MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section Top 25 high school football rankings

Ten weeks up, 10 weeks down. There were no upsets to conclude the regular season, and the favorites are hoping the theme carries forward in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

The Division I field is dominated by Delta River League teams, which was dominated by top-ranked Folsom, the champion in D-II in 2010 and last season. The D-II scramble is a run-heavy bracket. D-III features a newer-school upstart in American Canyon. D-IV, D-V and D-VI are small-school showcases where the prizes are just as big.

See the complete Sac-Joaquin Section football playoff brackets

Be sure to check out MaxPreps Sacramento for local scores, photos, highlights and news.


1. (Last week 1) Folsom (10-0)
The Bulldogs clinched the Delta River League title outright with a 63-39 win over No. 5 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and bound into the Division I playoffs as overwhelming favorites. Jake Browning passed for 490 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions, setting the state single-season mark for TD passes with 56. The run game produced 193 yards, including 85 by Bryan Weldy. The last loss was to De La Salle in the NorCal Open last season, capping a 14-0 season start.
Next: Lincoln (Stockton), Friday

2. (2) Del Oro (Loomis) (8-2)
The Golden Eagles beat rival Rocklin 14-13 to win the Sierra Foothill League, and then earned the No. 1 seed in the Division II playoffs. Michael Moore hit Justin Gazzaniga for a touchdown and workhorse back Dylan Kainrath scored his 20th TD of the season. The losses were to state power Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) and NorCal No. 1 De La Salle
(Concord).
Next: River Valley (Yuba City), Friday

3. (3) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) (9-1)
The Trojans jump into the D-I playoffs with a comeback for the ages as momentum. Oak Ridge rallied from deficits of 28-7 and 42-21 to stun previous No. 13 Jesuit 45-42 in overtime, pitching a second-half shutout with run-defense adjustments. Ian Book tossed five touchdown passes, two each to Trent Buenzli and Justin Priest. This is a title contender in every regard. The loss was to No. 1 Folsom.
Next: Napa, Friday

4. (6) Elk Grove (9-1)
The Thundering Herd beat Davis 35-7 to tie Grant and Franklin for the Delta Valley Conference title and earned a No. 2 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs. The loss was to Franklin and the big win was over Grant 7-3.
Next: Atwater, Friday

5. (4) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) (8-2)
The Eagles fell to No. 1 Folsom 63-39 and now focus on trying to earn a rematch as a threat in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs with speed on both sides of the ball and a leader in Deaundre Terrell. Pleasant Grove has wins over No. 6 Rocklin, No. 9 Burbank and No. 20 Jesuit.
Next: Modesto, Friday

6. (6) Rocklin (7-3)
The Thunder had their seven-game winning streak halted, falling to No. 2 Del Oro 14-13 in the Sierra Foothill League title game. Rocklin is the No. 10 seed in the D-II playoffs, and very much a threat. The other losses were to No. 3 Oak Ridge and No. 5 Pleasant Grove.
Next: No. 18 Vacaville, Friday

7. (7) Grant (Sacramento) (7-3)
The Pacers are in the playoffs an ongoing record 23rd consecutive time time, this time in D-II as a 5-seed after tying No. 4 Elk Grove and No. 22 Franklin (Elk Grove) for the Delta Valley Conference title. Losses were to No. 2 Del Oro, No. 3 Oak Ridge and Elk Grove, each by four points or less.
Next: Downey (Modesto), Friday

8. (8) Granite Bay (7-3)
The Grizzlies beat Nevada Union (Grass Valley) 49-7 and head into the Division I playoffs as two-time defending champions. QB Josh Neal and WR Dylan Keeney head the three-peat march. The losses were to No. 1 Folsom, No. 2 Del Oro and No. 6 Rocklin.
Next: No. 21 Tokay (Lodi), Friday

9. (9) Burbank (Sacramento) (8-2)
The Titans rolled to another Metropolitan Conference title and are a contender in the D-II playoffs. The speed is there with QB Ernest Jenkins and RB/WR Calvin Green and the force is there in DT Ngalu Tapa. The losses were to No. 5 Pleasant Grove and No. 7 Grant.
Next: Wood (Vacaville), Friday

10. (10) Stagg (Stockton) (9-1)
The Delta Kings rolled West (Tracy) 55-0 to cap a great regular season that included their first win over then-No. 5 St. Mary's (Stockton) since 1999. Wayne Brooks threw five TDs against West and is the X-factor in the Division I playoffs. The loss was to Modesto in a season opener. Another big win was over No. 11 St. Mary's.
Next: Beyer (Modesto), Friday

11. (11) St. Mary's (Stockton) (7-3)
The Rams rolled McNair (Stockton) 53-14 behind QB Kaleb Parrish and head into the D-II playoffs as a contender. The losses were to NorCal No. 1 De La Salle and Section No. 2 Del Oro.
Next: No. 16 Yuba City, Friday

