Top 25 football rankings: No. 1 Folsom at No. 2 Rocklin highlights week’s marquee matchups
The Sierra Foothill League scramble is a talking point every week even beyond our Bee rankings, which include top-ranked Folsom, No. 2 Rocklin, No. 3 Oak Ridge, No. 5 Granite Bay and No. 6 Del Oro.
Folsom just beat previous No. 2-ranked Oak Ridge with a wild fourth-quarter surge for its 20th consecutive win in the series, dating back to 2006. Now Folsom prepares for a Friday night trek to Placer County to take on new No. 2 Rocklin.
Rocklin beat Folsom in the SFL in 2021 with an emphatic 40-7 effort when the teams were ranked No. 1 and 2. The Thunder ended the Bulldogs’ remarkable 11-year, 54-game league winning streak in the Delta League and, starting in 2014, the SFL. Folsom’s SFL winning streak was 48. But Folsom reversed those fortunes in the section Division I finals at Hughes Stadium with a 20-3 victory and then repeated as champion last season.
Also in the SFL this week is the curious game in Loomis, where Del Oro readies for Oak Ridge and third-year coach Casey Taylor. The Oak Ridge alum is sitting on career win No. 199 with 149 of those coming when he led Del Oro to a string of championships. Only the SFL can offer up such intrigue.
Here’s a look at our updated Top 25.
1. Folsom (4-2)
The Bulldogs were tied with Oak Ridge at 14 entering the fourth quarter and then erupted for 28 points with breakaway plays and all manner of momentum in front of an overflow, energized crowd. Ryder Lyons passed for 390 yards and four touchdown passes, three to the terrific Brian Ray III. The D-line has been nails. The losses were to Northern California No. 1 Serra (21-14) and NorCal No. 2 De La Salle (14-7). Next: at Rocklin.
2. Rocklin (5-0)
The Quarry Bowl rocks unlike few rivalry games in Northern California, and a 28-0 showing in the second half led to a 42-3 Thunder triumph of Whitney for the program’s eighth consecutive win in the series. Junior RB Derek Keeley rushed for five TDs and then credited his offensive line. Game balls to the defensive front of Koen Bell, Dominic Coelho, John Correa and Spencer Patton, as stout and unyielding a line as there is in the section. Next: vs. Folsom.
3. Oak Ridge (5-1)
The Trojans know they can compete with Folsom and they were tied with their rivals at 14 in the fourth quarter when the dam broke. Erick Orme rushed for 85 yards and three short scores, Jasen Womack went for 67 and had 63 yards receiving, and Kaleb Edwards played like a national recruit at TE and DE. There already is talk in El Dorado Hills of a rematch with Folsom, this time in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, perhaps the finals. Next: at Del Oro.
4. Grant (5-1)
The Metro League favorite Pacers had a bye but were rocked over the weekend by the stunning news that former Grant lineman great Vei Moala had died at 30 — “one of our legendary ones,” is how Grant coach Carl Reed put it. Grant will play in his spirit. The loss was 21-18 to Oak Ridge. Next: vs. River City.
5. Granite Bay (4-2)
Carter Jackson won the night with 270 yards rushing and four TDs, including bursts of 64, 38 and 57 yards, but the offensive linemen won the week and the trench war in the 53-28 victory over Del Oro. Those guys: Keith Tapuosi, David Minor, Elijah Paul, Reef Lowell, Sefita Moala, Broc Daily and Isaac Dione. Lucas Gruila had TD strikes of 50 yards to Carson Perry-Smith and 58 to Jason Hill Jr. Isaiah Ene had a highlight 71-yard TD run. The losses were to Manteca and Pittsburg. Next: at Whitney.
6. Del Oro (5-1)
Caden Pinnick made plays against Granite Bay because he always makes plays, passing for 278 yards and two TDs and rushing for two more. But the run game generated just 14 yards. The team’s biggest wins over ranked teams thus far came early vs. Inderkum and Casa Roble. Next: vs. Oak Ridge.
