Video: Xcellent 25 high school football rankings
See how far De La Salle dropped in the national rankings with the loss to Bishop Gorman.
Before anyone dare mutter or suggest that De La Salle is overrated, remember this: The Spartans own Northern California, and have for decades.
Yes, the Spartans lost to a national power that finished No. 1 in the nation the previous two seasons as Bishop Gorman rolled 34-7, but De La Salle still towers over the NorCal field.
A lot of ranked teams had byes. League play starts across the regions this week. A major test game is Saturday in one final nonleague whopper as St. Mary's takes on national No. 1 Mater Dei at Levi Stadium.
The rankings include three newcomers.
MaxPreps Norcal Top 25 high school football teams
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 3-1Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Central (Fresno), Friday
Update: Top ranked by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans remain steady here because they played a national power that would have beaten every team on these rankings list. De La Salle led Bishop Gorman 7-0, and that was it in a 34-7 setback in Las Vegas. The Spartans beat No. 3 Saint Francis 31-7 before the Gorman trip to extended their unbeaten streak to 283 games against Northern California schools since 1992 (north of Fresno). The Spartans seek their 26th consecutive section championship and 12th consecutive CIF State final. De La Salle has gone 445-26-3 since 1980.
2. (2) Folsom, 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee and also No. 1 in The Bee's section rankings, the Bulldogs rallied from 10-0 down to Sacramento and won 28-19 as
Kaiden Bennett tossed two touchdowns to
Elijhah Badger and ran one in from 10 yards out late. Sacramento beat Folsom 32-27 last season to halt the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. Folsom has reached seven successive section-title games, winning five, to go with two CIF State titles and two 14-0 teams that lost to De La Salle in NorCal Open title games.
3. (3) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 10 Valley Christian, Friday.
Update: The Lancers were idle. They are the top-ranked team in the Central Coast Section and No. 2 in the Bay Area News Group rankings behind De La Salle as strength of schedule is key in these rankings. It was 17-7 in the second half before De La Salle pulled away for a 31-7 victory over Saint Francis. The Laners seek their 17th section championship.
Darrell Page, Saint Francis
Photo by Ted Walker
Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. No. 7 Del Oro, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies beat Vacaville 21-20 behind two
Blake Peterson touchdown runs, and then held on as a last-second field goal just missed. Granite Bay is in a league that includes Folsom, Del Oro, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. The Grizzlies won the 2012 CIF State Division I championship and have made the playoffs 18 consecutive times.
5. (5) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. Woodcreek (Roseville), Sept. 29
Update: The Trojans beat Nevada power Reed 24-21 to snap a three-game skid to the Raiders as
Nate Otto and
Austin Jarrard combined for 28 tackles and seven sacks (Jarrard also caught a touchdown from
Marco Baldacchino). The SFL includes Folsom, Granite Bay, Del Oro and Rocklin.
6. (6) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Aaron Becker
Next: vs. No. 18 California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Wolves rolled Doughtery Valley 56-0 as
Daniel Medley rushed for three touchdowns and
Clark Baker tossed three touchdowns. This came after a 45-0 rout of Foothill (Pleasanton), so the defense has been dominant. The EBAL schedule figures to much more daunting with California, Foothill, Monte Vista and Granada in the mix. San Ramon Valley's best seasons include 2004 (11-2) 2006 (10-2), 2007 (12-1) and 2011 (10-4).
7. (7) Del Oro (Loomis), 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Walters
Next: vs. No. 4 Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles beat Sacramento Bee-ranked Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 28-6, holding the prolific Mustangs to five first downs and 88 yards rushing on 33 carries.
Johnny Guzman returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score and also had an interception, and
Brice Edwards ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns. The loss was to Utah power Timpview 30-13 a week after beating state-ranked Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 22-12. The SFL includes Folsom, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. The Golden Eagles won the 2015 CIF State Division 2-AA title and reached the CIF State finals in 2016 the fourth time this decade.
