MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: MaxPreps Sacramento powered by SMUD
A review of high school football action in the Sacramento area.

A new week of rankings with a new twist to the mix. With the Central Section Division I champion to be included in the Northern California Regional playoff mix, we are now including the Fresno region for these rankings.

Welcome aboard Clovis and Bullard, powerhouse programs for years. Last week was a wild one as previous No. 3 Bellarmine and No. 6 Valley Christian lost in the equally unpredictable West Catholic Athletic Association.


1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord) (5-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. Long Beach Poly, Friday
Update: The preseason national No. 1 Spartans beat San Ramon Valley (Danville) 48-0, holding it to 63 yards of offense and forcing four turnovers as the defense has posted back-to-back shutouts. De La Salle has gone unbeaten against NorCal competition since 1991, a streak of 263 games. The loss was to Trinity in Texas as a would-be game-winning catch in the closing seconds just missed.

2. (2) Folsom (7-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson/Troy Taylor
Next: vs. No. 18 Rocklin, Oct. 22.
Update: Beat Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 56-7 as Tre Green rushed five times for 184 yards and four scores, Jake Jeffrey passed for 244 and three touchdowns, two to Eric Davis. Folsom has a state-leading 23-game winning streak and a state-leading 38-game regular-season winning streak, dating back to 2011.

3. (4) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) (5-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: at Northgate, Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles beat Mt. Diablo 56-0, leading 49-0 at the half as Ray Jackson III and Gavin West carried a total of 10 times for 204 yards. 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. (5) Elk Grove (6-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: vs. Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday
Update: The Thundering Herd steamed past once-ranked Jesuit (Carmichael) 63-14 as Jayden Machado passed for four touchdowns, three to Gavin Reinwald, and Ryan Robards rumbled for 199 yards and three scores. An earlier win was 42-7 at then No. 3 Grant as Robards scored six times.

5. (7) Foothill (Pleasanton) (7-0)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay Athletic
Coach: Matt Sweeney
Next: at No. 17 Monte Vista, Friday
Update: Cash Connolly ran for 112 yards and a score and Isaiah Floyd rumbled for 189 and three in rolling Livermore 42-7.

6. (3) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose) (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Janda
Next: at No. 9 Riordan, Saturday
Update: The Bells lost to No. 14 Mitty 35-28, competing without one of the top players in the state in playmaking senior quarterback Troy Martig. Ike Ogbogu was strong in relief, passing for 213 yards.

7. (8) Grant (Sacramento) 5-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Next: vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Friday
Update: The Pacers beat Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 34-7 as DeShawn Collins rushed for 225 yards and three scores and new quarterback Elijah Orr sparked the offense with his runs and passes. An earlier win was 14-7 over No. 13 Bullard. The loss was to No. 3 Elk Grove.

8. (10) Central Catholic (Modesto) (6-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Roger Canepa
Next: at Manteca, Friday
Update: The Raiders, top-ranked by The Modesto Bee, beat Kimball (Tracy) 69-3 as Hunter Petlansky passed for 126 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 103 and one, and Jared Rice and Justin Rice combined for five rushing touchdowns. Central Catholic is the three-time defending CIF State Division IV champion, now playing up a division.

9. (22) Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) (5-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Kevin Fordon
Next: vs. No. 9 Serra, Saturday
Update: The Crusaders beat previous No. 8 Serra 66-45 as Jacky Luavasa passed for 311 yards and five touchdowns, four to Aidan Verba-Hamilton, who had 204 yards. The surge continues, with an earlier win over ranked Mitty 37-21.

10. (17) Saint Francis (Mountain View) (5-0)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: vs. No. 6 Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Lancers beat previous No. 6 Valley Christian 21-16 as Lutoviko Ahoia and Cyrus Habibi-Likio combined to run for 266 yards and three scores, and the defense came up with late sacks to seal it. An earlier win was over No. 24 Palma.

11. (6) Valley Christian (San Jose) (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: at St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Saturday
Update: The Warriors lost to No. 10 Saint Francis, 21-16, after trailing 21-0 with a shot to win it.

12. (NR) Clovis (6-0)
Section: Central
League: Tri-River
Coach: Rich Hammond
Next: vs. Central (Fresno), Thursday
Update: The top-ranked team by The Fresno Bee beat Clovis East 49-21. Sean Kuenzinger has been strong at quarterback and has a balanced running attack.

