MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 high school football rankings

MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 Football Rankings

1. Elk Grove (1) 7-0
Beat Grant (Sacramento) 24-0 in a Delta Valley Conference contest for the program's 17th 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 Herd defense handed the Pacers their first shutout since 2005. Elk Grove plays host to Franklin for the DVC title on Friday.

2. Franklin (Elk Grove) (2) 7-0
Rolled Davis with a school-record 72-7 effort. The Wildcats attempted just five passes, completing four for 55 yards, so squash any thoughts of running up the score here. It's not the nature of coach Mike Johnson, one of the classy leaders in the business. Christian Fonbuena rushed for 123 yards, one of 12 players to carry the ball for a team total of 423 yards. He had two scores and was one of seven Wildcats to reach the end zone. At Elk Grove on Friday.

3. Folsom (3) 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 in the third. Jake Browning passed for 368 yards and six touchdown passes 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.

4. Burbank (Sacramento) (4) 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 to the end zone and Calvin Green pulled in two touchdown passes from Ernest Jenkins. Host Rosemont (Sacramento) on Friday.

5. Placer (Auburn) (5) 7-0
Beat Bear River 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.

6. St. Mary's (Stockton) (6) 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).

7. Buhach Colony (Atwater) (7) 5-2
Beat previous No. 13 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.

8. Granite Bay (8) 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. At No. 14 Del Oro in a battle of longtime rivals. Losses are to Westlake, Oaks Christian and Pittsburg (Antioch).

9. Central Catholic (Modesto) (9) 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 (28-21). At Livingston on Friday.

10. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (10) 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.

11. Oakdale (11) 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 (Stocktin) on Friday. Loss was to San Diego-area No. 1 Oceanside in SoCal showcase.

12. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (12) 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.

13. Del Campo (Fair Oaks) (14) 5-2
Beat Oakmont 52-27 in a Capital Valley Conference game as Josh Blumgold rushed for 168 yards and four scores. The Cougars continue to grind teams with its punishing offensive line. Play Christian Brothers (Sacramento) on Friday at historic Hughes Stadium. Lost a close game to top-ranked Elk Grove and at North Section power Enterprise.

14. Del Oro (Loomis) (NR) 3-4
The Golden Eagles are rolling again with a three-game winning streak after suffering early losses to state-ranked power Westlake (16-13 in overtime), Burbank (28-23) and Grant (31-30) before bouncing then NorCal No. 3 Logan (Union City) 20-13 in overtime and winning two Sierra Foothill League contests, including Friday over Roseville 24-7. And welcome back San Jose State-bound back Brandon Monroe, who sat the previous three games with a knee strain. The senior opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a score and had a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown. Dylan Kainrath and Mark Leveron also ran well.

15. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) (16) 6-1
Rolled El Dorado 43-0 a week after taking down Galt 55-17 and two weeks after smoking Union Mine 55-7 in remaining unbeaten in Sierra Valley Conference play. There is balance, headed by steady quarterback Alex Kropp and junior national recruit receiver Alex Van Dyke. Loss was to No. 2 Franklin 23-3 in a game that was 9-3 midway through the fourth quarter. Play host to emerging Vista del Lago (Folsom) for the league title on Friday.

16. Rocklin (15) 3-4
Lost to Granite Bay 41-34 in a double overtime crusher in a Sierra Foothill League contest. The Thunder thought it had the game won on the final play of regulation with a made field goal but it was whistled dead when referees incorrectly thought Rocklin had too many men on the field. On the next attempt, the kick just missed. Logan Webb tossed five touchdown passes in yet another fine effort for the junior. At Woodcreek (Roseville) on Friday.

17. Nevada Union (Grass Valley) (17) 4-3
A week after stumbling badly at home to Rocklin, the Miners bounced back big to belt Woodcreek 45-7 as Kyle Cota passed for 324 yards. Tanner Vallejo rushed for two scores, had a sack and an interception and Hank Humphers bulled in for two rushing scores. At Roseville on Friday with the SFL title still within reach.

18. Yuba City (18) 6-1
Routed Pioneer (Woodland) 50-13 to remain unbeaten in Tri-County League action with the Honkers rushing for 339 yards. including 100 on three carries by Nate Van Dusen and 83 on three for Omar Herrera. Van Dusen and Devin Pettengill each rushed for two touchdowns. Host Woodland on Friday. Loss was 42-33 at Placer and wins include 49-42 over Inderkum (Sacramento). Honkers seek first league title since 1987.