8. (8) Manteca, 3-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: vs. No. 9 Central Catholic, Friday
Update: Ranked No. 1 by the Stockton Record and second by The Modesto Bee, the Buffaloes were idle and prepared for a league showdown with Central Catholic. Manteca, winner of five section titles, beat No. 10 Valley Christian 22-20 in an opener.
9. (9) Central Catholic (Modesto), 2-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. No. 8 Manteca, Friday
Update: The Raiders were idle, and they also are a game short of everyone else as their contest with Marin Catholic last month was cancelled due to extreme heat. The big win was beating previous No. 2 St. Mary's 20-7 in the Holy Bowl on the road as
Dauson Booker rushed for 152 yards and a score. Central Catholic won CIF State titles in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
10. (10) Valley Christian (San Jose), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. No. 3 Saint Francis, Friday
Update: The defending NorCal Regional Division 2-AA champions werw idle. The last game was a 55-3 rout of Northern Section power and a defending CIF State champion Pleasant Valley (Chico) 55-3 as
Charlie Bostic rushed for 135 yards and two scores and
Juan Turner passed for three touchdowns. The loss was 22-20 to No. 8 Manteca.
11. (11) Pittsburg, 2-1Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. Vacaville, Friday
Update: The Pirates rolled Berkeley 62-20 after leading 42-0 at the half as
Justin Boyd tossed six touchdowns, hitting cousin
A'jae Boyd for three of then. An earlier win was over previous No. 13 Serra 35-28 on the road. Pittsburg had a game canceled due to poor air quality and extreme heat and lost its opener to national power Centennial 63-21, playing short handed. This is the program that last beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section title game.
12. (12) St. Mary's (Stockton), 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Saturday
Update: The Rams bounced back from a 20-7 loss to No. 9 Central Catholic and beat Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 42-21 after leading 22-0 at the half. Now the real challenge: national No. 1 Mater Dei at Levi Stadium on Saturday. St. Mary's opened with a 41-13 rout of then-No. 4 Serra (San Mateo). The Rams are defending section Division I and NorCal champions.
13. (13) Oakdale, 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. East Union, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Mustangs were idle. The defending CIF State Division III-A champions gave No. 2 Folsom a game on Sept. 8, falling 45-29. The VOL race includes No. 8 Central Catholic and No. 9 Manteca.
14. (14) Freedom (Oakley), 4-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: vs. No. 17 Bishop O'Dowd, Friday
Update: The Falcons beat San Leandro 40-27 as
Joey Aguilar passed for 285 yards and four touchdowns, three to
Baylei Coston, and
Giles Jackson ran for 157 and two scores. The regular-season winning streak is 17. Freedom finished No. 3 in these rankings last season, falling in the playoffs to top-ranked De La Salle and No. 2 St. Mary's after an 11-0 start.
15. (15) Milpitas, 4-0Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Kelly King
Next: vs. Saratoga, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Salinas 27-0 as
TyRee Bracy passed for 207 yards and three touchdowns, two to
Tuni Faletau Fifita. One win this season was by forfeit as Brookside Christian (Stockton), which declined to play due to low roster numbers. Milpitas has won 11, 12, 10 and 10 games in each of the past four seasons and have made the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons.
16. (16) Inderkum (Sacramento), 4-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. Pioneer (Woodland), Friday
Update: The Tigers rolled Moreau Catholic 70-20 as
Davion Ross returned one of his three interceptions 85 yards for a touchdown, and
Isaah Crocker ran for a score and caught one from Joseph Sapp.
The Tigers reached the section Division II finals last season and have won 10 or more games 11 consecutive seasons.
17. (NR) Sacramento, 2-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Joe McCray
Next: Kennedy (Sacramento), Saturday
Update: Ranked sixth by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons showed they can compete with the best, leading No. 2 Folsom 10-0 after the first quarter before falling 28-19. This came a year after Sacramento beat Folsom 33-29 to halt the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. Eighteen starters are back for Sacramento, including two-way stars
Jaime Cousey and
Anthony Bradley.
