MaxPreps NorCal Top 25 high school football rankings

The usual cast of characters are favored in the North Coast Section Open Division — De La Salle, and in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I race — Folsom.
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Pittsburg
Update: The top-ranked team by the Bay Area News Group and the San Francisco Chronicle, the Spartans rolled California 49-0 as Dorian Hale passed for 218 yards and three touchdowns to Grant Daley. The program earned the top seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs. De La Salle last lost a league game in 1989 — and spent several years as a fully Independent team. The league winning streak is 94. De La Salle's unbeaten NorCal streak against teams north of Fresno is 298, dating back to 1991. The Spartans are a remarkable 381-5-2 against NorCal teams since 1984 and 451-25-3 overall since 1982 with 26 consecutive NCS titles and 30 since 1981 with a record 12 consecutive CIF State title-game appearances. Earlier wins this season include 27-21 over Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, 14-0 over Sac-Joaquin Section No. 1 Folsom and 33-15 over Central Coast Section No. 1 Saint Francis.

2. (2) Folsom, 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. Del Oro
Update: The top-ranked team by The Sacramento Bee for all but one week since the start of the 2012 season, the Bulldogs beat Del Oro 40-0 to win its fifth successive SFL title and ninth league this decade as Kaiden Bennett passed for 271 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 44 scoring tosses and no interceptions during the team's nine-game winning streak. Folsom is the top seed in the SJS Division I playoffs and open with a bye. The loss was 14-0 to De La Salle in a season opener. Folsom is 122-10 this decade with six section and three CIF State title teams (and two 14-1 teams that lost to De La Salle in the 2012 and 2013 NorCal Open finals, since dropped).

3. (3) Liberty (Brentwood), 10-0
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Ryan Partridge
Next: vs. Clayton Valley Charter
Update: The Lions beat Heritage 49-0 to lock up the program's first outright BVAL title and first undefeated regular season since 1969. They are the No. 2 seed in the NCS Open Division playoffs. Liberty won its first NCS championship last season.

4. (5) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 8-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. Serra
Update: The Lancers beat Mitty 28-7 as Opeti Fangupo scored two rushing touchdowns to inch closer to a league title. An earlier win was 7-3 over Valley Christian. The loss was to De La Salle 33-15. This is the top team in the Central Coast Section, winners of 17 section titles. Saint Francis is the defending CIF State Division I-A champion.

5. (6) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Liberty
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Northgate 62-6 as Makhi Gervais rushed for 247 yards and six touchdowns. Clayton Valley Charter earned the No. 3 seed in the NCS Open Division playofs. The loss was early to Antioch, 35-34. An early win was 38-31 over Pittsburg. The Ugly Eagles have emerged as a power of late, going 12-1 in 2008, 12-2 in 2012, 11-2 in 2013, 15-1 in 2015 and 13-2 in 2016.

6. (7) Pittsburg, 7-3
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. De La Salle
Update: The Pirates beat Antioch 42-10 in the 100th Big Little Game despite being thinned by injuries, which could be a real problem against De La Salle in a NCS Open Division playoff opener. One loss was to Liberty 24-21, another to Clayton Valley Charter, 38-31 and also to state power Centennial, 35-7. Pittsburg played for the CIF State Division I title last season and is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 NCS finals.

7. (8) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Metropolitan
Coach: TJ Ewing
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Mustangs rolled McClatchy 55-0 to cap the program's first 10-0 regular season, and earned the No. 2 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs, starting with a bye. Big wins include Sheldon, 41-6, and Bay Area-ranked San Ramon Valley, 27-7. Monterey Trail has twice reached Section Division I title games.

8. (4) Del Oro (Loomis), 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Walters
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Golden Eagles lost to Folsom 40-0 but had some good moments against a team that has allowed very few of them in rolling this fall. Del Oro is the top seed in the SJS Division II playoffs and will have an off week. Del Oro reached a section final for the 17th time since 1989 last season, having won five banners since 2005. Eighteen starters returned for another run.

9. (9) Placer (Auburn), 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Foothill Valley
Coach: Joey Montoya
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Hillmen rallied to beat Lincoln 52-48 in the team's closest contest of the season. Brad Bishop rushed for 124 yards and four touchdowns and Jesse Whigam went for 204 and two as Placer earned the No. 2 seed in the SJS Division III playoffs and start with a bye. Seventeen starters are back from a CIF state finalist. This was a state-wide power in the 1970s.

10. (10) Central Catholic (Modesto), 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The top-ranked team by The Modesto Bee, Black Hat Football and Front Row Sports, the Raiders beat Oakdale 54-14 to win the league title as Minaya Olivo rushed for 102 yards and three scores. Central Catholic is the No. 2 seed in the SJS Division II playoffs and start with a bye. An earlier win was 33-20 over St. Mary's. The loss was to De La Salle 35-7 after trailing by just 14 in the third quarter. Coach Canepa won CIF state titles here in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

11. (11) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 9-0
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Paul Rosa
Next: vs. Cupertino
Update: The Chargers had a bye. With Saint Francis and Serra likely slotted for the Central Coast Section Open Division II playoffs, Wilcox could emerge as the No. 1 CCS Division I Open seed. An earlier win was 10-6 over Valley Christian. Wilcox has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 seasons.

12. (12) Valley Christian (San Jose), 7-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. Riordan
Update: The Warriors beat Bellarmine 35-0 as Thomas Dunham rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns with a week to go in the regular season. The losses were to Saint Francis 7-3 and 10-6 to Wilcox. Valley Christian went 12-1 in 2004, 12-1 in 2005, 11-2 in 2010 and 13-2 in 2016.