19. Merced (13) 4-3
Lost to Buhach Colony 42-21 in a Central California Conference game as the Bears were not able to stall the Thunder run game. One win includes a 45-41 effort over Downey. Losses also are to Fresno heavies Edison and Clovis North, who are a combined 10-2.

20. Downey (Modesto) (21) 6-1
Idle. Beat Modesto 46-32 in a Modesto Metro affair in last outing in a game that was a rout at the half as Aaron Zwahlen passed for 339 yards and five touchdowns. Zwalhen has a section-leading 33 touchdowns with seven interceptions this season. At Enochs (Modesto) on Thursday.

21. Whitney (Rocklin) (NR) 6-1
The Wildcats are rolling again, having gone 56-23 and seeking a fourth league title and second section crown since 2008. The defense has been dominant, including eight sacks to beat Rio Americano 36-6 in Capital Athletic League action. Sutter Choisser rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns, Drew Romo had two touchdown passes and J.R. Robinson and Geno Chiarpotti had two sacks each. The loss was 6-0 to Rocklin. Host El Camino (Sacramento) on Friday.

22. Inderkum (Sacramento) (20) 5-2
Beat Woodland 26-7 in a Tri-County League contest as C. J. Spencer rushed for two scoring touchdowns and passed for one and Josh Montes scored on a run in a bounce-back effort from the 49-42 Yuba City loss. Wins include Pleasant Grove and losses are to Rocklin and Yuba City.

23. Pitman (Turlock) (21) 6-1
Beat Atwater 28-20 in an entertaining Central California show. Cody Brackett scored on a short run, Wyatt Clapper hit Brennan Hauser for a score and took a 21-7 lead off a 96-yard drive. Host Merced on Friday.

24. Stagg (Stockton) (22) 7-0
The Delta Kings beat 5-1 McNair 41-29 in a Tri-City League contest as Wayne Brooks rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 211 and a score, a 58-yard strike to Andre Lindsey. Josh Zepeda had two sacks and an interception for Stagg. League showdown looms Oct. 26 against St. Mary's. But first it's 6-1 Tokay (Lodi) on Friday at the historic Lodi Grape Bowl.

(TIE) 25. Lincoln (Stockton) (24) 4-3
Rolled 42-24 in San-Joaquin play to inch back over .500 with a two-game offensive eruption after a three-game skid. Zack Greenlee is back on track at quarterback and toasted his good week with a verbal commitment to Fresno State.

(TIE) 25. Vacaville (25) 4-3
Rolled Armijo (Fairfield) 56-8 in Monticello Empire League play with Nic Ardave passing for 184 yards and three touchdowns and 12 Bulldogs combining to rush for 443 yards, including 124 yards and two touchdowns by Jacob Te'o. Host Napa on Friday in what has been a decades-long good rivalry. Losses to NorCal-ranked Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Deer Valley.

Sac-Joaquin Section news and notes...

* In as wild a finish as there has been in the Sac-Joaquin Section this season, Granite Bay outlasted Rocklin 41-34 in double overtime in a Sierra Foothill League game. Grant Caraway scored on a 2-yard plunge to win it after hitting Tony Ellison earlier for a touchdown, and Luke Bussey and Aaron Knapp returned interceptions 30 and 55 yards, respectively, for touchdowns for the surging Grizzlies, who started the season 1-3. Logan Webb, a fast-emerging junior quarterback, had five touchdown passes for Rocklin. Here is The Sacramento Bee link to that story.

* Top-ranked Elk Grove beat fading-fast Grant 24-0 to hand the Pacers their first shutout since 2005. What's more, the Delta Valley Conference win could all but eliminate Grant from the playoffs, halting a section-leading streak of 21 consecutive playoff berths.

* Whitney jumps into the Section Top 25 on the strength of one of the best defenses in the region. The Wildcats had eight sacks to beat Rio Americano in Capital Athletic League action 36-6 and lost only to Rocklin 6-0.

* Del Oro visits Granite Bay in continuing what has been the region's top rivalry the last decade. Del Oro beat the Grizzlies in a thriller last season en route to a Division III bowl berth, though Granite Bay also surged from there, too. The Grizzlies won their final six games, including the Section D-I championship over MaxPreps preseason national No. 8 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove). The coaches - Ernie Cooper of Granite Bay and Casey Taylor of Del Oro - are good friends, never mind that they badly want to beat each other.

*Also on Friday, Elk Grove and Franklin face off in a battle of the section's top two teams and teams ranked No. 2 and 3 by MaxPreps in the NorCal rankings. For more, here is The Sacramento Bee notebook sizing up the rivalry games.

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.