Sacramento-area football rankings: SFL title games loom; Folsom is no lock in Division I
It’s too early to peek toward the playoffs, but we’re going to do it any way.
Here’s why: Folsom High School is clearly this area’s top-ranked team, though No. 2 Del Oro will have a say on that when the teams meet Friday. But beyond the Sierra Foothill League race, Folsom is not a lock by any measure in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, which start Nov. 4. The detours likely includes a meeting with St. Mary’s, which is also bucking for the top Division I playoff seed.
The Rams of Stockton on Friday beat standard-bearing De La Salle 45-35 in the latest nonleague Northern California showcase. That effort came two weeks after Folsom topped DLS of Concord 24-20. These scores means nothing at this hour but they will come CIF Section playoff seeding time. Comparative scores helps decide a lot of seedings, as well as who hosts and who travels.
NorCal No. 1 Serra of San Mateo beat DLS 24-21 on Sept. 2, a week after beating Folsom 17-12. This week’s rankings include the buildup of this week’s premier game: top-ranked Folsom hosting No. 2 Del Oro on Friday in a game with SFL championship implications. Should Del Oro win, it could make an argument for the No. 1 D-I playoff seed.
The two newcomers to the rankings this week are Dixon and Pioneer, both 6-1 and both in the running for the Golden Empire League championship. The teams play Thursday in Dixon, the defending champion.
1. Folsom (6-1)
The Bulldogs handled Whitney in the SFL 55-7 and have found their offensive groove of late. Austin Mack passed for four touchdowns, two to Colin Gallagher, and Slade Wilson reached the end zone on an interception return.
2. Del Oro (7-0)
The Golden Eagles have quality wins over Inderkum, Clayton Valley Charter and Menlo-Atherton in nonleague and now over Granite Bay (21-10) and Rocklin (33-20) in the SFL. Topping Folsom is the target now.
3. Monterey Trail (5-2)
The Mustangs’ only challenge in the Metro League will be Oct. 21 at Grant, and the frustrations of cruising through a league that simply does not fit is having to accept a forfeit against McClatchy because the Lions were low on player numbers.
4. Oak Ridge (6-1)
The Trojans won a game they very well may have lost a year ago, inching past Granite Bay 17-16 when Markus Hoffman’s sack denied a winning two-point pass attempt. Gavin Malloy and Colin James combined to made 19 tackles
5. Granite bay (5-2)
The Grizzlies are finding out how fast and physical some of the playmakers are in the SFL with Rocklin, Folsom and Whitney left on the SFL schedule.
6. Rocklin (5-2)
In their 13-point loss to Del Oro, the Thunder managed to rush for 11 yards per carry with Mason Silva going for 203 and two scores. Derek Houston made four tackles in his remarkably quick return from a broken leg.
7. Jesuit (6-1)
The Marauders bounced back from their 35-21 loss to Clayton Valley Charter with a 62-7 rout of Franklin to remain unbeaten in the Delta League. CJ Lee has 11 total touchdowns since becoming the starting QB in Week 5.
8. Elk Grove (4-3)
The Thundering Herd have a bevy of backs - David Hale, Wayshawn Parker, Jeremiah Rosales and Mason Vasquez - and the offensive line Hammerheads to win the Delta League. Showdown looms at home against Jesuit on Oct. 21.
9. Sheldon (5-3)
The Huskies are banged up but hardly defeated after falling to Elk Grove 48-27. Among the sore: Scott Nixon, down to one elbow, and he caught 18 passes from Jesiah Machado for 205 yards and four touchdowns.
10. Placer (7-0)
The Hillmen aim to win the Foothill Valley League behind their vaunted wing-T rushing attack and stout defense. Showdown at West Park on Oct. 21 figures to decide the race.
11. Grant (5-1)
The Pacers eagerly ramp up for a Metro League championship home showdown against Monterey Trail on Oct. 21. QB Joseph McCray passed for six touchdowns against River City and Kyrell Goss-Pruit had two punt-return scores.
12. Vacaville (4-3)
The Bulldogs beat Vanden last season to win the Monticello Empire League and then halted Vanden’s 13-game winning streak on Friday with a 28-13 effort to inch closer to another MEL crown. Alex Barkley passed for two touchdowns and Eric Gladney and Noa Siaosi had two sacks each.
13. Christian Brothers (6-2)
The Falcons hit the jets against Rio Americano inching closer to their Oct. 28 Capital Athletic League championship showdown at Vista del Lago. William Littlejohn found Phillip Bell 10 times for 181 yards and three touchdowns and Ezekiel Castex rushed for 184 and two.
14. Vista del Lago (5-3)
The injury to QB star Johnny Koett isn’t serious, suffered in a rout of Del Campo, and Thomas Keegan came to play. He rushed for four touchdowns to extend the team’s winning streak to four.
15. Casa Roble (6-1)
The Rams won’t let down against Woodland as they have to likely beat the Wolves, Pioneer and Dixon to win the Golden Empire League. Dixon and Pioneer also seek that crown. The CR loss was a season opener at Placer, 37-35.
16. Sutter (8-0)
The Huskies received the challenge they expected and needed against Center, beating the Cougars 23-20 in overtime to remain the favorite to take the Pioneer Valley League. Game ball to Josiah Thompson for the game-winning field goal.
17. Liberty Ranch (8-0)
The Hawks are looming as a monstrous threat in the section D-V championship race, especially if they close out the Sierra Valley Conference strong against Bradshaw Christian, Union Mine and Galt.
18. West Park (6-0)
The upstart Panthers eye the PVL championship and relish the opportunity to earn it with closing league games against Placer and Lincoln.
19. Whitney (3-4)
The Wildcats have lost four of their last five games, including to two out-of-area teams and to Rocklin 13-10 and to Folsom 55-7. The magic number for a playoff spot is four wins and Oak Ridge, Del Oro and Granite Bay close out the SFL schedule.
20. Inderkum (4-3)
The Tigers are in the Capital Valley Conference title race and close with Roseville and Antelope. It’s right there for the taking.
21. Woodcreek (5-2)
The losses are to Whitney 21-9 and to Inderkum 21-7 with closing CVC games looming against Antelope, Bella Vista and Roseville.
22. Antelope (4-3)
The Titans have a Thursday showdown at Woodcreek with CVC championship implications on the line. Curron Borders has rushed for 926 yards, 12 touchdowns.
23. Laguna Creek (6-2)
The Cardinals have a nonleague loss to West Park, a Metro League loss to Monterey Trail and remaining league games against McClatchy and Grant.
24. Roseville (4-3)
Another contender in the wide-open and fun CVC, the Tigers have the league’s most prolific player in duel-threat QB Brandon Graydon.
25 (TIE). Dixon (6-1)
The defending GEL champion Rams have a QB star in Jett Harris, a hard-to-cover receiver in Luis Torres and a Thursday home showdown against Pioneer.
25 (TIE). Pioneer (6-1)
The Patriots of Woodland are in the GEL championship chase along with Casa Roble and Dixon and feature star RB Jack Carner, perhaps the best player in program history.
Bubble teams: Bradshaw Christian 5-1; Center 4-3; East Nicolaus 5-1; Marysville 5-2; Natomas 5-2; Rosemont 5-2; Twelve Bridges 6-1; Woodland Christian 5-1.
This story was originally published October 10, 2022 at 11:01 AM.