Prep football rankings: SFL teams occupy 5 of the top 6 spots, with showdowns looming
The Sierra Foothill League was the last in the area lot to start conference play, and now those teams are hogging up the top spots in our weekly Top 25.
Folsom High School remains top-ranked, its lone loss being a 17-12 setback to Northern California No. 1 Serra of San Mateo. Last week, Folsom dropped a 42-13 hammer on Oak Ridge, which dropped a spot to No. 4. Del Oro climbs up to No. 2 after its 21-10 victory over previous No. 2 Granite Bay in another SFL clash, and Rocklin moved up a spot after its 13-10 SFL win at Whitney.
So the SFL occupies five of The Bee’s Top six spots with Folsom hosting Del Oro on Oct. 14 in a 1 vs. 2 showdown. Oak Ridge visits Granite Bay on Friday, meaning one team is suddenly going to be 0-2 in league play by Saturday morning. Rocklin visits Del Oro on Friday, and so it goes.
It’s also going in the Delta League, where on Friday No. 8 Sheldon hosts No. 9 Elk Grove in a meeting of programs and coaches and kids that know each other well.
Bee-ranked teams Inderkum, Woodcreek, Roseville and Antelope have a sudden hole in their schedules as Capital Valley Conference member River Valley has forfeited the remainder of its season after the discovery of a mock slave auction social media video.
THE BEE’S TOP 25
1. Folsom (5-1)
The star power is in the skill positions such as Austin Mack, Rico Flores Jr. and Onterrio Smith Jr. The unsung guys are in the trenches: Remy Masterson, Luke Sorensen, Mason Starkey, Theo Greule and Nela Tupou.
2. Del Oro (6-0)
Caden Pinnick, Akio Martinson and Thomas Graham II are among the Golden Eagles who have grown up watching Del Oro greats and hoping to enjoy that spotlight. They all sparkled in beating Granite Bay.
3. Monterey Trail (5-2)
The Mustangs have guys who get after it, including Davon Chism, Fata Puloka, Marcus Perkings, Marcell Wilson, Davon Donaldson and a bus load of others.
4. Granite Bay (5-1)
The Grizzlies met their match in the trenches at Del Oro and have another stout test against Oak Ridge next. It’s how teams respond that counts.
5. Oak Ridge (5-1)
The Trojans know they can compete with Folsom, and it was a 21-13 game at the half, but Oak Ridge got burned by big plays. Kicker Carson Nichols is the best in the region.
6. Rocklin (5-1)
Logan Pandis for Rocklin mayor after his late field goal beat rival Whitney, and game balls for longsnapper ace Jaxon Huntsman for two-way linemen Tom Sackinsky and Spencer Patton.
7. Jesuit (5-1)
The Marauders suffered a 35-21 loss to powerful Clayton Valley Charter, a team that has a home loss to Del Oro. Nonleague losses don’t sting nearly as much as league setbacks.
8. Sheldon (5-2)
The Huskies are known for their offense but it was the D that sealed the deal in beating Cosumnes Oaks 14-10 as Fereni Fa’anati broke up a pass in the end zone late to ice it. Lone local loss was to Jesuit.
9. Elk Grove (3-3)
The Thundering Herd have found their gear after early losses to Granite Bay, Menlo-Atherton and San Ramon Valley, and the O-Line and run game are as good as it gets.
10. Placer 6-0
The Hillmen keep hammering away with the run game and steady QB Josh Craycraft, who’s main targets have been Isaiah Hanley and Josh Maxwell.
11. Grant (4-1)
The Pacers have two-way effort and production guys in Dubee Lopa, Kyrell Goss-Pruit, Kingston Lopa and a host of others. The Metro League championship will come down to the Monterey Trail showdown.
12. Vacaville (3-3)
The Bulldogs belted Rodriguez of Fairfield 41-12 and are still the defending Monticello Empire champions despite a rash of injuries.