12. (12) Central Catholic (Modesto) 9-1
The Raiders beat No. 25 and previously unbeaten Patterson 17-13 and now set their sights on a D-IV title repeat. CC has won a section record 16 titles. RB Matt Ringer is the key. The loss was to then No. 5 St. Mary's.
Next: Marysville, Friday

13. (13) Rio Linda (9-1)
The Knights beat Del Campo (Fair Oaks) 49-20 by rushing for 385 yards at nearly nine yards a crack. Marcel Brown rushed for a school-record 294 yards on 22 carries and three TDs, and QB Stephen Andrews accounted for four TDs. Rio Linda is the No. 3 seed in the D-II playoffs behind Del Oro and Elk Grove, and hungry. The loss was to Roseville in an opener on a blocked field goal returned for a score.
Next: Antelope, Friday

14. (14) Manteca (9-1)
The Buffaloes proved they were for real by beating longtime powerhouse Oakdale, and here they are as a No. 2 seed in the D-III playoffs with RB Alex Laurel. The last section title was in 2005. The loss was to 9-1 Wilcox (Santa Clara).
Next: Central Valley (Ceres), Friday

15. (16) Inderkum (Sacramento) (8-2)
The Tigers are Tri-County League champions for the sixth time in 7 years, and with QB C. J. Spencer at the controls, they now seek a D-III title. Previous appearances were close losses in the 2008 and 2009 title games. The losses this year were to No. 5 Pleasant Grove and No. 6 Rocklin.
Next: Lincoln, Friday

16. (17) Yuba City (9-1)
The Honkers head into the D-II playoffs as a dark horse with a running game that features Omar Herrera. The loss was to No. 15 Inderkum.
Next: No. 11. St. Mary's (Stockton), Friday

17. (18) American Canyon (9-1)
The Wolves are a newer school in Solano County, eager to make some noise in the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in D-III. They went 2-1 in their first playoff showing last season, falling to eventual D-III champion Oakdale. RB Jomon Dotson (1,517 yards, 23 TDs) is a difference maker. The loss was to No. 10 Stagg.
Next: El Dorado (Placerville), Friday

18. (19) Vacaville (7-3)
The Bulldogs are back in the D-II playoffs, seeking their third title since 2006 and second in D-II since 2011. The run game can be dominant. The losses include No. 3 Oak Ridge and No. 8 Granite Bay.
Next: Rocklin, Friday

19. (20) Merced (8-2)
The Bears reached D-I title games five times between 1988-92, winning twice. They last got there in 2006. Is this another title team? The losses were to Central Section powers Clovis North (Fresno) and Edison (Fresno).
Next: No. 20 Jesuit (Carmichael), Friday

20. (15) Jesuit (Carmichael) (7-3)
The Marauders looked all-world in storming to first-half leads of 28-7 and 42-21 before getting shut out in the second half and falling to No. 3 Oak Ridge 45-42 in overtime. Ben Parietti rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns and Beau Bisharat had 243 and one. Next is the D-I playoffs, where collapses will end a season. The other losses were to No. 1
Folsom and No. 5 Pleasant Grove.
Next: No. 19 Merced, Friday

21. (21) Tokay (Lodi) (8-2)
The Tigers have never played for a D-I title, and this is as good a team as they have had with a very challenging playoff opener. The losses were to No. 10 Stagg and No. 11 St. Mary's.
Next: No. 8 Granite Bay, Friday

22. (22). Franklin (Elk Grove) (7-3)
The Wildcats went 12-1 last season, graduated the entire offense and all but two on defense, and here they come again, jumping into the D-I field as a tri-champion of the Delta Valley Conference. LBs Joey Banks and Curtis Williams and DB Robert Sanders lead the D. Franklin beat then No. 2 Elk Grove and No. 23 Tracy. The losses were to No. 2 Oak Ridge, No. 7 Grant and No. 20 Jesuit.
Next: Pitman (Turlock)

23. (23) Tracy (9-1)
The Bulldogs, a section power in the 1980s with D-I titles in '82 and '87 under famed coach Wayne Schneider, earned a No. 4 seed in the D-I scramble. The loss was to No. 22 Franklin early.
Next: Edison (Stockton), Friday

24. (24) Hilmar (10-0)
The storied Yellowjackets, with four successive D-IV titles in the 1980s with section-record winning streaks, are the No. 2 seed in the D-IV mix now.
Next: Liberty Ranch (Galt), Friday

25. (25) Patterson (9-1)
The 17-13 setback to No. 12 Central Catholic earned the program a No. 4 seed in D-III and a date with defending champion Oakdale.
Next: Oakdale, Friday

See The Sacramento Bee's Sac-Joaquin Section playoff breakdown

The Sacramento Bee's Preps Plus Insiders previews the playoffs

Read Joe Davidson column on the appeal of the high school game

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports at The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD and on www.sacbee.com.