18. (17) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. No. 14 Freedom, Friday
Update: The Dragons beat St. Mary's (Analy) 56-7 as
Quinn Brinnon tossed two touchdowns to
Chris Lucas and ran for a score, and
Jevon Holland returned a punt for a touchdown for the second consecutive game. The defending CIF State Division 5-AA champion will be greatly tested against Freedom.
19. (23) California (San Ramon), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Eric Billeci
Next: vs. No. 6 San Ramon Valley, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies beat Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 27-7 as
Caden Jarvis scored four touchdowns, giving him six in two games. California has won 12, 10, 11 and nine games (twice) this decade under coach Billeci.
20. (19) Serra (San Mateo), 1-2Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs.Riordan (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Padres were idle. They last played on Sept. 9, falling to No. 11 Pittsburg 35-28 and earlier losing to then No. 2 St. Mary's. Serra is in a league that includes Saint Francis, Valley Christian, Bellarmine and Mitty. Serra started 0-4 last fall and reached the CIF State Division 2 -A finals.
21. (21) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 2-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: vs. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Bells were idle. They're eager to play again after falling to Gonzaga Prep of Washington 38-19. Bellarmine beat Menlo-Atherton and Clovis North (Fresno) with defense earlier and will need more of the same in a WCAL race that includes Saint Francis, Valley Christian, Serra and Mitty. The Bells have reached the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons, going 13-2 in 2015.
22. (22) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Next: vs. Novato, Saturday
Update: The Wildcats beat Tamalpais 54-0 as
Spencer Petras tossed four touchdowns, hitting
Peter Brown for two scores for the second successive week. A game against No. 9 Central Catholic was cancelled due to extreme heat and poor air quality. Marin Catholic this decade has had teams of 13-2, 12-1, 13-1, 14-2, 12-1 and 12-2, reaching the CIF State finals in 2012.
23. (NR) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 2-2Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Deer Valley (Antioch)
Update: The Ugly Eagles routed previous No. 20 Antioch 55-22 as
Thomas Alatini ran for 182 yards and a score and
Makhi Gervais went for 117 and two to lead 49-0. The losses were to Nevada power Reed (38-22) and Hawaii power Mililani (49-30). Clayton Valley Charter went 15-1 and reached a CIF State Bowl in 2014, went 13-2 in 2015 and 12-2 and 11-2 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
24. (NR) Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 3-0Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Gehrig Hotaling
Next: vs. Montgomery (Santa Rosa)
Update: The Cougars beat previous No. 25 Campolindo 33-28 as
Jake Simmons passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns and
Ryan Matteri and
Elias Rantissi combined for 25 tackles for a defense that recorded seven sacks. Coach Hotaling replaced retired Ed Conroy, who in 28 seasons won 197 games and two North Coast Section titles in five title-game appearances, including a 12-2 team in 2010 and a 13-1 team in 2012.
25. (tie) (18) Rocklin, 3-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday
Update: The Thunder stormed to a 3-0 start behind defense but was taken to task in a 42-12 loss at Clovis West (Fresno) as Rocklin played reserves in the second half to prepare for a league that includes Folsom, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge and Del Oro. Rocklin went to a CIF State Bowl in 2009 with a 14-1 team.
25. (tie) (25) Sutter, 3-1Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: vs. Ripon, Friday
Update: Top ranked in the Northern Section, the Huskies were idle. The star is quarterback
Tyler Reynolds, son of the coach. Sutter this decade has had teams go 10-2, 13-1 and 13-1.
The next 10Grant (Sacramento) — 2-1
Capital Christian (Sacramento) — 2-1
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) — 2-1
Vacaville — 2-2
Franklin (Elk Grove) — 3-0
Antioch — 3-1
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) — 2-1
Jesuit (Carmichael) — 1-2
Monte Vista (Danville) — 2-1
Campolindo (Moraga) — 2-2
The Sacramento Bee on regional and section rankings ...
click hereThe Sacramento Bee sizing up the best league in Northern California ...
click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia
