MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Football Rankings

1. De La Salle (Concord) (1) 7-0
Beat Amador Valley 52-24 in recovering five turnovers, including interceptions by Michael Hutchings, Andrew Buckley and Das Tautalatasi. Tiapepe Vitale rushed for 142 yards. The Spartans allowed 278 yards passing to Kyle Moreno, which is bound to happen when you trail against this program. Have won 18 consecutive games. Host No. 15 Monte Vista (Danville) on Friday.

2. Elk Grove (2) 7-0
Beat Grant (Sacramento) 24-0 in a Delta Valley Conference contest for the program's 18th consecutive regular-season victory. Wadus Parker had scoring runs of 16 and 27 yards and Robert Frazier had a score to go with 160 yards rushing. The defense handed the Pacers their first shutout since 2005. Play host to Franklin for the DVC title on Friday.

3. Franklin (Elk Grove) (3) 7-0
Rolled Davis with a school-record 72-7 effort. The Wildcats attempted just five passes, completing four for 55 yards. Christian Fonbuena rushed for 123 yards, one of 12 players to carry the ball for 423 total yards. He had two scores, one of seven to reach the end zone. At Elk Grove on Friday.

4. Bellarmine (San Jose) (5) 5-1
A week after beating Mitty (San Jose) 14-10 on a late K.J. Carta-Samuels touchdown, the junior was even better, beating previous No. 5 Serra (San Mateo) 35-34 in an overtime West Catholic Athletic League thriller. Carta-Samuels completed 10 of 13 passes for 184 yards and the game winner to Austin Changras in overtime. Carta-Samuels accounted for four touchdowns and the defense dropped Serra tailback Eric Redwood on a game-winning two-point try. Vs. St. Francis (Mountain View) on Friday at San Jose City College.

5. Folsom (6) 7-0
Beat Jesuit 56-35 in a Delta River League contest in which the Bulldogs led 35-7 at the half and 42-14 early in the third quarter. Jake Browning tossed six touchdown passes and 368 yards and ran for one, and backs Harry Lipnosky and Bailey Laolagi rushed for 85 and 67 yards, respectively. Browning has passed for 2,731 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. Host Sheldon (Sacramento) on Friday. Owns a shootout win over Deer Valley and a rout of Oak Ridge.

6. Serra (San Mateo) (4) 5-1
Lost a crusher at home to Bellarmine 35-34 in overtime despite a 184-yard, four touchdown display by Eric Redwood. Typical coach Patrick Walsh move to go for the jugular and the win as he did with success at Buhach Colony (Atwater) for a 36-35 road win earlier this season. The Padres expect to still contend for the WCAL championship behind Redwood, one of the state's top talents. Serra drops just two spots considering who it lost to and how close it was. Vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) at Kezar Stadium on Friday.

7. Burbank (Sacramento) (7) 7-0
Rolled Valley (Sacramento) 69-0 in a Metro Conference contest. Isiah Williams rushed for three scores, Ben Jones returned a kickoff for a score, Jarad Hill took a punt back for a score and Calvin Green pulled in two touchdown passes from Ernest Jenkins. Host Rosemont (Sacramento) on Friday. Wins include Del Oro (Loomis) and Grant (Sacramento).

8. Deer Valley (Antioch) (8) 6-1
In completing just six passes, Nsimba Webster torched Liberty (Brentwood) for 277 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-7 Bay Valley Athletic League romp. Deon Pruitt scored on an 84-yard sweep and a two-yard run. The Wolverines lost only a shootout at Folsom. At Pittsburg (Antioch) on Friday.

9. Placer (Auburn) (9) 7-0
Beat Bear River (Lake of the Pines) 14-7 in yet another slugfest with their rivals to secure firm hold on the Pioneer Valley League. Placer beat Bear River 10-6 last season. Todd Valliere and Michael Robinson had rushing touchdowns and the Hillmen did not allow an offensive touchdown. At Lincoln on Friday.

10. Logan (Union City) (13) 6-1
The Colts were eager to compete after a bye and a 20-13 overtime loss at Del Oro (Loomis) by taking apart a 5-1 Newark Memorial outfit 55-6. Logan coaches said the Del Oro loss was a wake-up call to an excellent team. At Washington (Fremont) in a Freelance League contest.

