MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

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The regular-season finish line is within view and league title races continue to heat up, including the Sierra Foothill League, the West Catholic Athletic League and the East Bay Athletic League.

No. 2 Folsom plays at No. 13 Oak Ridge to decide the SFL, and the WCAL will go to the final, frantic hours, too.


1. (Previous: 1) De La Salle (Concord) (7-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Logan (Union City), Friday
Update: The preseason national No. 1 Spartans beat traditional Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouse Del Oro (Loomis) 41-3, holding the Golden Eagles to 75 yards rushing on 27 attempts in moving to 11-0 all time against Sacramento-area teams — 6-0 since 2012 and 28-0 lifetime against that section. Anthony Sweeney passed for a touchdown and ran for three for De La Salle, which has gone unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 264 games. The loss this season was to 9-0 Trinity in Texas as a game-winning catch in the closing seconds just missed.

2. (2) Folsom (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: at No. 13 Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Bulldogs rallied to beat No. 20 Rocklin 28-14, using scoring drives of 99 and 98 yards in the second half engineered by crafty senior quarterback Jake Jeffrey, to set up a winner-take-all SFL title showdown against rival Oak Ridge. Folsom has a state-leading 24-game winning streak and a state-leading 39-game regular-season winning streak, dating back to 2011. An earlier win was 27-26 over No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter.

3. (3) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (7-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. Ygnacio Valley (Concord), Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Concord 42-22, rallying from a 14-13 hole to break it open. Ray Jackson III had 300 yards rushing and five touchdowns and Heikoti Vaisima had 15 tackles. 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 (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: vs. Franklin (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: Ranked second by The Sacramento Bee, the Thundering Herd beat Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 31-20 as Ryan Robards rushed for 221 yards and two scores and Jayden Machado tossed two touchdowns. Robards is the state's No. 2 scorer this season. An earlier win was over then-No. 3 Grant.

5. (5) Foothill (Pleasanton) (9-0)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Nov. 6
Update: The Falcons 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).

6. (6) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (6-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Friday
Update: The Bells, top-ranked by the San Jose Mercury News, beat previous No. 7 St. Francis 28-26 as ace quarterback Troy Martig returned and backs Devon Buenrostro, Vincent Fernandez, Antonio Garcia and Kyle MacAuley played well. An earlier win was 14-6 over ranked Riordan. The loss was to Mitty 35-28 as Martig sat with an injury.

7. (8) Grant (Sacramento) (7-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Davis, Friday
Update: The Pacers beat Sheldon (Sacramento) 21-20, escaping only after David Moala blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds. DeShawn Collins rushed for 203 yards and three scores and Mike Green II ran for 16 yards for the Pacers, who lost to No. 4 Elk Grove. The home field was named after longtime coach Mike Alberghini in a pre-game ceremony. An earlier win was 14-7 over ranked Bullard.

8. (7) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (6-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 21 Serra, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The San Jose Mercury News just a week ago, the Lancers lost to No. 6 Bellarmine for the 11th consecutive time, despite putting a major scare into the Bells with late touchdowns. An earlier win was over No. 11 Valley Christian and No. 24 Palma.

9. (8) Central Catholic (Modesto) (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: vs. Sierra (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat Sierra (Manteca) 51-0 as Justin Rice ran for 157 yards and a score and Jared Rice rumbled for four scores, including one on a punt return, and the defense allowed nine or fewer points for the sixth time this season. Central Catholic is the three-time defending CIF State Division IV champion, now playing up a division.

10. (9) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (6-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: at No. 11 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Crusaders beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 45-19 to continue the resurgence and to remain in the WCAL title chase. An earlier win was over then-No. 8 Serra, 66-45, with another win over Mitty and the loss to No. 6 Bellarmine, 14-6.

11. (11) Valley Christian (San Jose) (6-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: vs. No. 10 Riordan, Friday
Update: The Warriors beat previously ranked Mitty 33-7 as Javon Sturns rushed for 148 yards and three scores and Morian Walker went for 147 and one. The loss was 21-16 to No. 8 Saint Francis.

12. (12) Antioch (8-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Panthers beat Liberty (Brentwood) 55-37 as Najee Harris ran for 360 yards and six touchdowns — and ran for six two-point conversions. This could be the best running back in the state.

