Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings: Season winding down as Sac-Joaquin teams enter final week before postseason

1. (Last week 1) Serra (San Mateo), 7-0
Last week: Beat St. Ignatius, 38-19
Next: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Thursday
Update: The Padres bolted to an early 21-0 lead and remained hot in the West Catholic Athletic League, each of the scores coming on the ground. Petelo Gi had three touchdowns and Dominique Lampkin two. The showdown against Saint Francis is Nov. 6, a regular-season finale in San Mateo. Since 2017, Serra has won two CIF NorCal titles and a CIF State crown under coach Patrick Walsh.

2. (2) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 7-0
Last week: Beat Bellarmine, 44-24
Next: Mitty (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Lancers moved to 5-0 in the WCAL as Viliami Teu rushed for 276 yards and four scores, and Joshua Perry added two touchdowns. The monstrous win was the 31-28 effort against De La Salle, the first NorCal loss by the Spartans north of Fresno since 1991. Saint Francis caps the regular season at Serra on Nov. 6. Saint Francis has won a record 17 Central Coast Section titles.

3. (3) De La Salle (Concord), 6-2
Last week: Beat San Ramon Valley (Danville), 48-14
Next: Amador Valley (Pleasanton), Friday
Outlook: The Spartans led 35-7 at the half and rolled in gaining 542 yards, including 104 yards on five carries by Zeke Berry and Charles Greer scored twice. The losses were to Saint Francis (Mountain View) 31-28 to halt the program's 318-game unbeaten streak to NorCal teams north of Fresno dating back to 1992, and to the top team in Maryland. A big win was a 31-10 effort at previous No. 1 Folsom.

4. (4) Rocklin, 9-0
Last week: Beat Grant (Sacramento), 29-7
Next: Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), Thursday
Update: The Thunder's first-string defense has allowed three touchdowns this season and the school locked up its first Sierra Foothill League crown since 2009. The big victory was the 40-7 effort over Folsom, halting that school's 11-year, 54-game league winning streak. Rocklin is the likely No. 1 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. This is Rocklin's best team since the 2009 group that reached the CIF State Division II finals and went 14-1.

5. (5) Folsom, 7-2
Last week: Beat Whitney (Rocklin), 40-7
Next: Granite Bay, Friday
Update: The Bulldogs stormed to a 38-7 halftime lead in halting its first two-game losing streak in 14 seasons as Austin Mack had two touchdown passes. Toure Hendrick rushed for 150 yards and a score and Donovan Maxey-Parler went for 68 and two. An earlier win was 37-17 over Pittsburg and a 56-7 effort over Jesuit. Folsom has won eight Sac-Joaquin and four CIF State titles since 2010.

6. (6) Pittsburg, 5-1
Last week: Beat Deer Valley (Antioch), 50-6
Next: Freedom (Oakley), Friday
Update: The Pirates cruised behind Jaden Rashada, who tossed five touchdown passes, two to Zack Card. The loss was at Folsom, 38-17. An opener against Serra was canceled because of smoke. Pittsburg is the last North Coast Section program to beat De La Salle, doing so in the 1991 NCS finals.

7. (7) Buchanan (Clovis), 8-1
Last week: Beat Clovis North, 33-14
Next: Clovis East, Friday
Update: The Bears are the top-ranked team in the Central Section and the front runner in the deep and talented Tri-River Athletic Conference. The loss was to state-ranked Los Alamitos 34-31.

8. (8) Central (Fresno), 6-1
Last week: Beat Clovis West, 35-14
Next: Clovis North, Thursday
Update: The Grizzlies received 176 yards rushing and two scores from Ah'marion Gaines-Smith and two from Jesiah Lindsey to roll. The Loss was to Buchanan 24-17. This could still be the No. 2 seed in the Central Section Division I field. Central won the 219 CIF State Division I-AA championship.

9. (9) Valley Christian (San Jose), 6-3
Last week: Beat Mitty (San Jose), 42-20
Next: Bellarmine (San Jose), Friday
Update: The Warriors led 35-7 en route to the WCAL win as Jurrion Dickey continued his hot pace, scoring on a reception and a pick-6. The losses were to Serra, Saint Francis and Pittsburg.

10. (10) Edison (Stockton), 8-1
Last week: Beat McNair (Stockton), 65-7
Next: Franklin (Stockton), Friday
Update: The Vikings are defensive terrors, allowing just under a touchdown a game. This will be a team to fear in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, nearly beating Folsom in 2019. The loss was to then Central Section No. 1 Central (Fresno) 17-10.

11. (11) Jesuit (Carmichael), 8-1
Last week: Beat Davis, 41-15
Next: Sheldon (Sacramento), Friday
Update: The winning streak is eight after opening with a loss at Folsom. Depth has been crucial as backup quarterback Trenton Dewar tossed three TD passes and ran for one. One of the big wins for the Delta League favorites was 28-14 over Granite Bay.

