MaxPreps 2015 Preseason Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: Preview - No. 1 De La Salle vs. Euless Trinity (Texas)
The preseason No. 1 team in NorCal heads to Texas to open the season.

Season openers abound this week for Northern California high school football teams, with familiar programs dotted throughout the MaxPreps NorCal Top 25, particularly at the top.

The Sierra Foothill and Delta Leagues are well represented within the Sac-Joaquin Section, as is the West Catholic Athletic League and East Bay Athletic League within the Central Coast and North Coast sections.


1. De La Salle (Concord) (14-0 in 2014)
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Opener: vs. Trinity (Texas) in Texas, Saturday
Update: Nationally ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps, the defending CIF State Open Division champions and winners of six titles since 2007, the Spartans are as good as ever. RBs Antoine Custer (1,948 yards, 24 TDs) and Andrew Hernandez (1,804, 30) return with TE Devin Asiasi and OL/DL Boss Tagaloa.

2. Folsom (16-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Opener: vs. No. 6 Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), Friday
Update: The Bulldogs had 16 running-clock routs last season en route to a CIF State Division I title and played scores of non-senior reserves, most stepping in as starters now. Folsom, unbeaten in section play since 2011, has one starter back, but he's perhaps the best player in NorCal — OL/DL Jonah Williams, off to Alabama. The new QB is Jake Jeffrey, who can run, throw and lead.

3. Grant (Sacramento) (14-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Opener: vs. Burbank (Sacramento), Friday
Update: The Pacers seek a ongoing section record 25th consecutive playoff berth, all under coach Alberghini who has won 252 games, 18 league titles and seven section crowns by running the ball with power and speed. RB's DeShawn Collins (2,321 yards, 27 TDs) and Mike Green (1,280, 17) return, as do OL Orlando Umana and OL Soape Tupou.

4. Del Oro (Loomis) (6-6)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Opener: vs. Pleasant Grove (Utah), Friday
Update: The Golden Eagles return 16 starters from a team that endured another brutal schedule, including teams from SoCal and De La Salle, again on the schedule. WR Trey Udoffia, headed to Colorado, is a deep-ball threat (924 yards receiving, 10 TDs). Three-year starting DB Justin Burrage and versatile Mason Hurst lead the D.

5. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (10-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Opener: vs. No. 22 Franklin, Sept. 4
Update: The Bells, the early favorite in the always rugged WCAL, are paced by RB Kyle Macauley and TE/LB Josh Bringuel. Survivors of the WCAL generally fare well in the postseason, sometimes reaching NorCal or CIF State Bowls.

6. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (15-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Opener: at No. 2 Folsom, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles were a bounce away from capping a 16-0 season, falling in the CIF State Division II finals. A power running team again, the new featured RB is Gavin West with plenty of returning defensive stars, including Jake Peralta and two-way lineman Jalen McKenzie and Jacob Linderman.

7. Pittsburg (10-3)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Opener: vs. No. 23 California (San Ramon Valley), Friday
Update: The Pirates reached the NCS Section finals, falling to De La Salle, and yes, this is the last NorCal program to topple DLS, in 1991. Defense is the strength behind DB Jordan Parker and LB Charles Ramirez.

8. Elk Grove (10-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Opener: vs. Reno, Friday
Update: The Thundering Herd, a regional power for 30 years, return four starting OL, rising QB prospect Tyler Vander Waal and versatile leader Ryan Robards, a RB, WR, P, K, and DB.

9. Rocklin (9-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Opener: vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: The Thunder expect to compete for the SFL that includes ranked rivals Folsom, Del Oro and Oak Ridge behind DT Chase Hatada, TE Wesley Preece, QB William Floyd and RB Evyn Holtz. Rocklin has its best team since reaching the CIF State D-II Bowl in 2009.

10. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) (13-0)
Section: Central Coast Section
League: Peninsula Bay
Coach: Pete Lavorato
Opener: vs. Leland (San Jose), Sept. 4
Update: The Gators just missed out on a CIF Bowl after beating Bellarmine 14-0 in the CCS Open Division finals. QB Mason Randall (2,077 yards, 14 TDs) is back for the run-heavy program that includes RB Lapitu Mahoni.

11. Valley Christian (San Jose) (9-4)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Opener: vs. Wilcox (Santa Clara), Friday
Update: The Warriors have a star WR in Texas-bound Collin Johnson and a rising one in RB Morian Walker II with expectations to win league and section titles.