13. (13) Inderkum (Sacramento), 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Tigers beat Roseville 65-14 to secure the program's 11th league championship in 12 seasons under this coaching staff as Raymond Brown rushed for 178 yards and four touchdowns. Inderkum is the No. 3 seed in the SJS Division II playoffs and start with a bye. This has been a section power under coach Stark since 2006, winning 10 or more games 12 successive seasons with seasons of 12-2, 12-1, 11-3 and 11-1 in recent years.

14. (14) Serra (San Mateo), 6-3
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. Saint Francis
Update: The Padres beat Sacred Heart Prep 42-0 as Malakai Rango rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns and Edmond Lahlouh went for 63 and two as the regular season winds down. Last season, Serra won the WCAL, CCS, NorCal and CIF State titles, and it takes a 13-game WCAL winning streak into league play.

15. (15) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Cardinals beat Analy 48-6 to secure the league title and earned the top seed in the NCS Division III playoffs. The loss was to No. 3 Liberty, 31-14. This has been a power since the 1970s. Cardinal Newman has won 11 or more games nine times since 2006.

16. (17) Palo Alto, 8-1
Section: Central Coast
League: De Anza
Coach: Nelson Gifford
Next: vs. Homestead
Update: The Vikings beat Los Gatos 35-10 after a bye week. The loss was to Wilcox, 35-21. The Vikings have won five section titles since 2004 and a state title in 2010 with a 14-0 team.

17. (17) Capital Christian (Sacramento), 10-0
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Cougars beat Vista del Lago 40-14 as Cooper Crick passed for 222 yards and three touchdowns and D'Marcus Ross rumbled for 345 yards and two scores, giving him 1,650 and 17 on the season. Capital Christian is the top seed in the SJS Division III playoffs and start with a bye. This has been a small-school power this decade and now fields its greatest team in program history. A statement win early was 43-12 over storied Grant.

18. (19) Freedom (Oakley), 7-3
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Andrew Coakley
Next: vs. Amador Valley
Update: The Falcons beat Deer Valley 55-30 as Giles Jackson caught seven passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Freedom earned the No. 3 seed in the NCS Division I playoffs. Two of the losses were to Pittsburg and Liberty. Earlier wins include 14-7 over Antioch and 37-24 over San Ramon Valley. The Falcons went 10-2 in 2011, 11-2 in 2016 and 9-3 in 2017.

19. (20) Antioch, 7-3
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: John Lucido
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Panthers lost to Pittsburg 42-10 in the 100th Little Big Game but still earned the No. 1 seed in the NCS Division I playoffs and open with a bye. One loss was to Liberty and the other to Freedom. An earlier win was 35-34 over Clayton Valley Charter. The Panthers have had roller coaster runs, going 1-19 from 2004 and 2005, 1-9 in 2010 and 2013 and 11-1 in 2015.

20. (21) Eureka, 10-0
Section: North Coast
League: Humboldt Del Norte
Coach: Jason White
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Loggers beat Fortuna 42-13 to secure the league title and the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division III playoffs and start with a bye. Cruz Montana passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns. This has been a power from the northern part of the state, having gone 12-2 in 2009 and 11-1 last season.

21. (21) Sheldon (Sacramento), 9-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joe Cattolico
Next: vs. Modesto
Update: The Huskies have won nine in a row after beating Franklin 49-0 to win the Delta outright as Tyrell Smith rushed for 133 yards and two scores. The loss was to Monterey Trail. As the No. 5 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs, Sheldon opens against Modesto.

22. (22) St. Mary's (Stockton), 6-4
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. TBA
Update: The Rams beat Lincoln 48-20 as Noah May passed for 165 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Chavez rushed for 60 and two scores to earn the No. 4 seed in the SJS Division I playoffs, starting with a bye. The losses include Central Catholic, Pittsburg and Mater Dei, and a big win was 44-20 over Bishop O'Dowd. St. Mary's went 13-1 in 2004, 12-2 in 2007, 12-3 in 2008, 11-1 in 2009, 11-2 in 2010, 12-2 in 2014 and 14-2 in 2016.

23. (23) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. Hayward
Update: The Dragons beat Encinal 21-6 as Moe Flynn passed for 111 yards and three touchdowns and Austin Jones rushed for 134 to give him 1,408 on the season and 4,705 for his career. O'Dowd is the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division II playoffs. The losses were to De La Salle and St. Mary's of Stockton. The Dragons have been a power of late with a record of success.

24. (26) Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park), 9-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Gehrig Hotaling
Next: Casa Grande
Update: The Cougars beat Ukiah 62-0 to finish second in the league to Cardinal Newman and to secure the No. 1 seed in the NCS Division III playoffs as Jared Stocker passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns. The loss was to Cardinal Newman, 42-21. Rancho Cotate went 10-3 in 2007, 12-2 in 2010, 13-1 in 2012 and 10-2 last season.

25. (27) Campolindo (Moraga), 8-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: Redwood
Update: The Cougars beat Miramonte 30-14 as Grant Harper passed for 226 yards and a touchdown and Ryan O'Neil rushed for two scores to finish a game behind Clayton Valley Charter in the league standings. Campolindo is the No. 3 seed in the NCS Division II playoffs. The program has won five section titles and two CIF State banners this decade under coach Macy.

The Next 10
26. Monte Vista (Danville) — 7-3
27. Palma (Salinas) — 8-1
28. Granite Bay — 5-5
29. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) — 7-3
30. Jesuit (Carmichael) — 7-3
31. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) — 7-2
32. Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) — 10-0
33. California (San Ramon) — 7-3
34. McClymonds (Oakland) — 7-2
35. Moreau Catholic (Hayward) — 10-0

The Sacramento Bee on the alarming rate of high school football brawls ... 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