With Folsom falling to De La Salle 31-10, the top of the Northern California rankings feature a third new team as Serra takes over, followed by West Catholic Athletic League rival Saint Francis, and then the Spartans and Bulldogs. That's the most balanced the top of this order has looked in a lot of years.
Why have Serra ranked ahead of Saint Francis? Serra beat the Lancers 41-27 in spring action, which isn't fall action, but it's enough to warrant this rankings order. The teams play Nov. 6 to cap league play and very well could meet in the Central Coast Section Open playoffs with all sorts of NorCal and CIF State bids in the balance.
Dominique Lampkin, Serra
Photo by Dennis Putian
Beat Riordan (San Francisco), 36-6
Next: Valley Christian (San Jose)
Update: The Padres beat Riordan in West Catholic Athletic League action in remaining perfect despite the loss of star
Hassan Mahasin to a knee injury for the season. This school has produced Tom Brady, Lynn Swann, Barry Bonds and a ton of others. Since 2017, Serra has won two CIF NorCal titles and a CIF State crown under coach Patrick Walsh.
2. (3) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 5-0Last week: Beat Valley Christian (San Jose), 41-27
Next: Riordan (San Francisco), Friday
Update: The Lancers moved to 3-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League as
Viliami Teu rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns to beat VC. The monstrous win was the 31-28 effort against De La Salle, the first NorCal loss by the Spartans north of Fresno since 1991. Saint Francis has won a record 17 Central Coast Section titles.
3. (4) De La Salle (Concord), 4-2Last week: Beat Folsom, 31-10
Next: California (San Ramon), Friday
Outlook: The Spartans continue to impress in bounce-back efforts. After falling to Saint Francis (Mountain View) 31-28 to have its 318-game unbeaten streak to NorCal teams north of Fresno dating back to 1992 snapped, DLS beat the top team in San Diego in Cathedral Catholic. After falling to the top team in Maryland, DLS responded with a resounding 31-10 effort at previous NorCal No. 1 Folsom. DLS is 45-0 against the Sac-Joaquin Section since 1982 and 20-0 since 2012, including 5-0 against Folsom. DLS hasn't lost to a North Coast Section team since 1991, a streak of 253 games. It has gone a gaudy 404-6-2 against NorCal teams North of Fresno since 1984. De La Salle has won 29 consecutive section championships and has reached a record 14 successive CIF State finals since the state finals were introduced in 2006.
4. (1) Folsom, 6-1Last week: Lost to De La Salle, 31-10
Next: Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Bulldogs came in having scored 54 or more points five times but were stymied by the speed and ferocity of De La Salle. Now it's a Sierra Foothill League showdown at Rocklin. Adding to the hurt is the loss of star QB
Tyler Tremain, who suffered a shoulder injury. Folsom's league winning streak since 2011 is 54 with 48th in succession in the SFL. An earlier win was 37-17 over Pittsburg and a 56-7 effort over Jesuit. Folsom has won eight Sac-Joaquin and four CIF State titles since 2010.
5. (6) Rocklin, 7-0Last week: Beat Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 21-0
Next: Folsom, Friday
Update: The Thunder have waited for a chance to pounce on Folsom since the spring game was canceled due to COVID testing issues. Rocklin has the best defense in the Sac-Joaquin Section and maybe also the best lineman in two-way terror
Bobby Piland. This is Rocklin's best team since the 2009 group that reached the CIF State Division II finals.
6. (5) Pittsburg, 3-1Last week: Beat Heritage (Brentwood), 49-14
Next: Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Pirates finally got a game in after cancellations, rolling as
Jaden Rashada passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns to
Khai Taylor to open Bay Valley Athletic League action. The loss was at Folsom, 38-17. Pittsburg is the last North Coast Section program to beat De La Salle, doing so in the 1991 NCS finals.
7. (8) Buchanan (Clovis), 6-1Last week: Beat Central (Fresno), 24-17
Next: Clovis, Friday
Update: The Bears rise to the No. 1 spot in the Central Section after topping previous No. 1 Central in a thriller in a Tri-River Athletic Conference game as
Michael Runnels returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a score. The loss was to state-ranked Los Alamitos 34-31.
8. (7) Central (Fresno), 5-1Last week: Lost to Buchanan, 24-17
Next: Clovis East, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies had their top-ranking in the Central Section take a jolt with the Buchanan setback but there could be a playoff rematch.
Jesiah Lindsey rushed for 154 yards and a score in the loss.
9. (9) Valley Christian (San Jose), 5-2Last week: Lost to Saint Francis (Mountain View), 41-27
Next: Serra, Friday
Update: Jakson Berman passed for 185 yards and ran for 105, and
Jurrion Dickey had his moments, but Saint Francis was too good. The other loss was to Pittsburg, 48-20.
10. (18) Edison (Stockton), 6-1Last week: Did not play
Next: Bear Creek, Friday
Update: The Vikings had a bye and is the clear class of the San Juan Athletic Association and is the top team in Stockton, if not St. Mary's. This is a threat in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. The loss was to then Central Section No. 1 Central (Fresno) 17-10.
11. (10) Jesuit (Carmichael), 6-1Last week: Beat Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove), 41-6
Next: Elk Grove, Saturday
Update: The winning streak is six after opening with a loss at Folsom. A key reason for the momentum is the versatility of
Garrett McGriff and
Kai Wallin and depth at quarterback and in the trenches. One of the big wins for the Delta League favorites was 28-14 over Granite Bay.