7. Inderkum (6-1)
Tigers coach Reggie Harris was deeply saddened to hear about the death of a player he knew well while working as the defensive coordinator at Grant, the incomparable Vei Moala. When Inderkum scored its final points in a 55-0 win over Bella Vista, Harris had his team take a knee on the point-after attempt, the 55 representing Moala’s prep jersey number. Against BV, Ricky Cole rushed for 137 yards and passed for three TDs, two to Leanadrew Jenkins. The loss was to Del Oro in an opener. Next: vs. River Valley.
8. Casa Roble (5-1)
As if dealing with Cole Owens wasn’t enough for opposing teams, get a load of fast-emerging Elijah Huddle, who had five catches from Connor Campbell for 122 yards and three TDs and had 107 yards in punt returns in a 57-6 win over Mesa Verde. Ethan Horner made plays at WR and made 7 of 8 PATs (he may have to run laps for the miss, unless his coaching father overrules). The loss was to Del Oro. Next: at Rio Linda.
9. Jesuit (5-1)
The Marauders earned a satisfying nonleague win in Concord against a longtime North Coast Section power with a 26-0 effort over Clayton Valley Charter. Big Red rushed 44 times for 281 yards and four TDs, two each by CJ Lee and Johnnie Brannon IV. The loss was by a point to St. Ignatius of San Francisco. Next: at Franklin.
10. Vista del Lago (6-1)
The Eagles moved to 3-0 in the Capital Athletic League with a 56-0 rout of El Camino as Xavier Bryan rushed for 86 yards and three TDs, Jack Cromwell had two running scores and John Koett hit Matt Long for a TD. The D had 16 tackles for loss, including five sacks, two by Lorenzo Becerra. The loss was to Manteca. Next: at Del Campo.
11. Monterey Trail (3-3)
After opening with losses to Folsom, Saint Francis of Mountain View and Pittsburg, the Mustangs remained unbeaten in Metro League play since entering the mix in 2018. In rolling Burbank 69-0, D’Adrien Sanders rushed for five TDs (and six total), and the D had 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. Next: vs. McClatchy.
12. Woodcreek (5-1)
The Timberwolves bounced back from their 20-15 loss to Inderkum in Capital Valley Conference play to blast River Valley 64-8 as 10 players carried the ball, averaging 12.6 yards, and scoring six times, two by Tanner Smith. Austin Katapodis had a 75-yard TD strike to Dylan Perrault. Next: vs. Yuba City.
13. Vacaville (3-3)
The Bulldogs remained unbeaten in the Monticello Empire League since 2016, inching past Rodriguez of Fairfield 16-14. Brody Fortunati hit Levi West for a 29-yard TD and ran for one, and Morgan De Lago had 102 yards of kickoff return yards. The D had 11 tackles for loss, three by Noa Siasosi. The losses were to Granite Bay, El Cerrito and Cardinal Newman. Next: vs. Vanden.
14 .West Park (5-1)
In beating Oakmont 42-9 in Foothill Valley League play, the Panthers received three total TDs and more solid QB leadership from sophomore Jaden Jackson. Ryan Sisson is a league MVP candidate, hauling in two more TD receptions. Rigo Solano had 16 tackles to lead the D. Ranked wins include Laguna Creek (35-20) and Pleasant Grove (35-24), and a 26-20 effort over Chico, ranked second in the Northern Section. The loss was to Casa Roble. Next: at Nevada Union.
15. Laguna Creek (5-2)
Declan Follette and Tommy Pantega have been “monsters on our D-line,” Cardinals coach Ryan Nill says of his Metro League title contenders. The ranked wins are 39-20 over Roseville and 27-24 over Pleasant Grove with a late length-of-the field drive. The ranked losses were 35-20 to West Park and 41-35 in double-overtime to Monterey Trail. Next: at Burbank.
16. Elk Grove (3-3)
The Thundering Herd moved to 2-0 in the Delta League with a 34-7 rout of Davis. David Hale rushed for two scores, Austin Maze ran for one and Jeremiah Williams rushed for 127 yards and a TD as the team averaged 9.1 yards per rush. Sione Paongo, Adam Beam and Isea Liu combined for 28 tackles. The only local loss is to Granite Bay (27-13). Next: vs. Sheldon.
