Opening night for football in Northern California played out for Sac-Joaquin and Central Section teams while those from the Central Coast, North Coast and Northern sections kick off Friday or next week.
The top seven teams remained firm. This week's NorCal showcase game pits top-ranked Serra visiting No. 2 Folsom.
No. 1 Serra takes on Folsom in a big-time matchup this week.
Photo: Jim Malone
Last week: Did not play
This week: at No. 2 Folsom
The Padres geared up for the opener at Folsom with a scrimmage against De La Salle, Pittsburg, El Cerrito and Jesuit. The Padres were the NorCal entry in the CIF State Open Division final last season.
2. (2) Folsom, 1-0
Last week: Defeated Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 47-18
This week: vs. No. 1 Serra
The Bulldogs impressed with
Austin Mack passing for 334 yards and five touchdowns, hitting
Rico Flores Jr. and
Onterrio Smith Jr., twice each, but losing star TE
Walker Lyons for the season is a blow.
3. (3) De La Salle (Concord), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: at Monterey Trail (Elk Grove)
The Spartans did not impress coach Justin Alumbaugh in their scrimmage, and he's challenging them to up their games, insisting no one fears DLS like before. One has to earn that fear.
4. (4) Pittsburg, 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Bethel (Vallejo)
The Pirates did not play but fared well in a scrimmage that included De La Salle, El Cerrito and Jesuit.
5. (5) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. No. 8 Central Catholic (Modesto)
The Lancers prepare for Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouse Central Catholic.
6. (6) Liberty (Bakersfield), 1-0
Last week: Beat Spanish Springs 58-17
This week: vs. Ridgeview
7. (7) Central (Fresno), 1-0
Last week: Beat Edison (Stockton) 28-7
This week: vs. Memorial (Fresno)
The Grizzlies received 210 yards passing and three touchdowns from
Dayton Tafoya, who also rushed for 54 yards. The team came up with three interceptions.
8. (9) Central Catholic (Modesto, 1-0
Last week: Beat Merced, 41-19
This week: at No. 5 Saint Francis (Mountain View)
The Raiders blew open a 14-all game at intermission with big plays, including
Tyler Wentworth finding Trace Hernandez for scoring strikes of 58 and 62 yards.
9. (10) Buchanan (Clovis), 1-0
Last week: Beat Bakersfield 56-3
This week: at Escalon
Jayden Mandal excelled in a rout of the state's winningest program, tossing four touchdown passes.
10. (11) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: at Menlo-Atherton
The Bells gear up for a whopper of an opener.
11. (12) Los Gatos, (0-0)
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Corona del Mar (Newport Beach)
The longtime Central Coast Section power went 10-1 last season.
12. (13) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Salinas
The Ugly Eagles and 214-game winning coach Tim Murphy gear up for another big season.
13. (15) Salinas, 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Clayton Valley Charter
One of the top games in Northern California is a showdown against Clayton Valley Charter.
14. (16) McClymonds (Oakland), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
Next: Sept. 2 vs. Bellarmine
The Mack attack has won four CIF State championships.
15. (18) Vanden (Fairfield), 1-0
Last week: Beat Yuba City, 27-18
Next: vs. Douglas (Nevada)
The defending state 3-AAA champions pulled away from Yuba City, one of the rising programs in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
16. (17) San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 1-0
Last week: Beat Clovis North (Clovis), 34-0
This week: vs. Central (Fresno)
The Panthers received 194 yards passing and three touchdowns from
Carson Dean, hitting
Joe Dalena,
Tommy Nix and
Ramon Ruiz, to impress in the opener.
17. (19) Jesuit (Carmichael), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Manogue (Nevada)
The Marauders impressed in a scrimmage that included moving the ball against De La Salle.
18. (22) Manteca, 1-0
Last week: Beat Vista del Lago (Folsom), 44-6
This week: vs. Patterson
The Buffaloes, winners of eight Sac-Joaquin Section crowns in 20 seasons, rushed for 345 yards for a whopping average of 9.1 yards per carry.
19. (24) Granite Bay, 1-0
Last week: Beat Elk Grove, 34-12
This week: vs. Davis
The Grizzlies found out how good and how fast RB Carter Jackson is, and he's super fast and prolific, scoring four times.
20. (tie) (8) Rocklin, 0-1
Last week: Lost to Turlock, 14-7
This week: vs. McQueen (Nevada)
The Thunder suffered a blow before the opener when star tight end
Derek Houston went down with a broken leg.
20. (tie) (21) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 0-0
Last week: Did not play
This week: vs. Freedom (Oakley)
The Wildcats went 14-1 last season in continuing a legacy of success.
The Next 1021.
Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 0-1
22.
Elk Grove, 0-1
23.
St. Mary's (Stockton), 0-0
24.
Turlock, 1-0
25.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 1-0
26.
Sheldon (Sacramento), 1-0
27.
Vacaville, 1-0
28.
Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 0-0
29.
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 0-0
30.
Foothill (Palo Cedro), 0-0
