No. 1 Serra has wins of 17-12 over No. 2 Folsom and 24-21 over No. 3 De La Salle. Folsom has a 24-20 triumph at De La Salle — and the honor of being the first Northern California team to win at DLS twice in a row since Salesian (Richmond) in 1978 and '79.
Folsom also has a 23-15 win over No. 4 Pittsburg. De La Salle plays at No. 7 St. Mary's (Stockton) on Oct. 7.
This week's NorCal showdowns include games within the Sierra Foothill League of the Sac-Joaquin Section, including Oak Ridge visiting Folsom and Granite Bay taking on host Del Oro, and there's the nonlegaue clash of McClymond vs. Pittsburg.
Austin Mack, Folsom
Photo: Dennis Lee
Last week: Defeated Saint Francis, 29-7
This week: vs. Archbishop Mitty
Serra downed the defending West Catholic Athletic League champions, pulling away from a game that was tight at the half, 8-7.
Maealiuaki Smith passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Other wins are 17-12 over Folsom and 24-21 over De La Salle.
2. (2) Folsom, 4-1
Last week: Defeated De La Salle, 24-20
This week: at Oak Ridge
The Bulldogs led 10-0 at the half behind great defense, and
Austin Mack led the late rally at DLS. The quarterback scored the winner with 15 seconds left on a quarterback leap. Folsom beat Pittsburg 23-15 this season and has a 17-12 loss to Serra.
3. (3) De La Salle (Concord), 3-2
Last week: Lost to Folsom, 24-20
This week: Bye
The Spartans have lost four times to NorCal teams in the last year after going 30 seasons without a NorCal defeat, including two in a row to Folsom. But this is not a program in decline. It's a NorCal field on the upswing. The other loss was 24-21 to Serra.
4. (4) Pittsburg, 3-1
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. McClymonds
The Pirates have a 23-15 loss to Folsom and prepare for another powerhouse in McClymonds. This is the second best team in the North Coast Section.
5. (5) Buchanan, 5-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Clovis West
The Bears are the class of the Central Section and will be tested in the Tri-River Athletic Conference.
6. (6) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 4-2
Last week: Defeated Kennedy, 69-0
This week: vs. Burbank
The Mustangs won their fourth consecutive game after opening with losses to Folsom and De La Salle, scoring 42 in the first quarter as
Jaylen Bryant had his best game, rushing for 119 yards.
7. (8) St. Mary's (Stockton), 5-0
Last week: Defeated Cardinal Newman, 32-18
This week: at Lodi
The Rams led 19-0 at Cardinal Newman and held off a powerhouse program as
Asante Carter rushed for 93 yards and three touchdowns. An earlier big win was 47-7 over Central Catholic.
8. (9) Granite Bay, 5-0
Last week: Bye
This week: at Del Oro
The Grizzlies are absolute contenders in the rugged Sierra Foothill League, a race that includes Folsom, Del Oro, Oak Ridge, Rocklin and Whitney.
9. (13) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 5-0
Last week: Defeated Pitman, 65-0
This week: vs. Folsom
The Trojans find out what they're all about this week against Folsom in a Sierra Foothill League opener. Oak Ridge has four shutouts this season.
10. (14) Del Oro (Loomis), 5-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Granite Bay
The Golden Eagles have big wins at Clayton Valley Charter and a rout of Menlo-Atherton, but the biggest game yet is the upcoming Sierra Foothill League opener against Granite Bay.
11. (15) Clovis West (Fresno), 5-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Buchanan
The Golden Eagles want to be the top team in the Central Section and a win this week in Tri-River Athletic Conference action is a start in that effort.
12. (10) Salinas, 5-0
Last week: Defeated Hollister, 33-13
This week: vs. Santa Cruz
The Cowboys led 19-3, then it became a game, and then they pulled away as
Adam Shaffer threw three touchdown passes and ran for two. This could be the No. 1 seed in Division I for the Central Coast Section if the train keeps rolling.
13. (12) Manteca, 4-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Kimball
The Buffaloes are eager to compete after a smoked-out game and a bye. They take on a Kimball team that beat them last season, 58-41 in Valley Oak League play.
14. (7) Liberty (Bakersfield), 3-2
Last week: Lost to Carlsbad, 27-0
This week: at Garces Memorial
The Patriots lost to state-ranked Carlsbad, which won't deny them a playoff berth as long as they take care of business.
15. (16) McClymonds (Oakland), 3-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Pittsburg
The Warriors have a showdown this week that will go a long way in determining in which Division Mack plays during the NorCal playoffs.
16. (18) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 4-0
Last week: Defeated Menlo-Atherton, 21-20
This week: at Mountain View
The Chargers earned a nice triumph over a talented Menlo-Atherton squad as
Elijah Diallo Walker rushed 30 times for 196 yards and a touchdown, and they allowed just 137 yards passing.
17. (18) Vanden (Fairfield), 5-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Armijo-Fairfield
The defending CIF State Division 3-AA champions won it all last season, but not the Monticello Empire League championship. That went to rival Vacaville.
18. (19) Jesuit (Carmichael), 5-0
Last week: Pleasant Grove, 49-0
This week: vs. Clayton Valley Charter
The Marauders received two touchdowns passing and two rushing from
C.J. Lee, and the defense allowed little for the defending Delta League champions.
19. (20) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 5-0
Last week: at Antioch, 34-11
This week: Bye
The Wildcats were led by
Joseph Cook's two touchdown passes to
Greer Arthur, and
Charles Williams ran for two scores. Next is the defense of the Marin County Athletic League.
20. Saint Francis (Mountain View), 1-3
Last week: Lost to Serra, 29-7
This week: at St. Ignatius
The Lancers won the West Catholic Athletic League title last season but have managed just 17 points in their last three games, albeit against great competition.
The next 1021.
San Ramon Valley (Danville), 4-0
22.
Central Catholic (Modesto), 1-3
23.
Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 4-1
24.
El Cerrito, 5-0
25.
Acalanes (Lafayette), 4-0
26.
Rocklin, 4-1
27.
Campolindo (Moraga), 5-0
28.
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 3-0
29.
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 3-2
30.
Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 4-1
