MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 high school football rankings

In an era of wide-open offenses and outlandish scores, two Delta Valley Conference rivals decided what could turn out to be the title game with defense.

With hard hits, goal-line stops and emotion, No. 2 Elk Grove beat previous No. 7 Grant (Sacramento) 7-3, leaving players to say later that it was "playing with your hands in the dirt."

This week's big Sac-Joaquin Section games include No. 4 Del Oro (Loomis) playing host to No. 8 Granite Bay in a Sierra Foothill League clash and No. 16 Tokay (Lodi) against No. 17 Stagg (Stockton) in the Tri-City Athletic League.

Be sure to check out MaxPreps Sacramento for local scores, photos, highlights and news.


1. (Last week 1) Folsom (7-0)
Jake Browning passed for 443 yards and five touchdowns and ran for a score as the offensive line headed by Sam Whitney again led the way, keying a 56-14 triumph of previous No. 14 Jesuit (Carmichael) in a Delta River League contest. Josiah Deguara had two touchdown catches and Will McClure, Troy Knox and Cole Thompson one each. Browning has a state-leading 38 touchdown passes.
Next: Sheldon (Sacramento), Friday

2. (2) Elk Grove (7-0)
The Thundering Herd beat previous No. 7 Grant (Sacramento) in a Delta Valley Conference game best known for hard hits and defensive stops. Tommy Arnold scored on a 13-yard quarterback keep in the third quarter and also helped lead a dominant defensive effort with Noah Letuligasenoa Ta'amu, Spencer Sheff, and B'won Canada. Wadus Parker rushed for 84 yards.
Next: Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday

3. (3) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (7-0)
The Eagles beat Ponderosa (Shingle Springs) 46-0 as nine runners carried 40 times for 383 yards and six scores for an average of 9.58 yards per attempt in a Delta River League game. Ian Broom rushed for 140 yards and two scores and Brandon Lewis went for 111 and two more. The lines continue to play well, including Kyle Dixon and Earl Chism.
Next: Jesuit (Carmichael), Saturday

4. (5) Del Oro (Loomis) (5-2)
Dylan Kainrath rushed for three touchdowns and Greg Eason scored once behind more superb line play in a 35-21 win over Roseville in Sierra Foothill League action. Del Oro led 35-3 at one point before the reserves took over. The losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).
Next: No. 8 Granite Bay, Friday

5. (6) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (6-1)
Ian Book passed for 166 yards and four touchdowns, hitting Justin Priest three times, in a 56-7 rout of Sheldon (Sacramento) in Delta River League play. Josh Wellman rushed for 69 yards and three touchdowns.
Next: Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), Friday

6. (8) St. Mary's (Stockton) (6-2)
Kaleb Parrish passed for 141 yards and two touchdowns on just four completions in a 53-14 rout of Edison (Stockton) in Tri-City Athletic League play. Marcell Spady and Parker Caston each rushed for two touchdowns. Caston rushed for 171 yards. Kyle Dawson had three of his team's 7.5 sacks. The losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) and No. 4 Del Oro (Loomis).
Next: West (Tracy), Friday

7. (11) Rocklin (5-2)
The Thunder beat previous No. 4 Granite Bay 31-14 in Sierra Foothill League action as Logan Webb passed for 185 yards and two touchdowns and Andrew Castle ran for two scores in a Sierra Foothill League contest. Granite Bay won in double overtime a year ago. Skyler Gonzalez helped lead a physical defense. The losses were to No. 3 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and No. 5 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills).
Next: Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday

8. (4) Granite Bay (5-2)
The Grizzlies fell to No. 7 Rocklin, 31-14, in Sierra Foothill League action despite 192 yards passing and two touchdowns by Josh Neal to Dylan Keeney. The other loss was to No. 1 Folsom. Wins include NorCal-ranked Pittsburg.
Next: No. 4 Del Oro (Loomis), Friday

9. (7) Grant (Sacramento) (4-3)
The Pacers lost to No. 2 Elk Grove 7-3 in a defensive battle in what could be the Delta Valley Conference title match. The other losses were by three points each to No. 4 Del Oro (Loomis) and No. 5 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills).
Next: Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Friday

10. (9) Burbank (Sacramento) (5-2)
The Titans rolled McClatchy (Sacramento) 64-0 in Metropolitan Conference play as the Titans ran for 578 yards for an average of 21.4 yards per carry. Calvin Green and Ernest Jenkins each ran for two scores. The losses were to higher-ranked Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and Grant (Sacramento).
Next: Rosemont (Sacramento), Friday

11. (10) Central Catholic (Modesto) (6-1)
The Raiders were the last section-ranked team to have a bye. The Western Athletic Conference favorites are led by RB Matt Ringer. The loss was to St. Mary's (Stockton).
Next: Central Valley (Ceres), Friday

