MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

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The top three spots held steady in the rankings, and two of these teams may meet in the CIF Northern California Regional Division I Bowl next month. Should Folsom and Grant win out in Sac-Joaquin Section play, in Divisions I and II, respectively, the storied programs likely will be chosen by CIF section commissioners to meet for D-I honors.

With previously ranked No. 4 Milpitas losing to Bellarmine in overtime in Central Coast Section Open Division play, this becomes more of a reality.

Sac-Joaquin Section teams move up in their divisions in NorCal D-I play, much like Del Oro (Loomis) did last season after winning section D-II honors, beating Serra (San Mateo) in the D-I game.

See pro photo galleries from last week's Northern California football games


1. De La Salle (Concord) (Last week 1) 11-0
Section: North Coast
League: Freelance
Result: The Spartans beat San Ramon Valley (Danville) 65-16 in North Coast Section Division I play to extend their unbeaten streak against NorCal competition to 259 games since 1992. De La Salle seeks is 23rd-consecutive NCS title and 29th overall since 1982. This team is a lock to reach another CIF Open Division game if it wins out.
Next: vs. California (San Ramon), Friday.

2. Folsom (2) 12-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: Beat Franklin (Elk Grove) 56-13 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I second-round game as Jake Browning passed for 354 yards and six touchdowns, hitting five different receivers with two going to Cole Thompson. Browning has 4,300 yards this season and 70 touchdowns. The state single-season mark is 75, set by Browning last season. He has 202 career touchdowns, second on the all-time national prep list (219). The last two losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle to cap 14-1 seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Next: vs. No. 15 Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), Friday.

3. Grant (Sacramento) (3) 12-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Pacers beat Downey (Modesto) 63-21 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II second-round game as Donovan Brown passed for 285 yards and five touchdowns, three to Ariyon Huff. Grant had 12 sacks, four by Carl Granderson.
Next: vs. No. 13 Vacaville, Friday.

4. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (5) 12-0
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Result: The top-ranked NorCal Division II Ugly Eagles beat Montgomery (Santa Rosa) 69-19 in North Coast Section D-II play. An early big win was over Tracy, which beat previous NorCal No. 10 Jesuit in a Sac-Joaquin Section D-I quarterfinal.
Next: vs. Casa Grande (Petaluma), Friday.

5. Elk Grove (6) 10-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Thundering Herd beat Wood (Vacaville) 59-34, as the three-headed backfield of Eltoro Allen, Spencer Sheff and Manny Scott-Anderson combined for 454 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Its one loss was to No. 3 Grant, 26-19.
Next: vs. No. 7 St. Mary's, Friday.

6. Valley Christian (San Jose) (8) 9-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Result: The Warriors beat Palma (Salinas) 14-7 in Central Coast Section Open Division play as Michael Machado had a touchdown pass and Mark Quinby ran for a score.
Next: vs. No. 10 Bellarmine, Friday.

7. St. Mary's (Stockton) (9) 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City
Result: The Rams beat previous No. 12 Rocklin 56-14 in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II game as Noah Righetti passed for three touchdowns and Khalil Hodge led the way on defense. An earlier win includes No 8 Los Gatos, 35-32.
Next: at No. 5 Elk Grove, Friday.

8. Los Gatos (12) 9-2
Section: Central Coast
League: Santa Clara Valley Athletic
Result: Beat previous No. 7 Serra 28-0 as Dru Brown and Joey Wood led the offense and the defense held the previously state-ranked Padres to 151 yards of offense. An early loss was to No. 7. Mary's 35-32
Next: vs. No. 9 Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), Friday.

9. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) (NR) 11-0
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula Bay
Result: Beat Oak Grove (San Jose) 37-13 in Central Coast Section Open Division play as Mason Randall passed for two touchdowns and Ben Burr-kirven rushed for 200 yards and two scores.
Next: vs. No. 8 Los Gatos, Friday.

10. Bellarmine (San Jose) (18) 9-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic
Result: Beat previous No. 4 Milpitas 9-6 in overtime in Central Coast Section Open Division play as Troy Martig hit Curt Calomeni with the deciding touchdown. An earlier loss was to No. 6 Valley Christian.
Next: at No. 6 Valley Christian, Friday.

11. Milpitas (4) 10-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Result: The Trojans lost to new No. 10 Bellarmine 9-6 in overtime in Central Coast Section Open Division play.
Next: Season complete with Open consolation game pending.

