When we began releasing our Northern California Preseason Top 25 rankings back in mid-November, other states were playing football, but whether or not California was going to have a season was a huge uncertainty.
Now that the season, albeit abbreviated, has begun for our first week we are doing a recap of how the ranked teams that played did after such a long layoff.
This will be a onetime feature as beginning next week and for the remainder of the shortened season we will go back to doing our section rankings for the North Coast, Central Coast and Sac-Joaquin sections.
We didn’t begin the section rankings this week since a lot of teams didn’t start practicing until March 1 while others that were ready to go starting February 26, the date the state allowed high school sports to resume. That meant all the teams that didn’t start practicing until March 1 were unable to play last weekend because they didn’t have the 14-day mandatory full practices under their belts.
1. De La Salle(1-0)
The defending North Coast Section Division 1 champions and CIF state Open Division runner-up is still on the top of the heap in Northern California. The Spartans were tested and looked like they hadn’t played in 15 months, but the 35-27 final score in the victory over St. Mary’s was a little deceiving since the Spartans led 35-19 with 8:09 left in the fourth quarter and head coach Justin Alumbaugh started subbing profusely.
“We wanted to get everyone into the game,” Alumbaugh said.
That meant St. Mary’s scored its final TD and 2-point conversion with 1:38 remaining against a lot of second- and third-stringers on the 75-player roster. Even so, until they recovered the ensuing onside kick the possibility existed that the current 311-game unbeaten streak against Northern California teams dating back to 1991 could be challenged.
Although he’s been on staff for several years, the game also marked the first one for new defensive coordinator Nate Kenion. He replaces legendary De La Salle assistant Terry Eidson. Next up for the Spartans over the next two weeks are the East Bay Athletic League Danville schools, Monte Vista this Saturday and San Ramon Valley in two weeks.
2. Serra (0-0)
Did not play. The top team in the Prep2Prep Central Coast Section final rankings and the CCS Open Division and CIF Northern Regional 1-A Bowl Game champion last year will open on the road in San Jose on Friday night at Valley Christian in what will be a matchup of the top two teams in the CCS last season.
Serra won both meetings last year in shutouts, 10-0 in West Catholic Athletic League action and 17-0 in the CCS Open Division title game. The fact that there is even a season has a lot to do with Padres head coach Patrick Walsh and his work in founding the Golden State Football Coaches Community that worked with the Let Them Play folks to convince the state to move forward with high school sports.
3. Oak Ridge (0-1)
The top team from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section and defending Division I champion only had a short stint in the catbird seat of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section after losing 23-18 to host Folsom in what was the other top matchup in Northern California last weekend along with the De La Salle/St. Mary’s contest.
The Trojans were obviously hurt when last year’s star quarterback Justin Lamson (3,114 yards passing and 24 TDs, 462 yards rushing and 5 TDs) decided to enroll early at Syracuse. His replacement, sophomore Drew Cowart, played well in his first varsity game but could not seal the deal.
Oak Ridge fought back from a 14-3 halftime deficit to take an 18-17 lead with 5:13 remaining on a TD pass from Cowart to Hunter Nabers. At the end, the Trojans needed one last first down to close out the game, but Folsom’s defense held them to a three-and-out, which included a five-yard penalty on a procedure call that really hurt.
The good news for Oak Ridge fans is Cowart has two more years besides this abbreviated season. And with no playoffs, it should be a year for him to learn and grow with less pressure. The Trojans will get a chance to avenge the loss when the teams meet a second time on April 16 in El Dorado Hills. Next up is another Sierra Foothill League matchup with Whitney-Rocklin at home next Saturday.
4. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (0-0)
Did not play. The No. 2 team from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section that upset Folsom in the playoffs last year before falling 35-23 in the Division I title game, has to wait a week to start its season and will open its season with Rocklin from the Sierra Foothill League next Friday before travelling to Concord in two weeks to face CIF state Division 2-AA Bowl Game champion Clayton Valley.
5. Folsom (1-0)
In our preseason rankings, we led the Folsom portion by stating that the Bulldogs and second-year head coach Paul Doherty were looking to return to Sac-Joaquin Section dominance. Folsom had been the Sacramento Bee’s No.1 team since 2010. Well, one game in a shortened season does not qualify as returning to dominance, but Folsom couldn’t have had a better start than its 23-18 victory over defending CIFSJS Division I champion Oak Ridge.
It was also a great start for a team with seven sophomores and a junior quarterback Tyler Tremain, who had a very solid start (24 of 36 for 297 yards, 3 TDs). Tremain did have a costly fourth quarter interception, but the defense gave him a final chance and he came through.
Folsom led 14-3 at the half but found itself down 18-17 with 5:03 left. After throwing an interception with 4:20 remaining the Folsom defense got an important three-and-out that gave Tremain his opportunity and he made the most of it.
Starting with 3:30 left to play, Tremain directed a 90-yard drive in which he was 5-for-7 passing including a 37-yard pass to Rico Flores. The drive culminated in a 16-yard TD pass to Flores to win the game with 1:04 remaining. Flores finished with seven catches for 100 yards and one TD. It was the 15th straight time Folsom has beaten Oak Ridge dating back to the 2006 season.
“I was kicking myself with that interception, but then had to turn the page and get ready,” Tremain told Joe Davidson of the Bee. Up next is a road game at Sierra Foothill League rival Granite Bay.
6. Pittsburg (0-0)
Did not play. A couple of teams from the Bay Valley Athletic League were in action but head coach Vic Galli and his defending league champion Pirates were not one of them. That means we’ll have to wait until this Friday night to see Galli’s boys when they take on league foe Freedom-Oakley this Friday. Freedom lost its season opener but gave Campolindo all it could handle before falling 27-23 at home last Friday.
7. St. Mary’s-Stockton (0-1)
When we made St. Mary’s the No. 7 team in Northern California, we got blasted on social media since Coach Tony Franks and his Rams were only 6-5 last season. That was then and this is now, and after the way St. Mary’s looked and played in its 35-27 loss to De la Salle the naysayers, pundits, prognosticators and self-proclaimed experts are left with egg on their faces because St. Mary’s is for real.
Even with a somewhat short roster of around 35 players suited up against De la Salle, the Rams held their own for the most part but in the end they could not match the physicality of the Spartans. There were St. Mary’s players that turned some heads.
Junior wide receiver Jadyn Marshall showed just why he’s the top recruit from the Class of 2022 in Northern California. His speed and athleticism gave the De La Salle secondary problems all night. Marshall finished with seven receptions for 119 yards and one TD, a 50-yarder in which he blew past a defender. Marshall also carried the ball twice for 11 yards.
Another player that was all over the field on defense was Nick Murray. The University of San Diego-bound senior free safety had 13 tackles and a 42-yard kickoff return. Senior running back Tyrei Washington took some hard hits from the De La Salle front line and finished with 48 yards rushing on 13 carries with one touchdown. He also had a TD receiving. Next up for Franks and his boys is a trip to Carmichael to face Sacramento-area Catholic school power Jesuit.
8. Valley Christian-San Jose (0-0)
Did not play. Like the Serra team they host this Friday night Coach Mike Machado and his Warriors were idle last week. Valley Christian may not have been able to score on Serra in two games last season, a 10-0 WCAL loss and a 17-0 defeat in the CCS Open title game, but that was then and this is now. The Warriors return some solid talent including junior wide receiver Jurrion Dickey, senior linebacker William Cuddie and senior running back Chase Laubach, plus others.
9. Lincoln-Stockton (0-0)
Did not play. Despite the Trojans season ending with two losses last year, 27-14 to St. Mary’s in league and 35-21 to cross-town Edison in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, the Trojans return a loaded roster.
Lincoln has one of the top junior running back recruits in Northern California in Jonah Coleman. The Trojans also have of the top dual-threat sophomore quarterbacks in Northern California according to most of the recruiting services in Kenyon Nelson.
