It was go time on Friday and Saturday across Northern California with the return of high school football. Many teams were in action in Week 0 games, though teams from the Central Coast and some from the North Coast did not play, including No. 1 De La Salle, No. 3 Serra and No. 4 Pittsburg.
That changes this week as there are several big openers, including the Spartans taking on No. 7 St. Mary's (Stockton).
Rico Flores, Folsom
Photo by Warren Hyde
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 0-0Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Opener: vs. St. Mary's (Stockton), Aug. 27
Outlook: The Spartans did not play but scrimmaged No. 4 Pittsburg. De La Salle's unbeaten streak against NorCal teams north of Fresno since 1992 is 314-0-2. De La Salle has gone a remarkable 401-5-2 against NorCal teams north of Fresno since 1984. It has won 28 consecutive section championships and have reached a record 12 successive CIF State finals.
2. (2) Folsom, 1-0Coach: Paul Doherty
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. Jesuit, Friday
Update: Tyler Tremain passed for five touchdowns and ran for one to key a 56-14 rout of Monterey Trail, the last program to beat the Bulldogs (in the 2019 playoffs). Folsom has won eight section and four CIF State titles since 2010 and has not lost in league play since 2011.
3. (3) Serra (San Mateo), 0-0Coach: Patrick Walsh
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Friday
Update: The Padres did not play. The opener against No. 4 Pittsburg will establish who is the second-best team in Northern California.
4. (4) Pittsburg, 1-0Coach: Vic Galli
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Next: vs. Serra, Friday
Update: The Pirates did not play, though they did scrimmage De La Salle. Pittsburg is the last NorCal team to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 NCS finals.
5. (6) Clovis, 1-0Coach: Rich Hammond
Section: Central
League: Tri-River Athletic
Next: vs. Bakersfield, Friday
Update: In beating Sanger 35-12,
Tristan Risley rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and
Nate Johnson passed for 202 yards and two scores.
6. (7) Central (Fresno), 1-0Coach: Kyle Biggs
Section: Central
League: Tri-River-Athletic
Next: vs. Damonte Ranch, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies outscored Bullard 51-32 in an opener as
Dayton Tafoya had nearly 400 yards of offense and accounted for five touchdowns.
7. (8) St. Mary's (Stockton), 0-0Coach: Tony Franks
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Next: vs. De La Salle, Friday
Update: The Rams did not play. This is the second best team in the Sac-Joaquin Section with a whopper of an opener against De La Salle. DLS beat St. Mary's 35-25 in the spring in a game in which St. Mary's led at the half.
8. (9) Buchanan (Clovis), 1-0Coach: Matt Giordano
Section: Central
League: Tri-River Athletic
Next: vs. Bullard, Friday
Update: The Bears beat Kingsburg 33-7 as
Jayden Mandal led the charge with three touchdowns. The Central Section has several heavyweights in Clovis, Central and Buchanan.
9. (10) Rocklin, 1-0Coach: Sam Pulino
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. Capital Christian, Friday
Update: The Thunder pounded Turlock 41-0 as
Kenny Lueth passed for 196 yards and four touchdowns, and the defense allowed little.
10. (13) Valley Christian (San Jose), 0-0Coach: Mike Machado
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Next: vs. Wilcox (Santa Clara), Friday
Update: The Warriors did not play. The WCAL includes traditional powers Serra, ranked third here.
11. (14) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 0-0Coach: Aaron Becker
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Next: vs. Vintage (Napa), Friday
Update: The Wolves did not play. They return 15 starters, including QB
Jack Quigley, RB
Za'darion Nardi and offensive linemen
Jackson Brown and
Matt Shapiro.
12. (18) Vacaville, 1-0Coach: Mike Papadopoulos
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: Darian Leon-Guerrero and
Ryan Vaughan broke in sparkling new Tom Zunino Stadium with a 45-8 rout of Davis by combining for seven scores. Next is Oak Ridge, another power within the Sac-Joaquin Section.
13. (25) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 1-0Coach: Casey Taylor
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. Vacaville, Friday
Update: Taylor earned his first win at his alma mater with a resounding 42-0 win over a solid Cosumnes Oaks team. It was 14-0 at the half.
