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. No. 23 Mitty, Saturday
Update: The Warriors beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 38-7 in a nice bounce-back showing from losing to No. 7 Saint Francis 21-16. Defense has been a key.
12. (15) Antioch (7-0)Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Panthers beat Freedom (Oakley) 32-17 as
Najee Harris ran for 236 yards and three scores and also caught a touchdown.
13. (16) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (7-1)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: at Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday
Update: The Trojans beat previously ranked Del Oro (Loomis) 24-21 as the defense shined and
Ian Book dazzled when he absolutely had to. An earlier win was against then-ranked Granite Bay, 36-28. The loss was to unbeaten Reed of Nevada.
14. (12) Clovis (6-1)Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Coach: Rich Hammond
Next: vs. Buchanan (Fresno), Friday
Update: For weeks the top-ranked team by The Fresno Bee, Clovis lost to Central (Fresno) 21-20 in a game delayed into the following morning by lightning with other oddities thrown in, too. Clovis faced 13 defenders — not the allowed 11 — during a late drive. That happened on five plays, and there were 12 defenders on another — and the referees didn't catch it.
15. (13) Bullard (Fresno) (5-1)Section: Central
League: County/Metro
Coach: Don Arax
Next: vs. San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), Friday.
Update: The Knights beat Madera South 45-14 as
Charles Williams rushed for 336 yards and four touchdowns in continuing his great career. The loss was to then-No. 3 Grant, 14-7, in a game moved to Sacramento in the last minute due to nearby fires in Fresno.
16. (18) Rocklin (5-2)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: at No. 2 Folsom, Thursday
Updade: The Thunder beat Woodcreek (Roseville) 38-3 as
Evyn Holtz rushed for four touchdowns and caught a short pass and broke it for a 71-yard score. An earlier loss was to No. 13 Oak Ridge.
17. (17) Monte Vista (Danville) (5-2)Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: at Granada (Livermore), Friday
Update: The Mustangs lost to No. 5 Foothill, 35-27, despite 292 yards passing and two touchdowns from
Jake Haener. The loss was to No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter, 21-17. An earlier win was a shootout over No. 18 Pittsburg.
18. (19) Pittsburg (6-1)Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. Heritage (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Pirates beat Deer Valley (Antioch) 31-28 as
Montaz Thompson had 161 yards rushing and a score and
Carlos "C.J." McClure returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown. The loss was to No. 17 Monte Vista in a shootout.
19. (21) Inderkum (Sacramento) (8-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: at Rio Linda, Oct. 30.
Update: The Tigers beat River Valley (Yuba City), 48-21, as
Raekwon Turner rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns and
Derrick Henderson went for 126 and three in rolling up 512 yards of team offense.
Levi Lafaele had three sacks as Inderkum inched closer to winning the league for the eighth time in nine years.
20. (22) Napa (7-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: at Vacaville, Friday
Update: The Indians beat previous No. 20 Wood 38-21 as
Cal Bard ran for 87 yards and three scores and
Nathan Toma ran for 165 and two in a battle for first place. The defense came up with three interceptions.
21. (21) Serra (San Mateo) (3-3)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Saturday.
Update: The Padres bounced back from a 66-45 loss to No. 9 Riordan to beat ranked Mitty 26-0. Earlier losses included top-ranked De La Salle and then No. 4 Bellarmine.
22. (24) Palma (Salinas) (5-1)Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: at Salinas, Friday
Update: The Chieftains beat Monte Vista Christian as
Jack Richardson passed for 202 yards and two scoring strikes to
Liam McMillin, who had 148 yards receiving. The loss was 28-14 to No. 7 Saint Francis.
23. (14) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (4-2)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Keith Burns
Next: at No. 11 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Monarchs lost to No. 21 Serra 26-0 after beating then-No. 4 Bellarmine 35-28.
24. (20) Wood (Vacaville) (5-1)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: vs. No. 23 Napa, Friday
Update: The Wildcats lost to No. 20 Napa, 38-21, and may have lost the MEL title, too.
Marcus Howard passed for 251 and three scores.
(TIE) 25. (25) Campolindo (Moraga) (7-1)Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: vs. Miramonte (Orinda), Oct. 30
Update: The Cougars won their 28th-consecutive league game by beating Las Lomas 59-21, leading 45-7 at the half.
Niki Moore rushed for 145 yards and two scores and
Jacob Westphal passed for 155 and three. The loss was 21-14 to No. 20 Napa.
(TIE) 25. (25) Oakdale (7-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: at Weston Ranch (Stockton), Friday
Update: The Mustangs, defending section Division III champions, beat East Union (Manteca) 40-14 as the defense continues to shine. Oakdale is ranked second by The Modesto Bee, behind Central Catholic. The teams meet in Week 10.
The Sacramento Bee on a NorCal quarterback who eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards ... click hereThe Sacramento Bee on the gutsy call of the season by a coach, and the results ... click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since
1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through The Bee:
sacbee.com and through Facebook: sacbeepreps