12. (12) Los Gatos, 8-0
Last week: Bye
Next: Mountain View, Friday
Update: The best public school football team in the Central Coast Section, the Wildcats had a week off after posting three successive shutouts. Los Gatos has been a longtime power in the Central Coast Section.

13. (13) Central Catholic (Modesto), 8-1
Last week: Beat East Union (Manteca), 38-27
Next: Sierra (Manteca), Friday
Update: The Raiders roll on in the Valley Oak League but earned it after trailing 21-20 at the half as Julian Lopez and Aiden Taylor each scored two touchdowns. Earlier big wins were over San Ramon Valley 21-14 and St. Mary's (Stockton), 41-27. The loss was to Bellarmine, 28-21

14. (14) San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 7-0
Last week: Bye
Next: Edison (Fresno), Friday
Update: The Panthers are the class of the County Metro League and a threat in the Central Section Division I title race. One big win was over Bullard (Fresno).

15. (15) Granite Bay, 7-2
Last week: Bye
Next: Folsom, Friday
Update: The losses were to Rocklin in the Sierra Foothill League and to Jesuit in nonleague action. An earlier big win was over Vacaville. The program is in the playoff for the 24th consecutive season.

16. (16) St. Mary's (Stockton), 7-2
Last week: Beat West (Tracy), 71-0
Next: Lincoln (Stockton), Friday
Update: The Rams have won seven consecutive games after opening with losses to De La Salle and Central Catholic, with Asante Carter scoring three rushing touchdowns in the latest effort. A big early win was 34-14 over Cardinal Newman.

17. (17) Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose), 5-3
Last week: Lost to Saint Francis, 20-13
Next: Valley Christian, Friday
Update: The Bells were in it with the Lancers in the second quarter, tied at 7, before falling. Big wins include Menlo-Atherton (56-41) and Central Catholic (28-21).

18. (18) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 6-2
Last week: Beat Terra Nova (Pacifica), 38-7
Next: Burlingame, Friday
Update: The Bears remain perfect in the Peninsula Bay standings as Jalen Moss had two touchdown catches for a six-game winning streak. The losses were to Bellarmine 56-41 and to Oregon power Tualatin, 44-33.

19. (19) McClymonds (Oakland), 5-1
Last week: Beat Fremont (Oakland), 54-0
Next: Castlemont (Oakland), Friday
Update: Mack continues to devour all comers in the Oakland Athletic League, going for 50 or more three times. The loss was to Menlo-Atherton. A big win was over Marin Catholic, 32-22.

20. (20) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord.), 6-2
Last week: Beat Amador Valley, 21-17
Next: Monte Vista (Danville), Friday
Update: The Ugly Eagles were led by Rahsaan Woodland, who had 102 yards rushing and a score. CVC won the 2019 CIF Division I-AA state championship.

21. (22) Salinas, 7-0
Last week: Bye
Next: Alvarez, Friday
Update: The Cowboys are 5-0 in the Pacific Coast Gabilan Division. The signature win was a 42-14 rout of previously unbeaten Aptos.

22. (21) San Ramon Valley (Danville), 5-3
Last week: Lost to De La Salle, 48-14
Next: California (San Ramon), Friday
Update: The Wolves were led against DLS by Jack Quigley, who had two touchdown passes. The other losses were to Clayton Valley Charter 28-21 and Central Catholic 21-14. The East Bay Mountain includes De La Salle, California, Clayton Valley, Monte Vista and Amador Valley.

23. (23) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 5-2
Last week: Did not play
Next: Rancho Cotate, Friday
Update: The Cardinals did not play Windsor due to COVID testing issues. The team is otherwise unbeaten in North Bay action. The losses were to San Leandro, 20-17, and St. Mary's, 34-14. A big win was a 20-13 win over Vacaville.

24. (24) Vacaville, 7-2
Last week: Beat Rodriguez, 42-6
Next: Wood (Vacaville), Friday
Update: The Bulldogs stand alone in the Monticello Empire League and secured the crown after rolling behind Ryan Vaughan, who had four total scores. An early win was 17-10 over Oak Ridge. The losses were 20-13 in overtime to Cardinal Newman and 14-9 to Granite Bay.

25. (25) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 7-1
Last week: Beat Marin (Novato), 21-14
Next: Novato, Saturday
Update: The Wildcats trailed 14-0 and rallied behind Michael Ingrassia, who had two touchdowns passing and another rushing. The loss was to McClymonds, 33-22.

The Next 10
26. Clovis, 6-3
27. Monte Vista (Danville), 7-0
28. Antelope, 8-0
29. Kimball (Tracy), 8-1
30. California (San Ramon), 6-2
31. Aptos, 7-1
32. San Benito (Hollister), 6-1
33. Palma (Salinas), 6-2
34. Windsor, 7-0
35. Oakdale, 6-2

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. He was named a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Distinguished Award winner in April. Follow him on Twitter: SacBee_JoeD and through sacbee.com.