Head coach Anthony Martinez and his boys open at home with Tracy and they’ll likely be unbeaten when they face Tri-City Athletic League arch rival St. Mary’s in the abbreviated April 16 season finale.
10. Cardinal Newman (0-0)
Did not play. The defending CIF North Coast Section Division 4 titlist and state Division 3-AA Bowl game champions were one of the teams that couldn’t start practicing until March 1 so last week’s action consisted of a Friday night scrimmage with Vacaville in which their first string dominated.
The player that looked the best was Washington-committed senior wide receiver and defensive back Tsion Nunnally, who Vacaville struggled to cover all night. Senior quarterback Jordan Cooke looked good in his first real action as the starter. Among several other players that looked good were senior linebacker Mitch Russell, senior running back Santino Acevedo, and senior wide receiver Rhett Pavitt.
11T. Clayton Valley Charter(1-0)
Head coach Tim Murphy and his Ugly Eagles took on a very solid NorCal preseason No. 17 Inderkum and came away with a hard fought 20-15 win on the road in Sacramento. The game came down to senior running back Omari Taylor and a defense that came up with three interceptions, the final one by senior Ryan Sparks with 1:12 left sealed the deal for the Ugly Eagles.
Taylor, the star of last year’s 10-7 CIF state 2-AA Bowl Game victory over St. Thomas Aquinas-San Bernardino on the road in Southern California after scoring the team’s only touchdown, picked right up where he left off despite the 15-month layoff. He carried the ball a whopping 42 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Besides Sparks' pick, senior middle linebacker Dylan Seeley had the other two interceptions, one in the first quarter and one just prior to the Sparks takeaway, as Clayton Valley intercepted Inderkum on the Tigers' final two possessions. Seeley also tied for team-high with seven tackles, six solo, and he even got in the act on offense with a 24-yard pass reception.
While Inderkum may have been a test for head coach Tim Murphy and his Uglies, next up is a an EBAL foe California that bested the Clayton Valley 17-14 in San Ramon last season, and that will be a big challenge followed by another huge contest when they host NorCal preseason No. 4 Monterey Trail-Elk Grove next week.
11T. Marin Catholic(0-0)
Did not play. The possibility of a game between Marin Catholic and a preseason No. 10 Cardinal Newman team that defeated them 13-10 in the CIF North Coast Section Division 4 title game might be one of the best games in the NCS this season if it can happen.
Some rumors circulating that UC Davis-bound running back Matteo Perez was leaving early since his name appeared on the Aggies roster are unfounded. Perez looked great at a recent practice as did junior quarterback Michael Ingrassia and San Jose State-bound lineman Kai Peterson, among others. The Wildcats open against Marin County Athletic League rival San Marin on the road this Saturday in Novato.
13T. Rocklin (0-0)
Did not play. The Thunder faithful have to wait until this Friday night for their boys to rumble. Rocklin has a big Sierra Foothill League game against a Del Oro team that beat them 21-14 last season. Rocklin has a solid group of returners including a line that features San Diego State-committed Ilaisa Gonebure, and solid junior recruit Bobby Piland, plus the Thunder boasts one of the top kickers in California in Iowa-committed Cole Becker.
Senior quarterback Richie Watts is back as is senior wide receiver Jaylen Pickens and senior linebacker Cian Slone. Rocklin could very well make some noise in what looks like it could be a wide-open race for the best record in the Sierra Foothill League.
13T. San Ramon Valley (1-0)
Las Lomas was expected to have a solid team and they showed it by giving the Wolves all they could handle. But in the end head coach Aaron Becker and his boys got the final score of the game in the final minute in a shortened season-opening 35-28 victory. On the winning touchdown, junior quarterback Jack Quigley connected with Caden Ridley on a 25-yard pass play with 52 seconds left.
After Za’Darion Nardi scampered for a 5-yard touchdown, San Ramon Valley had a late third quarter 28-14 lead but Las Lomas would not go quietly as the visitors scored twice to tie it at 28-28 with 7:18 left before the last minute heroics of Quigley and Ridley.
Quigley was sharp, completing 18 of 27 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards and a score. Ridley had both of the TD receptions and finished with four catches for 91 yards. Nardi had an even 100 yards rushing with two TDs on 15 carries. Next up for San Ramon Valley is a very interesting matchup this Saturday on the road in Oakland at Bishop O’Dowd.
15. St. Francis-Mountain View (0-0)
Did not play. The Lancers will look to rebound from a 4-7 record last season that looks worse than it actually was since they started with losses to an eventual state CIF 1-A Bowl Champion Corona del Mar-Newport Beach team that beat league rival Serra in the CIF state title game, and then a humbling blanking at the hands of De La Salle.
Quarterback was a question when we did the preseason rankings, but head coach Greg Calcagno likes to run the ball and he returns all but 54 yards of the team’s total rushing yards from last season. Highly regarded junior Camilo Arquette is back after rushing for nearly 1,000 yards last season to lead the team.
The numbers two, three and four leading running backs also return in junior Viliami Teu, senior Adonis Hernandez and senior Ty Winston. Also returning is the wide receiver with the most yardage last season, senior Carsten Rawls. St. Francis opens this Saturday evening at home against San Benito.
16. Cosumnes Oaks (0-0)
Did not play. The Wolfpack won't get a chance to show what they can do until March 26 when they open at home against Capital Christian-Sacramento. Cosumnes Oaks is considered by many to be the new upstart team in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.
Several returners to look for are Cal-committed senior linebacker Moses Oladejo, junior defensive tackle Tawon Sago, and dual-threat quarterback Anthony Grigsby, a senior who has three mid-major offers, plus senior running back Christian Ridgeway and senior linebacker Isaiah Bobbitt-Byers.
17. Inderkum (0-1)
Despite inheriting a team from legendary head coach Terry Stark that lost almost all its skill players, first-year coach Casey Taylor and his Tigers had a real chance to pull off the victory against defending CIF state Division 2-AA Bowl Game champion Clayton Valley, falling short in a 20-15 home loss.
Inderkum's crop of underclass talent was on full display, as the Tigers had two chances to score late. But on the final two consecutive drives, freshman quarterback Maealiuaki Smith, who already has offers from Florida State, San Jose State and Nevada-Las Vegas, was intercepted. A highlight of the game was a 102-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior safety Tanner Colvin that accounted for the Tigers first points of the season. Inderkum now faces Bella Vista on Friday in Fair Oaks in a battle of Capital Valley Conference programs.
18. Jesuit-Carmichael (0-0)
Did not play. The Marauders open their season this Saturday night hosting a very solid St. Mary’s-Stockton team that came up just short in a 35-27 loss at De La Salle that should bolster the visitors' confidence. Jesuit has some solid senior returners like Cal-committed tight end Keleki Latu and San Jose State-committed WR/DB Nathan Lewis.
19. Edison-Stockton (0-0)
Did not play. The Vikings would have been higher in the preseason rankings if 5-star running back Raleek Brown had not transferred to Mater Dei-Santa Ana. Even so, Edison still has some solid underclass talent including junior dual-threat quarterback Safdar McCray, senior WR/DB Johnathan Taylor, junior wide receiver Dawan Short, and senior tight end Jayden Jones, who can also play quarterback.
20. Monte Vista (0-1)
The Mustangs' 33-27 loss to Acalanes-Lafayette was not the kind of start the Monte Vista faithful were hoping for after the long layoff, but they were short-handed after suiting up only 22 players with 20 receivers and defensive backs out due to contact tracing.
Plus, Acalanes is a solid, well-coached team and the boys from the southern slopes of Mt. Diablo need to put the game behind them and prepare for a much tougher opponent when the face De La Salle on Saturday night in Concord. Senior Gavin Cribb played almost every down on offense and defense and rushed for 246 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns.
