Northern California high school football rankings: Marin Catholic jumps in with showdown looming vs No. 12 Cardinal Newman

By Joe Davidson

There were no changes in the Top 15 as none of those teams lost. Serra coach Patrick Walsh won his 200th game, another accolade for a coach whose program was the top team in Northern California the previous three seasons. He has another powerhouse in the making despite early losses to powerhouse programs.
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord) (8-0)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Monte Vista, 42-7
Next: Nov. 1 at California
The top-ranked team by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle and the NCS champion for 31 successive seasons in remaining unbeaten against NCS foes since 1991, the Spartans in East Bay League action rolled behind Toa Faavae, who passed for a touchdown and ran for one, and Dominic Kelley, who had two scores. Earlier wins were over Grant, Serra, Saint Francis and St. Mary's.

2. (2) Pittsburg, (7-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Liberty, 47-15
Next: Nov. 1 at Deer Valley
The Pirates rolled behind Marley Alcantara, who passed for 248 yards and four touchdowns, two to freshman Kenneth Ward. This is the last NCS program to defeat De La Salle, way back in 1991. The loss was to national power St. John Bosco.

3. (3) Folsom, (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Jesuit, 55-10
Next: Nov. 1 at Granite Bay
The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee and a nine-time section champion since 2010, including three in a row, the Bulldogs secured at least a share of another Sierra Foothill League championship. Ryder Lyons had five touchdowns, four passing, and hit Taniela Tupou for three scoring strikes. The loss was early, by a point to Serra.

4. (4) Clovis East (Clovis), (9-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Buchanan, 42-11
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Clovis North
The Timberwolves set themselves up nicely for the Tri-River Athletic Conference championship and the top seed for the Division I playoffs as Tyus Miller passed for 257 yards and four TDs, three to Blake Mathieu. Clovis North beat Clovis East 31-21 last season. An earlier win was over Grant.

5. (5) Saint Francis (Mountain View), (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral, 49-24
Next: Nov. 1 at Valley Christian
The Lancers, an 18-time CCS champion, stand as the only unbeaten team in the West Catholic Athletic League as Kingston Keanaaina had scoring plays of 76, 68, 81 and 51 yards, running and on special teams returns. The loss was to De La Salle in non-league play.

6. (6) Clovis North (Fresno), (7-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Clovis West, 31-19
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Clovis East
The defending Central Section Division I champions seek a TRAC championship repeat this week and the top seed in the Division I playoffs. Lucas Smith passed for three touchdowns. The losses were to state-ranked JSerra and Los Alamitos.

7. (7) Rocklin, (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Del Oor, 35-14
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Oak Ridge
In Sierra Foothill League play, the Thunder rolled a rival as Reeve Slone passed for 199 yards and two TDs, setting up a showdown with Oak Ridge. Rocklin coach Jason Adams and Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor are the best of friends. The loss was to Folsom.

8. (8) St. Mary's (Stockton), (7-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Tracy, 45-14
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Lincoln (Stockton)
The Rams in Tri County Athletic League play continued to cruise with offensive balance and defense as Jaden Galvan passed for 199 yards and two scores. This locks up another league crown for coach Tony Franks. The in-state loss was 38-35 to De La Salle.

9. (9) San Ramon Valley (Danville), (8-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Amador Valley, 29-28
Next: Nov. 8 vs. Monte Vista
The Wolves avoided a major upset as Henry Ellis had an interception to thwart a two-point conversion play in the closing seconds and Rhett Thompson fired three TD passes. An early big win was over St. Ignatius, and the loss was to De La Salle.

10. (10) Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), (6-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Bye
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Cordova
Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee and seeking a section three-peat and a third successive trip to a CIF state final, the Pacers are Metro League champions who expect a high seed in the Division II playoffs. The losses were to De La Salle, Clovis East and San Diego No. 1-ranked Lincoln.

11. (11) St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco), (6-2)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Valley Christian, 20-13
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral
The Wildcats in West Catholic Athletic League play muscled past a team they had to beat in order to really set up the rivalry showdown this week. One loss was to Saint Francis, 27-13.

12. (12) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 8-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat San Marin, 31-3
Next: Nov. 2 at Marin Catholic
The Cardinals in Adobe League play cruised as Tino Retamoza had three TDs, two to Jonah Bertoli. Next is a shot to secure the Redwood Empire Adobe Division crown.

13. (13) Central (Fresno), (7-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Clovis, 41-20
Next: Nov. 1 at Buchanan
The Grizzlies in Tri-River Athletic Conference play won won again behind Jelani Dippel, who passed for 313 yards and five touchdowns. Brandon Smith rushed for 157 yards and a score. The losses are to Clovis East and Clovis North.

14. (14) Junipero Serra (San Mateo), (4-4)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Bellarmine, 47-6
Next: Nov. 2 at Riordan
The defending WCAC champion Padres rolled behind Nano Latu, who rushed for 142 yards and four scores. The losses are to St. Ignatius and Saint Francis in league play, to De La Salle and to national power St. John Bosco. One win was by a point at Folsom.

15. (15) Los Gatos, (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Menlo School, 38-0
Next: Nov. 1 at Wilcox
The Wildcats in Peninsula Bay League action prevailed behind a passing attack that included big receiving days from Beau Musser and Max Thomas. The Peninsula Bay League title is on the line this week. The loss was to Pittsburg, 37-20.

16. (NR) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), (6-2)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Rancho Cotate, 30-0
Next: Nov. 2 vs. Cardinal Newman
The storied Wildcats have bounced back big from an 0-2 start to fashion another big season, including a win over Manteca.

17. (18) Soquel, (6-2)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Monterey, 33-6
Next: Nov. 1 at Salinas
In Pacific Coast Gabilan League action, the Knights of Santa Cruz County cruised behind Sam Whelan, who passed for three TDs and Tyreis Lundy, who ran for 117 yards and two scores. This sets up a nice showdown with Salinas. The losses were in the opening weeks of the season to higher-ranked Los Gatos (14-7) and San Ramon Valley (14-7).

18. (18) Manteca, (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Patterson, 39-27
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Oakdale
A nine-time section champion since 2001, the Buffaloes clinched at least a share of the Valley Oak League championship as Nikko Juarez rushed for 149 yards and three scores, and he had a special teams score. The loss was 29-28 early to Marin Catholic.

19. (20) Salinas, (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Arroyo Grande, 34-24
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Soquel
The Cowboys won the nonleague contest as Emarrcis Turner had 127 yards and two scores. The loss was to Clovis.

20. (NR) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), (5-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Whitney, 63-0
Next: Nov. 1 at Rocklin
The Trojans have been a factor or a force in the greater Sacramento area since the 1980s, including close losses to Folsom in each of the past two Division I section title games. The stars include WR Jasen Womack and Alabama-bound tight end Kaleb Edwards. Three losses were to out-of-section powers and the other to Folsom.


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