The Central Section and Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs kicked off last week and the Central Coast and North Coast Section playoffs start this week. It's football season with weather to match. Big showdowns this week include Central Catholic at Monterey Trail in an SJS D1 showdown.
Serra (San Mateo) remains No. 1 with a 10-0 record heading into the playoffs. (Photo: Dennis Lee)
Northern California Top 20 high school football rankings
1. (1) Serra (San Mateo), 10-0
Last week: Defeated Sacred Heart College Prep. 43-7
This week: vs. Palma, Saturday
The Padres capped the program's first 10-0 regular season and the outright West Catholic Athletic League championship. This earned Serra the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs. Wins this season include Folsom, De La Salle and Central Catholic.
2. (2) Folsom, 9-1
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Sheldon, Friday
The Bulldogs are the No. 1 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs, and they seek their 10th championship since 2010. The Sierra Foothill League champions lost only this season to Serra, 17-12.
3. (3) St. Mary's (Stockton), 10-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Turlock, Friday
The No. 2 seed in the SJS D1 race aims for a title showdown against Folsom. Wins this season include 45-35 over De La Salle and 47-7 over Central Catholic.
4. (4) De La Salle (Concord), 7-3
Last week: Defeated Clayton Valley Charter, 42-6
This week: vs. Logan, Friday
The Spartans still haven't lost to a North Coast Section team since 1991 and they raced past CVC with
Toa Faavae rushing for two scores and passing for one to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCS Open/D1 playoffs.
5. (5) Pittsburg, 9-1
Last week: Defeated Antioch, 48-21
This week: vs. Antioch, Friday
The Pirates blasted their cheif rivals in the 104th Big Game and drew Antioch again in a NCS D1 opener as the No. 2 seed. Longtime coach Vic Galli announced that this will be his final season after 21 years in charge. The loss was to Folsom.
6. (6) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 8-2
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Central Catholic (Modesto), Friday
The Mustangs are the No. 4 seed in the SJS D1 field and take on the program that defeated them for the 2021 SJS D2 championship. The losses were to Folsom and De La Salle.
7. (7) Liberty (Bakersfield), 8-2
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. St. Joseph, Thursday
The Patriots won the Southwest Yosemite League and as the No. 3 seed in the Central Section D-I playoffs, they stand as the section's overall best team. St. Joseph of Santa Maria is 10-1.
8. (8) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 7-3
Last week: Defeated Archbishop Mitty, 35-13
This week: vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Friday
The Lancers finished second in the WCAL a year after going 10-0 and are the No. 2 seed in the CCS D1 field. Saint Francis beat SHC earlier this WCAL season, 24-17.
9. (11) Central Catholic (Modesto), 7-4
Last week: Defeated Stagg, 58-19
This week: at Monterey Trail, Friday
The Raiders are the No. 5 seed in the SJS D1 field and eased past Stagg, taking a 44-0 lead at the half as RB
Tyler Jacklich and company led the way. CC won the SJS D2 championship last season, beating Monterey Trail.
10. (9) Clovis West (Fresno), 9-1
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Clovis, Thursday
The Golden Eagles are the top seed in the Central Section playoffs after winning their first outright Tri-River Athletic Conference championship in 10 years.
11. (11) San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 8-2
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Central, Thursday
The Panthers are the No. 4 seed in the Central Section D1 race and face a Central team they beat 23-21 earlier this season.
12. (12) Manteca, 8-1
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Vacaville, Friday
The Buffaloes are seeded first in the SJS D2 bracket and have won eight section crowns since 2001 and seek their fifth since 2017. The loss was 56-49 to Central Catholic in Valley Oak League play.
13. (13) McClymonds (Oakland), 7-1
Last week: Defeated Castlemont, 60-6
This week: at Oakland Tech, Friday
The Warriors will win another Oakland Athletic league championship as the towering program in the entire Oakland Section as
Jaivian Thomas rushed for 272 yards and four scores in his last effort. The loss was to Pittsburg, 39-21.
14. (14) Downey (Modesto), 10-0
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Granite Bay, Friday
The Knights are the No. 3 seed in the SJS D2 field and take on a battle-tested team from the deep Sierra Foothill League. Downey is the first Modesto public school to sport a 10-0 record since 1973.
15. (15) Campolindo (Moraga), 10-0
Last week: Defeated Miramonte, 35-7
This week: vs. Granada, Friday
The Cougars are the No. 2 seed in the NCS D2 field and are the defending champions. Receivers
Tim Daugherty and
Robbie Mascheroni have stretched defenses all season.
16. (16) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 8-2
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Elk Grove, Friday
The Trojans are the No. 3 seed in the SJS D1 scramble, having tied for second in the brutal Sierra Foothill League behind Folsom. The losses were to Folsom and Rocklin.
17. (17) Del Oro (Loomis), 8-2
Last week: Bye
This week: vs. Antelope, Friday
The Golden Eagles tied for second in the SFL and gained the No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs. In facing pass-happy Antelope, DO defensive back star
Thomas Graham II looks to make more plays in a season of big plays.
18. (18) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 10-0
Last week: Defeated San Marin, 32-15
This week: vs. Newark Memorial, Frida
The Wildcats are the top seed in the NCS D4 playoffs and are riding a 21-game winning sterak.
19. (19) Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 9-1
Last week: Defeated Menlo School, 34-7
This week: at Salinas, Friday
The Gators were led by
Andrew Latu's 100 yards and two scores and expect to be a threat in the CCS D1 field. The loss was an opener to Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
20. (20) Los Gatos, 8-2
Last week: Defeated Menlo-Atherton, 31-14
This week: vs. Mitty, Friday
The Wildcats bound into the CCS D1 playoffs with just one NorCal loss, to Sacred Heart Prep 10-7.
The next 5
22.
Wilcox (Santa Clara), 9-1
23.
Aptos, 8-2
24.
Salinas, 9-1
25.
Buchanan (Clovis), 8-2