Reese Catchings had two touchdowns and
Conner Dasmann two sacks.
14. (19) Granite Bay, (1-0)Coach: Joe Cattolico
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. Davis, Friday
Update: Frank Cusano rushed for two scores and
Noah Mitcheom had two touchdown passes to key a 38-22 win at Vista del Lago to give Cattolico his first victory as Grizzlies coach.
15. (5) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 0-1Coach: TJ Ewing
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Next: vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Friday
Update: The Mustangs hung with Folsom early when it was 21-14 before the wheels fell off in a 56-14 setback. Five turnovers hurt.
16. (15) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 0-0Coach: Tim Murphy
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Next: vs. Turlock, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles did not play but the coaches did see their first opponent Turlock compete, a 41-0 loss to Rocklin. Fiery and fun coach Murphy announced this week that this will be his final season as coach and will promote assistant coach Nick Tisa to the role
17. (16) McClymonds (Oakland), 0-0Coach: Michael Peters
Section: Oakland
League: Oakland Athletic
Next: vs. Tamalpais (Mill Valley), Friday
Update: Mack did not play and will trot out 19 returning starters in an opener this week.
18. (17) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 0-0Coach: Chris Saunders
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula
Next: vs. Bellarmine Prep (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Bears did not play. They return a wealth of talent from the spring and start the action against storied Bellarmine.
19. (20) Edison (Stockton), 1-0Coach: Booker Guyton
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: San Joaquin Athletic
Next: vs. Oakdale, Friday
Update: The Vikings impressed in a 26-7 win over Lincoln as
Aidan Carr,
Zan Dosty and
Johnathan Taylor led the charge. Oakdale will be a formidable foe.
20. (24) Jesuit (Carmichael), 0-0Coach: Marlon Blanton
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Next: vs. Folsom, Friday
Update: The Marauders did not play. Coaches did watch Folsom take apart Monterey Trail. Jesuit visits Folsom for the fifth consecutive season.
21. (12) Lincoln (Stockton), 0-1Coach: Natello Howard
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Next: vs. Pitman, Friday
Update: The Trojans fell to Edison 26-7 despite a solid night from standout running back
Jonah Coleman. This is the sort of wake up call that jolts programs expecting better.
22. (NR) Inderkum (Sacramento), 1-0Coach: Reggie Harris
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Next: vs. Grant, Friday
Update: The Tigers impressed with a defensive showing that could lead to more success in a 15-6 victory over highly touted ElK Grove, giving coach Harris his first victory with the program.
23. (11) Elk Grove, (0-1)Coach: John Heffernan
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Opener: vs. Antelope, Friday
Outlook: The Thundering Herd lost to upstart Inderkum 15-6 as it struggled to get going on offense with QB ace
Ethan Archuleta missing the game. Elk Grove may benefit from the wake-up call.
24. (21) Los Gatos, 0-0Coach: Mark Krail
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Next: vs. Oak Grove (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Wildcats did not play. They had a rousing spring showing, beating teams 221-56 and return Boise State-bound LB
Jake Ripp.
25. (tie) (22) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 0-0Coach: Greg Calcagno
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Next: vs. Central Catholic (Modesto), Friday
Update: The Lancers did not play. They return 11 starters for another run in the WCAL.
25. (tie) (23) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 0-0Coach: Mazi Moayed
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Next: vs. El Cerrito, Friday
Update: The longtime North Bay powers did not play. They are led by third-year starting QB
Michael Ingrassia.
Next 1026.
Vintage (Napa), 0-0
27.
Pleasant Valley (Chico), 0-0
28.
Benicia, 0-0
29.
California (San Ramon), 0-0
30.
Palma (Salinas), 0-1
31.
Campolindo (Moraga), 6-0
32.
Manteca, (1-0)
33.
Liberty (Brentwood), 0-0
35.
Central Catholic (Modesto), 1-0
36.
Oakdale, 1-0
Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee
since 1988. He was named a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Distinguished Award
winner in April. Follow him on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and through sacbee.com.