12. Serra (San Mateo) (8-4)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Opener: vs. No. 1 De La Salle, Sept. 4
Update: The Padres will not be allowed in the playoffs this season, per sanctions from the CCS for electing not to play in a CCS Open Division Consolation final — coach Walsh feared injuries in a meaningless game (the consolation concept has since been dropped). QB Leki Nunn, WR Hunter Bishop and DE Billy Tuitavake lead the way.

13. Foothill (Pleasanton) (10-3)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Opener: vs. San Leandro, Friday
Update: The run game is strong with RBs Isaiah Floyd (1,144 yards, 14 TDs) and Cash Connolly to go with WR Ruben Mercado (940, 7). Foothill lost to Pittsburg in the NCS D-I semifinals, 10-7.

14. Palma (Salinas) (10-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Opener: vs. Sutter, Sept. 4
Update: The Chieftains return QB Jack Richardson (1,947 yards), RB Emilio Martinez and OL Drew Dalman and Zach Ralston from a team that fell to Campolindo in the NorCal Division III title game.

15. Central Catholic (Modesto) (11-3)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Opener: vs. Atwater, Sept. 4
Update: The three-time defending CIF State Division IV state champions are now in D-III, and expect to still dominate with QB Hunter Petlansky (2,052 yards, 20 TDs, 782 rushing, 13 TDs), and RB Justin Rice (2,146, 30).

16. St. Mary's (Stockton) (12-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-City Athletic
Coach: Tony Franks
Opener: at Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Sept. 5
Update: The Rams reached the Section D-II finals, falling to Grant. A host of stars have graduated, though the lines and skill players remain strong.

17. Jesuit (Carmichael) (9-4)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Opener: at Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Marauders have embraced the run-heavy veer offense that coach Blanton learned from his playing and coaching days at De La Salle, and they return an elite RB in Beau Bisharat to power ahead. The Stanford-bound star runs with power and burst. How the defense evolves will be the key.

18. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (5-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Opener: vs. Whitney (Rocklin), Friday
Update: The Trojans dipped a bit after some strong seasons, but expect to return to the playoffs behind Notre Dame-bound QB Ian Book, a three-year starter who can pass and run. His top target is WR Kevin Kassis.

19. Freedom (Oakley) (7-5)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Opener: vs. Tracy, Friday
Update: The Falcons are strong with QB Joseph Sweeney (1,222 yards, 12 TDs), RB Ronnie Rivers (955, 10) and LB Kyle Harmon.

20. Campolindo (Moraga) (16-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Opener: at Hayward, Friday
Update: The defending CIF State D-III champions graduated a ton but return WR Max Flower and OL Sterling Strother. There is a remarkable culture of success brewing on campus, for all sports.

21. Antioch (7-5)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Opener: vs. Acalanes, Friday
Update: One of the state's top RBs is back in Alabama-bound Najee Harris (2,263 yards, 23 TDs) along with RB Nick Perry (697, 6). LB Kobie Beltram leads the way.

22. Franklin (Elk Grove) (7-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Johnson
Opener: vs. Clovis North (Fresno), Friday
Update: The Wildcats hope to send longtime coach Johnson out a winner as he will call this his 15th and final season. QB Jacob Lopez leads the offense and national recruit DB Lamar Jackson the defense.

23. Sutter (13-1)
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Opener: vs. El Cerrito, Friday
Update: The elite team of the Northern Section with two CIF State playoff showings since 2012, including last season's NorCal D-III loss to Campolindo, the Huskies are again formidable. RB Jacob Gildea leads the way.

24. Wood (Vacaville) (7-5)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Opener: vs. Vista del Lago (Folsom), Friday
Update: The Wildcats are on the rise, reaching the second round of the playoffs for just the second time in school history. QB Marcus Howard, WR Tayvian Cunningham and RB Damon Lewis are all back, and all are explosive.

25. Marin Catholic (Kentfield) (10-4)
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County Athletic
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Opener: vs. Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove), Saturday
Update: A power of late, including reaching the NCS D-III finals, the Wildcats feature returning dual-threat QB Darius-James Peterson and lineman Clayton Demski.

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Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him daily through sacbee.com, on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: facebook.com/sacbeepreps.