The Bee’s Top 25 football rankings: Transfers eligible for No. 3 Grant and No. 4 Rocklin
With the final two weeks of the high school football regular season on the horizon, quite a few of the 13 Sacramento-area leagues are still up for grabs. Other teams will approach the final stretch seeking to secure playoff positioning.
And to rev up the action even more, two powerhouse programs got a skill-player boost last week.
Devin Green was cleared by the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section to play for the No. 3-ranked Grant Pacers after the Sheldon transfer sat out the season’s first seven weeks. The swift and strong senior saw his first action Friday against Kennedy and had four touchdowns on five touches.
Ezekiel Castex earlier this season left Christian Brothers, where he was a starter, and enrolled at Rocklin. The junior receiver/running back/cornerback was cleared to play last week, and he had two tackles against Del Oro. He is expected to provide a tough team with a dose of speed and versatility.
Only two unbeaten teams remain in the section after Rio Americano had its 7-0 start jolted at Vista del Lago. No. 16 Twelve Bridges and No. 24 Woodland Christian are both 8-0. Those teams are not ranked higher because these rankings have an emphasis on strength of schedule. Twelve Bridges seeks the top seed in the Division V section playoffs and Woodland Christian the same in Division VII.
Here’s a look at this week’s Top 25.
1. Folsom (6-2)
Offense, defense, line play, special teams, the Bulldogs have done it all. In rolling Whitney 63-19, Logan Hutton returned a blocked punt 80 yards for a touchdown and Ryder Lyons fired five more TD passes without an interception. Daymion Rivera rushed for 74 yards and a score. The losses were to Northern California No. 1 Serra (21-14) and No. 2 De La Salle (14-7). Next: at Del Oro.
2. Oak Ridge (7-1)
Trailing 14-0, the Trojans scored the final 25 points to down Granite Bay and remain in the Sierra Foothill League title race. Joaquin Graves-Mercado hit Jadon Anderson for another TD bomb, Erick Orme grinded out 101 more yards and two scores, and the defense stood tall with Gavin Molloy and Markus Hoffman combining for eight tackles for loss. The team’s only loss was 42-21 to Folsom after it was 14-14 in the fourth quarter. Next: at Whitney.
3. Grant (7-1)
The Pacers immediately inserted Devin Green into the lineup in the running back’s first action of the season, and he took two screen passes from Luke Alexander to the end zone in an 82-0 win over Kennedy to set up a showdown for first place in the Metro League. The loss was 21-18 at Oak Ridge. Next: at Monterey Trail.
4. Rocklin (7-1)
Gavin Correia is a load at tight end with good hands as a reliable target for sophomore QB Reeve Slone. They hooked up for a TD in the 35-14 win over Del Oro to remain in the thick of the SFL title chase. Slone also hit Nate Martin for TD strikes of 32 and 78 yards. The Thunder’s only loss was to Folsom. Next: vs. Granite Bay.
5. Granite Bay (5-3)
Isaiah Ene got the Grizzlies off to a fast start in El Dorado Hills with a TD run and a pick-6, but GB was shutout by Oak Ridge from there in a 25-14 setback. The other losses were out of area vs. Manteca and Pittsburg. Next: vs. Rocklin.
6. Del Oro (5-3)
The Golden Eagles started 5-0 but have lost all three of their SFL games: 53-28 to Granite Bay, 42-35 to Oak Ridge and 35-14 to Rocklin. DO remains ranked ahead of Inderkum due to its 50-34 opening-night win over the Tigers. Next: vs. Folsom.
7. Inderkum (7-1)
The Tigers had a bye and can clinch the Capital Valley Conference championship with a win over Roseville. Inderkum has five shutouts and QB Ricky Cole has played like an MVP. The loss was to Del Oro. Next: at Roseville.
8. Jesuit (7-1)
The Marauders trailed Cosumnes Oaks 14-0 and then pitched a 28-0 second-half shutout to win 35-14, setting up a Delta League title bout against Elk Grove. Kayden Flemming rushed for 105 yards and two scores and the line led the way for 372 yards rushing. Next: vs. Elk Grove.
9. Vista del Lago (8-1)
The Eagles are closing in fast on the Capital Athletic League championship, having won eight straight since a 42-35 loss to Manteca. Ethan Jones scored three rushing TDs in a 41-15 rout of Rio Americano, a show of program depth and determination, and the defense stalled a prolific team. Next: at Christian Brothers.
10. Casa Roble (7-1)
The Bee has the Rams as the top-ranked Division V team in the Sac-Joaquin Section, their only loss coming to Del Oro after leading 7-3 at the half. A proud coaching moment for Chris Horner: His WR son Ethan catching his first TD against Woodland. The kid doesn’t miss as a kicker, either. The Golden Empire League title is on the line this week. Next: vs. Pioneer.
11. Monterey Trail (5-3)
The Mustangs warmed up for the Metro League showdown with Grant with a 35-17 nonleague win over Merced as Joseph Barrientos had TD throws to Arik Phillips and Davon Chism, and he ran for a score. Donte Jacobs had 14 tackles. The only local loss was an opener to Folsom. Next: vs. Grant.
12. Woodcreek (7-1)
The Timberwolves rolled Antelope 44-3 to remain in the Capital Valley Conference championship race, but they need someone to beat Inderkum, which handed Woodcreek its only loss, 20-15. Brody Krupp had 13 tackles and Isaac Earls had two sacks against Antelope. Next: at Bella Vista.
13. West Park (7-1)
The Panthers of Roseville handled Ponderosa 41-14 with depth and defense to set up a showdown in Auburn for the Foothill Valley League championship. An early big win was 35-20 over Laguna Creek. The loss was to Casa Roble. Next: at Placer.
