California high school football: MaxPreps Top 25 North Coast Section preseason rankings

To say that it's early would be profoundly inaccurate.

But to know exactly where California high school football teams stand and how they will project heading into the 2020-21 season is a true guessing game. More so than previous seasons.

After the coronavirus and tough state guidelines delayed the season until now, practice for most teams just began and many players have opted out to either focus on other sports or next season. Besides that, conditioning and preparation to this point has been drastically different.

With that precursor, here is our best shot at a Top 25 preseason team list for the North Coast Section. Play can begin as early as March 12, seasons range from four to six games and there will be no postseason. Look for a section-by-section glance at the top teams and players throughout the next two weeks. Tuesday: The Northern Section. 

After dominating at the section's top division for 29 consecutive seasons, there's no reason to believe the national juggernaut is slowing down any time soon. With third-year starting quarterback Dorian Hale running the show, a stable of skill players, excellent deep lines, two of state's most versatile players in Lu-Magia Hearns and Zeke Berry, and second-year starting linebacker Kairo Reid all in place, and top this might be DLS's best since the 2015 state title team.

Two talented transfer quarterbacks in Eli Brickhandler and Jaden Rashada have combined with the deepest and most talented receiving corps in the section. The receivers are led by another transfer in Matthew Quesada and one of three sophomore standouts in Rashid Williams to give the Pirates what should be a high-scoring offense. UNLV-bound linebacker Maurice Jamison leads the defense.

The defending state Division 2-AA champions caught fire late in the season, winning five straight playoff games after 5-5 start. Coach Tim Murphy will have team in tip-top shape and with the return of offensive threats back, quarterback Jake Kern and running back Omari Taylor, the Ugly Eagles should hit the ground running.

Clayton Valley coach Tim Murphy proudly holds up State Division 2-AA championship trophy in December, 2019.

File photo by Louis Lopez

4. Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 11-2

With talented second-year starting QB, junior Michael Ingrassia adding strength and size to go along with section's top running back returning in Matteo Perez (2,024 yards rushing, 30 touchdowns) and San Jose State-bound lineman Kai Peterson-Davison, the Wildcats are loaded.

The defending state Division 3-AA champion will have to replace North Bay Player of the Year quarterback Jackson Pavitt, but the Cardinals have most other spots filled, including Washington State-bound WR Tsion Nunnally and 2019 North Bay League Defensive Player of the Year Shane Moran.

Junior QB Jack Quigley returns as starter and the game should slow down considerably. It helps to have San Diego State-bound tight end JP Murphy back as his top target.

The state Division 3-A runner-up returns state's leading tackler in senior linebacker Mihalis Santorineos, along with three-sport standout Dimitri Johnson, the team's top offensive weapon at RB.

The team's top ball carrier Gavin Cribb (778 yards rushing), along with superb linebacker Josh Zeising (103 tackles) return, along with promising junior Rocco Schramm.

The Crushers return top passer (Jacob Aaron), top yards-per-carry rusher (Dylan Smith), leading receiver (Sam Neal) and second-leading tackler (Ian Avalos).

Longtime coach Kevin Macy always reloads. He has promising quarterback in Jacob Griessel (6-3, 200) to go along with top two-way player in Davidson-bound Maxwell Weaver (31 catches, 534 yards, six touchdowns) and Army-bound tackle Matai Bell (6-3, 315).

The Mariners have two of the section's top 10 players in Cal-bound linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr and play-making safety-receiver Nikko Reed, who has signed to Colorado. 

Any team with experience at quarterback has big advantage, especially one as good as Brady Huchingson, who threw for 2,646 yards and accounted for 36 touchdowns last year. Having a legendary coach like Floyd Burnsed also helps.

With 24 underclassmen on the 2019 roster, including All-Metro lineman Mason Reese, coach Doug Longero's team should continue to improve. They'll find out just where they stand on Saturday in a scrimmage against De La Salle.

The Dons will have tough time replacing do-everything quarterback Kannon Dote, but return leading rusher Eric Hunter III (833 yards), second-leading receiver Josh Heverly (43 catches, 716 yards) and top tackler Matthew Hallgrimson.

San Diego State-bound dual threat quarterback and defensive back DJ Bryant is a good place to start a season.

Young team took lumps last year in rugged Bay Valley Athletic League, which this season has dropped off significantly. With third-year quarterback Asher Haynes under center, these Patriots might grab the second spot behind Pittsburg. Other top players are sophomore running back Devon Rivers, son of former NFL back Ron Rivers, and senior wideout Tanner Hartwig. First-year coach Dave Fogelstrom heads an experienced staff that largely led Freedom to great success over last two decades.

A program on the rise has the section's 11th-rated player in cornerback Alzillion Hamilton, who is signed to Fresno State. Farmers also have returning starting QB in Francisco Sedano.

The Colts lost their head coach Ricky Rodriguez, who took a job in Tennessee. But most of the staff remained including new head coach Eddie Smith. One of section's top all-around players, QB/S Shamoun V Duncan-Niusulu leads the way.

The Falcons split two games with San Leandro last year, winning the rematch in the playoffs after losing their season opener. 

The defending state Division 6A-1 champions lost many top players to graduation but longtime coach Chad Nightingale always gets the most out of the Pride. 

A program that has produced some of the section's best talent in recent years, including Bengals running back Joe Mixon and Fresno State all-time leading rusher Ronnie Rivers, hopes to rebound behind University of Washington-bound safety Vincent Nunley and 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Lee.

Coach John Wade has won wherever he's gone. In his first season as head coach for the Cowboys, he helped lift them to a landmark 6-5 season, improving his record to 140-73-1 with two NCS titles. He has Livermore heading in upward direction.

With one of the section's top quarterbacks returning in Hudson Beers (2,942 passing yards, 30 TDs last year), the Braves should pick up where they left off.

Spread offenses should be at advantage in shortened season and no team spread defenses out more than Piner in 2019 under first-year coach Terence Bell. The Prospectors scored 645 points and averaged more than 450 yards per game. Bell recruited top all-around athletes on campus — particularly the basketball program — and if he can do so again with top returners he has back, the Prospectors will have another winning season.

Junior running back-linebacker Ivan Robledo rushed for NCS-best 2,132 yards and 33 touchdowns last season as a sophomore. If he can maintain the production again, the Saints should keep on winning.