Video: Top 10 games of the week
See a preview of De La Salle-Monte Vista, one of the 10 best national games.
It's showdown Friday this week with No. 1 De La Salle hosting No. 3 Monte Vista and No. 6 Folsom entertaining No. 12 Oak Ridge serving as two of the stellar NorCal battles as the regular-season schedules come to a close.
Northern California Top 25 football rankings
1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 8-1Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. No. 3 Monte Vista, Friday
Update: Top-ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle and Bay Area News Group, the Spartans beat Logan (Union City) 76-0. The Spartans have outscored their last three foes 142-9 in warming up for a showdown with No. 3 Monte Vista. The NorCal unbeaten streak - north of Fresno - is now 2787, dating back to 1992. The loss this season was 23-21 to the top-ranked team in Utah, East of Salt Lake City, on a late field goal. The Spartans have won 24 consecutive North Coast Section titles and 32 since 1982, and they have won six CIF State championships in seven seasons.
2. (2) St. Mary's (Stockton), 8-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. Lincoln (Stockton), Friday.
Update: Top ranked by the Stockton Record, the Rams rolled Lodi 57-0 as
Jake Dunniway passed for 186 yards and two scores and
Dusty Frampton rushed for 157 and four touchdowns for the program's 101st consecutive win against San Joaquin County competition since coach Franks returned to the program in 2002. The loss was to state and national powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 55-16 after leading 10-7 early. Earlier wins include once-ranked Serra (San Mateo), ranked Central Catholic and ranked Cardinal Newman.
3. (4) Monte Vista (Danville), 9-0Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: at No. 1 De La Salle, Friday
Update: The Mustangs beat San Ramon Valley (Danville) 32-20 as
Jake Haener tossed two touchdowns and
Shane Perry rushed for 148 and two scores, setting up a nice showdown against top-ranked De La Salle. Monte Vista last won nine games in a season in 2008, and it went 11-1 in 2005.
4. (6) Freedom (Oakley), 9-0Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: at Liberty (Brentwood), Friday
Update: The Falcons scored a major victory of their program with a 41-38 thriller over previous No. 5 Pittsburg as
Ronnie Rivers rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, sizzled with a 93-yard kickoff to the end zone, and he tossed a touchdown pass. The game winner was from
Jonathan Pierce, who hit
Giles Jackson. Coach Hartwig has his eighth playoff team in nine years.
Freedom's Ronnie Rivers helped the No. 4 Falcons past Pittsburg 41-38.
Photo by Ernie Abrea
Metropolitan
Coach: Justin Reber
Next: vs. McClatchy (Sacramento), Saturday
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee, the Dragons locked up the league title with a dominating 63-19 rout over a good Burbank (Sacramento) team.
Tariq Hollandsworth,
DaVon Owens and
Derek Shelton had big games, including Owens opening the game with an 85-yard kickoff return. The big win of the season for the entire section was downing the No. 2 Folsom 32-27, leading 32-14 at one point. The Folsom win halted the Bulldogs' state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Dragons lost an opener to state-ranked JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) despite accumulating 496 yards.
6. (8) Folsom (Folsom), 8-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. No. 12 Oak Ridge, Friday
Update: The Bulldogs beat once-ranked Rocklin 47-14 as
Joe Curry had six first-half touchdown passes, giving him 37 on the season in setting up a showdown against Oak Ridge for the SFL title. The loss was to new No. 6 Sacramento early 32-27, halting a state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Bulldogs seek a fifth successive section championship and a third state title since 2010.
7. (9) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 8-1Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: vs. No. 24 Campolindo, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Las Lomas 63-14 behind a dominating run game and steady quarterback play by
Kenny Gardner, who passed for 176 yards. The league winning streak is 26 heading into a showdown with Campolindo. The loss was to state-ranked Helix (San Diego) 13-0. In the opener, the Ugly Eagles beat five-time defending Nevada North-state champion Reed 35-21. Clayton Valley Charter has reached a CIF Bowl the last two seasons.
8. (10) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 8-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Lancers beat previous No. 3 Valley Christian 13-10 in overtime to inch closer to at least a tie for the league championship.
Brandon Bains returned a blocked punt for a touchdown to key the victory. The loss was in overtime to Serra (San Mateo) 41-40. A recent big win was over ranked Bellarmine 21-12 to snap an 11-game losing streak to their chief rival. Saint Francis seeks its 17th Central Coast Section championship.
9. (3) Valley Christian (San Jose), 8-1Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: at Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Warriors led 10-0 at the half against No. 8 Saint Francis before losing 13-10 in overtime, thanks in part to a blocked punt that was returned for a score. Coach Machado led 12-1 teams in 2004 and 2005, a 10-3 team in 2008, an 11-2 team in 2010 and a nine-game winner in 2014.
10. (5) Pittsburg, 8-1Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. Antioch, Saturday
Update: The Pirates lost a thriller to No. 4 Freedom 41-38, and the teams could meet again in the playoffs. Pittsburg has been a Bay Area power for decades and is the last NorCal program to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section Division I finals.
11. (11) Elk Grove, 8-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: at No. 16 Sheldon, Friday
Update: The Thundering Herd rolled Franklin (Elk Grove) 49-7 as
Jayden Machado tossed six first-half touchdowns. This sets up a Friday showdown for the league championship at upstart No. 16 Sheldon. Big wins include Grant (24-17) and Jesuit (Carmichael) (23-6). The Herd has reached the a section final three times since 2012 and has been a power since the 1980s.