11. St. Mary's (Stockton) (11) 5-2
Beat Edison (Stockton) 46-19 in a Tri-City contest behind more steady passing from Kaleb Parrish (9 of 12 for 155 yards, two touchdowns), three rushing touchdowns by Na'im McGee and a 94-yard rushing effort by Javonte Norman. Host West (Tracy) on Friday. Losses are to Central Catholic (Modesto) 28-21 and De La Salle (Concord) (21-13).

12. Buhach Colony (Atwater) (12) 5-2
Beat previous No. 25 Merced 42-21 in a Central California tilt a week after handing Pitman its first loss. The Thunder rushed for 455 yards on 62 carries, including Stefon Gold going for 148 and Jayce Webster for 108 in combining for five touchdowns. At Golden Valley (Merced) on Friday.

13. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (13) 7-1
In scoring five touchdowns on their first five possessions, the Wildcats steamed Terra Linda 45-6 in Marin County Athletic League play. Jared Goff - Captain Consistency - had touchdown strikes of 85, 53 and 19 yards, and Akili Terry scored three total touchdowns. Host Drake (San Anselmo) on Friday. Loss was a shootout at Vacaville.

14. Central Catholic (Modesto) (14) 5-2
Idle. Beat Pacheco (Los Banos) 55-15 in Western League contest in last showing as Rey Vega rushed for 150 yards and scored four total touchdowns in his first gamer for the Raiders. Wins include St. Mary's (Stockton).

15. Monte Vista (Danville) (15) 6-1
Beat Livermore 49-14 in East Bay Athletic League action as Nikita Zamora passed for 246 yards and four touchdowns and ran for one. He also hit Marco Zamora for scoring tosses of of 57 and 23 yards after finding him 14 times a week earlier to key a 44-26 win over then NorCal No. 9 California (San Ramon). Monte Vista beat Pittsburg 44-14 earlier this season. The loss is 21-14 to Foothill (Pleasanton), which battled De La Salle tough, the same DLS team Monte Vista plays next.

16. Oak Grove (San Jose) (16) 6-0
Beat Piedmont Hills (San Jose) 38-14 in Mount Hamilton play with Nick Bernardo rushing for 192 yards and two touchdowns and leading the defense with six tackles and an interception. Chidobe Awuzie had two rushing touchdowns as his club rushed for 456 yards. At Santa Teresa (San Jose) on Friday.

17. Granite Bay (17) 4-3
Rallied to beat Rocklin 41-34 in double overtime in a Sierra Foothill League classic as the Grizzlies inched over .500 for the first time this season in enduring a brutal schedule that seems to be paying dividends. Quarterback Grant Caraway led the way offensively and Luke Bussey and Aaron Knapp returned interceptions for touchdowns. Host Del Oro in a battle of longtime rivals. Losses are to Oaks Christian, Westlake and Pittsburg (Antioch) with wins over Lincoln (Stockton) and Vacaville.

18. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (18) 6-1
Rolled Sheldon (Sacramento) 63-7 for the program's first triumph over the Huskies in an emphatic bounce-back effort from a Delta River League opening loss to Folsom. Josh Wellman rushed for four touchdowns, Jacob Sipes, Jason Samuels and Blake Martin scored on runs and Cory Gregersen returned a fumble for a score. Play rival Ponderosa (5-2) on Friday.

19. St. Ignatius (San Francisco) (19) 5-1
The Wildcats have won five straight since losing an opening thriller at Marin Catholic 28-21, including a 22-7 effort over St. Francis (Mountain View), their first such success in five years. Jack Stinn had two first-quarter touchdown passes to keep SI in the WCAL race. At Riordon (San Francisco) on Saturday.

20. Oakdale (20) 6-1
Crushed East Union (Manteca) 54-6 in a Valley Oak League contest in yet another conference mismatch featuring dominant running and a smothering defense. Host Weston Ranch (Stockton) on Friday. Loss was to San Diego-area No. 1 Oceanside in a Southern California showcase.

21. California (San Ramon) (21) 6-1
After the 44-26 loss to Monte Vista, the Grizzlies bounced back with a 41-38 showing over San Ramon Valley (Danville). California owns a 40-34 win at Pittsburg, among others. Host Livermore on Friday.

