Prep football rankings: Divisions, seeds and two more league title showdowns
The final week of the regional high school football season is here, an 11-week sprint to squeeze in 10 games.
It was hot early, then really hot, as in, record-heat hot, with some league races to match. Last week, Placer topped West Park 42-35 in a battle of unbeatens to decide the Foothill Valley League. Elk Grove beat Jesuit 34-21 to take the Delta and Monterey Trail outlasted Grant 49-42 to win the Metro.
This week, the Capital Athletic League race comes down to Christian Brothers and host Vista del Lago; the Golden Empire League will be decided when defending champion Dixon visits Casa Roble, winners of eight straight since opening with a two-point loss to Placer, and the Greater Sacramento League race is down to Johnson and Natomas.
On Sunday, the Sac-Joaquin Section will release playoff brackets for seven divisions to include 80 teams. If Folsom beats Rocklin on Thursday, do the Bulldogs earn the Division I top seed at 9-1, with a narrow loss to Northern California No. 1 Serra of San Mateo? Or does it go to St. Mary’s of Stockton, should the Rams go 10-0?
In Division II, does the top seed go to one-loss Manteca? Del Oro? OK, enough already. We can hear coaches now saying, “One game at a time, men!”
THE BEE’S TOP 25
1. Folsom (8-1)
The Bulldogs are a win away from their 11th league championship since 2010 and now seek the program’s ninth section banner in that stretch. Folsom hosts Rocklin on Thursday.
2. Monterey Trail (7-2)
The Mustangs will be in the D-I playoff field and got a much-needed test from fast-rising Grant to win the Metro.
3. Del Oro (8-1)
The Golden Eagles hope to land the top seed in D-II should it finish 9-1, the lone loss coming to Folsom. Bruise Bowl on Friday at Oak Ridge.
4. Rocklin (7-2)
The Thunder reached the D-I section finals last season and will likely be in D-II this time around.
5. Oak Ridge (7-2)
The Trojans vowed to have a bounceback season and delivered. Will be a threat in D-I.
6. Elk Grove (6-3)
By winning the D-I Delta, the Thundering Herd enter the D-I playoffs, making it all the more deeper, having won the D-II section in 2019.
7. Jesuit (7-2)
A Delta championship would have placed the Marauders back into the D-I field. Big Red is now in D-II.
8. Sheldon (6-3)
The goal for the Huskies is to reach their first section final, and the Jesiah Machado-to-Scott Nixon combo just may do it in D-I.
9. Placer (9-0)
The Hillmen may well be the top seed in D-III, and they may well win it.
10. Grant (6-2)
The Pacers showed a lot in pushing Monterey Trail to the end, and now Grant looms as a major threat in D-III.
11. Granite Bay (5-4)
The Grizzlies started 5-0 and have endured tough losses since, and yet, this is still a dangerous draw in D-II.
12. Vacaville (6-3)
The Bulldogs haven’t lost a Monticello Empire League game since 2016, overcoming injuries to win another crown.
13. Christian Brothers (7-2)
The Falcons last won a section championship in 1983 and last played for one in 1986. This could be the year, in D-III.
14. Vista del Lago (6-3)
The Eagles will make another section championship run behind QB Johnny Koett and WR ace Matt Long.
15. Casa Roble (8-1)
The Rams may earn the top seed in D-IV if they beat Dixon.
16. Sutter (9-0)
Winners of so many Northern Section championships that they ran out of room in the trophy case, the Huskies seek their first in the SJS and could earn the top D-V seed.
17. Liberty Ranch (9-0)
Might this be the No. 1 seed in D-V? Who’s going to stop RB star Arthur Draeger?
18. West Park (7-1)
All of 2 years old on the varsity scene, the Panthers of Roseville loom as a force in D-IV.
19. Antelope (6-3)
After going 10-0 last regular season, the Titans have fought and scratched for every win this season.
20. Woodcreek (6-3)
The Timberwolves have eyes on a Capital Valley Conference championship, and some playoff winning.
21. Laguna Creek (7-2)
This is the Cardinals best team since the 2001 group that reached the D-I section semifinals.
22. Roseville (6-3)
The Tigers have visions of a CVC crown and unleashing duel-threat QB Brandon Graydon in the playoffs.
23. Inderkum (4-4)
The Tigers have lost some tough ones this season and aim to do something about it in the D-II playoffs.
24. Whitney (3-6)
The Wildcats are a good team in a great league, the SFL, and need a win over Granite Bay to secure a playoff spot.
25. Dixon (8-1)
The Rams win the GEL and they’re in the D-IV field. A loss means they are in D-V. Either way, Dixon is dangerous.
Bubble teams: Bradshaw Christian 6-2; East Nicolaus 7-1; Natomas 7-2; Pioneer 7-2; Woodland Christian 7-1.
This story was originally published October 24, 2022 at 1:20 PM.