13. Christian Brothers (5-2)
The defense stood tall in blanking Capital Christian 35-0, including four stops at the goal line. It’s the best D coach Larry Morla said CB has had “in years.”
14. Vista del Lago (4-3)
The Eagles are 3-0 in the Capital Athletic League, thanks in large part to the large lads in the trenches: Jakob Southerland, Elijah Acosta, Marco Romero, Brandon Nazworth, Andrew Powers and Jake Tate who make life easy for QB Johnny Koett and WR Matt Long.
15. Casa Roble (5-1)
The Rams have an emerging QB in Connor Campbell, a game-breaking WR in Cole Owens and a productive, hard-charging back in Josh Taylor. And dudes in the trenches.
16. Whitney (3-3)
The Wildcats have just one local loss, and that one stings - a 13-10 Quarry Bowl setback to Rocklin. Folsom looms next on the schedule.
17. Sutter (7-0)
Depth, commitment and all that noise have fueled the Huskies to the fast start. Unsung stars include do-all talent Luke Miller.
18. Liberty Ranch (6-0)
After opening Sierra Valley Conference play with a resounding rout of El Dorado, the Hawks have upcoming home games against contenders Rosemont, Bradshaw Christian and Union Mine.
19. West Park (6-0)
In beating Oakmont 59-21, Develle Barksdale was nails again with four touchdown passes, and Braden Shinault led the D with seven tackles for the surging Panthers of Roseville.
20. Inderkum (4-3)
The Tigers have a runner in Gio Jorlen, who ran for four touchdowns against Bella Vista, and Dexter Simmons had a 91-yard TD romp for the Tigers.
21. Woodcreek (4-2)
In beating Hiram Johnson in nonleague 49-28, the Timberwolves received two touchdown runs and stellar defense from Wyatt Harris and 115 yards rushing from Hakeem Anderson.
22. Antelope (4-3)
The Titans have won four straight and are balanced on offense with Curron Borders and Jasiah Bateman. They are also team captains.
23. Laguna Creek (5-2)
The Cardinals have game breakers in Halim Tholley and Malachi Bean-Seay, and they combined for five scores in a 42-6 win over Kennedy. Get them the ball.
24. Roseville (3-3)
The Tigers had a bye and ramp up for a run at the CVC championship behind QB star Brandon Graydon, who has passed for 884 yards and run for 533 with 24 total touchdowns.
25. Lincoln (3-3)
The Zebras have leaders in LB Peyton Rapper, LB Dylan Fear and RB star Ryan Henning, who rushed 35 times for 214 yards and four scores to roll Nevada Union.
Bubble teams: Bradshaw Christian 4-1; Delta 6-0; Dixon 5-1; East Nicolaus 4-1; Pioneer 5-1; Natomas 4-2; Rosemont 5-1; Twelve Bridges 6-1; Union Mine 3-2; Wood 4-2.
Schedule
Games kickoff between 7-7:30 p.m., unless noted:
Thursday
Dixon at Woodland
Mira Loma vs. Valley
Wheatland at Colfax
Pleasant Grove at Cosumnes Oaks
Friday
Johnson at Foothill
Christian Brothers at Rio Americano
Pioneer at Mesa Verde
El Camino at Capital Christian
Grant at River City
San Juan at Highlands
Foresthill at Western Sierra
Folsom at Whitney
Rio Linda at Casa Roble
Oak Ridge at Granite Bay
Rocklin at Del Oro
Del Campo at Vista del Lago
Woodcreek at Yuba City
Elk Grove at Sheldon
Burbank at Laguna Creek
Bella Vista at Roseville
Center at Sutter
Vacaville at Vanden
Bear River at Marysville
Union Mine at Galt
Placer at Lincoln
Rosemont at Liberty Ranch
Monterey Trail at McClatchy
Nevada Union at West Park
Ponderosa at Oakmont
Saturday
Franklin at Jesuit, 1 p.m.
Encina Prep at Valley Christian, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 8:39 AM.