MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 Football Rankings

Video: Xcellent 25 High School Football Rankings
See where De La Salle lands nationally.

The only section left to conclude regular-season play is the Central Coast Section, and then it's playoff time.
Some teams earn opening-round byes, such as No. 1 De La Salle in the North Coast Open Division I scramble, and there is still plenty of time for a NorCal team to bounce the Spartans for the first time since 1991. The Sac-Joaquin Section, the largest of the four in Northern California, features No. 1 seed Folsom in Division I, No. 1 seed Granite Bay in D-II and No. 1 seed Oakdale in D-III.
The Sac-Joaquin Section will have most of its playoff games start this Thursday as Friday is an off day to recognize Veteran's Day.

MaxPreps Norcal Top 25 high school football teams
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter, Nov. 17
Update: Top ranked by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans rolled previous No. 5 San Ramon Valley 49-14 with three interception returns for scores to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs. De La Salle's unbeaten streak is 287 against Northern California schools since 1992 (north of Fresno). The Spartans lost this season to national power Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. De La Salle seeks its 26th consecutive section championship and 30th since 1981 — and its 12th consecutive CIF State final. The Spartans have gone 439-23-3 since 1982 with 21 unbeaten seasons.

2. (2) Folsom, 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. River City, Thursday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee and in The Bee's section rankings, the Bulldogs beat previous No. 3 Oak Ridge 42-28 after leading 28-7 and 42-14 as Kaiden Bennett accounted for five touchdowns to earn the No. 1 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs. This is Folsom's fifth 10-0 regular season since 2012 as it extended its SFL streak to 24 and overall league streak to 35. Earlier wins were over previous No. 3 Granite Bay 35-14 and over No. 5 Oakdale 45-29. Folsom is 106-9 this decade, one in which the Bulldogs reached seven successive section-title games, winning five, to go with two CIF State titles and two 14-0 teams that lost to De La Salle in NorCal Open title games.

3. (4) Pittsburg, 7-1
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. San Ramon Valley, Nov. 18
Update: The Pirates beat rival Antioch 14-12 in the 99th Big Little Game as Justin Boyd had two touchdown passes to earn the No. 2 seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs. An earlier win was over ranked Freedom 47-33 and a 35-28 win over ranked Serra. Pittsburg had a game canceled due to poor air quality and extreme heat and lost its opener to national power Centennial 63-21, playing short-handed due to injury. This is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section title game.

4. (3) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: vs. Lincoln (Stockton), Friday
Update: The Trojans lost to No. 2 Folsom 42-28, making a game of it after it was 42-14 behind Austin Jarrard, who caught three touchdown passes. Oak Ridge earned the No. 2 seed in the SJS D-I playoffs behind Folsom and ahead of defending champion St. Mary's, which beat the Trojans in a semifinal last season. Oak Ridge won section banners in Division II and III and seek their first in Division I.

5. (8) Oakdale, 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. McNair, Thursday
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Mustangs capped a perfect VOL season with a 27-21 win over Central Catholic as Cameron Cherry and Bronson Harmon played big, including Cherry scoring the game winner on a 44-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds left to give the Mustangs their 13th league title in 16 seasons. Oakdale is the No. 1 seed in the SJS Division III playoffs and is the defending champion. The defending CIF State Division III-A champions gave No. 2 Folsom a game on Sept. 8, falling 45-29.

6. (5) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Aaron Becker
Next: vs. Pittsburg, Nov. 18
Update: The Wolves lost to De La Salle 49-14 as three interceptions were returned for touchdowns and the defense was pushed around for the first time all season. San Ramon Valley is the No. 3 seed in the North Coast Section Open Division playoffs. Its best seasons include 2004 (11-2), 2006 (10-2), 2007 (12-1) and 2011 (10-4).

7. (7) Central Catholic (Modesto), 8-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Stagg, Thursday
Update: The Raiders, ranked second by The Modesto Bee behind Oakdale, lost in the closing seconds to NorCal No. 5 Oakdale and earned the No. 3 seed in the SJS Division III playoffs. An earlier win was over previous No. 8 Manteca 31-14 and a 20-7 win over previous No. 2 St. Mary's. A September game at Marin Catholic was canceled due to extreme heat. Central Catholic won CIF State titles in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

8. (9) St. Mary's (Stockton), 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. Edison, Thursday
Update: The Rams rolled Lincoln (Stockton) 42-7 to lock up another league title and the No. 3 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs. Dusty Frampton rushed for 188 yards and two scores and Marcus Aponte went for 78 and two. The losses were to national No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 52-14 and to No. 7 Central Catholic 20-7 after opening the season ranked No. 2 here. St. Mary's opened with a 41-13 rout of then-No. 4 Serra (San Mateo). The Rams are defending section Division I and NorCal Division I-AA champions, beating Folsom and Freedom.