13. (NR) Bullard (Fresno) (5-1)
Section: Central
League: County/Metro
Coach: Don Arax
Next: vs. Madera South (Madera), Friday
Update: The Knights are highly regarded and highly ranked by The Fresno Bee, having lost only to then-No. 3 Grant 14-7 in a game moved to Sacramento in the last minute due to nearby fires in Fresno. Running back Charles Williams has had a great career.

14. (NR) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Keith Burns
Next: at No. 23 Serra, Saturday
Update: The Monarchs beat previous No. 4 Bellarmine 35-28 with a loss to No. 9 Riordan. Receiver Tyler Jochen hit Keaton Collier on a trick-pass play on 4th down late to beat Bellarmine.

15. (11) Antioch (6-0)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: vs. Freedom (Oakley), Friday
Update: The Panthers beat Heritage (Brentwood) 53-14, leading 40-0 after the first quarter. Najee Harris scored five rushing touchdowns.

16. (12) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (6-1)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Next: vs. Del Oro (Loomis), Friday
Update: The Trojans beat previously ranked Granite Bay 36-28 as Ian Book passed for 206 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 96 and one. The loss was to unbeaten Reed of Nevada.

17. (14) Monte Vista (Danville) (5-1)
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: vs. No. 5 Foothill, Friday
Update: The Mustangs beat Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 34-12 as Shane Perry ran for 90 yards and three touchdowns and Jake Haener passed for 224 yards and a score. The loss was to No. 3 Clayton Valley Charter 21-17. An earlier win was a shootout over No. 19 Pittsburg.

18. (20) Rocklin (4-2)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Next: vs. Woodcreek (Roseville), Friday
Updade: The Thunder beat previously ranked Del Oro, once rated No. 4 here, 28-3 as they welcomed back defensive lineman star Chase Hatada. William Floyd passed for 136 yards and Evyn Holtz darted and sprinted for 154 yards and three scores. An earlier loss was to No. 16 Oak Ridge.

19. (15) Pittsburg (5-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: vs. Deer Valley (Antioch), Friday
Update: The Pirates beat once-ranked Freedom (Oakley) 33-29 as A'Jae Boyd got free on the game-winning 44-yard touchdown strike from Christian Young, who passed for 287 yards. The loss was to No. 17 Monte Vista in a shootout.

20. (18) Wood (Vacaville) (5-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Carlos Meraz
Next: vs. No. 23 Napa, Friday
Update: The Wildcats beat Vintage (Napa) 56-39, allowing 24 points in the fourth when it was already a rout. Marcus Howard passed for 252 yards and a score and Damon Lewis ran for 134 and two and Germaine Lewis 66 and three.

21. (19) Inderkum (Sacramento) (7-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: at River Valley (Yuba City), Friday
Update: The Tigers beat Woodland 34-7 to extend their league winning streak to 18 as Raekwon Turner ran for 186 yards and two scores and Jimmie Johnson went for 95 and one.

22. (23) Napa (5-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Monticello Empire
Coach: Troy Mott
Next: vs. No. 20 Wood, Friday
Update: The Indians beat Armijo (Fairfield) 64-14, using 10 plays to score their first four touchdowns behind Cal Bard, Nathan Toma, Sherman Forbes and Parker Totty.

23. (9) Serra (San Mateo) (2-3)
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: vs. No. 14 Mitty, Saturday.
Update: The Padres lost 66-45 to No. 9 Riordan in a shootout. Earlier losses included top-ranked De La Salle and then No. 4 Bellarmine.

24. (21) Palma (Salinas) (4-1)
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: vs. Monte Vista Christian (Watsonville), Friday
Update: The Chieftains were idle. The loss was 28-14 to No. 16 Saint Francis.

(TIE) 25. Campolindo (Moraga) (6-1)
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Foothill
Coach: Kevin Macy
Next: at Las Lomas, Friday
Update: The Cougars won their 27th-consecutive league game with a 47-20 win over Alhambra (Martinez) as Niki Moore ran for 212 yards and two scores and Jacob Westphal passed for three touchdowns, two to Max Flower. Devin Regan had two interceptions. The loss was 21-14 to No. 22 Napa.

(TIE) 25. Oakdale (6-0)
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Trent Merzon
Next: at East Union (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Mustangs, defending section Division III champions, beat Lathrop 49-14 behind strong running and defense.

The Sacramento Bee on how a quarterback change can impact the NorCal playoffs ... click here

The Sacramento Bee on a standout defensive lineman who made an emphatic return, and rankings and video clips of top area coaches ... 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