12. (11) Los Gatos, 7-0Last week: Beat Homestead, 37-0
Next: Palo Alto, Friday
Update: The Wildcats posted back-to-back shutouts, this time with
Emiliano Mejia rushing for three touchdowns and 138 yards. Los Gatos has been a longtime power in the Central Coast Section.
13. (12) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 5-1Last week: Beat Mitty (San Jose), 42-24
Next: Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Friday
Update: The Bells bounced back from the loss to Serra to belt Mitty, the third time they have scored 40 or more this season. Big nonleague wins include Menlo-Atherton (56-41) and Central Catholic (28-21).
14. (14) Central Catholic (Modesto), 6-1Last week: Beat Kimball, 55-16
Next: Manteca, Friday
Update: The Raiders torched previously unbeaten Kimball as
Julian Lopez and
Aiden Taylor combined to rush for seven touchdowns, and the defense stalled a team averaging more than 50 a game. This is the class of the Valley Oak League. Earlier big wins were over San Ramon Valley 21-14 and St. Mary's (Stockton), 41-27. The loss was to Bellarmine, 28-21
15. (15) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 4-2Last week: Beat Half Moon Bay, 47-46
Next: Sacred Heart Prep, Friday
Update: The Bears held on as
Jayden Moss was difficult to cover, catching 117 yards worth of passes and two scores. This came a week after a win at Oak Ridge in El Dorado Hills. Another big win was topping McClymonds. The losses were to Bellarmine 56-41 and to Oregon power Tualatin, 44-33.
16. (15) Granite Bay, 6-2Last week: Beat Grant, 28-14
Next: Whitney (Rocklin), Friday
Update: The Grizzlies remain in the Sierra Foothill League title race as
Jayce Latson went for 154 yards rushing and a score. The losses were to Rocklin and Jesuit. An earlier big win was over Vacaville. The program seeks their 24th consecutive playoff berth.
17. (16) McClymonds (Oakland), 3-1Last week: Did not play
Next: Oakland, Friday
Update: Mack had a bye a week after not playing Pittsburg due to COVID test issues. This is forever the class of the Oakland Athletic League play. The loss was to Menlo-Atherton. A big win was over Marin Catholic, 32-22.
18. (17) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 5-1Last week: Amador Valley, 41-13
Next: Clayton Valley Charter, Friday
Update: The Wolves roll when QB
Jack Quigley rolls, and he had 193 yards passing and four touchdowns. The loss was to Central Catholic, 21-14. The East Bay Mountain includes De La Salle, California, Clayton Valley, Monte Vista and Amador Valley.
19. (19) Clovis, 5-2Last week: Beat Clovis North, 42-28
Next: Buchanan, Friday
Update: The Cougars are a threat in the deep and talented Tri-River Athletic Conference. The losses are to Bullard, 35-12, and to Central, 27-20.
20. (20) Salinas, 5-0Last week: Seaside, 42-0
Next: Christopher (Gilroy), Friday
Update: The Cowboys have it rolling in all areas, including defense. The signature win was a 42-14 rout of previously unbeaten Aptos.
21. (21) St. Mary's (Stockton), 5-2Last week: Beat Lodi, 28-18
Next: Tokay (Lodi), Friday
Update: The Rams have won five consecutive games after opening with losses to De La Salle and Central Catholic. St. Mary's received four scores from
Asante Carter. A big early win was 34-14 over Cardinal Newman.
22. (22) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 5-2Last week: Beat Ukiah, 41-16
Next: Carrillo (Santa Rosa), Friday
Update: The Cardinals came off a bye and rolled as
Santino Acevedo rushed for three scores and 123 yards in North Bay action. The losses were to San Leandro, 20-17, and St. Mary's, 34-14 A big win was a 20-13 win over Vacaville.
23. (23) Vacaville, 5-2Last week: Beat Armijo (Fairfield), 49-0
Next: Vanden, Friday
Update: The Bulldogs prepared for their Monticello Empire League showdown against Vanden as
Ryan Vaughan passed for three touchdowns and 128 yards and rushed for 110 and a score. An early win was 17-10 over Oak Ridge. The losses were 20-13 in overtime to Cardinal Newman and 14-9 to Granite Bay.
24. (24) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 5-1Last week: Beat San Rafael, 55-0
Next: Redwood (Larkspur), Saturday
Update: The Wildcats came off a bye and rolled as
Charles Williams scored twice, including a kickoff return. The loss was to McClymonds, 33-22.
25. (25) Manteca, 7-0Last week: Beat Weston Ranch, 57-7
Next: Central Catholic, Friday
Update: The Buffaloes rolled behind the rushing of
Lyon Colon and
Blake Nichelson, each rushing for three scores, to set up a Valley Oak League showdown against Central Catholic. This could be the class of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III field.
The next 1026.
California (San Ramon), 6-0
27.
Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 4-2
28.
Aptos, (6-1)
29.
Inderkum (Sacramento), 5-1
30.
Palma (Salinas), 5-1
31.
Monte Vista (Danville), 5-0
32.
San Benito (Hollister), 5-1
33.
Elk Grove, 4-2
34.
Windsor, 6-0
35.
Oakdale, 5-2
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.