9. (10) Serra (San Mateo), 6-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. Saint Francis, Friday
Update: The Padres are the top-ranked team in the Central Coast Section with a 6-0 mark in the WCAL with the regular-season finale this week. Serra rolled St. Ignatius 47-14 as Luke Bottari passed for two touchdowns and Isiah Kendrick rushed for 225 and five scores. An earlier win was over previous CCS No. 1 No. 1 Valley Christian 35-7. Serra lost to No. 3 Pittsburg 35-28 and lost an opener to then-No. 2 St. Mary's. Serra started 0-4 last fall and reached the CIF State Division 2-A finals.

10. (11) Valley Christian (San Jose), 7-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. Riordan, Friday
Update: The defending NorCal Regional Division 2-AA champions beat Mitty 31-28 to keep their hopes of at least of share of the league title alive. The most recent loss was to Serra 35-7, and the opening loss was to ranked Manteca. Valley Christian's impressive recovery warrants being ranked ahead of Manteca. Valley Christian has won seven section titles in 11 title-game appearances.

11. (12) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 7-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. Serra, Friday
Update: The Lancers beat Bellarmine 31-6 and can clinch a share of the WCAL crown with a win over Serra, meaning Darrell Page has to keep running well. One loss was to Valley Christian 28-21 and the other to De La Salle 31-17. The Lancers seek their 17th section championship and 27th championship-game appearance. Coach Calcagno is the son of famed Lancers coach Ron Calcagno.

12. (13) Milpitas, 10-0
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Kelly King
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Trojans beat Homestead 45-7 to lock up the league title and now await their CCS playoff opponent as some regular-season finales in this section will be played this week. One win this season was by forfeit as Brookside Christian (Stockton) declined to play due to low roster numbers. Milpitas has won 11, 12, 10 and 10 games in each of the past four seasons and have made the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons.

13. (14) Inderkum (Sacramento), 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. Vintage, Thursday
Update: The Tigers beat Rio Linda 28-14 by averaging 10.9 yards a carry on the ground, headed by D'Angelo Morgan, who scored twice. Logan Benoit had 16 tackles as Inderkum secured the No. 2 seed in the SJS Division II playoffs. Inderkum reached the section Division II finals last season and have won 10 or more games for 11 consecutive seasons.

14. (15) Sacramento, 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Joe McCray
Next: vs. Wood, Saturday
Update: Ranked fourth by The Sacramento Bee below Folsom, Oak Ridge and Inderkum, the Dragons beat McClatchy 48-0 as scores of reserves played in the annual Bell Game between the city's two oldest high schools. Sacramento forfeited three early wins for unknowingly using a seldom-used ineligible player tied to a 30-day sit-out transfer policy despite the student-athlete enrolling into Sacramento in January (these rankings reflect on-field wins). Sacramento lost to No. 2 Folsom 28-19 early this season a year after snapping the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak.

15. (16) Granite Bay, 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Next: vs. Burbank, Thursday
Update: The Grizzlies beat Rocklin 27-14 as Blake Peterson led the charge as a flyback who can catch the ball and run it, securing the No. 1 seed in the SJS Division II playoffs. The losses were to No. 2 Folsom 35-14 and to then-No. 3 Oak Ridge 14-7 in overtime. The Grizzlies won the 2012 CIF State Division I championship, have made the playoffs 19 consecutive times and seek their sixth section banner.

16. (17) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. De La Salle, Nov. 17
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Campolindo 54-21 as Thomas Alatini rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns and James Teofilo went for 125 and two to secure the No. 4 seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs against De La Salle. The winning streak is eight after losses to Nevada power Reed (38-22) and Hawaii power Mililani (49-30). Clayton Valley Charter went 15-1 and reached a CIF State Bowl in 2014, went 13-2 in 2015 and 12-2 and 11-2 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

17. (23) Jesuit (Carmichael), 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Next: vs. Modesto, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Update: The Marauders beat Grant 23-17 to bounce the Pacers out of the playoffs for the first time since 1990 and to lock up the No. 4 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs behind Folsom, Oak Ridge and defending champion St. Mary's. The winning streak is eight after opening losses to No. 2 Folsom (55-9) and to No. 15 Granite Bay (31-21). The Marauders first reached the playoffs in 1988 and have won two section titles.

18. (24) Sheldon (Sacramento), 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joe Cattolico
Next: vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Thursday
Update: The Huskies rolled Elk Grove 56-20 and earned the No. 5 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs. The losses were to Jesuit and in a thriller, to Reno, which is 10-0 and ranked third in Nevada. Reno. Coach Cattolico's father, Butch, is on the coaching staff, having won 266 games while at Los Gatos.