14. Laguna Creek (7-2)
The Cardinals pride themselves on defense, having pitched three shutouts while allowing only six points two other times. They have a bye this week before ending the regular season against Grant with a chance to win a share of the Metro crown. Next: vs. Grant, Oct. 27.
15. Elk Grove (5-3)
In beating Pleasant Grove 34-3, the defending Delta League champion Thundering Herd rushed 50 times for 358 yards and four scores, two by Thomas Koi, who ran for 139 yards. The D came up with three interceptions. The only local loss was an opener at Granite Bay. Next: at Jesuit.
16. Twelve Bridges (8-0)
The Ragin’ Rhinos celebrated their gritty 19-14 effort at Sutter as Whit Kruse passed for 186 yards and Nathan Crawford grinded for 135 on 34 carries to clinch at least a share of the Pioneer Valley League crown. A 10-0 regular season is within reach. Next: at Colfax.
17. Rio Americano (7-1)
No one outside the Raiders locker room projected a 7-0 start, and there is no shame in falling to a loaded Vista del Lago outfit. It’s how Rio responds from here that will define the season. Next: vs. Del Campo.
18. Sutter (7-2)
The Huskies have two quality losses: 26-24 at Northern Section No. 2-ranked Chico and 19-14 on Friday to Twelve Bridges in front of another terrific crowd. Mason Cartwright had 16 tackles and Josh Garvin 13. All of the Huskies can feel for key senior cog Tristan Watkins, who went down with a leg injury. Next: Oct. 27 at Wheatland.
19. Roseville (7-1)
The Tigers are in the running for the Capital Valley Conference championship and can clinch a share of it with a win over Inderkum. In beating River Valley 30-12, Kaiden Pedone had 10 tackles and Keaton Hatch had a 98-yard pick-6. The loss was 39-30 to Laguna Creek. Next: vs. Roseville.
20. Cosumnes Oaks (4-5)
The upstart Wolfpack played Jesuit without quarterback Marino Fragata, out with an injury, and outside of a 70-yard run, the run game was stymied. The playoffs are within reach. Next: vs. Franklin.
21. Placer (4-4)
The 0-4 start is ancient history. Despite a 35-28 victory at Nevada Union, Hillmen coaches stressed that the team has to clean up its game if it expects to keep winning. Baylor Kelley rushed for 205 yards and four scores to set up a showdown for the Foothill Valley League against West Park, old school vs. newer school. Next: vs. West Park.
22. Vacaville (4-4)
A week after losing their first Monticello Empire League game in eight years, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 27-17 win over Fairfield as Brody Fortunati had 265 yards passing and three TDs. Massimo Menicou had 10 tackles and Justin Albrecht nine as the D recorded four sacks. Next: at Armijo.
23. Christian Brothers (6-3)
The defending Capital Athletic League champion Falcons had a bye, a needed breather to regroup after the 31-13 loss to Rio Americano. A win this week gets CB back on track. Next: vs. El Camino.
24. Woodland Christian (8-0)
The Cardinals are going to be a load in the D-VII playoffs with playmakers such as Noah Hinkle, Isaiah Hunt and Gabe Sanchez. The biggest wins were 15-14 over Bradshaw Christian and 24-15 over Pioneer. Next: at Valley Christian.
25. Bradshaw Christian (6-2)
In beating Liberty Ranch 28-0, the Pride remained unbeaten in the Sierra Valley Conference as Ethan Rickert opened the scoring with a 50-yard TD toss to Devyn McDonald. Rickert also had a TD toss to Mateo Mojica. The losses were 15-14 at Woodland Christian and 14-7 at Sutter. Next: at Galt.
Bubble: Union Mine (6-2), Winters (6-1).
The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 15
1. Folsom (6-2)
2. St. Mary’s-Stockton (7-1)
3. Oak Ridge (7-1)
4. Central Catholic-Modesto (6-2)
5. Grant (7-1)
6. Rocklin (7-1)
7. Manteca (6-2)
8. Granite Bay (5-3)
9. Del Oro (5-3)
10. Inderkum (7-1)
11. Casa Roble (7-1)
12. Jesuit (7-1)
13. Escalon (7-1)
14. Vista del Lago (8-1)
15. Monterey Trail (5-3)
The Bee’s section rankings by division
Division I
1. Folsom (6-2)
2. Oak Ridge (7-1)
3. Central Catholic (5-2)
4. Inderkum (7-1)
5. Monterey Trail (5-3)
Division II
1. St. Mary’s (7-1)
2. Rocklin (7-1)
3. Del Oro (5-3)
4. Jesuit (7-1)
5. Manteca (6-2)
Division III
1. Grant (7-1)
2. Woodcreek (7-1)
3. Vanden (6-2)
4. Oakdale (6-2)
5. Roseville (7-1)
Division IV
1. Escalon (7-1)
2. Vista del Lago (8-1)
3. West Park (7-1)
4. Patterson (7-1)
5. Rio Americano (7-1)
Division V
1. Casa Roble (7-1)
2. Twelve Bridges (8-0)
3. Hilmar (5-3)
4. Los Banos (6-1)
5. Center (5-3)
Division VI
1. Sutter (7-1)
2. Sonora (6-1)
3. Bradshaw Christian (6-2)
4. Hughson (6-2)
5. Liberty Ranch (4-3)
Division VII
1. Woodland Christian (8-0)
2. Ripon Christian (7-1)
3. Stone Ridge (6-1)
4. Orestimba (5-3)
5. Le Grand (6-2)
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 5:00 AM.