MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: MaxPreps Sacramento powered by SMUD

Some sections finish regular-season play this week and others conclude next week. Regardless, there is a lot of playoff positioning on the line as the real seasons starts soon. Two new comers join the rankings in Milpitas and Pleasant Valley (Chico) of the Northern Section.


1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord) (8-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The preseason national No. 1 Spartans beat Logan (Union City) 57-14 by forcing five turnovers in storming to a 51-7 halftime lead. Damon Wiley dominated the line with two sacks and Anthony Sweeney passed for two touchdowns and ran for three. The defense has dominated over the last six games, allowing just two field goals (Logan and others have scored on special teams returns). De La Salle remains unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 265 games. The loss this season was to 10-0 Trinity of Euless, Texas as a potential game-winning catch in the closing seconds just missed.

2. (2) Folsom (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: at Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs beat No. 13 Oak Ridge 35-21 to win the Sierra Foothill League championship. Jake Jeffrey passed for 112 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 135 and two in extending Folsom's state-leading regular-season winning streak to 40 and state-leading run overall to 25. Folsom seeks its fourth successive 10-0 season. An earlier win was 27-26 over No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter with another 28-14 effort over No. 18 Rocklin.

3. (3) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (8-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. at College Park (Pleasant Hill), Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles rolled Ygnacio Valley (Concord) 68-8 behind Ray Jackson III and friends. An earlier win was 21-17 over then-No. 13 Monte Vista. The loss was 27-26 to No. 2 Folsom in an opening game that came down to the wire.

4. (4) Elk Grove (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: vs. Sheldon (Sacramento), Friday
Update: Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Thundering Herd beat once-ranked Franklin (Elk Grove) 35-0 as Ryan Robards rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the first half for a 28-0 lead. An earlier win was over then No. 3 Grant. The defense and offensive line have been stellar under coaches Chris Nixon, Jeff Carlson and Moe Loller.

5. (5) Foothill (Pleasanton) (9-0)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Friday
Update: The Falcons were idle, last beating beat California (San Ramon) 24-7 as Ben Wooldridge passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns and the defense dominated. An earlier win was 35-27 over ranked Monte Vista (Danville). Coach Matt Sweeney is closing in on his 250th career victory.

6. (6) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: vs. No. 10 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Bells, top-ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, blew out Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 33-0. The week before, Bellarmine beat previous No. 7 St. Francis 28-26 as ace quarterback Troy Martig returned. An earlier win was 14-6 over ranked Riordan. The loss was to ranked Mitty, 35-28, as Martig sat with an injury.

7. (8) Grant (Sacramento) (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday
Update: The Pacers trailed 21-6 early and then rolled Davis, 73-35, as DeShawn Collins rushed for 372 yards on 21 carries and scored six touchdowns, including a 98-yard kickoff return, while Mike Green II went for 100 and three. The loss was to No. 4 Elk Grove. An earlier win was 14-7 over once-ranked Bullard (Fresno).

8. (7) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. at Mitty (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Lancers beat previously ranked Serra 43-42 a week after losing to No. 6 Bellarmine. St. Francis trailed 27-3 and 42-30 before staging the big come back, capped by Tau Sanft's 1-yard winner with 1:38 to play, his third 1-yard TD of the game. Earlier wins were over No. 11 Valley Christian and No. 24 Palma.

9. (8) Central Catholic (Modesto) (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. No. 22 Oakdale, Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat East Union (Manteca) 42-13 as Justin Rice ran for 144 yards on eight carries and scored twice and Hunter Petlansky went for 107 on three carries, including an 84-yard score. East Union was held to three yards on 29 carries. Central Catholic is the three-time defending CIF State Division IV champion, now playing up a division.

10. (11) Valley Christian (San Jose) (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: at No. 6 Bellarmine, Friday
Update: The Warriors turned the game on Christian Feist's 97-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter of a 45-27 victory. The loss was 21-16 to No. 8 St. Francis. This week's showdown against Bellarmine is typically huge.

11. (12) Antioch (9-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at No. 12 Pittsburg, Saturday
Update: The Panthers beat Deer Valley (Antioch) 62-9 in the Mayor's Cup as Najee Harris scored three touchdowns to set a single-season mark for scoring, breaking the 70-yard standard by Worth Shaw. Ryan Payne rushed for 148 yards and two scores. Showtime fun time against Pittsburg now.

