Video: MaxPreps Sacramento powered by SMUDHead-to-head matchups among ranked teams left some spinning and soul searching, and others feeling rather good about themselves. Elk Grove rolled Grant 42-7 in a Sac-Joaquin Section showdown of heavies in the Delta League, De La Salle beat Granite Bay in a nonleague game, Clayton Valley Charter edged rival Monte Vista, and right on down the line. League play intensifies this week.
Northern California Top 25 Football Rankings

Ryan Robards, Elk Grove
Photo by Ralph Thompson
1. (Previous: 1) De La Salle (Concord)Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday
Update: The Spartans beat Granite Bay 37-0, overcoming four first-half turnovers, to move to 27-0 lifetime against the Sac-Joaquin Section and 10-0 lifetime against Sacramento-area teams, including 6-0 since 2012.
Anthony Sweeney passed for 192 yards and three scores, and
Antoine Custer and
Andrew Hernandez ran well. De La Salle has gone unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 262 games, and is primed for another race toward the CIF State Bowl games in Sacramento.
2. (2) Folsom (6-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: vs. Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday
Update: Top-ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs extended their state-leading regular-season winning streak to 37 by beating previous No. 5 Del Oro, 31-0.
Jake Jeffrey hit
Roger Neal for a 91-yard touchdown and the defense bottled up the passing game for the Bulldogs. Folsom last lost to a Sac-Joaquin Section team in 2011.
3. (4) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (4-0)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Bells, top-ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, beat previous No. 8 Serra 36-28 in WCAL play, as
Troy Martig ran for 103 yards and two scores and hit
Kyle Macauley for a 52-yard scoring strike. An earlier win was 34-31 over then-No. 4 Del Oro behind the quarterback heroics of Martig.
4. (6) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (4-1)Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: at Mt. Diablo, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat then-No. 13 Monte Vista 21-17, as
Ray Jackson III ran for 199 yards and two scores and
Luis Ramos went for 97 yards. The defense had three sacks to end the game. The loss was 27-26 to No. 2 Folsom in an opening game that came down to the wire.
5. (7) Elk Grove (5-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: vs. Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday
Update: The Thundering herd beat previous No. 3 Grant 42-7, as
Ryan Robards scored six touchdowns in four different fashions. He ran for three scores and 176 yards and returned a fumble to the end zone, an interception for a score and a punt return to the house. And he credited his teammates for helping lead the way, per his selfless nature.
6. (9) Valley Christian (San Jose) (4-0)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. No. 17 Saint Francis (Mountain View), Friday.
Update: The Warriors beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 55-0, their third shutout of the season.
Miles Kendrick passed for three touchdowns in the rout.
7. (10) Foothill (Pleasanton) (6-0)Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: vs. Livermore, Friday
Update: Foothill beat San Ramon Valley (Danville) 24-0 behind terrific defense, including two interceptions.
Isaiah Floyd leads the ground game.
8. (3). Grant (Sacramento) (4-1)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: The Pacers lost to rival Elk Grove 42-7 in a rare rout loss and vowed to do something about it. Grant has scores of players from last season's 14-1 championship team.
9. (8) Serra (San Mateo) (2-2)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: at No. 22 Riordan (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Padres lost to No. 3 Bellarmine (San Jose), 36-28. The other loss was to No. 1 De La Salle, 37-21.
10. (11) Central Catholic (Modesto) (5-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Kimball (Tracy), Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat Lathrop 44-6, as
Justin Rice ran for 154 yards and two scores and
Montell Bland and
Hunter Petlansky each ran for scores. Central Catholic is the three-time defending CIF State Division IV champion, now playing up a division.
11. (12) Antioch (5-0)Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at Heritage (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Panthers were idle, last beating Pinole Valley 52-0 after leading 38-0 at the half.
Najee Harris rushed for 159 yards and two scores on just six carries, all in the first quarter.
Numan Najib passed for 197 yards and a score.
12. (18) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (5-1)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: at No. 16 Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat previous No. 17 Rocklin, 38-22, as
Ian Book passed for 212 yards and a score and ran for three. Oak Ridge rushed 45 times for 231 yards. The loss was to unbeaten Reed (Sparks, Nev.) in a shootout.
