Video: Top 10 Games of the Week Action heats up around the country and in NorCal.
Not all teams in Northern California had season openers over the weekend, but a good many did, including top-ranked De La Salle, which lost to No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
No. 2 Folsom was idle, No. 3 Liberty won and the Central Coast Section teams were idle.
MaxPreps NorCal Top 25 high school football rankings
Otha Williams, Monterey Trail
Photo by Ralph Thompson
North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Update: The Spartans lost 24-14 to nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida in a strong showing. De La Salle sets aim on extending its 299-game unbeaten streak against NorCal teams since 1991 (north of Fresno) this week. It is 384-5-2 against NorCal opponents since 1984. The Spartans have won 27 consecutive North Coast Section crowns and has been to 12 successive CIF State finals (those games started in 2006) and 10 in succession in the Open Division.
Next: vs. Central Catholic (Modesto), Friday
2. (2) Folsom, (0-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Paul Doherty
Update: The two-time defending CIF State Division I-AA champion Bulldogs opened the season with a bye. Folsom hosts De La Salle on Sept. 13.
Next: vs. Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday
3. (3) Liberty (Brentwood), 1-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Ryan Partridge
Update: The defending CIF State 1-A champion Lions defeated a strong Vacaville team 49-24 behind Oregon-bound
Jay Butterfield, who passed for 311 yards and two touchdowns.
Next: Oakdale, Friday
4. (4) Valley Christian (San Jose), 0-0Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Update: The top-ranked team in the Central Coast Section and defending CCS Open Division II champion opened with a bye.
Next: vs. Wilcox, Friday
5. (6) Serra (San Mateo), 0-0Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Update: The storied Padres opened with a bye. They seek the program's third CIF NorCal crown in four seasons.
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Saturday.
6. (7) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 0-0Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula Bay
Coach: Steve Papin
Update: The defending CIF 3-AA state champions opened with a bye.
Next: vs. Bellarmine, Friday
7. (9) Pittsburg, 1-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Update: The Pirates defeated host St. Mary's 42-35 in a battle of NorCal heavies as
Jerry Johnson tossed six touchdown passes and for 368 yards. This is the last NorCal program to defeat De La Salle, in the 1991 playoffs.
Next: vs. Serra, Saturday
8. (8) St. Mary's (Stockton), 0-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City
Coach: Tony Franks
Update: The Rams lost to visiting Pittsburg 42-35 in a wild shootout as the early season includes a lot of powerhouses, including Central Catholic and De La Salle.
Next: vs. Central Cathloic, Sept. 6
9. (5) Central Catholic (Modesto), 0-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Update: The Raiders lost to Clovis West 26-22, undone by a good team and injuries. It gets no easier with De La Salle coming. DLS's NorCal unbeaten streak started against Merced in 1991.
Next: vs. De La Salle, Friday
10. (12) Monte Vista (Danville), 1-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Matt Russi
Update: The Mustangs beat a Sac-Joaquin Section power in Granite Bay, 27-22 on a lake
Jack Stewardson-led drive.
Next: vs. San Leandro, Friday
11. (13) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metro
Coach: TJ Ewing
Update: The Mustangs backed up their 12-1 season with a thorough 42-14 rout of Sheldon behind new backs
Caleb Ramseur and
Otha Williams.
Next: vs. Spanish Spring (Nev.), Friday
12. (14) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Update: The Trojans beat Lincoln 41-6 as
Justin Lamson passed fro 305 yards and four touchdowns, three to
Avant Jacobs in ushering in their new fine passer.
Next: vs. Vacaville, Friday
13. (16) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 0-0Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Paul Rosa
Update: The defending CIF State 3-A champion Chargers were idle. They opened last season with a gritty 10-6 win over Valley Christian.
Next: vs. Valley Christian, Friday
14. (11) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 0-0Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Update: The Lancers, CIF State winners in 2017, opened with a bye.
Next: vs. Corona del Mar, Friday
15. (15) Vacaville, 0-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Mike Popodopolous
Update: The Bulldogs lost to No. 3 Liberty 49-24. They have 28 playoff teams since 1976.
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Friday
16. (10) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 1-0Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Update: The Cardinals beat defending North Coast Section Division IV champion Fortuna of Humboldt County 38-0 as
Jackson Pavitt tossed two touchdown passes. The lone loss last season was to Liberty.
Next: vs. Sutter, Friday
17. (23) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 1-0Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Update: Michael Ingrassia passed for 191 yards and three touchdowns to key a 42-6 win over El Cerrito. MC teams have had teams go 12-1, 14-1, 14-2, 13-1, 12-2 and 12-1 this decade.
Next: vs. McClymonds, Friday
18. (17) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 0-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Tim Murphy
Update: The Ugly Eagles opened with a bye.
Next: vs. Turlock, Friday
19. (18) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 0-0Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Napoleon Kaufman
Update: The Dragons opened with a bye. Thirteen starters are back for the North Coast Section Division III champions, a program that went 15-1 and won a CIF State title in 2016.
Next: vs. Las Lomas, Friday
20. (19) Capital Christian (Sacramento), 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Casey Taylor
Update: The Cougars beat Cosumnes Oaks 32-7 behind quarterback
Austin Amador's three touchdowns and strong defense.
Next: vs. Patterson, Friday
21. (21) Turlock, 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Central California
Coach: James Peterson
Update: The top-ranked team by The Modesto Bee, the Bulldogs beat Freedom 21-0 in an opener behind stout defense.
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter, Friday
22. (22) Tracy, 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City
Coach: Matt Shrout
Update: The Bulldogs beat Kimball 27-12 as
Logan Fife tossed three touchdowns and ran for one.
Next: vs. Buhach Colony, Friday
23. (25) Del Oro (Loomis), 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Walters
Update: The defending Sac-Joaquin Section and NorCal champions defeated Pleasant Valley 32-19 behind
Aiden Foster,
Logan Shepard and
Kal Lunders.
Next: vs. Inderkum, Friday
24. (28) Inderkum (Sacramento), 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Terry Stark
Update: The Tigers beat Elk Grove 34-32 on Gabriel Britschgi's touchdown run despite a rash of injuries that included receiver Javi Daniels going down with a fractured tibia.
Next: vs. Del Oro, Friday
25. (27) Oakdale, 1-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Update: The Mustangs are one of the storied programs in the section, thanks in large part to Coach Merzon, a one-time star quarterback for the program. Oakdale beat Sonora in an opener behind its Wing-T and vaunted defense.
Next: vs. Liberty, Friday
The next 1026. Jesuit (Carmichael), 0-1
27. Pleasant Valley (Chico), 0-1
28. Granite Bay, 0-1
29. McClymonds (Oakland), 0-0
30. Davis, 1-0
31. Campolindo (Moraga), 1-0
32. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek), 1-0
33. East Nicolaus (Nicolaus), 0-0
34. California (San Ramon), 1-0
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click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia
