Top 25 high school football rankings: Folsom hosts De La Salle in clash of NorCal titans
The second half of the regular season kicks off this week with every one of The Bee’s Top 25 teams expecting a league championship.
For some, such as the powerhouse teams of the Sierra Foothill League, the goal is a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championship and beyond. Top-ranked Folsom can speak of section championships and more, having won nine section titles and four CIF state crowns since 2010. The Bulldogs host storied De La Salle on Friday in a whopper of an inter-sectional showdown that will go a long way in sorting NorCal rankings and, quite likely, seedings and matchups for the Northern California regional playoffs..
The teams split last season, Folsom winning the regular-season meeting in Concord 24-20 but falling in the NorCal Division I-AA final.
The rest of the teams in the SFL, the top conference in Northern California, have a bye this week. Those teams are No. 2 Oak Ridge, No. 4 Rocklin, No. 5 Del Oro, No. 6 Granite Bay and No. 17 Whitney.
Here’s a look at this week’s Top 25.
1. Folsom (3-1)
The Bulldogs, at long last, will have a home game after playing their first four contests on the road, and it won’t be a breeze by any means. De La Salle comes for a visit on Friday and Oak Ridge looms in an SFL opener at Folsom on Sept. 29. Folsom’s only loss came against NorCal No. 1 Serra of San Mateo, 21-14. The Bulldogs are prolific and defensive minded. Next: vs. De La Salle.
2. Oak Ridge (5-0)
The Trojans have earned their week off after two Honor Bowl victories, a 21-18 triumph of Grant and the recent 31-7 victory over Pleasant Valley of Chico, the top-ranked team in the Northern Section. Everything is clicking — offense, defense, special teams. Next: at Folsom, Sept. 29.
3. Grant (4-1)
The Pacers opened Metro League play with a 48-0 win over Burbank as Luke Alexander had two touchdown passes, Leon Martin rushed for two scores and Hakim Reynolds returned three interceptions for touchdowns to tie a Sac-Joaquin Section record. Grant’s only setback was a 21-18 loss at Oak Ridge. Next: vs. McClatchy.
4. Rocklin (4-0)
The Thunder prepares for a Tracy team that is 4-0 after beating previously unbeaten Downey of Modesto 43-13. Then it’s the SFL gauntlet that starts with a Quarry Bowl rivalry rumble. Next: vs. Whitney, Sept. 29.
5. Del Oro (5-0)
The Golden Eagles have earned their bye with the fast start. They have a star QB in Caden Pinnick and a lot of superb complimentary players, including receivers Tommy Poe and Beaux Sauve and running backs Marcel Urquhart and Robert Garcia. Next: at Granite Bay, Sept. 29.
6. Granite Bay (3-2)
The Grizzlies stormed to a 27-7 first-quarter lead at Vacaville and won 34-13 as Carter Jackson took off for three early touchdown bolts and had 147 yards as the team rushed 40 times for 262 yards. Marcus Maveety and Jason Hill combined to break up four passes. Next: vs. Del Oro, Sept. 29.
7. Inderkum (4-1)
Since opening with a 50-34 loss to Del Oro in a game that was a seven-point contest at the half, the Tigers have rolled with wins of 60-0, 68-0, 35-28 and, on Saturday, 62-0, at Yuba City to open Capital Valley Conference play. Ricky Cole accounted for seven scores in an MVP-like effort, and Kyle Gurganious and Baron Taylor continue to make plays. Next: at Woodcreek.
8. Casa Roble (3-1)
The Rams battled Del Oro, leading 7-3 at the half before falling 31-13 in a game that felt much tighter. Del Oro coach Mike Maben was impressed enough to say Casa Roble will “run the table” from here. He may very well be right. Next: at Ponderosa.
9. Jesuit (3-1)
The Marauders beat Sheldon 44-8 to open Delta League play as CJ Lee passed for 264 yards and a school-record five first-half touchdowns, Tristan Lebrecht recovered two fumbles. The team’s only loss was 28-27 to St. Ignatius of San Francisco. Next: vs. Pleasant Grove.
10. Vista del Lago (4-1)
The Eagles opened Capital Athletic League play with a 48-12 win over Sacramento as John Koett passed for 263 yards and four touchdowns, two to Will Greene. Will Anderson, Camden King and Matt Long each had interceptions for VDL, which has lost only to Manteca, 42-35. Next: at Capital Christian.
11. Woodcreek (4-0)
The Timberwolves have playmakers who delivered in rolling Lincoln 52-0. They include: Austin Katapodis (165 yards passing, two scores), Brody Krupp (134 total yards with plays on defense and special teams) and Keegan McDaniel (eight solo tackles, two QB hurries). Next: vs. Inderkum.
