Video: Top 25 high school football rankings MaxPreps National Football Editor Zack Poff breaks down this week's national movement.
League play starts for a good many teams in these rankings, which included some shuffling with upsets. New teams with proven pedigree also jumped into the rankings.
MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings
photo by Jason Weed
Willem Karnthong, Antioch
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 4-0Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Update: The top-ranked team by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans beat Saint Francis 33-15 despite four turnovers in downing the best team from the Central Coast Section (earlier this season, De La Salle defeated the top team in the Sac-Joaquin Section in Folsom, 14-0).
Shamar Garrett rushed for 148 yards and two touchdowns and returned an interception 84 yards for a score as De La Salle extended its unbeaten streak against Northern California teams north of Fresno to 294, dating back to 1992. The Spartans are a remarkable 377-5-2 against NorCal teams since 1984 and 445-25-3 overall since 1982 with 26 consecutive NCS titles and 30 since 1981 with a record 12 consecutive CIF State title-game appearances.
2. (2) Folsom, 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. Oak Ridge
Update: The Bulldogs crushed state-ranked Chaminade 70-34, leading 28-0 early, as
Kaiden Bennett accounted for seven touchdowns, including three passes to Clemson-bound
Joe Ngata. The loss was 14-0 to De La Salle. Folsom is 116-10 this decade with six section and three CIF State title teams (and two 14-1 teams that lost to De La Salle in the 2012 and 2013 NorCal Open finals, since dropped).
3. (4) Liberty (Brentwood), 4-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Ryan Partridge
Next: vs. Cardinal Newman
Update: The Lions rolled a solid Rocklin team 51-9, scoring four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to blow it open.
Jay Butterfield passed for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Liberty is coming off of its first NCS championship in program history.
4. (8) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 3-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. Folsom
Update: The Trojans had a bye. The Trojans seek to end a 12-game losing streak dating to 2006 against Folsom in an SFL opener. They have won four section Division II titles since 1998 and reached the D-I finals twice since 2012.
5. (9) Del Oro (Loomis), 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Walters
Next: vs. Granite Bay
Update: The Golden Eagles beat Sacramento 45-18 as
Sheldon Conde rushed for three scores and came up with three interceptions on defense in rolling to another rout. Del Oro reached a section final for the 18th time last season, having won five since 2005. Eighteen starters returned for another run.
6. (7) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. St. Ignatius, Sept. 21
Update: The Lancers lost to De La Salle 33-15 despite two scores by
Evan Williams. This is still the top team in the Central Coast Section. Saint Francis is the defending CIF State Division I-A champion. This program has won 17 section titles.
7. (28) Antioch, 4-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: John Lucido
Next: Marin Catholic
Update: The Panthers beat Clayton Valley Charter 35-34 as
Willem Karnthong accounted for four scores and
Gaudie Campbell rushed for 168 yards. Antioch was ranked too low initially but victories tend to change things in a hurry. The Panthers have had roller coaster runs, going 1-19 from 2004 and 2005, 1-9 in 2010 and 2013 and 11-1 in 2015.
8. (3) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 3-1Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Canyon Springs, Sept. 21
Update: The Ugly Eagles lost to Antioch 35-34 despite 299 yards rushing from
Makhi Gervais. An early win was 38-31 over Pittsburg. The Ugly Eagles have emerged as a power of late, going 12-1 in 2008, 12-2 in 2012, 11-2 in 2013, 15-1 in 2015 and 13-2 in 2016.
9. (5) Pittsburg, 2-2Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. Vacaville
Update: The Pirates beat Serra 44-35 behind some defensive excellence, including four sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.One loss was to state power Centennial 35-7 and the other was in overtime to Clayton Valley Charter, 38-31. Pittsburg lost to De La Salle in the NCS finals last season, beat Granite Bay in a NorCal final and nearly won the CIF State Division I title. Pittsburg is the last NorCal team to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 NCS finals.
10. (6) Serra (San Mateo), 1-2Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. Archbishop Mitty, Sept. 21
Update: The Padres lost to Pittsburg 44-35 despite 292 yards passing and four touchdowns by
Luke Bottari. The win was 41-17 over Sac-Joaquin Section longstanding power Elk Grove. The other loss was to Serra of Gardena 41-22 in an Honor Bowl showcase. Last season, Serra won the WCAL, CCS, NorCal and CIF State titles.
11. (10) Placer (Auburn), 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Foothill Valley
Coach: Joey Montoya
Next: vs. El Dorado
Update: The Hillmen beat Vista del Lago 70-27 a week after scoring 69 points.
Marshall Chapman rushed for 248 yards and four scores. Seventeen starters are back from a CIF state finalist. This was a state-wide power in the 1970s.