13. (13) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (8-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. No. 2 Folsom, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 38-7 as Ian Book threw three touchdowns to Kevin Kassis and Rhys Kennedy ran for two scores. Earlier wins include ranked Rocklin and once-ranked Granite Bay and Del Oro. The loss was to unbeaten Reed of Nevada.

14. (14) Clovis (7-1)
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, Clovis got back on track after a bizarre loss to Central (Fresno) 21-20. Clovis beat Buchanan (Fresno) 34-13 after the Central setback, a game delayed to the following morning by lightning. Clovis faced 13 defenders — not the allowed 11 — during a late drive. That happened on five plays, and there were 12 defenders on another ... and the referees didn't catch it.

15. (15) Bullard (Fresno) (7-1)
Section: Central
League: County/Metro
Coach: Don Arax
Next: vs. Sanger, Thursday.
Update: Top ranked by The Fresno Bee, the Knights blasted San Joaquin Memorial 63-14. The loss was to then-No. 3 Grant, 14-7, in a game moved to Sacramento in the last minute due to nearby fires in Fresno.

16. (17) Monte Vista (Danville) (6-2)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: vs. California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Mustangs rallied to beat Granada (Livermore) 35-32 as Albert Smith ran for 175 yards and two scores and Jake Haener passed for 358 and four, two to Noah Sol. The 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. 17 Pittsburg.

17. (18) Pittsburg (7-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: at Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Pirates beat Heritage (Brentwood) 55-21, outscoring it 27-0 in the second half. Christian Young passed for 322 yards and three scores and Jordan Parker had a 92-yard touchdown catch and scored on a pick-six. The loss was to No. 16 Monte Vista in a shootout.

18. (19) Inderkum (Sacramento) (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: at Rio Linda, Oct. 30.
Update: The Tigers were idle, last beating River Valley (Yuba City), 48-21, as Raekwon Turner rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns and Derrick Henderson went for 126 and three in rolling up 512 yards of team offense. Leevi Lafaele had three sacks as Inderkum closed in on winning the league for the eighth time in nine years.

19. (20) Napa (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: vs. Rodriguez (Fairfield), Friday
Update: The Indians beat Vacaville 28-21 with a remarkable rally to keep a 10-0 season alive, as Cal Bard hit Alex Perez de Leon for a 17-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left. An earlier win was over ranked Wood 38-21.

20. (16) Rocklin (5-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. Granite Bay, Friday
Updade: The Thunder lost to No. 2 Folsom 28-14 despite another big game by tailback Evyn Holtz, who had two touchdowns. An earlier loss was to No. 13 Oak Ridge.

21. (21) Serra (San Mateo) (4-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. at No. 8 Saint Francis, Friday
Update: The Padres beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 48-0 after belting once-ranked Mitty 26-0. Earlier losses were to top-ranked De La Salle, No. 6 Bellarmine and No. 10 Riordan.

22. (24) Palma (Salinas) (6-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: vs. Monterey, Friday
Update: The Chieftains beat Salinas as Emilio Martinez rushed for 155 yards and three scores. The loss was 28-14 to No. 8 Saint Francis.

23. (24) Wood (Vacaville) (6-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: at Armijo (Fairfield), Friday
Update: The Wildcats beat Rodriguez (Fairfield) 71-8 as Marcus Howard passed for four touchdowns, while Damon Lewis ran for 168 and three and Germaine Lewis had 156 and one. The loss was to No. 19 Napa 38-21.

24. (25) Campolindo (Moraga) (8-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: vs. Miramonte (Orinda), Oct. 30
Update: The Cougars were idle. They have won 28 consecutive league games. The loss was 21-14 to No. 19 Napa.

(TIE) 25. (25) Oakdale (8-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: vs. Manteca, Friday
Update: The Mustangs, defending section Division III champions and ranked second by The Modesto Bee, beat Weston Ranch (Stockton) 58-20 as Brad Aquino, Austin Burke and Bobby DePuy each rushed for 100 or more yards and Ben Solorio had two interceptions.

(TIE) 25. (NR) Miramonte (Orinda) (8-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Jack Schram
Next: at No. 24 Campolindo, Friday
Update: The Matadors bound into the rankings and eye powerhouse Campolindo on Friday in a battle for first place. Miramonte beat Acalanes 34-19 behind quarterback Tim Tague and running back Clayton Stehr.

The Sacramento Bee on how Folsom maintains its winning edge and how its winning streak stack up all time ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on a devastating injury to a star quarterback and how the team united as one ... 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