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. 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.

Key players: Shannon; free safety-wide receiver Eric Pinkins (6-3, 177 pounds, Sr.); inside linebacker-tight end LaDon Hudson (6-3, 200, Sr.); offensive tackle-nose guard Nate Falo (6-0, 250, So.); halfback-corner back Rashad Adams (5-11, 170, Sr.).

Top games: vs. Elk Grove, Sept. 26; vs. Yuba City, Oct. 31; at Woodland, Nov. 7.

-- Bill Paterson

No. 16

OAK RIDGE TROJANS

League: Sierra Valley Conference

Coach: Eric Cavaliere, second year, 7-4

Last year's record: 7-4 (lost to Del Oro 10-3 in D-II quarterfinals) 4-1 in league (second)

Outlook: Oak Ridge's first four games are against Rocklin, Folsom, Grant and Casa Roble. Those games will immediately determine whether the Trojans are overrated or underrated. Without question, standout senior receiver and BYU-bound Brett Thompson will be the featured player for Trojans. The question is who will step up and be part of his supporting cast? The Trojans graduated 20 of 22 starters from last year. In addition to Thompson, lineman Kyle Gohagen is the other returning starter. As a result, Cavaliere needs Thompson, arguably the local area's top recruit, to produce more than the 570 receiving yards from last season to offset the team's overall inexperience and reach the playoffs.

Key Players: All-League receiver Brett Thompson (6-3, 210 pounds, Sr.); offensive-defensive lineman Kyle Gohagen (6-4, 230, Sr.); receiver Robbie Beyer (6-0, 175, Jr.); quarterback-defensive Myles Suchan, running back Josh Kihm (5-9, 180, Sr.); running back-linebacker Jacob Allen (6-0, 180, Jr.)

Three key games: at Grant, Sept. 26; vs. Casa Roble ,Oct. 2; vs. Ponderosa, Nov. 14.

-- Quwan Spears

No. 17

DAVIS BLUE DEVILS

League: Delta Valley League

Coach: Dan Gazzaniga, first year

Last year's record: 7-4, 3-2 in league

Outlook: Last season, Davis took advantage of the declines of perennial powers Laguna Creek and Nevada Union, finished third in the DVL and reached the playoffs. Will the Blue Devils be in the thick of the DVL race again? That depends on the team's ability to make up for the departure of All-League defensive back Cody Keefer, who decided to pass on football to play for the Colorado Rockies' scout team in the fall. He has also committed to play baseball at UCLA. Tanner Mohr, an All-League tight end last season, will move to the other side of the ball and anchor the Blue Devils' defense at linebacker. The key to the Blue Devils' success this year is the play of their defense, which gave up just 16.1 points per game last season, and the development of inexperienced players in key positions.

Key players: Linebacker-tight end Tanner Mohr (6-0, 220 pounds, Sr.); linebacker Conner Reed (5-9, 170, Sr.); offensive-defensive lineman Sam Mintzmyer (6-2, 217, Sr.) defensive back Isaiah Godby (5-10, 160, Sr.); receiver Darius Harris (5-10, 160, Sr.)

Three key games: At Del Campo, Sept. 19; vs. Elk Grove, Oct. 31; vs. Franklin (Elk Grove), Nov. 7.