Drift smoke from Northern California wildfires led to a number of postponed or canceled high school football games last week. It's something that could be the norm for the foreseeable future.
It's been an unfortunate trend for years, from the Bay Area to the Chico and Redding region, up to the Oregon border and well up Highway 50 into El Dorado County and now to the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Beyond the fire and smoke, COVID-19 testing issues also led to canceled games. High school football teams try to carry on. Here are the best from the North region of the state.
Charles Greer en route to one of his two touchdowns, a 33-yard run, in No. 1 De La Salle's 52-16 win over then No. 7 St. Mary's.
Photo by Stephen Hopson
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 1-0Last week: beat St. Mary's 52-16
Next: vs. Monterey Trail, Friday
Outlook: The Spartans stretched a 17-16 halftime lead into a 52-16 rout to open the season with a bang.
Zeke Barber and
Charles Greer rushed for 200 yards total and four touchdowns, and the defense allowed little in the second half. De La Salle's unbeaten streak against NorCal teams north of Fresno since 1992 is 315-0-2. The football program has gone a remarkable 402-5-2 against NorCal teams north of Fresno since 1984. It has won 28 consecutive section championships and have reached a record 12 successive CIF State finals.
2. (2) Folsom, 2-0Last week: beat Jesuit 56-7
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Saturday
Update: The Bulldogs overwhelmed a solid Jesuit, leading 35-0 at the half.
Tyler Tremain accounted for six scores and hit
Rico Flores Jr. for three touchdown passes as the defense dominated behind
Josh Tremain, twin of Tyler. Folsom has won eight section and four CIF State titles since 2010 and has not lost in league play since 2011.
3. (3) Serra (San Mateo), 0-0Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Palo Alto, Friday
Update: The Padres did not play. Their game against Pittsburgh was smoked out due to poor air quality.
4. (4) Pittsburg, 0-0Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Folsom, Saturday
Update: Pittsburg is the last NorCal team to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 NCS finals.
5. (6) Clovis, 2-0Last week: Beat Bakersfield 34-14
Next: vs. Ridgeview, Friday
Update: Nate Johnson passed for 201 yards and a touchdown and
Tristan Risley rushed for 193 and three scores.
6. (7) Central (Fresno), 1-0Last week: Idle
Next: vs. Bakersfield, Friday
Update: The Grizzlies outscored Bullard 51-32 in their opener.
7. (8) Buchanan (Clovis), 2-0Last week: Beat Bullard 27-0
Next: vs. Paso Robles, Friday
Update: The Bears have allowed one touchdown in two games as
Jayden Mandal led the charge again.
8. (7) St. Mary's (Stockton), 0-1Last week: Lost 52-16 to De La Salle
Next: vs. Central Catholic, Friday
Update: The Rams battled the Spartans early with
Cruz Herrera tossing two first-half touchdowns, but the offense stalled out in the second half in a 52-16 loss.
9. (9) Rocklin, 1-0Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Davis, Friday
Update: The win was a 41-0 effort over Turlock.
10. (10) Valley Christian (San Jose), 1-0Last week: Beat Wilcox 54-33
Next: vs. Capital Christian, Friday
Update: Quarterback
Jakson Berman accounted for six touchdowns, including three passes to
Jurrion Dickey in win over Wilcox.
11. (11) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 0-0Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Bishop O'Dowd, Friday
Update: The season opener now shifts to game against O'Dowd.
12. (12) Vacaville, 2-0Last week: Beat Oak Ridge 17-10
Next: vs. Cardinal Newman, Friday
Update: Darian Leon-Guerrero rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns and the defense made a late stand. That's two big wins at home at sparkling new Zunino Stadium.
13. (13) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 1-1Last week: Lost 17-10 to Vacaville
Next: vs. Lincoln, Friday
Update: After rolling Cosumnes Oaks 42-0, the Trojans fell at Vacaville 17-10.
Drew Cowart hit
Aden Clark for the team's lone touchdown.
14. (14) Granite Bay, (2-0)Last week: Beat Davis 56-14
Next: vs. Jesuit, Friday
Update: Grizzlies backed up opening win over Vista del Lago with victory over Blue Devils.
15. (16) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 1-0Last week: Beat Turlock 35-23
Next: vs. Del Oro, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles run-heavy offense was stout in the season opener.
16. (17) McClymonds (Oakland), 1-0Last week: Beat Tamalpais 63-6
Next: vs. De Anza, Sept. 10
Update: Mack rolled Tamalpais behind a dominating running game and unyielding defense, a credit to 19 returning starters.
17. (19) Edison (Stockton), 2-0Last week: Beat Lodi 21-0
Next: vs. Grant, Saturday
Update: The Vikings backed up their 26-7 win over Lincoln with a shutout of Lodi. The defense also opened the scoring with a fumble-return.
18. (22) Inderkum (Sacramento), 2-0Last week: Beat Grant 17-6
Next: vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Friday
Update: The Tigers play D, having given up 12 points in their first two games, a credit to fiery coach Harris. He has an emerging QB in
Jayden Johnson, who tossed two touchdown passes and had a field goal against Grant in the first ever meeting between the programs.
19. (24) Los Gatos, 1-0Last week: Beat Monterey Trail 42-20
Next: vs. Liberty, Friday
Update: The Wildcats in the 11th hour scheduled the Sac-Joaquin Section power, the rolled behind three touchdown passes from
Jake Boyd, two to
Jake Ripp, who also played well on defense.
20. (20) Jesuit (Carmichael), 0-1Last week: Lost to Folsom 56-7
Next: vs. Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Marauders brace for another Sierra Foothill League heavyweight with Granite Bay.
21. (21) Lincoln (Stockton), 0-1Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: The Trojans lost to Edison 26-7 in an opener.
22. (NR) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 1-0Last week: Beat Menlo-Atherton 56-41
Next: San Leandro, Friday
Update: The Bells rang a lot of bells in beating highly-touted Menlo-Atherton as
Wade Smith accumulated nearly 300 yards of offense and scored three times.
23. (18) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 0-1Last week: Lost to Bellarmine 56-41
Next: vs. Tualatin (Oregon)
Update: The Bears fell to Bellarmine despite Matt Macleod passing for 390 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jeremiah Earby.
24. (23) Elk Grove, (0-1)Last week: Idle
Next: vs. Oak Ridge, Sept. 10
Outlook: The Thundering Herd did not play Antelope due to COVID-testing issues. The loss was 15-6 to Inderkum. Elk Grove played just one spring game.
25. (tie) (25) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 0-0Last week: Idle, game canceled (air quality)
Next: vs. Oak Grove, Friday
Update: The Lancers return 11 starters for another run in the WCAL.
25. (tie) (25) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 1-0Last week: Beat El Cerrito 6-0
Next: vs. Concord, Friday
Update: The longtime North Bay powers are led by third-year starting QB Michael Ingrassia.
The Next 1026.
Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 0-2
27.
Vintage (Napa), 0-0
28.
Pleasant Valley (Chico), 0-0
29.
Benicia, 1-0
30.
California (San Ramon), 1-0
31.
Palma (Salinas), 1-0
32.
Campolindo (Moraga), 1-0
33.
Manteca, 2-0
34.
Liberty (Brentwood), 0-0
35.
Central Catholic (Modesto), 0-0
Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. He was named a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Distinguished Award winner in April. Follow him on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and through sacbee.com.