21. McClymonds-Oakland (0-0)
Did not play. The defending CIF Northern Regional Division 2-A Bowl game titlist loses a lot of talent to graduation. But despite a small enrollment, McClymonds has had a reputation for rebuilding over the past several years. Even so, the Warriors will almost assuredly be the top team in the CIF Oakland Section. The schedule shows them opening on April 3 on the road at cross-town Skyline.
22. Elk Grove (0-0)
Did not play. We are still trying to confirm the schedule for Thundering Herd, but it looks like Elk Grove will open on March 26 at home against Delta League rival Davis. They will have a new quarterback, although they hardly throw, and over 5,100 yards of their 5,822 yards rushing has graduated, so we’ll have to see what they have once they finally play a game.
However according to Sacramento Bee prep sports scribe Joe Davidson, Elk Grove will fill the gaps. “The Herd has another big line, led by Simi Pale, and could have the best running back combo in the region with Ethan Archuletta and Zeke Burnett.”
Pale, a sophomore, already has offers from Arizona State and Utah.
23. Campolindo (1-0)
The Cougars escaped with a 27-23 win on the road in Oakley at Freedom in the first varsity game for quarterback Jacob Griessel. Campolindo trailed 20-12 midway through the third quarter. They came right back to tie it at 20-20 but fell behind 23-20 before Griessel found Maxwell Weaver for a 42-yard TD pass with eight minutes to go to close out the scoring.
Griessel finished 13 for 25 for 259 yards and all four Cougars TDs, but he was intercepted twice. Weaver had two of the TD receptions and finished with 92 yards receiving. Next up is Benicia on the road in that team’s opener.
24. Manteca (0-0)
Did not play. The NorCal preseason top team from the greater Modesto area opens this Friday night in Tracy at Kimball. A game to look for that could be one of the best games in the area will be a Valley Oak League matchup on April with visiting Oakdale.
25T. Liberty-Brentwood (0-0-)
Did not play. The era of Matt Hoefs as the Liberty head coach will begin this Friday on the road at Bay Valley Athletic League rival Antioch.
25T. Placer-Auburn (0-1)
In a scoreboard lighter-upper 54-41 defeat, the Hillmen lost for the first time to Lincoln since 2016 so it wasn’t the greatest start for the CIF NorCal 2-A semifinalist but it was looking like it might be a rebuilding year. Senior quarterback Matt Haswell threw for 344 yards and three TDs but he only completed 14 of 29 passes and the ground game that saw eight different runners carry the ball could only average 3.5 yards per rush on 37 carries. Next up is a Foothill League matchup with Nevada Union. The Miners were a 20-9 winner over cross-town Bear River.
25T. Rancho Cotate (0-0)
Did not play. The defending CIF North coast Section Division 3 and Northern Regional Division 3-A Bowl Game champions were idle and face Casa Grande on Friday night at home. The top returner is senior linebacker Mihalis Santorineos who holds several small school offers. Coach Gehrig Hotaling has some holes to fill, particularly on offense, so we’ll see who steps up.
Others considered: Acalanes-Lafayette (1-0), Archbishop Mitty (0-0), Benicia (0-0), Buhach Colony (0-0), California (1-0), Davis (0-0), Capital Christian-Sacramento (0-0), Central Catholic (0-0), De Anza (0-0), Del Norte-Crescent City (0-0), Del Oro (0-0), Encinal (0-0), Escalon (0-0), Granite Bay (1-0), Half Moon Bay (1-0), Hilmar (0-0), James Logan (0-0), Las Lomas (1-0), Los Gatos (0-0), Oak Grove (0-0), Oakdale (0-0), Palo Alto (0-0), Ripon (0-0), Sacred Heart Prep (1-0), St. Ignatius (0-0), Salinas (0-0), Sierra-Manteca (0-0), Sutter (0-0), The King’s Academy (0-0), Turlock (0-0), Vacaville (0-0), Vintage (1-0), Vista del Lago (0-0), Wilcox (0-0)