17. Twelve Bridges (7-0)
The Ragin’ Rhinos of Lincoln moved to 3-0 in the Pioneer Valley League with a 36-7 win over Center. Whit Kruse passed for 163 yards and two TDs and Nathan Crawford went off again for 203 yards on 21 carries and three scores as the team used 10 runners to rush 41 times for 306 yards. The D broke up eight passes, two by Elijah Noll, who also played big on special teams. Next: Oct. 12 at Sutter.
18. Sutter (5-1)
The Huskies are 3-0 in the Pioneer Valley League and coming off a nonleague win of 14-7 over ranked Bradshaw Christian. In beating Bear River 48-3, Marcus Meras rushed for 127 yards and two scores, Tristan Watkins went for 65 yards on the ground and a score and Rylan Giovannoni had two interceptions to help the D. The loss was 26-24 to Northern Section No. 2 Chico. Next: Oct. 12 vs. Sutter.
19. Pleasant Grove (3-3)
Converted receiver Jacob Beals played admirably in his first start at quarterback, running for two TDs and passing for two in a 73-20 Delta League win over Franklin, including a 50-yard strike to Cody Nydegger in the third quarter to break it wide open. Roman Patterson had a sack and four tackles for loss. A ranked win was 36-35 over Christian Brothers at the wire. The losses are all to ranked teams: West Park, Laguna Creek and Jesuit. Next: Thursday vs. Cosumnes Oaks.
20. Christian Brothers (5-2)
In beating Capital Christian 42-19, the defending Capital Athletic League champion Falcons extended their CAL streak to 10. Daniel Kamara rushed for 110 yards and two TDs. Jay Cummings had 106 and a score. Josiah Campbell had another big night to lead the D, recording 10 tackles, and Mason Vicari had eight. The losses are to ranked Pleasant Grove and Jesuit. Next: at Rio Americano.
21. Rio Americano (6-0)
The Raiders had a bye and take on defending champion Christian Brothers for a share of first place with Vista del Lago. Toby Black leads Rio with seven sacks and Chase Carry leads with four interceptions. Next: at Christian Brothers.
22. Roseville (5-1)
If the Tigers expect to compete for the Capital Valley Conference championship, they know they have to beat teams they’re supposed to. In downing Yuba City 36-22, Mason Susnara passed for 179 yards and three TDs, including one to Joel Bradley, who added an 82-yard kickoff return TD in continuing his MVP-like season. The ranked win was 34-27 over Placer and the ranked loss was 39-30 to Laguna Creek. Next: at Bella Vista.
23. Placer (2-4)
The Hillmen’s body of work makes their ranking here worthy, including ranked losses to Casa Roble (21-7), Roseville (34-27), Del Oro (35-20) and Vista del Lago (28-7), and they’re very much in the Foothill Valley League race as the defending champion. Shaun Jones has emerged at RB, rushing for three scores in a 42-14 win over Ponderosa last week. Next: vs. Lincoln.
24. Woodland Christian (6-0)
Noah Hinkle is the latest Hinkle to contribute to games. In rolling Amador 45-7 in nonleague play, he had a 57-yard TD run, caught a touchdown from Gabe Sanchez, scored on two 2-point conversions and had two interceptions. The signature wins are 15-14 over Bradshaw Christian and 24-15 over Pioneer. Next: At Western Sierra.
25. Bradshaw Christian (4-2)
The Pride do what they do, run the ball out of their double-wing offense, including 46 rushes for 303 yards to beat Union Mine 19-7 in Sierra Valley Conference play. Brandon Bergen went for 101 yards and a TD, Nathan Zeppieri for 102 and a score and Mateo Mojico ran for a score and had 11 tackles. Samuel Danilyuk and Devyn McDonald combined for 22 tackles. The losses were to ranked programs, 15-14 at Woodland Christian and 14-7 at Sutter. Next: at El Dorado.
The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 15
1. Folsom (4-2)
2. St. Mary’s-Stockton (5-1)
3. Rocklin (6-0)
4. Central Catholic-Modesto (4-2)
5. Oak Ridge (5-1)
6. Grant (5-1)
7. Manteca (4-2)
8. Granite Bay (4-2)
9. Del Oro (5-1)
10. Inderkum (6-1)
11. Tracy (5-1)
12. Casa Roble (5-1)
13. Jesuit (5-1)
14. Vista del Lago (6-1)
15. Escalon (5-1)
This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 5:00 AM.