MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

The top eight teams held serve last week and each plows forward in the playoffs expecting a championship. Every section in Northern California is in play now after the West Catholic Athletic League of the Central Coast Section wrapped up conference play.

The only way for No. 2 Folsom or any other team to be considered for the CIF State Open game is if De La Salle were to lose, which hasn't happened in NorCal play since 1992.

Folsom and De La Salle will NOT meet in the NorCal Open for the third successive season because the CIF tweaked the postseason a bit, allowing the NorCal Open team to have a bye right to the CIF State Open game.

Folsom and No. 3 Grant could face off in a titanic NorCal D-I game, should both win Sac-Joaquin Section championships. Lurking is No. 4 Milpitas, which also has a strong argument for the NorCal D-I game should it win the Central Coast Section Open title. Only section title winners are considered for NorCal or CIF Open games.

See the complete California high school football playoff brackets


1. De La Salle (Concord) (Last week 1) 10-0
Section: North Coast
League: Freelance
Result: The Spartans had a bye in the opening weekend of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs. With a 258-game unbeaten streak against NorCal competition since 1992, the Spartans now target their 23rd consecutive NCS title and 29th overall since 1982. Wins this season include ranked foes in Foothill, Del Oro, Serra and Jesuit from the North, Byrnes (South Carolina) from the East and Servite (Anaheim) from the South.
Next: vs. San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday.

2. Folsom (2) 11-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Bulldogs rolled Stagg (Stockton 70-14) in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as Jake Browning tossed a national-record tying eight first-half touchdowns before sitting the rest of the game. Josiah Deguara had four touchdown receptions and Sam Whittingham returned an interception 25 yards for a score as the Bulldogs extended their section playoff winning streak to nine. The last two losses were to No. 1 De La Salle to cap 14-1 seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Next: vs. Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday.

3. Grant (Sacramento) (3) 11-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Pacers beat Patterson 45-23 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Deshawn Collins rushed for 272 yards and three touchdowns. The Pacers had 11 sacks and three interceptions. This is Grant's best team since its 2010 state-ranked No. 1 team.
Next: vs. Downey (Modesto), Friday.

4. Milpitas (4) 10-0
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Result: The Trojans beat Santa Clara 56-0 to cap league play and a 2-seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs as Christian Rita had two interception returns for scores and Sean Barnes ran for two touchdowns.
Next: vs. No. 18 Bellarmine (San Jose), Friday.

5. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (5) 11-0
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Result: The top-ranked NorCal Division II team are the No. 1 seed in the North Coast Section D-II playoffs and opened with a 61-7 win over Newark Memorial.
Next: vs. Montgomery (Santa Rosa), Friday.

6. Elk Grove (6) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Thundering Herd rolled Vintage (Napa) 69-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Eltoro Allen rushed for 205 yards and two scores on five carries and Manny Scott-Anderson ran for 71 and two scores. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The losses were to No. 2 Grant 26-19 and to No. 10 Jesuit 42-38.
Next: vs. Wood (Vacaville), Friday.

7. Serra (San Mateo) (7) 7-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Padres beat previous No. 9 Bellarmine 28-14 in allowing just 87 yards of offense and Hunter Bishop accounted for two scores. Serra is the 4-seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs. The losses were to were to No. 1 De La Salle 41-13, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 24-14 and to Mitty, which just lost 15-14 to No. 10 Valley Christian, which lost to Serra 24-10.
Next: vs. No. 12 Los Gatos, Saturday.

8. Valley Christian (San Jose) (8) 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Result: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 28-0 and enter the Central Coast Section playoffs as a contender. The losses were to No. 4 Milpitas 31-17 and to No. 7 Serra 24-10.
Next: vs. Palma (Salinas), Friday.

9. St. Mary's (Stockton) (10) 10-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City
Result: The Rams beat River Valley (Yuba City) 55-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as Noah Righetti passed for five touchdowns. Earlier wins include No. 12 Los Gatos and Central Catholic (Modesto).
Next: vs. No. 16 Rocklin, Friday.

10. Jesuit (Carmichael) (11) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Marauders beat Gregori (Modesto) 27-0 as Beau Bisharat rushed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the defense bounced back big after getting belted by No. 3 Grant 52-14 for the Delta League championship. The other loss was an opener to No. 1 De La Salle. An earlier win was 42-38 over No. 6 Elk Grove.
Next: vs. Tracy, Saturday.

11. Foothill (Pleasanton) (12) 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Result: The 2-seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs behind No. 1 De La Salle had a bye. Foothill lost to De La Salle 56-21 earlier.
Next: vs. Antioch, Friday.

