MaxPreps 2014 Northern California Preseason Top 25 Football Rankings

Pass the eye black. It's football season!

Season openers for high school football programs in Northern California are Aug. 29-30 for most and Sept. 5-6 for others. A closer look at the MaxPreps Preseason NorCal Top 25.


1. De La Salle (Concord) (14-1 in 2013)
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Top players: RB Antoine Custer (1,141 yards, 14 TDs), OL/DL Boss Tagaloa, QB Anthony Sweeney, LB Simba Short
Opener: vs. No. 10 Jesuit, Aug. 29, Levi's Stadium
Comment: The Spartans are the class of all NorCal, again, last losing to a NorCal opponent in 1991.

2. Folsom (14-1)
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: QB Jake Browning (5,737 yards, 75 TDs), OL Cody Creason, Jonah Williams, WR Josiah Deguara, DE Sam Whitney, RB Bailey Laolagi
Opener: at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), Aug. 29
Comment: The Bulldogs have gone 14-1 in each of the past two seasons, losing only to top-ranked De La Salle both times.

3. Elk Grove (12-2)
Coach: Chris Nixon
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Top players: RB Spencer Sheff (791, 11 TDs), DB Shaunard Harts, QB Tyler Vander Waal, DT Sai Ta'amu
Opener: vs. Damonte Ranch (Reno) Aug. 29
Comment: The Thundering Herd has pieced together three consecutive 12-win seasons, and expect another.

4. Del Oro (Loomis) (13-3)
Coach: Casey Taylor
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: WR Trey Udoffia (nine TDs receiving), DB Justin Burrage (seven interceptions), QB Logan Hurst
Opener: vs. Kamehameha (Hawaii), Aug. 29
Comment: Few teams on the West Coast schedule as tough as the Golden Eagles, who have reached two Bowl games in the past three seasons.

5. Valley Christian (San Jose) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Machado
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Top players: RB Kirk Johnson (1,228 yards, 11 TDs), RB Tre McCloud, QB Michael Machado, DL Daniel Dunham
Opener: vs. Pioneer (San Jose), Sept. 5
Comment: The WCAL starts fast with an opener against No. 6 Serra; Johnson is one of the state's best.

6. Serra (San Mateo) (11-3)
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Top players: RB Kava Cassidy (1,204 yards, 14 TDs), QB Hunter Bishop, OL Jack Dreyer, LB James Outman (98 tackles)
Opener: at No. 1 De La Salle, Sept. 6
Comment: The Padres again schedule up, and it paid off last season in reaching a NorCal final.

7. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (11-2)
Coach: Tim Murphy
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Top players: RB Miles Harrison (2,020 yards, 34 TDs), OL/DL Kahlil Mckenzie (Tennessee commit), OL Jax Carter
Opener: vs. Carson-Nevada, Aug. 30
Comment: The addition of McKenzie is a major boost, but will he have to sit out games due to the transfer? And how many?

8. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (12-2)
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: QB Ian Book (2,558 yards passing, 30 TDs), OL Nolan Book, RB/DB Andrew Lackowski, RB Stephen Douglas
Opener: vs. Whitney (Rocklin), Aug. 29
Comment: The Trojans and No. 2 Folsom join the already-stacked SFL that includes other ranked teams in Del Oro, Granite Bay and Rocklin.

9. Grant (Sacramento) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Top players: RB/LB Deondre' Whittington-Grays (1,215 yards, 15 touchdowns), OL Darrin Paulo, LB Chris Atteberry, QB Donovan Brown (1,367 yards passing, 13 TDs)
Opener: at Burbank (Sacramento), Aug. 29
Comment: The Pacers have made the playoffs a section-record 23 consecutive seasons behind a mix of power, speed and drive.

10. Jesuit (Carmichael) (9-4)
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Top players: RB Beauman Bisharat (1,119 yards, 13 TDs), WR Isaiah Bailey (747 yards, 12 TDs), QB Cole Brownholtz, OL/DL Kori Collons
Opener: No. 1 De La Salle, Aug. 29
Comment: The Marauders, a power in previous decades, are back on track under coach Blanton, who played and coached at De La Salle.

11. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (11-2)
Coach: Dave Brown
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Top players: RB/WR/DB Dakari Monroe (1,177 total yards, 13 TDs), TE/DE Tommy Hudson
Opener: at Los Gatos, Sept. 5
Comment: The Monarchs are tough in the trenches and eager for another shot at a Central Coast Section title after losing it last season.

12. Pittsburg (10-3)
Coach: Vic Galli
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Top players: RB Jaylyn Morgan (574, 8 TDs), LB Noah Palega (108 tackles), DE David Lui, S Shurod Thompson
Opener: at No. 13 California (San Ramon), Aug. 29
Comment: A nice claim to fame: This is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the pre-Intenet era of 1991.

