MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

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There was very little change in the rankings this week, largely because five of the top nine teams had byes.

Showdowns loom now that are sure to impact the rankings, including: No. 1 De La Salle at No. 16 Granite Bay in a nonleague game, No. 7 Elk Grove at No. 3 Grant in a Delta League contest, No. 5 Del Oro at No. 2 Folsom in Sierra Foothill League play, No. 4 Bellarmine against No. 8 Serra in a West Catholic Athletic League thriller and No. 6 Clayton Valley Charter taking on No. 13 Monte Vista in Diablo Valley play.


1. (Previous: 1) De La Salle (Concord) (3-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Spartans were idle, last beating Orange Lutheran (Orange) 41-3 behind dominant defense and the running back duo of Antoine Custer and Andrew Hernandez. The Spartans, terrifically coached and prepared, have gone unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 261 games, and are primed for another race toward the CIF State Bowl games in Sacramento.

2. (2) Folsom (5-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: vs. No. 5 Del Oro, Friday
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs extended their state-leading regular-season winning streak to 36 by beating No. 16 Granite Bay 27-14, as Jake Jeffrey and Roger Neal led the way. Christian Huber continues to excel at receiver after little playing time a year ago. Hard work and skill has paid off.

3. (3) Grant (Sacramento) (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. No. 7 Elk Grove, Friday
Update: The Pacers beat Franklin (Elk Grove) 27-0 after leading 6-0 at the half. Mike Green, Michael Cook and Deshawn Collins all played well, as did the defense, a unit headed by Elijah Orr. The Grant-Elk Grove rivalry has been a good one since 1991.

4. (4) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (3-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: vs. No. 8 Serra (San Mateo), Friday
Update: The Bells, top-ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, were idle. They last beat Aptos 35-7 behind three rushing touchdowns from Vincent Fernandez and another by Devon Buenrostro. An earlier win was 34-31 over No. 5 Del Oro behind the quarterback heroics of Troy Martig.

5. (5) Del Oro (Loomis) (2-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: at No. 2 Folsom, Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles rolled Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 52-10, as Justin Burrage, Camrion Davis and Dalton Gee scored on defensive touchdowns. Del Oro has losses to four-time defending Hawaii Division I state champion Punahou (Honolulu), 22-15, and 34-31 to No. 4 Bellarmine.

6. (6) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (3-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. No. 13 Monte Vista, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles were idle, last beating previously ranked Logan (Union City) 42-13, as Luis Ramos passed for two scores and Ray Jackson III had 170 yards and a touchdown. The loss was 27-26 to No. 2 Folsom in an opening game that came down to the wire.

7. (7) Elk Grove (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: at No. 3 Grant, Friday
Update: The Thundering herd beat Davis 55-0, as Ryan Robards ran for 199 yards and accounted for five scores and the defense again dominated. So did the offensive line known as "The Hammerheads."

8. (8) Serra (San Mateo) (2-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. No. 4 Bellarmine, Friday
Update: The Padres were idle, last beating South San Francisco 40-0, leading by that total at the half. The loss was to No. 1 De La Salle, 37-21. The Padres were relieved to learn that a two-year playoff ban for electing not to compete in a playoff consolation game last season was reduced to one year.

9. (9) Valley Christian (San Jose) (3-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Warriors were idle, last beating once-ranked Milpitas 22-21 on a Miles Kendrick 81-yard touchdown to Morian Walker jr. Next is WCAL play, where the games are similarly intense.

10. (10) Foothill (Pleasanton) (5-0)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: at San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday
Update: Ben Wooldridge passed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and Isaiah Floyd rushed for three scores in a 35-7 rout over Granada (Livermore).

11. (11) Central Catholic (Modesto) (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: at Lathrop, Friday
Update: The Raiders rolled 3-0 Weston Ranch (Stockton) 59-14, as Hunter Petlansky accounted for three touchdowns and Jared Rice ran for 109 yards and two scores.

12. (12) Antioch (5-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at Heritage (Brentwood), Oct. 9
Update: The Panthers rolled Pinole Valley 52-0, leading 38-0 at the half, as Najee Harris rushed for 159 yards and two scores on just six carries, all in the first quarter. Numan Najib passed for 197 yards and a score.