13. (5) Del Oro (Loomis) (2-3)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. No. 21 Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles lost to No. 2 Folsom 31-0 in SFL play in a rare shutout setback. Del Oro has losses to four-time defending Hawaii Division I state champion Punahou (Honolulu), 22-15, and 34-31 to No. 4 Bellarmine.
14. (13) Monte Vista (Danville) (4-1)Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: at Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Friday
Update: The Mustangs lost to No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter 21-17 despite 248 yards passing from
Jake Haener and two scores. An earlier win was over No. 15 Pittsburg.
15. (14) Pittsburg (4-1)Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: at Freedom (Oakley), Friday
Update: The Pirates beat Castlemont (Oakland) 47-7, as
Montaz Thompson ran for 103 yards and two scores on just four carries. The loss was to No. 14 Monte Vista in a shootout.
16. (16) Granite Bay (3-2)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. No. 12 Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies lost to No. 1 De La Salle 37-0 after forcing four turnovers in the first half. The other loss was to No. 2 Folsom 27-14 after trailing 21-0 early.
17. (15) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (4-0)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 6 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Lancers beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco), 11-8, in a slugfest to open league play.
Cyrus Habibi-Likio scored on a 62-yard run and the defense recorded two safeties. An earlier win was over ranked Palma.
18. (19) Wood (Vacaville) (5-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: vs. Vintage (Napa), Friday
Update: The Wildcats were idle, last beating previous No. 21 Freedom (Oakley) 55-31, as
Marcus Howard passed for 307 yards and four touchdowns and
Damon Lewis rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns.
Tayvian Cunningham had two touchdown receptions.
19. (20) Inderkum (Sacramento) (6-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. Woodland, Friday
Update: The Tigers won their 17th-consecutive league game, downing River City 52-0 behind the efforts of
Trajon Cotton,
Raekwon Turner and
Derrick Henderson.
20. (17) Rocklin (3-2)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. No. 13 Rocklin, Friday
Update: The Thunder lost to No. 12 Oak Ridge 38-22 despite two touchdown passes from
William Floyd. The other loss was to Whitney (Rocklin) in a thriller when Floyd did not play.
21. (21) Palma (Salinas) (4-1)Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: vs. Monte Vista Christian (Watsonville), Oct. 16
Update: The Chieftains beat Christopher (Gilroy), 35-14. The loss was 28-14 to No. 16 Saint Francis.
22. (22) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (4-0)Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: vs. No. 9 Serra, Saturday
Update: The Crusaders beat previous No. 23 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 37-21, to continue their remarkable start after so many lean seasons. The tests continue in the WCAL.
23. (24) Napa (5-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: vs. Armijo (Fairfield), Friday
Update: The Indians beat Vanden (Fairfield) 44-12 in nonleague play and bound into league action as the co-favorite with No. 18 Wood.
Nathan Toma rushed for 176 yards and five scores against Vanden.
24. (25) Campolindo (Moraga) (5-1)Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: vs. Alhambra (Martinez), Friday
Update: The Cougars won their 26th-consecutive league game with a 41-0 rout of Dougherty Valley (San Ramon). The loss was 21-14 to No. 23 Napa.
25. (25) Oakdale (5-0)Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. Lathrop, Friday
Update: The Mustangs rolled Kimball (Tracy), 38-7, to continue their hot start, leading 28-7 at the half. Oakdale, the defending section Division III champion, is ranked second by The Modesto Bee.
25. (NR) Miramonte (Orinda) (6-0)Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Jack Schram
Next: at Dougherty Valley (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Matadors are off to a fast start, winning shootout games and also playing defense, including wins over Windsor 40-3 and Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) 43-13.
Tim Tague has passed for 2,116 yards and 23 touchdowns as one of the most prolific quarterbacks on the west coast.
Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and through The Bee: sacbee.com and through Facebook: sacbeeprepsThe Sacramento Bee on how teams deal with lengthy winning and losing streaks, including De La Salle...click here
The Sacramento Bee on how teams respond to big wins and big losses....click here