12. Foothill (Pleasanton) (11) 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Result: The No. 2 seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs behind No. 1 De La Salle beat Antioch 54-8 with offensive balance and defense.
Next: vs. No. 20 Pittsburg, Friday.

13. Vacaville (24) 9-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Result: The Bulldogs beat defending champion Del Oro 35-28 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division II play, making a late goal-line stand. An earlier win was 13-7 win over No. 14 Granite Bay.
Next: at No. 3 Grant, Friday.

14. Granite Bay (15) 8-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Result: The Grizzlies beat previous No. 8 Napa 28-13 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division I play as Justin Yeaton, Ben Smith and Cameron Smith led the way. The losses include No. 2 Folsom and No. 13 Vacaville.
Next: vs. No. 24 Tracy, Friday.

15. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) (25) 8-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Result: The Mustangs beat Merced 51-45 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division I play as Trey Nahhas rushed
for 397 yards and five touchdowns. The losses include No. 3 Grant, previous No. 3 Jesuit (28-21) and No. 5 Elk Grove (34-27).
Next: At No. 2 Folsom, Friday.

16. Campolindo (Moraga) (17) 12-0
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Result: The top-ranked Division III team in NorCal beat Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 56-14 in North Coast Section D-III play.
Next: vs. Analy (Sebastopol), Friday.

17. Inderkum (Sacramento) (19) 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Result: The Tigers beat Benicia 49-14 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division III play as Larry Hardy ran for two scores and caught two touchdowns from Jonathan Henry. Tyrique Carter returned an interception 75 yards for a score. The loss was to then higher-ranked Monterey Trail when a last-play field goal missed.
Next: vs. Sacramento, Friday.

18. Saint Francis (Mountain View) (20) 7-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Lancers earned the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section D-II playoffs and rolled Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) 55-6.
Next: vs. Leland (San Jose), Friday.

19. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (21) 6-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Monarchs earned the 2-seed in the Central Coast Section D-II playoffs and beat Willow Glen (San Jose) 49-15 in an opener. A loss was 15-14 to No. 18 St. Francis.
Next: Wilcox (Santa Clara), Friday.

20. Pittsburg (22) 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Result: Earned a 3-seed in the North Coast Section D-I playoffs and beat Freedom 27-7 after an opening bye. One loss was 13-7 to No. 19 Mitty.
Next: No. 12 Foothill, Friday.

21. Oakdale (24) 11-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Result: The Mustangs rolled Vista del Lago (Folsom) 42-14 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division III play as Darus Nelson rushed for 150 yards and Frank Trent plowed for the hard yardage.
Next: vs. Rio Linda, Friday.

22. Enterprise (Redding) (24) 10-1
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Result: Earned the No. 1 seed in the Northern Section Division II playoffs (there is no Division I) and loom as the heavy favorites to repeat. Beat Paradise 49-7 in the seminfinals. The loss was 44-22 at No. 24 Vacaville.
Next: vs. Pleasant Valley (Chico), Saturday.

23. Serra (San Mateo) (7) 7-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Result: The Padres lost to new No. 8 Los Gatos 28-0 in mustering just 151 yards of offense.
Next: Season complete.

24. Tracy (NR) 9-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Result: The Bulldogs beat previous No. 10 Jesuit 48-38 in Sac-Joaquin Section Division I play for the program's first semifinals berth in more than 20 years. Michael Brown passed for three touchdowns and Nate Jones rushed for 135 yards and two scores. The losses were to No. 7 St. Mary's and No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (14-7).
Next: at No. 14 Granite Bay, Friday.

25. Concord (NR) 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Result: Beat Granada (Livermore) 48-23 in North Coast Section Division II play as Mitch Daniels passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns and Malik Blackburn rushed for 145 yards and three scores.
Next: vs. Pinole Valley, Friday

The Sacramento Bee on a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff rushing record and a monstrous next challenge...
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/prep-plus-blog/article4072709.html

The Sacramento Bee Preps TV Show reviews top playoff football games and previews next-round action... http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/prep-plus-blog/article4049387.html

The Sacramento Bee on top running backs in the Sac-Joaquin Section... http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/prep-plus-blog/article4027440.html

The Sacramento Bee on top defensive players in the Sac-Joaquin Section... http://www.sacbee.com/sports/high-school/prep-plus-blog/article3989087.html