12. (12) Rio Linda (6-1)
The Knights beat Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 40-13 in Capital Valley Conference play as Marcel Brown ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns and Stephen Andrews ran for 104 and passed for 80 and a score. The loss was on a last-play blocked field goal that was returned for the winning touchdown in a game in which Brown did not play.
Next: No. 15 Casa Roble (Orangevale), Friday

13. (13) Manteca (6-1)
The Buffaloes rolled Kimball (Tracy) 49-12 in Valley Oak League play as Joe Menzel passed for two touchdowns and Alex Laurel ran for three. The loss was to 5-1 Wilcox (Santa Clara) by a point.
Next: Weston Ranch (Stockon), Friday

14. (15) Inderkum (Sacramento) (5-2)
The Tigers beat Woodland 54-0 in Tri-County Athletic League play as C. J. Spencer tossed three touchdown passes, and Tyler Dean had two interceptions. Marcus Gilbert, Austin Thurman and Terrence White each scored rushing touchdowns. The losses were to higher-ranked Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and Rocklin.
Next: River Valley (Yuba City), Friday

15. (16) Casa Roble (Orangevale) (6-1)
The Rams rolled Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) 52-7 in Capital Valley Conference play as Peyton Wilfley passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and Ron Quinn ran for 108 yards and two scores. Sonny Sorg had three sacks and Rob Heckey had two. The loss was to No. 14 Inderkum (Sacramento).
Next: No. 12 Rio Linda, Friday

16. (17) Tokay (Lodi) (6-1)
The Tigers rolled West (Tracy) 55-3 in Tri-City Athletic League play as Jeffery Evans rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Joey Patino had 10 tackles. The loss was to No. 6 St. Mary's (Stockton).
Next: No. 17 Stagg (Stockton), Friday

17. (18) Stagg (Stockton) (6-1)
The Delta Kings beat McNair (Stockton) 67-13 in Tri-City Athletic League play as Wayne Brooks passed for 311 yards and five touchdowns and he rushed for 61 yards and two scores. Daniel Ruffin ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns and Eric Kranh went for 101 and one.
Next: No. 16 Tokay, Friday

18. (19) Yuba City (6-1)
The Honkers rolled Pioneer (Woodland) 49-8 as Omar Herrera rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in Tri-County League play. Nine Honkers carried 45 times for 363 yards. The loss was to No. 14 Inderkum (Sacramento).
Next: Woodland, Friday

19. (20) American Canyon (6-1)
The Wolves outlasted Vanden (Fairfield), 44-36, in a Solano County Athletic Conference contest as Jomon Dotson rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns and Derrick Hughes went for 76 and two. The loss was to No. 17 Stagg (Stockton).
Next: Fairfield, Friday

20. (21) Vacaville (4-3)
The Bulldogs beat Armijo (Fairfield) 45-13 in Monticello Empire League play as Chad Hekking passed for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Fifteen players carried a total of 28 times for 369 yards, an average of 13.18 yards per attempt. The losses are to then-No. 4 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), previous No. 4 Granite Bay and NorCal power Deer Valley (Antioch).
Next: Napa, Friday

21. (22) Wood (Vacaville) (6-1)
The Wildcats beat Napa 31-28 in a Monticello Empire League play as Damon Lewis rushed for 76 yards and two  touchdowns. Aaron Herbert had 16 tackles and Dominic Wickliff 17. The loss was to No. 19 American Canyon, 38-22.
Next: Rodriguez (Fairfield), Friday

22. (23) Tracy (6-1)
The Bulldogs beat Lodi 42-6 in San Joaquin Athletic League play as Nate Jones rushed for two touchdowns. The loss was early to then-ranked Franklin (Elk Grove) 45-14.
Next: Lincoln (Stockton), Friday

23. (14) Jesuit (Carmichael) (6-1)
The Marauders lost at No. 1 Folsom, 56-14, in a Delta River League game. It was 28-14 in the second quarter before Folsom blew it open. Jason Elenberger and Beau Bisharat accounted for touchdowns.
Next: No. 3 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Saturday

24. (25) Merced (5-2)
The Bears beat Buhach Colony to snap BC's 16-game Central California Conference winning streak, winning 41-20 in a game in which they led 41-7. Tyrone Williams passed for three touchdowns and ran for one and backs Jabar Byrd and Kris Turner-Jackson combined to run for 238 yards and two scores.
Next: Pitman (Turlock), Friday

25. (NR) Hilmar (8-0)
The Yellowjackets, a small-school section power in decades past, rolled to a 24-point halftime lead and beat previous No. 25 and unbeaten Ripon 33-21 in Trans-Valley League play. Ripon's 21-game winning streak came to an end as Jonathan O'Brien had two touchdown passes and scored two rushing touchdowns.
Next: Escalon, Friday

See The Sacramento Bee regional Top 20

See the latest Sacramento Bee Preps Plus Insiders video/commentary, including topics on teenage abuse of social media, the end of the Casa Roble-Del Campo rivalry for all the wrong reasons, the Elk Grove defense and a preview of top Week 8 games

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.