In a unique and memorable first, there was a prep football game played in London, on a Tuesday, no less. Top-ranked De La Salle took its act across The Pond to play NFL Academy of London in weather much cooler and inviting than the heat wave that baked Northern California.
The top two ranked teams and No. 5 San Ramon Valley are from the North Coast Section with No. 3 Folsom representing the Sac-Joaquin Section and No. 4 Clovis East the Central Section.
These rankings include Central Section teams — Fresno, Bakersfield, Clovis — because the CIF seeding committee includes that section in NorCal playoff brackets.
Clovis quarterback Deagan Rose threw for 267 yards and four touchdowns as the No. 11 Cougars beat Buchanan 37-10 last week. (Photo: Bobby Medellin)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat NFL Academy of London, 31-9
Next: Oct. 18 vs. San Ramon Valley
The top-ranked team by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans impressed in London with speed and execution in showcasing what California football is all about. Earlier wins were over Grant, Serra, Saint Francis and St. Mary's and El Cerrito.
2. (2) Pittsburg, (4-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Los Gatos, 37-20
Next: Friday vs. Freedom
The Pirates are the No. 2-ranked team in the North Coast Section behind the last NCS team to topple De La Salle, in 1991.
Marley Alcantara sizzled against Los Gatos with four touchdown passes, two to
R.J. Mosley. The loss was to national power St. John Bosco.
3. (3) Folsom, (5-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Oak Ridge, 35-7
Next: Friday vs. Del Oro
The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee beat its rival for the 22nd consecutive time, dating back to 2006, and welcomed in transfers who were cleared by the CIF. This included Texas Longhorns-bound lineman
Josiah Sharma.
Ryder Lyons had five touchdowns, firing three TD passes to
Jameson Powell. The loss was by a point to Serra.
4. (5) Clovis East (Clovis), (6-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Clovis West, 44-3
Next: Thursday vs. Central
The Timberwolves opened Tri-River action with a rout as
Tyus Miller passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 121 and a score.
5. (6) San Ramon Valley (Danville), (5-0)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Granada, 35-6
Next: Friday vs. California
Rhett Thompson completed 12 of 16 passes for 206 yards and five touchdowns, three to
Owen Scott, for the Wolves. An earlier big win was over St. Ignatius of San Francisco.
6. (9) Clovis North (Fresno), (4-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Central, 26-21
Next: Friday vs. Clovis
The defending Central Section Division I champions showed a repeat may be in order. They rushed 40 times for 199 yards, including 169 by
Jackson Cinfel, who had two touchdowns. The losses are to state-ranked JSerra and Los Alamitos.
7. (4) Central (Fresno), (5-1)
Section: Central
Last week: Lost to Clovis North, 26-21
Next: Thursday vs. Clovis East
The Grizzlies lost a tough Tri-River Athletic Conference opener despite two TD passes from
Jelani Dippel, who has 19 on the season.
8. (7) St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco), (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Archbishop Riordan, 31-28
Next: Friday at Bellarmine College Prep
The Wildcats backed up their win over Serra with an inspired effort over another West Catholic Athletic League rival as
Soren Hummel passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Jarious Hogan and Steve Malone each ran for a score.
9. (8) Serra (San Mateo), (2-3)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral, 29-12
Next: Friday at Saint Francis
The Padres bounced back from the SI loss by allowing just 84 yards rushing on 20 carries. The win was by a point over Folsom with the other losses were to De La Salle and Bosco.
10. (10) St. Mary's (Stockton), (4-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Lodi, 63-0
Next: Friday at Kimball
The Rams opened Tri County Athletic League play with a statement as
Jaden Galvan passed for two touchdowns, and 10 players carried the ball a combined 30 times for 228 yards. The in-state loss was 38-35 to De La Salle.
11. (9) Clovis, (6-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Buchanan, 37-10
Next: Friday at Clovis North
The Cougars opened TRAC play in impression fashion over a previously unbeaten club as
Deagan Rose passed for 267 yards and four touchdowns.
12. (13) Saint Francis (Mountain View), (3-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Archbishop Mitty, 30-27
Next: Friday vs. Serra
The Lancers impressed in WCAL action with a punishing running game, including 30 carries and 313 yards and two scores by
Kingston Keanaaina. The loss was to De La Salle.
13. (14) Grant (Sacramento), (4-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Kennedy (Sacramento), 76-0
Next: Friday at West Park
Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Pacers bounced back from a loss to the top-ranked team in San Diego with a crushing effort to open Metro League play. The other losses were to De La Salle and Clovis East.
14. (15) Rocklin, (5-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Whitney, 42-0
Next: Friday at Davis
In Sierra Foothill League play, the Thunder downed their cross-town rivals in the Quarry Bowl to take an all-time 13-3 series lead. Rocklin rushed for 398 yards, including 131 by
Rafi Merino, and two touchdowns and 105 by
Derek Keeley and a score. The loss was to Folsom.
15. (18) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 5-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Saturday vs. Windsor
The Cardinals had an off week to prepare for the Adobe League and an unbeaten opponent. Cardinal Newman is averaging nearly 300 yards rushing a game, led by
Jamari Gentry, who has five touchdowns.
16. (12) Los Gatos, (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Lost to Pittsburg, 37-20
Next: Friday at Menlo-Atherton
The Wildcats lost a tough non-league game that they expect will prepare them for another championship run in the Peninsula Bay League.
Grayson Doslak rushed for 94 yard against Pitt.
17. (16) Buchanan (Clovis), (5-1)
Section: Central
Last week: Lost to Clovis, 37-10
Next: Friday at Clovis West
The Bears saw a 14-3 halftime deficit turn into a long second half as the run game stalled out with just 43 yards. The Tri-River League figures to be a meat grinder to the end.
18. (17) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco), (2-3)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Lost to St. Ignatius, 31-28
Next: Friday at Valley Christian
The Crusaders agonized over a tight loss in WCAL action, which goes to show that this is still one of the top leagues in the state. One loss was 56-42 to Pittsburg.
19. (19) El Cerrito, (4-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Bye
Next: Saturday at Saint Mary's (Albany)
The Gauchos had an off week to recover from their loss to De La Salle. This is the favorite to win the Tri-County Rock League.
20. (20) California (San Ramon), 6-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Livermore, 42-14
Next: Friday at San Ramon Valley
The Grizzlies can rock the East Bay Mountain League this week against unbeaten and higher-ranked San Ramon Valley.
Jhadis Luckey rushed for 212 yards and three TDs against Livermore.
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
