The top six high school football teams held firm in these Northern California Top 20 rankings that include teams from the Central Section, Central Coast, North Coast, Oakland and Sac-Joaquin sections.
Two weeks remain for most NorCal teams and three for others such as the Central Coast. The showdowns this week include the Valley Oak League championship pitting Central Catholic of Modesto heading to unbeaten Manteca.
One of this week's showdowns pits Central Catholic at unbeaten Manteca for the Valley Oak League title. (Photo: Mark Neuling)
1. (Last week 1) Serra (San Mateo), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Riordan, 45-7
This week: vs. Valley Christian
Serra is alone on top of the brutal West Catholic Athletic League at 4-0 as
Maealiuaki Smith passed for three touchdowns. The non-league big wins are 17-12 at Folsom and 24-21 at De La Salle. Serra reached the CIF State Open finals last season.
2. (2) Folsom, 7-1
Last week: Defeated Del Oro, 34-7
This week: vs. Granite Bay
The Bulldogs are the last remaining unbeaten team in the deep and powerful Sierra Foothill League after racing past Del Oro as
Austin Mack passed for five touchdowns. The loss was 17-12 to Serra. More big wins were 23-15 at Pittsburg and 24-20 at De La Salle. Folsom beat DLS 28-27 in the NorCal finals last season.
3. (3) St. Mary's (Stockton), 8-0
Last week: Defeated Tracy, 63-33
This week: vs. Tokay
The Rams turned a 28-27 game at the half into a rout in Tri-City Athletic League play as
Asante Carter rushed for five scores and
Samson Hunkin passed for three. The Rams seek their 15th consecutive league championship. A big nonleague win was 45-35 over De La Salle.
4. (4) De La Salle (Concord), 4-3
Last week: Defeated California, 41-7
This week: vs. Monte Vista
The Spartans bounced back from the 45-35 loss to St. Mary's with a thorough effort here to halt a two-game skid, including a 24-20 set back to Folsom. The other loss was 24-21 to Serra.
5. (5) Pittsburg, 6-1
Last week: Defeated Deer Valley, 51-0
This week: vs. Freedom
The Pirates led 30-0 at the half behind balanced offense and a smothering defense. The loss was 23-15 to Folsom.
6. (6) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 6-2
Last week: Bye
This week: at Grant
The Mustangs have not played in two weeks, having one game canceled due to low roster numbers (McClatchy) and then a bye. This week will settle the Metro League championship at Grant. The losses were to Folsom and De La Salle.
7. (8) Clovis West (Fresno), 8-0
Last week: Defeated Clovis North, 21-14
This week: at Central
The top-ranked team in the Central Section earned another tight Tri-River Athletic Conference victory a week after bouncing previously unbeaten Clovis East. QB
Ryan Markarian and WR
Marshel Sanders again led the way.
8. (9) Buchanan (Clovis), 7-1
Last week: Beat Clovis, 45-24
This week: vs. Clovis North
The Tri-River Athletic Conference will be a race to the finish.
Michael Runnels scored two second-half touchdowns, including a 79-yard sprint. The loss was to Clovis West, 29-22.
9. (7) Del Oro (Loomis), 7-1
Last week: Lost to Folsom, 34-7
This week: at Whitney
The Golden Eagles were within 21-7 at the half but could not keep pace in the second half in suffering their first setback. Big nonleague wins include Clayton Valley Charter and Menlo-Atherton. Del Oro last beat Folsom in 2009.
10. (11) Manteca, 7-0
Last week: Defeated East Union, 62-6
This week: vs. Central Catholic
The Buffaloes can take a big step toward winning the Valley Oak League championship with a win this week.
Blake Nichelson is a prime Northern California Player of the Year candidate, the do-all talent headed to Florida State on scholarship.
11. (12) Liberty (Bakersfield), 6-2
Last week: Defeated Centennial (Bakersfield), 41-7
This week: at Frontier (Bakersfield)
The Patriots rolled a previously unbeaten opponent in Southwest Yosemite River League play as
Jalen Hankins ran for two scores, and the game was punctuated by a pick-6 by
Kresean Kizzy. The losses were to San Diego power Carlsbad, 27-0, and to Buchanan, 35-27.
12. (13) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 7-1
Last week: Defeated Whitney, 55-7
This week: vs. Rocklin
The Trojans rolled in SFL play as
Maddox Varella passed for four touchdowns and
Jake Hall rushed for two. The loss was to Oak Ridge.
13. (14) Wilcox (Santa Clara), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Palo Alto, 38-14
This week: vs. Los Gatos
This is the top team not in the WCAL in the Central Coast Section, and
Tyson Bonilla had 100 yards rushing and two scores to keep the team unbeaten. The showdown with Los Gatos is for first place in the De Anza League.
14. (15) McClymonds (Oakland), 5-1
Last week: Defeated Skyline, 52-0
This week: vs. Oakland
Mack rolled behind
Jaivian Thomas, who ran for 133 yards and two scores, and
Ferrari Miller Jr. had 125 and two. The loss was to Pittsburg, 39-21.
15. (17) Marin Catholic (Kentfield), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Archie Williams, 56-0
This week: vs. Redwood
The Wildcats are rolling in the Marin County Athletic League with another shutout. It was 41-0 at the half.
16. (18) Saint Francis (Mountain View), 4-3
Last week: Defeated Valley Christian, 21-14
This week: vs. Riordan
The defending WCAL champion Lancers were paced by
Matt Dougherty Jr., who hit
Andrew Adkison for two touchdown passes. The losses were to higher-ranked Monterey Trail, De La Salle and Serra.
17. (19) Central Catholic (Modesto), 4-4
Last week: Defeated Oakdale, 35-7
This week: at Manteca
The Raiders were paced by
Tyler Jacklich in the VOL rout with 223 yards and three touchdowns. The losses were to state-ranked Saint Francis, St. Mary's, Serra and Bosco.
18. (26) Campolindo (Moraga), 7-0
Last week: Defeated Acalanes, 27-24
This week: vs. Northgate
The Cougars toppled previously unbeaten Acalanes in a thriller as
Dashiell Weaver passed for 269 yards and three scores, two to
Robbie Mascheroni, and ran for one.
19. (NR) Aptos, 6-1
Last week: Defeated Salinas, 44-41
This week: vs. Palma
The Mariners won a big Pacific Coast Gabilan League game and have another for, quite likely, the championship against Palma.
Caden Prichard rushed for 205 yards in handing Salinas its first loss.
20. (10) Salinas, 6-1
Last week: Lost to Aptos, 44-41
This week: vs. Alisal
The Cowboys fell despite 400 yards and five scores from star
Adam Shaffer. A big early win was over Clayton Valley Charter.
The next 1021.
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 6-1
22.
Palma (Salinas), 6-1
23.
El Cerrito (El Cerrito), 7-0
24.
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), 6-2
25.
Downey (Modesto), 8-0
26.
Centennial (Bakersfield), 7-1
27.
Granite Bay, 5-3
28.
Acalanes (Lafayette), 6-1
29.
Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), 6-1
30.
San Ramon Valley (Danville), 5-2