19. (6) Freedom (Oakley), 7-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Falcons lost to upstart Liberty (Brentwood) 37-35 in the 20th Bell Game and wound up with the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division I playoffs opposite of top-seeded Liberty as both teams earn opening-round byes. The loss was 47-33 to No. 4 Pittsburg in a game that featured six lead changes to halt an 18-game regular-season winning streak. Freedom finished No. 3 in these rankings last season, falling in the playoffs to top-ranked De La Salle and No. 2 St. Mary's after an 11-0 start.

20. (19) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 8-0
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Next: vs. De Anza, Saturday
Update: The Wildcats rolled Justin-Siena 58-0 and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCS Division IV playoffs. A game against No. 7 Central Catholic in September was cancelled due to extreme heat and poor air quality. Marin Catholic this decade has had teams of 13-2, 12-1, 13-1, 14-2, 12-1 and 12-2, reaching the CIF State finals in 2012.

21. (18) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 7-2
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. Terra Linda, Saturday
Update: The Dragons rolled San Leandro 39-12 as Quinn Brinnon passed for two touchdowns and Austin Jones rushed for 102 and two scores to earn the No. 4 seed in the NCS Division IV playoffs. The losses were to No. 1 De La Salle 45-24 after trailing 38-3 and No. 6 Freedom 42-21. O'Dowd is the defending CIF State Division 5-AA champion.

22. (20) Manteca, 8-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: vs. Rio Americano, Thursday
Update: The Buffaloes beat East Union 46-17 and earned the No. 2 seed in the SJS Division II playoffs. The losses were in league play to No. 7 Central Catholic 31-14 and No. 5 Oakdale 36-15. Manteca, winner of five section titles, beat Valley Christian 22-20 in an opener but is now ranked below Valley Christian due to VC's overall body of work.

23. (22) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 7-2
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: vs. Kennedy (Fremont), Friday
Update: The Cardinals beat rival Rancho Cotate 34-27 not too long after losing to the same program 41-28 in a much-needed, yet unscheduled game in wake of the fires that destroyed parts of the region. Cardinal Newman is the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division IV playoffs. Coach Cronin's best teams include going 13-2 in 2006, 11-21 in 2007, 13-1 in 2008, 12-1-1 in 2011, 11-2 in 2012, 11-3 in 2015 and 12-2 last season. This has been a powerhouse since the 1970s.

24. (21) Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 8-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Gehrig Hotaling
Next: vs. Las Lomas, Friday
Update: The Cougars lost to rival Cardinal Newman 34-27 two weeks after beating the Cardinals 41-28 in a cathartic recovery game for the entire region in the wake of devastating Wine Country fires and earned the No. 3 seed in the NCS Division IV playoffs. Rancho Cotate went 12-2 in 2010 and 13-1 in 2012.

25. (tie) (25) Sutter, 9-1
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: vs.Orland, Friday
Update: Top ranked in the Northern Section in media polls, the Huskies rolled Wheatland 63-0 and earned the No. 1 seed in the Northern Section Division III playoffs, drawing an Orland team they beat 38-6 as Tyler Reynolds passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two to Trever Facey. The loss came in an opener, to Utah power Orem, 34-18. Sutter this decade has had teams go 10-2, 13-1 and 13-1.

25. (tie) (NR) Shasta (Redding), 9-1
Section: Northern
League: Eastern
Coach: JC Hunsaker
Next: TBA
Update: Top ranked in the Northern Section by a MaxPreps computer ranking, the Wolves have one of their greatest teams, certainly in this era, and are the No. 1 seed in the Northern Section Division II playoffs. The loss was to Damonte Ranch of Reno, 55-41, and that team is 10-0. Ian Garcia has tossed 15 touchdown passes and Vincent Smith has rushed for 1,617 yards and 17 scores and Seth Park has run for 1,473 and 25.

The next 10
Vacaville — 6-3
Gregori (Modesto) — 10-0
Liberty (Brentwood) — 7-2
Acalanes (Lafayette — 8-1
McClymonds (Oakland) — 9-0
Half Moon Bay — 9-0
Aragon (San Mateo) — 8-1
East Nicolaus (Nicolaus) — 10-0
Salinas — 8-2
Antioch — 6-3

The Sacramento Bee on if there are too many teams in the playoffs, and breaking down regional teams ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on a showdown between two powers who expect to meet in the playoffs, too ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on Player of the Year candidates ... click here

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps and on Instagram: JoeDavidsonMedia