12. Monterey Trail (1-3)
The Mustangs earned their first win in dramatic fashion, a 41-35 victory over Laguna Creek in double overtime to open defense of their Metro League championship. Vontrelle Waffer and D’Adrien Sanders rushed for a combined 250 yards and five touchdowns, and Donte Jacobs and Elijah Folau combined for 28 tackles. The losses: Folsom (35-0) and Bay Area powers Saint Francis-Mountain View (28-21) and Pittsburg (10-7). Next: at Kennedy.
13. Vacaville (2-2)
The Bulldogs were jolted early in a homecoming loss to Granite Bay, trailing big early. Morgan De Lago rushed for 84 yards and Cristian Diosdado 67, and both reached the end zone. The team’s other loss was 27-7 at North Bay power Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa. Next: at El Cerrito.
14. West Park (3-1)
Coming off a bye, the Panthers of Roseville loom as the favorites to win the Foothill Valley League. They have wins over ranked Laguna Creek (35-20) and Pleasant Grove (35-24) and a 35-14 setback to Casa Roble. Next: vs. Chico.
15. Laguna Creek (3-2)
The Cardinals showed a ton in the double-overtime loss to Monterey Trail, specifically that this program is ready for a playoff charge. Tariq Booth rushed for 99 yards and two scores, Halim Tholley had 98 yards receiving and a score, and Wayne Cavanaugh and Lucas Otts combined for 23 tackles. Next: vs. River City.
16. Elk Grove (2-3)
The Thundering Herd beat a Cosumnes Oaks team that narrowly lost to Inderkum, rolling with a 28-7 second half for a 35-17 victory. Elk Grove attempted one pass and rushed 48 times for 369 yards with Thomas Koi and David Hale combining for five touchdowns. Isea Liu broke up two passes and Lucan Amituanai had 1 ½ sacks. Next: at Davis.
17. Whitney (2-3)
The Wildcats have one local loss, to Woodcreek, and a recent setback to Chico in which Cole McCracken rushed for a score, Logan Sindelar passed for one to Keane Frank and Caleb Kinnan had 11 tackles. The Quarry Bowl looms. Next: at Rocklin, Sept. 29.
18. Sutter (4-1)
The Huskies opened Pioneer Valley League action with a 26-0 win at Marysville with the defense standing tall. Jeevan Chatha had 12 tackles, Josh Garvin 14 and Auckland Asiata nine. The team’s only loss was 26-24 to Chico of the Northern Section. Next: vs. Colfax.
19. Pleasant Grove (2-2)
The Eagles had a bye and the coaches checked out Delta League favorite Jesuit live. The big win was 36-35 over Christian Brothers and the losses were to ranked foes West Park (35-24) and Laguna Creek (27-24). Next: at Jesuit.
20. Christian Brothers (3-2)
The Falcons opened defense of their Capital Athletic League championship with a 45-29 triumph over Del Campo with QB depth to envy. Deakon Holden passed for 186 yards and three TDs while William Littlejohn went for 147 and two and Shawn Underwood caught three TDs. Josiah Campbell had 15 tackles, three for loss. The losses: The team’s losses came against Pleasant Grove and Jesuit. Next: at Sacramento.
21. Roseville (4-1)
The Tigers opened Capital Valley Conference play with a 21-14 victory over Antelope and will cap the CVC schedule with Inderkum and Woodcreek. Roseville has a terrifically balanced attack, averaging 170 yards passing and 174 rushing with Aaron Salas leading the way with six rushing touchdowns. The team’s only loss was 39-30 to Laguna Creek. Next: vs. Yuba City.
22. Twelve Bridges (5-0)
The Ragin’ Rhinos opened Pioneer Valley League play with a 55-6 effort over Wheatland, leading 52-6 at the half, one in which Whit Kruse passed for 252 yards and four touchdowns and Nathan Crawford scored three times. Next: vs. Bear River.
23. Rio Americano (5-0)
Raiders coach Reid Sanders backed up his team’s claim that they would avenge a crushing loss to Capital Christian last season, prevailing in a Capital Athletic League opener, 16-7. Sophomore Trace Kloss has played big this season. Next: vs. El Camino.
24. Woodland Christian (4-0)
The Cardinals have an opening 15-14 win over Bradshaw Christian and have rolled ever since, but they will be challenged this week in a cross-town contest. Next: at Pioneer.
25. Bradshaw Christian (3-2)
The Pride have losses of 15-14 to Woodland Christian and 14-7 to Sutter and stand as a championship contender in the Sierra Valley Conference. Five runners scored in a 45-0 rout of Dixon, including Devin Hatcher, who rushed for 108 yards. Mateo Mojica ran for 89 yards with one TD and an interception. Next: vs. Union Mine, Sept. 29.
Bubble: Bella Vista (3-1), Center (4-1), Colfax (3-2), East Nicolaus (3-1), Mesa Verde (4-0), Placer (0-4), Pioneer (3-1), Rosemont (3-1), Union Mine (3-1), Winters (3-1).