12. (17) Pittsburg (8-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. No. 11 Antioch, Saturday
Update: The Pirates beat Liberty (Brentwood) 41-22 after leading 31-8 at the half in recording four sacks as Montaz Thompson rushed for 239 yards and two scores. The loss was to then-No. 16 Monte Vista in a shootout. Monte Vista has since lost to California (San Ramon). Rivalry time is now against Antioch.

13. (13) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (8-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: Bye, await Division I playoff seedings
Update: The Trojans lost to No. 2 Folsom 35-21 despite the efforts of quarterback Ian Book. Earlier wins include ranked Rocklin and once-ranked Granite Bay and Del Oro. The other loss was to unbeaten Reed of Nevada, ranked second in that state.

14. (10) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (6-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Crusaders were working on extending a lead against No. 10 Valley Christian when a 97-yard pick-six turned matters, leading to a 45-27 loss. An earlier win was over then No. 8 Serra 66-45. The loss was to No. 6 Bellarmine 14-6.

15. (14) Clovis (8-1)
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Coach: Rich Hammond
Next: vs. Clovis West (Fresno), Friday
Update: For weeks the top-ranked team by The Fresno Bee, the Cougars beat Clovis North 41-28 as Sean Kuenzinger passed for 269 yards and six touchdowns, three to Jassiem Wills and two to Coltin Velasquez. The loss was to Central (Fresno) 21-20, a game in which Clovis faced 13 defenders — not the allowed 11 — during a late drive. That happened on five plays, and there were 12 defenders on another.

16. (18) Inderkum (Sacramento) (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. Pioneer (Woodland), Friday
Update: The Tigers won the Tri-County for the eighth time in nine seasons, the sixth time unbeaten, and now target a section Division II championship. The leader is linebacker/running back Derrick Henderson.

17. (19) Napa (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: vs. Vintage (Napa), Friday
Update: The Indians beat Rodriguez (Fairfield) 43-0 as quarterback Cal Bard again led the way, this time with two touchdowns for a 36-0 halftime lead. An earlier win was over ranked Wood 38-21.

18. (20) Rocklin (6-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. Nevada Union (Grass Valley), Friday
Updade: The Thunder beat Granite Bay 27-24 to lock up a section Division II playoff berth as William Floyd passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns. An earlier loss was to No. 13 Oak Ridge.

19. (22) Palma (Salinas) (7-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: vs. San Benito (Hollister), Friday
Update: The Chieftains beat Monterey 42-14 in inching closer to the league title and the top seed in the CCS Open Division III playoffs. The loss was 28-14 to then-No. 8 Saint Francis.

20. (23) Wood (Vacaville) (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: vs. Vacaville, Friday
Update: The Wildcats beat Armijo (Fairfield) 77-7 as Marcus Howard passed for 233 yards and three touchdowns and Germaine Lewis rushed for 135 yards and three scores. The loss was to No. 17 Napa 38-21.

21. (21) Campolindo (Moraga) (8-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: at Acalanes (Lafayette), Friday
Update: The Cougars beat previously ranked Miramonte (Orinda) 37-0 after Miramonte came in 8-0. Campolindo intercepted four passes, and Jack Cassidy ran for two touchdowns to win its 29th consecutive league game. The loss was 21-14 to No. 19 Napa.

22. (25) Oakdale (9-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. No. 9 Central Catholic, Friday
Update: The Mustangs, defending section Division III champions and ranked second by The Modesto Bee, are primed for the showdown against Modesto Bee No. 1 Central Catholic.

23. (16) Monte Vista (Danville) (6-3)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: at San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday
Update: The Mustangs lost a wild one to California (San Ramon) 50-49 despite Jake Haener tossing four touchdowns and Albert Smith running for three. The other losses were to No. 5 Foothill, 35-27, and to No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter, 21-17. An earlier win was a shootout over No. 12 Pittsburg.

24. (NR) Milpitas (6-2)
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Kelly King
Next: at Saratoga, Friday
Update: The Trojans eye a return to the playoffs with another strong team, one led by running back Cros Chavez and quarterback Oliver Svirsky. The losses were to No. 11 Antioch 47-22 and to No. 10 Valley Christian 22-21.

25. (NR) Pleasant Valley (Chico) (9-0)
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Coach: Mark Cooley
Next: at Red Bluff, Friday
Update: The top-ranked team in the Northern Section is home to Aaron Rodgers, who got his quarterback start with the program and still embraces the school as something special. Brandt Hughes is the quarterback now, passing for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns while the running game averages 185.5 yards a game.

The Sacramento Bee on how some teams with losing records have a shot at the playoffs, and it is that right? ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on a section commissioner who impacted the NorCal football playoff landscape ... click here

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: sacbeepreps