Continuing today, The Bee is counting down its top 20 football rankings, from No. 20 to No. 1. Be sure and come back to sacbee.com through Sept. 5, when we name our top team.
No. 13
JESUIT MARAUDERS
League: Delta River League
Coach: Dan Carmazzi, 28th year
Last year's record: 8-3, 4-1 in league (lost to Vacaville 45-14 in playoffs)
Outlook: Any Carmazzi-coached team is going to be dangerous, and the veteran coach appears to have another formidable outfit, albeit a young and inexperienced one. To appreciate Carmazzi is to understand how far he has elevated the program. When he took over as head coach in 1980, the only Big Red to be found was at Cordova, or in the faces of the humbled Marauders players who were coming off a winless season. Success soon followed, including Sac-Joaquin Section championships in 1995 (with a young passer named J.T. O'Sullivan) and 2002. Jesuit lost the Delta River title on a last-second kick by Greg Williams of Pleasant Grove last fall, and it could be those two teams battling for the league's top spot again. The Marauders are again big up front and will be balanced, though the key losses include steady quarterback Dominic Carmazzi, the coach's son now at Sacramento State, and all-purpose star Isaiah Frey, now at Nevada. Only three starters return, but when's the last time Jesuit was really down? Or even .500? A key is who takes over at quarterback: Will Dotterweich or Chris Piwinski?
Key players: Running back-defensive back Tom Blocker; running back-defensive back Travis Snider; offensive lineman Scott Hodges; linebacker Pat Beers; offensive lineman Justin McMann.
Three key games: At St. Mary's, Sept. 12; vs. Christian Brothers at Hughes Stadium, Sept. 27; at Pleasant Grove, Nov. 14.
-- Joe Davidson
No. 14
COLFAX FALCONS
League: Pioneer Valley League
Coach: Tony Martello, 12th season
Last year's record: 10-2, (lost to Oakdale 31-28 the Division III quarterfinals) 5-1 in league (co-champs with Whitney).
Outlook: After winning the PVL title outright from 2002 to 2006, Colfax's grasp on the league's top spot last season was weakened by Whitney, who handed the Falcons their first defeat in league play (10-7) in three years and earned a share of the PVL crown. As a result, the Falcons want revenge. They also want to challenge for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title, something that has eluded them since 2003 when they last accomplished the feat. A lot of their hopes and dreams will rest on the legs of multi-purpose player Jeff Divine, who caught 46 passes and racked up more than 1,000 yards in rushing, receiving and return yards. Quarterback Spencer Lewis is a question mark, too. As junior last season, he shared snaps with the graduated Luke Cook. Now, he is in charge of an offense that wasn't overpowering but productive in 2007. The defense will also be key. Last season, the Falcons shut out five opponents in 12 games. Can they duplicate or surpass the feat? The Falcons' top defensive player, Colton Russi, an All-Metro linebacker last season, is now playing at Portland State. Only two starters, linebacker Nick Turcotte and lineman Travis Crowley, return.
Key Players: running back Jeff Divine (5-9, 160 pounds, Sr.); quarterback Spencer Lewis (6-3, 185, Sr.), defensive back Brandon Downey (6-0, 160, Sr.); defensive back Randy Whitlow (5-10, 160, Jr.); defensive lineman Nick Turcotte (5-11, 175, Sr.); linebacker Travis Cowley (5-10, 185, Sr.)
Three key games: At Minico (Rupert, ID) Sept. 13. At Whitney Oct. 10; vs. Placer Nov. 7.
-- Quwan Spears
No. 15
INDERKUM TIGERS
League: Tri-County Conference
Coach: Terry Stark, fourth season, 27-7; 16th season overall, 98-58-2
Last year: 10-2 (lost to Rodriguez 30-20 in D-III semifinals); 5-0 in league (champions)
Outlook: Having graduated 17 starters, Stark expects to be challenged by improving Woodland and Yuba City for the league championship. "It's going to be hard to repeat because we had a pretty senior-dominated team last year and we are really young in the offensive and defensive lines. Inderkum remains lightning quick -- the Wing-T Tigers rushed for more than 4,000 yards last season -- and will be led on offense by All-League halfback Elbert Shannon, a 5-foot-7, 175-pound senior who gained 962 yards and scored six touchdowns on just 90 carries in 2007. Inderkum will get a good idea of how it stacks up with a challenging preseason schedule that includes a home contest Sept. 26 against D-I power Elk Grove.
