MaxPreps Northern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: Ronnie Rivers' highlights vs. Pittsburg
See the Freedom back in the win against the Pirates that set up a final showdown against De La Salle.

Some sections have crowned champions, and the rest will do so this week, including the first North Coast Section Open Division title game, which will include top-ranked De La Salle against unbeaten/surging No. 3 Freedom. The Sac-Joaquin Section will crown its Division I and II champions. The D-I game will feature three-time defending D-I champion Folsom, ranked fourth here, going against No. 2 St. Mary's. On Sunday, commissioners from the 10 sections that make up the state will meet to announce NorCal and SoCal Regional final games for six divisions.


1. (Last week 1) De La Salle (Concord), 10-1
Section: North Coast
League: Independent
Coach: Justin Alumbaugh
Next: vs. No. 3 Freedom, Friday
Update: Top-ranked by the San Francisco Chronicle and Bay Area News Group, the Spartans had a North Coast Section Open bye. The Spartans got here by downing previous No. 7 Clayton Valley Charter 28-0 as Kairee Robinson rushed for four scores. The NorCal unbeaten streak - north of Fresno - is now 280 games, dating back to 1992. The Spartans seek their 25th consecutive North Coast Section titles and 32nd since 1982, and they have won six CIF State championships in seven seasons. The regular-season winning streak against California teams dates back to 2005. The loss this season was 23-21 to the top-ranked team in Utah, East of Salt Lake City, on a late field goal.

2. (2) St. Mary's (Stockton), 12-1
Section: Sac-­Joaquin
League: Tri-­County
Coach: Tony Franks
Next: vs. No. 4 Folsom, Saturday
Update: Top ranked by the Stockton Record, the Rams beat previous No. 8 Oak Ridge 61-21 in an SJS Division I semifinal, surging with another fast start in topping another good team to earn a rematch against Folsom, which downed the Rams 56-49 in a D-I semifinal last year. The loss this season was to state and national powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 55-16 after leading 10-7 early. Earlier ranked wins this season for St. Mary's include Serra and Cardinal Newman, both still alive.

3. (3) Freedom (Oakley), 11-0
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Kevin Hartwig
Next: vs. No. 1 De La Salle, Friday
Update: The Falcons had a bye in the North Coast Section Open field. They beat Pittsburg 55-35 in a playoff, weeks after pulling out a narrow win, to set up a showdown against top-ranked De La Salle. Ronnie Rivers rushed for 299 yards and six scores. Freedom has come of age in a hurry under coach Hartwig, who seeks the program's first section title.

4. (4) Folsom, 12-1
Section: Sac-­Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Kris Richardson
Next: vs. No. 2 St. Mary's, Saturday
Update: The Bulldogs downed previous No. 7 Elk Grove 41-3 in a SJS Division I semifinal as Joe Curry, Eric Davis, Drake Stallworth and Jack Sa all played well on offense, and the defense stymied a dominant Herd team. Folsom seeks a D-I section four-peat and a five-peat overall, and it seeks a third state title since 2010. The loss this season was to previous No. 4 Sacramento early 32-27, halting a state-leading 48-game regular-season winning streak. The Bulldogs have responded big.

5. (5) Monte Vista (Danville), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: East Bay
Coach: Craig Bergman
Next: vs. No. 12 Antioch, Saturday
Update: The Mustangs had a bye in the NCS Division I field. They beat Heritage (Brentwood) 56-28 in an opener as Shane Perry rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns to put the program into the finals against Antioch and national recruit running back Najee Harris. The loss was to top-ranked De La Salle 45-17 in a Week 10 contest that was a two-touchdown game in the fourth quarter. Monte Vista won section titles in 1982, 1983, 2001, 2002

6. (6) Valley Christian (San Jose), 12-1
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Mike Machado
Next: To be determined
Update: The Warriors beat previous No. 22 Palma 14-10 to win the CCS Open Division III championship and will find out on Sunday who they play in a NorCal Regional after the other sections crown champions. Isaiah Rodriguez and Javon Sturns each rushed for touchdowns, and Trent Laubach had 15 tackles. Valley Christian allowed seven points in the playoffs. The loss was to previous-No. 8 Saint Francis 13-10 in league play, leading to a three-way tie for the title. Coach Machado led 12-1 teams in 2004 and 2005, a 10-3 team in 2008, an 11-2 team in 2010. Valley Christian won section titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2012.