12. (12) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 8-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: at No. 6 Folsom, Friday
Update: The Trojans beat Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 35-14 behind more offensive balance and strong defense. This sets up an SFL title bout at Folsom. A big win was over once No. 2 Del Oro 34-32. The loss was to 5-time Nevada North-state champion Reed of Nevada 55-34. Reed lost earlier to No. 9 Clayton Valley Charter.
13. (13) Del Oro (Loomis), 7-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles had a bye. The last game was a 34-32 loss to Oak Ridge. An earlier win was over then-No. 7 Bellarmine 16-14. The defending CIF State Division II-AA champion Golden Eagles seek a fourth CIF Bowl bid since 2011.
14. (14) Central Catholic (Modesto), 7-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: at Oakdale, Friday
Update: The Raiders beat East Union (Manteca) 27-6 to roll into a rivalry game with Oakdale.
Cole Petlansky and
Jared Rice had had strong seasons. The losses were to No. 2 St. Mary's and to state-ranked Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 28-25 after trailing by 18. Central Catholic is a four-time defending CIF state champion that has won a record 19 Sac-Joaquin Section titles.
15. (15) Pitman (Turlock), 9-0Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Central California
Coach: Tom Tyler
Next: at Turlock, Friday
Update: Top ranked by The Modesto Bee, the Pride beat Golden Valley (Merced) 35-21 to set up a league-title tilt against Turlock. A 10-0 finish would surely assure the Pride of a decent section Division I playoff seeding, though Pitman's league and overall schedule are not considered especially strong.
16. (16) Sheldon (Sacramento), 7-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Joe Cattolico
Next: vs. No. 11 Elk Grove. Friday
Update: The Huskies beat rival Pleasant Grove 35-18 to set up a league-championship bout with Elk Grove.
Graylon Lindsey had another big game, as did the defense. Other key players include
Alex Cook and
Chancellor Lachapelle. The big win was beating previous No. 12 Grant 20-14 with a late score.
17. (17) Grant (Sacramento), 7-2Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: at Jesuit (Carmichael), Saturday
Update: The Pacers bounced back from a loss at Sheldon to beat Davis 24-7 as
Tyree Marcelle and
Lawrence Hardy had big games, as did the defense. The other loss was to No. 11 Elk Grove 24-17. The home field was dedicated to Coach Alberghini before the opener, his 25 consecutive playoff berths and seven section championships just a sliver of his impact.
18. (18) California (San Ramon), 7-2Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Eric Billeci
Next: at San Ramon Valley (Danville), Friday
Update: The Grizzlies beat Dublin 40-18 as
Carlos Gomez rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns and
Ryan Wright tossed two scoring passes. One loss was on a last-play field goal to No. 3 Monte Vista and the other was to top-ranked De La Salle 31-9 after trailing 7-3 at the half.
19. (19) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 6-3Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at Serra (San Mateo), Saturday
Update: The Bells beat Mitty (San Jose) 28-21 with a late defensive stand to set up a big contest against rival Serra. One loss was to then-No. 3 Valley Christian 28-7. Another loss was to then-No. 4 Saint Francis 21-12 despite allowing just one offensive touchdown. The other setback was 16-14 to then-No. 2 Del Oro. Bellarmine is the defending Division I NorCal champions, and they seek a fifth section title under famed coach Janda, winner of a section-record 276 games.
20. (21) Antioch, 6-3Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: at Pittsburg, Saturday
Update: The Panthers beat Heritage 43-6 as
Najee Harris had another big night amid a stellar career. Antioch earlier pushed top-ranked De La Salle to the wire, losing 28-21. Antioch last season posted its first 10-0 regular season last fall since 1977.
21. (21) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 8-1Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: at Rancho Cotate (Petaluma), Friday
Update: The Cardinals Santa Rosa 42-7 to remain red hot and to set up a league title showdown with rival Rancho Cotate. The loss was to No. 2 St. Mary's 49-32. Cardinal Newman once held the state-record for the longest winning streak of 47 in the 1970s.
22. (22) San Benito (Hollister), 9-0Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Bryan Smith
Next: vs. Palma (Salinas), Friday
Update: The Haybalers beat North Salinas 44-28 with offensive balance and just enough defense. This sets up league title meeting with Palma. San Benito won the section in 2012 and won nine or more games in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2014 and now.
23. (23) Manteca, 8-1Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: at East Union (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Buffaloes beat decades-long rival Oakdale 30-22 with the goal now to finish second in league and to chase down another section title.
Gino Campiotti has played well. The loss was to a four-time defending CIF State Champion powerhouse in Central Catholic 32-14. Manteca won section titles in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2013 and have won nine or more games 10 times since 2001.
24. (25) Campolindo (Moraga), 7-2Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: at No. 7 Clayton Valley Charter, Friday
Update: The Cougars won their 34th consecutive league game with a 42-7 win over Acalanes (Lafayette) as
Branden Bocobo rushed for three scores, setting up a league title bout with Clayton Valley Charter. The Cougars lost to No. 3 Valley Christian 21-7 in an opener. The program went 14-1 in 2011, 10-2 in 2012, 11-1 in 2013, 16-0 in 2014 and 14-2 in 2015.
25 (25) Sutter, 9-0Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: at Wheatland, Friday
Update: The top team in the Northern Section beat Orland 42-0 behind dominating offensive play and a defense that allowed 2.3 yard a rush. Sutter has been a powerhouse for years, including 12-0 seasons in 2004 and 2007 and 13-1 seasons in 2012 and 2014. Quarterback
Tyler Reynolds, son of the coach, and running back Trevor Facey have had big seasons.
The Sacramento Bee on some of the best players and coaches of the regular season...
click hereThe Sacramento Bee on guru coach Dave Hoskins, in his 50th year of regional coaching...
click hereJoe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps
