Which is the region's best league?

The Delta River features No. 1 Pleasant Grove, No. 2 Folsom, No. 12 Sheldon and No. 14 Oak Ridge. The Sierra Foothill includes its annual cast of heavies in No. 4 Del Oro, No. 5 Granite Bay, No. 6 Nevada Union and No. 13 Roseville, all with a fervent community following. The Delta Valley showcases a mix of the traditional guard (No. 3 Grant and No. 19 Elk Grove) and the new order (No. 8 Monterey Trail and No. 10 Franklin).

Each league is especially top heavy with Folsom and Pleasant Grove winning section titles a year ago. Folsom handed Grant its only loss, in the Division II section final, then won a state bowl game. Del Oro is the defending D-III section champ. Monterey Trail beat Granite Bay in a D-I semifinal before falling to Pleasant Grove in the final.

Who are some unranked teams that could muscle into the Top 20 and reach the playoffs?

Rio Linda and Jesuit expect bounce-back seasons, particularly with impressive quarterback leadership in Cole Farrow and Tom Sperbeck, respectively. And in terms of class and leadership, it's hard to top coaches Mike Morris of Rio Linda and Dan Carmazzi of Jesuit. The two combine for more than 50 years of head coaching experience at their schools.

Burbank traditionally starts slow but seems to storm into the postseason under coach John Heffernan, whose school finally has a palace of a home stadium.

Vista del Lago has a host of new faces but has the foundation to repeat as a league champion under veteran coach Chris Jones.

Can this season possibly top last year in terms of quarterback star power?

In a word: yes. This campaign's leadership crop includes poised performers who run the spread, pro-set or wing-T: Jake Rodrigues of Whitney, Terry Shine of Grant, Tanner Trosin of Folsom, Mitch Samson of Casa Roble, Cody Demps of Pleasant Grove, Brendan Keeney of Granite Bay, Austin Young of Colfax, Zac Cunha of Roseville, Hunter Royal of Inderkum, Davon Chapple of Sheldon to name a few.

Everyone here expects a playoff run.

Are coaches and players aware of the seriousness of concussions?

They have to be. Years ago, a blow to the head was a "stinger" and athletes were urged by coaches and teammates to "Get back out there!" Now a "stinger" is a concussion, and that still translates to bad news because by definition it means the brain has been slammed against the cranium. Former star high school and college lineman Mike Lamb is involved with the Play it Safe Concussion Care Solution in Rancho Cordova, with Del Oro one of a growing number of teams involved in baseline testing. Understanding concussions is one thing, Lamb said. Recovery is the paramount thing.

Every so often, a coach mentors his son. Any notables taking orders from Pop?

Roseville coach Larry Cunha jokes that he argues with his quarterback's mom, Penny, about play calling. His QB is their son, Zac Cunha, who boasts size, accuracy, confidence and near-perfect grades.

In Grass Valley, Nevada Union boss Dave Humphers can concede that he would be badly beaten in a three-way sprint or lift-a-thon against his impact-player sons. Gabe and Hank got their athletic genes from their mother, Dorene, he said. Hank and Gabe both play linebacker and safety, run the ball and thirst to make plays on special teams, and are difference-makers in the classroom, too.

Ask any coach who has led his son, and they'll say the experience is a memory to cherish.

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Follow Joe Davidson on @sb_joedavidson. Davidson joins Mike Finnerty each Saturday on the SureWest Sports Radio Show on ESPN 1320 from 9 to 10 a.m.

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