7. (9) Del Oro (Loomis), 11-2
Section: Sac-­Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Next: vs. No. 8 Inderkum, Friday
Update: The second-seeded SJS D-II Golden Eagles rolled previous No. 10 Antelope 50-10, ending the Titans' unbeaten season. There was offensive balance with Stone Smartt and a strong defensive effort to hold 2,300-yard rusher Elijah Dotson to a season-low 45 yards. Del Oro seeks its 11th section title since 1989 and sixth under coach Casey Taylor, who seeks a fourth CIF Bowl since 2011.

8. (19) Inderkum (Sacramento),11-2
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Next: vs. No. 7 Del Oro, Friday
Update: The Tigers started the season 1-2, but have won 10 consecutive games since, including taking out previous No. 11 Jesuit 52-25 in an SJS Division II semifinal after leading 38-7. Trajon Cotton passed for four touchdowns, three to Isaah Crocker, and ran for two, and national recruit tight end Joshua Falo scored and played well on defense. Inderkum is 0-3 in section title games, each a close loss.

9. (9) Sacramento, 10-2
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Justin Reber
Next: Season complete
Update: Top ranked by The Sacramento Bee since mid September, the Dragons were stunned at home 35-33 to upstart Inderkum in the SJS Division II scramble. Sacramento trailed 26-0 and then tied it 33-33 before losing on a safety. The big win was downing then-No. 2 Folsom 32-27, leading 32-14 at one point. Sacramento starts just four seniors. One of them departs in running back Tariq Hollandsworth.

10. (12) Serra (San Mateo), 9-4
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Patrick Walsh
Next: To be announced
Update: The Padres started the season 0-4 with losses to No. 1 De La Salle, No. 2 St. Mary's, No. 6 Valley Christian and then No. 7 Pittsburg. The winning streak is nine after downing rival Mitty 37-24 to win the CCS Division II championship. Serra will find out on Sunday who it plays in a NorCal Regional title game. Against Mitty, Leki Nunn tossed three touchdown passes and ran for two. Serra won section titles in 1990, 2011, 2013

11. (13) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), 11-1
Section: North Coast
League: North Bay
Coach: Paul Cronin
Next: vs. St. Berdnard's, Saturday
Update: The Cardinals rolled Piedmont 54-8 in the NCS Division IV semifinals to return to the title game. The loss was to No. 2 St. Mary's 49-32. Cardinal Newman won section titles in 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2010 and once held the state-record for the longest winning streak of 47 in the 1970s.

12. (14) Manteca, 12-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Valley Oak
Coach: Eric Reis
Next: To be announced
Update: The SJS Division IV top-seeded Buffaloes rolled Placer 50-28 with a second-half surge for the program's fifth title since 2001 and fourth since 2005. Manteca will learn its NorCal opponent after the section commissioners meet on Sunday. Coach Eric Reis has a powerhouse program rolling.

13. (18) Antioch, 8-4
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley Athletic
Coach: John Lucido
Next: vs. No. 5 Monte Vista, Saturday
Update: The Panther had a NCS Division I playoff bye after downing previous No. 14 California 38-31. National No. 1 recruit Najee Harris rushed for 265 yards and three scores. One loss was 28-21 to top-ranked De La Salle. Antioch seeks its first section title.

14. (7) Elk Grove, 11-2
Section: Sac-­Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Next: Season complete
Update: The Thundering Herd lost to top-seeded Folsom 41-3 in an SJS Division I semifinal. This marks the end of great prep careers for quarterback Jayden Machado and receiver Gavin Reinwald, among many departing seniors.

15. (8) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 10-3
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Next: Season complete
Update: The third-seeded SJS Divison I Trojans lost to NorCal No. 2 St. Mary's 61-21, ending a season a lot of folks outside of El Dorado Hills didn't see coming, a credit to the coaching staff. Marco Baldacchino will return next season at quarterback after producing a stellar season.

