DIVISION I

Favorite

Jesuit (21-1-4) – With a penalty-kick loss to national No. 2 DeMatha of Maryland and a 3-3 draw with No. 3 Marquette of Milwaukee, the Marauders appear ready to bid for a 10th section championship behind leaders Luca Licciardi, Austin Wiberg and Steven Guzman.

Contenders

• Davis (15-2-4) – Coach Ashley Yudin's Blue Devils are usually in the section title picture, winning in 2007 and finishing second in 2008 and 2010. UC Davis-bound Ryan Gross orchestrates the midfield and goalie Derek Pleasants anchors the defense.

• Grant (19-2-3) – Fútbol is almost as big as football these days on the Del Paso Heights campus, thanks to coach Alex Gutierrez and striker Isaac McDaniels' 21 goals.

Dark horse

• Turlock (15-3-4) – Behind playmaker Jose Ortega and captain Diego Godinez, the Bulldogs emerged as the top seed from the highly competitive Central California Conference.

DIVISION II

Favorite

• Granite Bay (18-3-3) – For the past seven seasons the D-II champion has hailed from the Sierra Foothill League, so expect more of the same this year. Brothers Tanner and Tommy Thompson have combined for 33 goals and 27 assists.

Contenders

• Bella Vista (15-3-1) – The Broncos won the competitive Capital Valley Conference despite losing three top players to the California Development Academy's midseason ultimatum to play high school ball or with the CDA.

• Christian Brothers (14-4-2) – CVC runners-up finished strong by winning eight of past nine matches.

Dark horse

• McClatchy (12-3-3) – With 15 seniors, led by captain Alex Docous, and standout juniors Luis Acosta and Brian Grove, coach Vaughn Boyce's Metro Conference champions are a team to watch.

DIVISION III

Favorite

• Rio Americano (11-4-3) – The Raiders hope to reach the final for the first time since 2009 and win their first title since 1995, when future pro Sasha Victorine combed Rio's pitch.

Contenders

• Vallejo (13-0-7) – Edgar Jimenez scored 25 goals for the Solano County Athletic League champions.

• Placer (17-2-4) – The Hillmen won their first league championship in 17 years, thanks to Chilean exchange student Ben De La Barra's 21 goals and 10 assists.

Dark horse

• Yuba City (14-5-3) – The senior-dominated Honkers dethroned defending D-III section champion Natomas for the Tri-County Conference title.

DIVISION IV

Favorite

• Vista del Lago (15-0-1) – The defending D-IV section champions beat all comers except for a 4-4 tie with nationally ranked Granite Bay. Senior Tim Fairley (26 goals) had five matches of three or more goals.

Contender

• Central Valley (19-1-1) – The Hawks, 3-2 losers to Vista del Lago in last year's final and to Ceres in 2009, hope for another shot behind junior striker Daniel Ochoa, second in the section with 39 goals.

Dark horse

• Ceres (13-5-1) – The Bulldogs got a huge boost by beating league rival Central Valley in the last regular-season match.

DIVISION V

Favorite

• Capital Christian (16-0-3) – After two section runner-up finishes the past two seasons, this should be the Cougars' year behind senior leaders Johnny Murray and Keenan Armbrust.

Contender

• West Campus (14-4-1) – Tied Capital Christian 1-1 en route to second place in Golden Empire League.

Dark horse

• Hilmar (11-9-3) – Record is misleading for program that has won three section titles.

DIVISION VI

Favorite

• Encina (12-4-1) – The Bulldogs are the biggest thing going at their starved-for-sports-success school. The two-time Sierra Delta League champions are led by midfielder Nelson Rodriguez.

Contender

• Gustine (19-3-1) – The Redskins, 3-2 losers to Encina in last season's section final, feature senior Jose Barriga, who leads the section in goals (43) and points (107).

Dark horse

• Vacaville Christian (12-3-2) – Sierra Delta runners-up split with Encina in league.

DIVISION VII

Favorite

• Sacramento Country Day (12-3-2) – Coach Matt Vargo's Cavaliers look to reach the section final for the third time in four years.

Contender

• Millennium (14-2-1) – The defending section champs from Tracy return with another formidable team.

Dark horse

• Faith Christian (18-2-0) – Yuba City school's only losses were to Sacramento Country Day.

– Bill Paterson

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