12. Los Gatos (13) 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic
Result: Beat Wilcox (Santa Clara) 28-13 to earn the 5-seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs. The losses were to No. 4 Milpitas 27-21 and to No. 9. St. Mary's 35-32.
Next: at No. 7 Serra, Saturday.

13. Merced (14) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Central California
Result: The Modesto Bee's top-ranked team rolled Tokay 66-27 with offensive balance in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener. The losses were to Fresno powers Edison and Clovis West.
Next: vs. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Friday.

14. Del Oro (Loomis) (15) 6-5
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion Golden Eagles beat Roseville 14-6 in a playoff opener on touchdown runs by Dalton Gee and Logan Hurst and two interceptions by Ben Hart. The losses included No. 1 De La Salle and No. 3 Folsom.
Next: vs. 24 Vacaville, Friday.

15. Granite Bay (16) 8-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Grizzlies beat Chavez (Stockton) 63-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener as Justin Yeaton tossed two touchdown passes and Ben Smith ran for two in storming to a 56-0 halftime lead. The losses were to No. 2 Folsom, No. 24 Vacaville and No. 14 Del Oro.
Next: vs. No. 23 Napa, Friday.

16. Rocklin (17) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Thunder beat Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 35-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener as William Floyd tossed two touchdowns and Evyn Holtz ran for two. The losses are to No. 2 Folsom and No. 15 Granite Bay.
Next: vs. No. 9 St. Mary's, Friday.

17. Campolindo (Moraga) (18) 11-0
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Result: The top-ranked Division III team in NorCal earned the No. 1 seed in the North Coast Section D-III field and rolled Ygnacio Valley (Concord) 52-14 in an opener. Jack Stephens tossed three touchdowns. A big early win was 52-27 over No. 23 Napa.
Next: vs. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Friday.

18. Bellarmine (San Jose) (9) 8-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Result: Lost to No. 7 Serra 28-14 in a league finale and ended up with the 7-seed in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs. The other loss was to No. 8 Valley Christian.
Next: at No. 4 Milpitas, Friday.

19. Inderkum (Sacramento) (20) 10-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Result: The Tigers rolled Valley (Sacramento) 60-8 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener as Larry Hardy and Austin Thurman combined for five touchdowns. The loss was to then higher-ranked Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) when a last-play field goal missed.
Next: vs. Benicia, Friday.

20. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (NR) 6-5
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Lancers earned the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section D-II playoffs. An earlier win was 15-14 over No. 21 Mitty.
Next: vs. Mt. Pleasant (San Jose), Friday.

21. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (20) 6-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Monarchs earned the 2-seed in the Central Coast Section D-II playoffs. A big win was 27-14 over No. 7 Serra. The losses were to No. 12 Los Gatos 21-13, No. 20 St. Francis (Mountain View) 15-14 and to No. 18 Bellarmine 20-17.
Next: vs. Willow Glen (San Jose), Friday.

22. Pittsburg (21) 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Result: Earned a 3-seed in the North Coast Section D-I playoffs. Last loss was 13-7 to No. 21 Mitty.
Next: Freedom (Oakley), Friday.

23. Napa (22) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Result: The Indians beat Pitman (Turlock) 39-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener with offensive balance. An earlier win was over No. 24 Vacaville 26-14.
Next: at No. 15 Granite Bay, Friday.

24. Vacaville (23) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Bulldogs beat Yuba City 42-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II opener behind veteran quarterback Chad Hekking. An earlier loss was 26-14 to No. 23 Napa with an early 13-7 win over No. 15 Granite Bay.
Next: at No. 14 Del Oro, Friday.

(TIE) 25. Enterprise (Redding) (24) 10-1
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Result: Earned the No. 1 seed in the Northern Section Division II playoffs and loom as the heavy favorites to repeat. The loss was 44-22 at No. 24 Vacaville.
Next: vs. Paradise, Friday.

(TIE) 25. Oakdale (24) 10-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Mustangs rolled Pacheco (Los Banos) 50-8 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III opener by rushing 59 times for 590 yards and seven touchdowns with Frank Trent going for 117 and four. The loss was to No. 14 Sierra when Oakdale had two turnovers inside the 10.
Next: vs. Vista del Lago (Folsom), Friday.

The Sacramento Bee sizes up the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, from favorites, to contenders, to dark horses

The Sacramento Bee Preps TV Show previews top teams and players in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs

The Sacramento Bee on how great Folsom quarterback Jake Browning has been, amid humility, and how he rates among all-time greats

The Sacramento Bee on how an upstart rolled a rival, and how a visiting team was caught stealing from the host team before kickoff

The Sacramento Bee on a coach who lasted three weeks at a section powerhouse, was let go and re-emerged

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.sacbee.com/preps. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty The Bee Preps Show that runs throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet California.