Prep football rankings: Monterey Trail back up to No. 2, league races are up for grabs
The regular season boils down to the final two gritty weeks for regional football before the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs kick off Nov. 4.
A number of area leagues are yet to be decided, with three races at the brink this week. No. 6 Jesuit visits No. 7 Elk Grove to decide the Delta League championship; No. 2 Monterey Trail heads to Del Paso Heights to play No. 11 Grant for the Metropolitan League banner, and No. 10 Placer visits No. 18 West Park in Roseville to settle the Foothill Valley League in a battle of unbeatens.
Next week, the Capital Athletic League race will be decided when No. 13 Christian Brothers visits No. 14 Vista del Lago, and the Golden Empire League scramble will pit No. 25 Dixon at No. 15 Casa Roble. In the Capital Valley Conference, No. 20 Antelope sits as the lone league unbeaten and the title race could come down to Oct. 28, when the Titans host No. 21 Inderkum. Roseville is 3-1 in the CVC and finishes with Inderkum and Woodcreek.
As for The Bee’s Top 25, Monterey Trail moves back to No. 2, where the Mustangs started the season, after Folsom downed previous No. 2 Del Oro 34-7. Folsom is the only team to beat Del Oro and Oak Ridge this season.
THE BEE’S TOP 25
1. Folsom (7-1)
The Bulldogs have twice this season convincingly topped The Bee’s No. 2 team — Monterey Trail in an opener and Del Oro last week. Folsom finishes the Sierra Foothill League schedule at Granite Bay and home against Rocklin, the teams that beat the Bulldogs in the SFL last season.
2. Monterey Trail (6-2)
The Mustangs have not lost a Metro League game since entering the league before the 2018 season, a string of 18 games. It’ll be a game of speed and ferocity at Grant on Friday.
3. Del Oro (7-1)
The Golden Eagles have a quarterback leader in Caden Pinnick and the defense to finish the SFL strong and to seek a Division II section championship.
4. Oak Ridge (7-1)
The Trojans finish the SFL against Rocklin and Del Oro, both of them emotional chargers for Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor. His best friend in coaching is Rocklin head coach Jason Adams, and in Del Oro, Taylor faces the program in which he led as coach over 15 championship seasons.
5. Rocklin (6-2)
The defending SFL champions finish league play against Oak Ridge and Folsom. The lone local loss was 33-20 to Del Oro.
6. Jesuit (7-1)
The defending Delta League have a cast of new starters from last season, but the goals remain the same.
7. Elk Grove (5-3)
The Thundering Herd have found their groove, including on defense with four defensive touchdowns to buckle Pleasant Grove.
8. Granite Bay (5-3)
The inspiring 5-0 start that included wins over Elk Grove and Vista del Lago is now a 5-3 season, with losses to Del Oro, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. And still a dangerous team.
9. Sheldon (6-3)
One of the best QB-to-WR hookups in the state features Jesiah Machado to Scott Nixon, who has eight TD catches in the last two weeks. Machado has set a bevy of school passing records.
10. Placer (8-0)
The Hillmen devour teams with the wing-T and a string of backs, and it has them on the brink of another league championship.
11. Grant (6-1)
The Pacers have geared up for the opportunity to play for the Metro League championship against Monterey Trail. Grant’s defense and passing game have led the charge.
12. Vacaville (5-3)
The losses are nonleague affairs to heavies in Oak Ridge, Granite Bay and El Cerrito, but the Monticello Empire League banner remains with the Bulldogs.
13. Christian Brothers (6-2)
The Falcons have nonleague losses to Sheldon and Jesuit and have set aim on the CAL crown and the showdown at Vista del Lago on Oct. 28.
14. Vista del Lago (6-3)
The losses all came early in outside of the league — to Manteca, Granite Bay and Placer — with a five-game winning streak leading to a CAL showdown with Christian Brothers.
15. Casa Roble (7-1)
The one loss was 37-35 at Placer in an opener, and the toughest Golden Empire League games loom against Pioneer and Dixon. A sweep gives the Rams the crown.
16. Sutter (9-0)
The Huskies have earned their bye week, having locked up the Pioneer Valley League with dominating defense and a punishing run game.
17. Liberty Ranch (8-0)
The Hawks have a great player in RB/DB Arthur Draeger and a team that has all but clinched the Sierra Valley Conference championship.
18. West Park (7-0)
In their first varsity season, the Panthers won the Greater Sacramento League in 2021. Now they aim for the Foothill Valley League crown.
19. Whitney (3-5)
Four is the magic number to be playoff eligible, and the Wildcats are in desperation mode, needing at least a split the final two weeks against Del Oro and Granite Bay.
20. Antelope (5-3)
The Titans opened the season with losses to Whitney, Elk Grove and Lincoln of Stockton but recovered for a shot to repeat as CVC champions.
21. Inderkum (4-3)
The Tigers seek the CVC crown and finish with contenders Roseville and Antelope. It’s right there for the taking.
22. Woodcreek (5-3)
The Timberwolves have a nonleague loss to Whitney and CVC setback to Inderkum and Antelope with Bella Vista and Roseville remaining.
23. Laguna Creek (7-2)
The upstart Cardinals have a loss to West Park and a Metro League setback to Monterey Trail. The Cardinals have a bye this week and a Week 10 showdown at Grant.
24. Roseville (5-3)
The Tigers have close nonleague losses to Placer and Laguna Creek and a tight CVC setback to Antelope with Inderkum and Woodcreek left to play.
25. Dixon (7-1)
The Rams can repeat as GEL champions if they down Mesa Verde and Casa Roble, with the Casa showdown likely for all the championship.
Bubble teams: Bradshaw Christian 5-2; Capital Christian 3-5; East Nicolaus 6-1; Marysville 6-2; Natomas 6-2; Woodland Christian (6-1).
This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 10:33 AM.