13. (13) Monte Vista (Danville) (4-0)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: at No. 6 Clayton Valley Charter, Friday
Update: The Mustangs beat Livermore in a league opener, 48-17, as Jake Haener passed for 308 yards and six touchdowns, three each to Traehone Banda and Noah Sol. An earlier win was over No. 14 Pittsburg.

14. (14) Pittsburg (3-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: at Castlemont (Oakland), Friday
Update: The Pirates beat Vacaville in a nonleague game, 34-24, as Montaz Thompson rushed for 170 yards and three scores and Isaiah Turner two. Charles Ramirez had 15 tackles and Michael Pryor contributed two sacks.

15. (16) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (3-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: at St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Lancers were idle, last beating Atascadero 20-0 after beating previous No. 14 Palma (Salinas), 28-14. Defense continues to be the strength.

16. (15) Granite Bay (3-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. No. 1 De La Salle, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies lost to No. 2 Folsom 27-14 after trailing 21-0 early. Sam Cusano and Kyle Kraft have led the way. The real gauge comes now in the form of De La Salle.

17. (17) Rocklin (3-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: at No. 18 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), Friday.
Update: The Thunder were idle, last beating Sacramento 28-17, as Evyn Holtz ran for 175 yards and two scores and the defense came up with four turnovers. The loss was to Whitney (Rocklin) 28-20, a game in which Rocklin offensive stars Holtz and William Floyd did not play.

18. (18) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (4-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. No. 17 Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Woodcreek (Roseville) 35-28 in double overtime, as Ian Book passed for 193 yards and a score and ran for one and Luke Goins, Gage Webb and Michael Pittman each ran for scores. Pittman caught the game winner. The loss was to unbeaten Reed (Sparks, Nev.) in a shootout.

19. (19) Wood (Vacaville) (5-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: vs. Vintage (Napa), Oct. 9
Update: The Willdcats beat previous No. 21 Freedom (Oakley) 55-31, as Marcus Howard passed for 307 yards and four touchdowns and Damon Lewis rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns. Tayvian Cunningham had two touchdown receptions.

20. (20) Inderkum (Sacramento) (5-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: at River City (West Sacramento), Friday
Update: The Tigers won their 16th-consecutive league game, downing Yuba City 48-20, as Trajon Cotton tossed two touchdowns and ran for one and Jimmie Johnson ran for two scores and added a third.

21. (22) Palma (Salinas) (3-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: at Christopher (Gilroy), Friday
Update: The Chieftains beat Aptos 24-13. Their lone loss was 28-14 to No. 15 Saint Francis.

22. (24) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (3-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: at No. 23 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Saturday
Update: The Crusaders beat St. Mary's (Berkeley) 49-14 in a nice warm-up before opening WCAL play against longtime power Mitty.

23. (NR) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (3-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Keith Burns
Next: vs. No. 22 Riordan (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Monarchs are yet another contender in the muscle-bound WCAL, the deepest league in Northern California. The team is led by quarterback Samuel Serra, a running and passing threat. Wins include 45-15 over Los Gatos, 34-21 over Aptos and 52-28 over Palo Alto.

24. (25) Napa (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: vs. Vanden, Friday
Update: The Indians, a longtime playoff regular under coach Troy Mott, were idle, yet still buzzing from their 21-14 win over then-No. 14 Campolindo (Moraga), thanks to a late defensive stand to halt the 19-game winning streak for the defending CIF state Division III champions. The offensive leaders are Nathan Toma and Cal Bard.

25. (TIE) (25) Campolindo (Moraga) (4-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: at Dougherty Valley (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Cougars won their 25th-consecutive league game with a 14-10 victory over Dublin. Jacob Westphal and Max Flower hooked up in the passing game and Matthew Ringquist rushed for 90 yards and a score. The loss was 21-14 to No. 24 Napa.

25. (TIE) (NR) Oakdale (4-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: at Kimball (Tracy), Friday
Update: The Mustangs are a longtime section powerhouse, from the days when Trent Merzon quarterbacked the team to recent years as coach. Oakdale is a source of community pride.

Joe 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

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