12. (18) Monte Vista (Danville), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Matt Russi
Next: vs. Bishop O'Dowd
Update: The Mustangs had a bye. An earlier win was over Granite Bay 9-3. Monte Vista went 11-1 in 2005 and 12-1 in 2016.
13. (NR) Palma (Salinas), 3-0Section: Central Coast
League: Pacific Coast
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Update: The Chieftains beat Menlo-Atherton 26-20 in overtime as
Anthony Villegas rushed for 169 yards and two scores. Big wins prompt big jumps in the rankings. Palma has won 10 or more games seven times since 2005 under coach Carnazzo.
14. (11) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton, Calif.), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula
Coach: Adhir Ravipati
Next: vs. Valor Christian, Sept. 21
Update: The Bears lost to Palma 26-20 in overtime. An earlier win was over ranked Mitty 28-21 despite 116 yards rushing and two scores from
Deston Hawkins. Menlo-Atherton reached the CIF 3-AA title game two years ago.
15. (12) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Sione Taufoou
Next: vs. Serra, Sept. 21
Update: The Monarchs beat Acalanes 22-17 after falling to Menlo-Atherton 28-21. Mitty expects a championship run in the WCAL. It went 9-1-1 in 2009 and 11-2 in 2013.
16. (13) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 3-0Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Paul Rosa
Next: vs. Santa Clara
Update: The Chargers beat Aragon 55-14 by rushing for 516 yards, averaging a whopping 16.6 per carry.
Paul Rosa ran for 287 yards on 11 carries for three scores and
Gabe Herrera rushed for two touchdowns. An earlier win was 10-6 over Valley Christian. Wilcox has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons.
17. (17) Valley Christian (San Jose), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sept. 21
Update: The Warriors beat Clovis West 42-20 as
Michael Corini rushed for two scores. The loss was 10-6 to Wilcox. Valley Christian went 12-1 in 2004, 12-1 in 2005, 11-2 in 2010 and 13-2 in 2016.
18. (18) Central Catholic (Modesto), 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Manteca
Update: The top-ranked team by The Modesto Bee, the Raiders beat Lincoln of Stockton 47-7 as
Dalton Durossette passed for 111 yards and three scores, one of seven who reached the end zone. An earlier win was 33-20 over St. Mary's. The loss was to De La Salle 35-7 after trailing by just 14 in the third quarter. Coach Canepa won CIF state titles here in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
19. (27) Inderkum (Sacramento), 3-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. Bella Vista
Update: The Tigers had a bye. They have been a section power under coach Stark since 2006, winning 10 or more games 12 successive seasons with seasons of 12-2, 12-1, 11-3 and 11-1 of late, relying on the old-school wing-T run scheme.
20. (18) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: TJ Ewing
Next: vs. Paraclete, Sept. 21
Update: The Mustangs beat Cosumnes Oaks 63-28 as
Zach Larrier accounted for 331 yards, including two touchdown strikes to
Andre Crump. Monterey Trail has twice reached Section Divison I title games.
21. (17) Freedom (Oakley), 3-1Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Andrew Coakley
Next: vs. San Ramon Valley
Update: The Falcons beat San Leandro 20-7 after falling to California 42-2. The Falcons went 10-2 in 2011, 11-2 in 2016 and 9-3 in 2017.
22. (19) Granite Bay, 2-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. Del Oro
Update: The Grizzlies rolled Vacaville 31-0 as
Chase Garmon scored two rushing touchdowns and
Matthew Fowler had 13 tackles. An earlier win was 27-12 over Jesuit. The opening loss was 9-3 to Monte Vista.
23. (20) Jesuit (Carmichael), 1-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Next: vs. Rio Americano
Update: The Marauders rolled Christian Brothers 47-7 after losing to ranked Folsom and Granite Bay.
Cade Cunningham,
Hank Harvego and
Kendric Bailey led the way on offense. Jesuit has been a regional power since 1992.
24. (21) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: vs. Liberty
Update: The Cardinals beat Summit Academy 39-13 as
Jackson Pavitt passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for two more. This has been a powerhouse program since the 1970s, when the Cardinals once held the state record for consecutive wins at 47.
25. (25) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 2-1Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. Monte Vista
Update: The Dragons beat Seaside 49-6 as
Austin Jones rushed for 160 yards and two scores. He now has 5,270 yards and 66 touchdowns in his prep career.
The Next 1026. California (San Ramon) — 2-1
27. Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) — 3-0
28. San Ramon Valley (Danville) — 2-1
29. Campolindo (Moraga) — 3-1
30. Palo Alto — 3-0
31. Oakdale — 3-1
The Sacramento Bee on regional teams closing in on league openers ...
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