22. El Cerrito (22) 7-0
Idle. Last showing was a Tri-County Athletic League rout of Berean Christian 59-6. Host Pinole Valley on Friday.

23. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (23) 5-2
Beat then 5-1 Ponderosa 35-7 in a Delta River League contest for the Eagles' third consecutive victory. Dre Terrell passed for 147 yards and two touchdowns, Isaiah Saunders rushed for 130 yards and reached the end zone, Ennis Mayberry had two scores and Colin Serne returned an interception for a touchdown. Host Jesuit on Friday.

24. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (24) 4-2
Beat Riordon 38-17 in WCAL play a week after losing a heartbreakter 14-10 to Bellarmine, which just inched past Serra, which offers a glimpse of how tight this league race is and how small the margin of error is for these heavies. Vs. Valley Christian (San Jose) on Friday at Foothill College.

25. Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) (NR) 7-0
The Cougars of the North Bay League have become defensive tyrants, allowing 16 points in its last five games with three shutouts. A 28-7 win over Casa Grande (Petaluma) moved RC to 4-0 in league play and maintains D-II bowl hopes. At Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa) on Friday.

NorCal news and notes...

*It's true what they say about the West Catholic Athletic League. It's loaded, muscle bound and still looming large as the top league in Northern California from top to bottom. You might get some argument about the Delta River League in the Sacramento region as being just as top heavy with MaxPreps NorCal No. 2 Elk Grove and No. 3 Franklin (Elk Grove), who face off this weekend and could very well meet a WCAL bruiser in a NorCal regional playoff in December. Our view so far in watching all four: It's a dead heat. No clear top dog in a show of talent, skill and overall NorCal parity. De La Salle is still the clear monster of the lot, including a crushing 41-7 opening-night win over Bellarmine. Bells coach Mike Janda said that outcome has helped his team grow with the constant reminder that the Bells are good but have work to do before being considered great.

*On Saturday in San Mateo, Bellarmine emerged as the class of the WCAL, if just by a hair — or a yard or two. The Bells of San Jose dropped standout Serra back Eric Redwood on a game-winning two-point try in overtime, allowing Bellarmine to hold on 35-34 and flood the field in celebration. It marked Bellarmine's 11th consecutive WCAL win, no easy feat. Redwood was otherwise spectacular, rushing for 187 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Bellarmine quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels was superb, completing 10 of 13 passes for 184 yards and four total scores. He is the cousin of Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) senior passer Jason Samuels, whose team could also factor in the NorCal regional bowl scene.

Serra coach Patrick Walsh said he had no regrets in going for two and the win. He did so at Buhach Colony (Atwater) earlier this season — with Redwood slithering in for the winning conversion.

* In perhaps the most exciting game of the weekend in Northern California, Freedom (Oakley) beat Pittsburg (Antioch) 49-48 in Bay Valley Athletic League show. A blocked PAT by Freedom star Darrell Daniels with 3:30 to go was the difference. Freedom moved to 5-2, with one loss to No. 3 Franklin in blowing a 21-0 lead. Dante Mayes had three of his four touchdowns go to Joe Mixon.

* In a rousing bounce-back effort, California (San Ramon) beat San Ramon Valley (Danville) 41-38 in East Bay Athletic League action behind Karris Johnson, who rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns to offset the 391 yards passing and four total touchdowns by Cameron Birse.

* Granite Bay rallied to beat Sierra Foothill League rival Rocklin 41-34 in double overtime. Grant Caraway scored the winning touchdown and continues to improve as a first-year starter. Rocklin was led by junior Logan Webb, who tossed five touchdowns and had his Thunder in position to win it on the last play of regulation before confusion and chaos. Just as Rocklin kicked what would have been a game-winning field goal, the play was blown dead. Referees incorrectly believed there were 12 men on the field. Rocklin players then celebrated, thinking the kick was good. Not so - blown dead. The next attempt was just inches wide.

* A game between San Francisco rivals Mission and Marshall was stopped with 1:10 left in the half by game officials when players started to fight. Mission led 37-0 at that point and was declared the winner this week by San Francisco Commissioner Don Collins. The fracas also included the ejection of Marshall coach Nicholas Wilson.

Joe Davidson has covered high schools with The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD; on Facebook: sacbeepreps; and online: sacbee.com/preps; and radio podcasts: ESPN1320.net.