16. (15) Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: Diablo Valley
Coach: Tim Murphy
Next: Season complete
Update: The Ugly Eagles lost to top-ranked De La Salle 28-0 in an NCS Open Division contest. The other loss was to state-ranked Helix (San Diego) 13-0. Clayton Valley Charter had reached a CIF Bowl the previous two seasons.

17. (16) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 10-2
Section: Central Coast
League: West Catholic Athletic
Coach: Greg Calcagno
Next: Season complete
Update: The Lancers fell to rising-fast Serra 31-17 in CCS Division III play in what felt like a WCAL contest. The quest for the program's 17th section banner ends. Saint Francis tied Valley Christian and Serra for the WCAL championship.

18. (17) Pittsburg, 9-2
Section: North Coast
League: Bay Valley
Coach: Vic Galli
Next: Season complete
Update: The Pirates could not solve No. 3 Freedom in the regular season - a 41-38 loss - or in the NCS Open Division playoffs. Pitt lost 55-35, ending the great career of running back Montaz Thompson. Pittsburg is the last NorCal program (north of Fresno) to beat De La Salle, in the 1991 North Coast Section D-I finals.

19. (21) Sutter, 13-0
Section: Northern
League: Butte View
Coach: Ryan Reynolds
Next: To be announced
Update: The top team in the Northern Section beat Lassen (Susanville) 42-7 to win the Northern Section Division III championship. The only bummer was allowing a touchdown after pitching seven successive shutouts. Sutter produced 12-0 seasons in 2004 and 2007 and 13-1 seasons in 2012 and 2014. The Huskies on Sunday will learn of their NorCal Regional opponent. 20. (23) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland), 12-1
Section: North Coast
League: West Alameda County
Coach: Napolean Kaufman
Next: vs. No. 21 Marin Catholic, Saturday
Update: The Dragons beat Rancho Cotate 37-34 in a last-second field goal by Trey Miller in the NCS Division III semifinals to earn a shot at a championship. Joe Deluca hit Cooper Hagmaier with a tying touchdown with two minutes to play. The Dragons seek their first title since 2004, having also won in 1997 and 1998.

21. (NR) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 11-2
Section: North Coast
League: Marin County
Coach: Mazi Moayed
Next: vs. No. 20 Bishop O'Dowd, Saturday
Update: The Wildcats beat previously ranked Analy 40-35 in a NCS Division III semifinal and take on O'Dowd for the title, having won titles in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2012 and 2015. Spencer Petras passed for 317 yards for Marin Catholic.

22. (NR) Menlo-Atherton (Atherton), 11-2
Section: Central Coast
League: Peninsula Bay
Coach: Adhir Ravipatsi
Next: To be announced
Update: The Bears posted another CCS Division I playoff shutout, blanking previously ranked Milpitas 17-0 behind defensive leader Stavro Papadakis. Jordan Mims rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Menlo won titles in 1982, 1983 and 1990. The Bears on Sunday will learn of their NorCal Regional opponent.

23. (16) Antelope, 12-1
Section: Sac-Joaquin
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Matt Ray
Next: Season complete
Update: The Titans had their stellar 12-0 season come to a end in an SJS Division II semifnal, losing to No. 8 Del Oro 50-10. Antelope was led by star running back Elijah Dotson this season as he set scores of rushing and scoring marks.

24. (11) Jesuit (Carmichael), 9-4
Section: Sac-­Joaquin
League: Delta
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Next: Season complete
Update: The Marauders fell to rising-fast Inderkum 52-35 in the SJS Division II semifinals, trailing 38-7 in the first half. Calvin Brownholtz was one of many senior leaders who bowed out heads held high.

25. (24) Palma (Salinas), 10-3
Section: Central Coast
League: Monterey Bay
Coach: Jeff Carnazzo
Next: To be determined
Update: The Chieftains lost to No. 6 Valley Christian 14-10 in the Central Coast Section Division III Open finals but still may advance to a NorCal Regional because this section could recommend an Open finalist over a champion. Coach Carnazzo fielded a 10-2 team in 2006, a 10-1-1 team in 2010, an 11-1-1 team in 2011 and 10-game winners in 2014 and 2015.

The Sacramento Bee on how it all starts in the trenches in the football playoffs...click here

Joe Davidson has covered high school sports for The Sacramento Bee since 1988. Follow him on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD and on Facebook: sacbeepreps