13. California (San Ramon) (11-3)
Coach: Eric Billeci
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Top players: RB Simi Hingano (482 yards), DE Matt Snyder, OL Tyler Whisenhunt
Opener: vs. No. 12 Pittsburg, Aug. 29
Comment: The Grizzlies have made two North Coast Section finals appearances and return a ton of talent for a breakthrough run again.

14. Franklin (Elk Grove) (8-4)
Coach: Mike Johnson
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Top players: QB Lamar Jackson (1,428 yards passing, 565 rushing, 22 total touchdowns); WR Brandon Johnson, WR Denzel Hampton
Opener: at Atwater, Aug. 29
Comment: The Wildcats are fast and physical and two years removed from a 10-0 regular season.

15. Granite Bay (8-4)
Coach: Ernie Cooper
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: LB Cameron Smith (126 tackles), LB Drew Tonda (125 tackles), DB Tre' Ball (three interceptions)
Opener: vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Sept. 5
Comment: Coach Cooper returns after a year off to recharge from winning the 2012 CIF State Division I Bowl.

16. Enterprise (Redding) (13-1)
Coach: Darren Trueblood
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Top players: RB Isaiah Matthews (2,220 yards, 32 total TDs), LB Nick Tomasin (162 tackles), DB Izzy Perea (three interceptions)
Opener: vs. Whitney (Rocklin), Sept. 5
Comment: The class of the Northern Section stormed to a Bowl game last season and seeks a repeat — and a win.

17. Foothill (Pleasanton) (8-3)
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Top players: QB Kyle Kearns (SMU commit), WR Isaiah Langley (USC commit)
Opener: vs. San Leandro, Aug. 29
Comment: Two of the state's top talents are in the same backfield here.

18. Vacaville (8-4)
Coach: Mike Papadopoulos
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Top players: QB Chad Hekking (1,614 yards, 17 TDs), RB Damonte Moore (614, 7 TDs), RB Kane Cunningham (446, 4)
Opener: at No. 8 Oak Ridge, Sept. 5
Comment: The Bulldogs have been a Section power for years, heavy on the run and in effort.

19. Campolindo (Moraga) (11-1)
Coach: Kevin Macy
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Top players: RB Nick Fadelli (980 yards, 10 TDs), DB Tiger Garcia (five interceptions), TE Tyler Petite
Opener: Heritage (Brentwood), Aug. 29
Comment: After rolling the last three years, the Cougars now have to replace QB Andrew Zolintakis.

20. Milpitas (11-2)
Coach: Kelly King
Section: Central Coast
League: DeAnza
Top players: DE Jason Scrempos, LB Solomon Foketi, DL Tevita Musika (93 tackles)
Opener: Riordan (San Francisco), Sept. 5
Comment: The defending Central Coast Section D-I champions return 14 starters.

21. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (12-1)
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Top players: QB Darius-James Peterson, OL Jackson Snyder, OL Clayton Demski
Opener: at Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove), Aug. 29
Comment: 15 starters graduated for a program used to chasing down Bowl games, but good programs reload.

22. San Ramon Valley (Danville) (7-5)
Coach: Aaron Becker
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Top players: QB Zack Baker, OL Dru Samia, WR J.J. Koski, LB Mitchell Allan (150 tackles)
Opener: vs. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), Aug. 29
Comment: Allan will lead a defense which may be the key to Becker's squad improving on last year's 7-5 record.

23. Rocklin (7-4)
Coach: Greg Benzel
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Top players: RB Evyn Holtz (1,130 yards, 8 TDs), WR Blake Laurin (566 yards receiving, 8 TDs), K Max O'Rourke (67 total points).
Opener: at Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Aug. 29
Comment: Holtz will lead the running attack for the always-dangerous Thunder.

24. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) (13-2)
Coach: Pete Lavorato
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula Bay
Top players: LB Ben Burr-Kirven (205 tackles, 6 sacks), LB Andrew Robinson (122 tackles, four interceptions), QB Mason Randall
Opener: vs. Leland (San Jose), Sept. 6
Comment: Burr-Kirven and Robinson will give opposing offenses fits in 2014.

25. Merced (8-3)
Coach: Rob Scheidt
League: Central California
Top players: QB Tyrone Williams (2,060 yards passing, 19 TDs, 6 TDs rushing), RB Jabar Byrd (624, 6), LB Jermon Cook
Opener: vs. Clovis West (Fresno), Aug. 29
Comment: The Bears, a power since the 1980s, have speed at the skill positions, a team staple.



Read The Bee's preseason Top 20 rankings and news and notes

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through www.sacbee.com. He co-hosts with Mike Finnerty The Bee Preps Show every Tuesday (with re-airs throughout the week) on ComcastSportsNet California.