Northern California high school football rankings: Granite Bay enters Top 20 after convincing win over Whitney

By Joe Davidson

Some teams are coming off a bye week and others dotted across Northern California have this week off, including teams in the Central, Central Coast and North Coast sections.

The top five teams held steady, three of them from the NCS and Folsom representing the Sac-Joaquin Section.

And Serra (San Mateo) is human. After graduating 18 starters from another CIF State Open Division entry, the Padres have suffered setbacks, but the effort remains strong.
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), (6-0)
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 now start East Bay League action. 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 Freedom, 49-0
Next: Oct. 18 at Heritage
The Pirates rolled behind Marley Alcantara, who completed 7 of 8 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns, two to Makari Kenion. The loss was to national power St. John Bosco.

3. (3) Folsom, (6-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Del Oro, 58-0
Next: Friday at Whitney
The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee remained unbeaten in the Sierra Foothill League as Ryder Lyons passed for five touchdowns, Carter Jackson rushed for 83 yards and a score and Jameson Powell caught three scoring tosses. The loss was by a point to Serra.

4. (4) Clovis East (Clovis), (6-0)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Central, 34-26
Next: Oct. 18 at Clovis
The Timberwolves in Tri-River action prevailed as Tyus Miller passed for two touchdowns and Lindsey Graves rushed for 129 yards and two scores. Joshua Wilson had 12 tackles, and the team had five sacks.

5. (5) San Ramon Valley (Danville), (6-0)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat California, 38-26
Next: Oct. 18 at De La Salle
Rhett Thompson passed for three TDs and Matthew Garibaldi rushed for 226 yards and two scores and caught one. San Ramon Valley battles De La Salle in a meeting of top NCS teams.

6. (6) Clovis North (Fresno), (5-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Clovis, 35-14
Next: Oct. 18 at Buchanan
The defending Central Section Division I champions were led by Lucas Smith, who tossed three TDs, two to Tyree Sams. Ross Cinfel recorded 2.5 sacks. The losses are to state-ranked JSerra and Los Alamitos.

7. (8) St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco), (5-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Bellarmine Prep, 46-0
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Saint Francis
The Wildcats in West Catholic Athletic League action were led by Soren Hummel, who passed for 237 yards and two scores, and Jarious Hogan, who had a rushing TD.

8. (10) St. Mary's (Stockton), (5-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Kimball, 48-14
Next: Friday vs. Edison
The Rams in Tri County Athletic League play received two TD passes from Jaden Galvan and scoring runs from Diego Hernandez and Landon McClendon. The in-state loss was 38-35 to De La Salle.

9. (12) Saint Francis (Mountain View), (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Serra, 27-21
Next: Oct. 18 at St. Ignatius
The Lancers scored another big WCAL victory in downing the defending champions to set up another showdown. Kingston Keanaaina rushed 34 times for 323 yards and three scores. The loss was to De La Salle.

10. (13) Grant (Sacramento), (5-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat West Park, 48-7
Next: Friday at Antelope
Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Pacers all but clinched the Metro League title behind balanced offense, including two rushing scores by Leon Martin, and a suffocating defense. The losses were to De La Salle, Clovis East and San Diego No. 1-ranked Lincoln.

11. (14) Rocklin, (6-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Davis, 48-7
Next: Friday vs. Granite Bay
In Sierra Foothill League play, the Thunder emptied their bench to let the reserves soak up the action, including QB Matt Janowiak, who matched Derek Keeley with two rushing scores. The loss was to Folsom.

12. (15) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 6-0
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Windsor, 24-23
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Rancho Cotate
The Cardinals in Adobe League play beat previously unbeaten Windsor behind running back Jamari Gentry and a strong defense.

13. (7) Central (Fresno), (5-2)
Section: Central
Last week: Lost to Clovis East, 34-26
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Clovis West
The Grizzlies in Tri-River Athletic Conference play were led by Brandon Smith's 201 yards and two scores and fall to 0-2 in league.

14. (9) Serra (San Mateo), (2-4)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Lost to Saint Francis, 27-21
Next: Oct. 19 vs. Archbishop Mitty
The Padres have WCAL losses now to St. Ignatius and to Saint Francis. One win was by a point at Folsom.

15. (11) Clovis, (6-1)
Section: Central
Last week: Lost to Clovis North, 35-14
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Clovis East
The Cougars in TRAC play were led by Maddox Merrill, who rushed for 115 yards and a score but the other runners were thrown for losses or no gains.

16. (12) Los Gatos, (5-1)
Section: Central Coast
Last week: Beat Menlo-Atherton, 21-14
Next: Oct. 19 at Sacred Heart Prep
The Wildcats in Peninsula Bay League action received TD runs from Scotty Brennan and Grayson Doslak. The loss was to Pittsburg, 37-20.

17. (16) Buchanan (Clovis), (6-1)
Section: Central
Last week: Beat Clovis West, 6-5
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Clovis North
The Bears bounced back from their loss to Clovis to record a needed win in Tri-River League play with a baseball-like score. Joshua Madrigal had a TD toss.

18. (19) El Cerrito, (5-1)
Section: North Coast
Last week: Beat Saint Mary's (Albany), 55-0
Next: Oct. 19 at Salesian
The Gauchos in Tri-County Rock League action rolled behind a big first half, leading 42-0. The loss was to De La Salle.

19. (20) California (San Ramon), 6-1
Section: North Coast
Last week: Lost to San Ramon Valley, 38-26
Next: Oct. 18 vs. Monte Vista
The Grizzlies in East Bay Mountain League play received two TD passes from Arjun Banerjee and two rushing scores from Jhadis Luckey.

20. (NR) Granite Bay, 6-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
Last week: Beat Whitney, 49-10
Next: Friday at Rocklin
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