The Bee’s Top 25: Sacramento-area football rankings following big wins by Folsom, Placer
There were no stunning upsets for any of The Bee’s Top 25 teams on the opening night of the high school football season, though there were plenty of coaches and players upset with losses.
Folsom, Grant, Rocklin and Inderkum held steady. No. 5 Oak Ridge fell to a Bakersfield powerhouse, but the Trojans’ ranking remains unchanged because we do not drop teams far or at all for taking on out-of-section powerhouses.
The Bee’s Top 25
1. Folsom (1-0)
Last game: Beat Long Beach Poly, 63-20
Next: Friday vs. Serra-San Mateo
Update: Ryder Lyons did Ryder Lyons things, the five-star QB dazzling with his arm, legs and grit. The 1-2 running back combo of Daymion Rivera and Carter Jackson combined to rush for 216 yards and four scores, and the defensive line trio of Theo Gruele, Lua DaBerry and Nela Tupou set a fierce defensive tone against the state-ranked Jackrabbits. A win over Serra would avenge tight early season losses in 2022 and ‘23 and secure Folsom as the top-ranked team in Northern California.
2. Grant (1-0)
Last game: Beat Edison-Stockton, 28-7
Next: Friday at De La Salle-Concord
Update: The Pacers downed a good team with dominating trench play as Brandon Lambert sparkled in his Grant debut, rushing for 181 yards and three scores. DE Jeremiah Tuiilelia had 12 tackles and two sacks, and Tyron Carter had an interception. The DLS matchup has been decades in the making. What a showdown.
3. Rocklin (1-0)
Last game: Beat Turlock, 41-28
Next: Friday vs. Bishop Manogue-Reno
Update: The Thunder trailed early then rolled, dominating the final three quarters. Reeve Slone passed for 205 yards and two TDs, Derek Keeley rushed for 85 yards and two scores and was a menace on defense, as usual, with 10 tackles, and two-way playmakers Mikey Cunningham and Mavrik Collins were superb. Manogue is coming off a 21-14 win over a loaded St. Mary’s of Stockton team.
4. Inderkum (1-0)
Last game: Beat Monterey Trail, 27-21
Next: Saturday at Marin Catholic-Kentfield
Update: In a rematch of a Division I playoff game, Inderkum beat the Mustangs again, this time in a slugfest. Ricky Cole passed for 247 yards and three TDs, two to Leandrew Jenkins and one to Lono Chouteau. Darion Stroman had 11 tackles and Isaac Estacio 20 as the team recorded 17 tackles for loss. Marin Catholic has been a Bay Area power for decades.
5. Oak Ridge (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Frontier-Bakersfield, 28-14
Next: Friday at San Clemente
Update: There’s no shame in losing to a powerhouse team from the Central Section that went 10-0 in the 2023 regular season. Oak Ridge’s young OL, with five new starters, faced a serious challenge. Joaquin Graves-Mercado passed for 347 yards, Kaleb Edwards looked the part of five-start TE recruit with 148 yards receiving, and the D had five pass breakups. San Clemente is another major test.
6. Granite Bay (1-0)
Last game: Beat Rio Americano, 34-10
Next: Friday vs. Vacaville
Update: The Grizzlies showcased a balanced attack as Nick Harris passed for 203 yards and rushed for a TD, receiver Joseph Cattolico had six receptions for 116 yards, and RB Isaiah Ene rushed for 108 yards and three scores. Kingsley Tong had two sacks. The home opener figures to be a dandy.
7. Monterey Trail (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Inderkum, 27-21
Next: Friday vs. Pittsburg
Update: Coach TJ Ewing schedules bruisers by design, to test and toughen-up his guys, and here comes Pittsburg of the Bay Area, a team that went 13-1 last season, including a 10-7 win over Monterey Trail. D’Adrien Sanders rushed for 156 yards on 34 carries and a TD against Inderkum, and Sunhan Barakzai had two sacks.
8. Placer (1-0)
Last game: Beat Casa Roble, 42-20
Next: Friday at Rio Linda
Update: The Hillmen impressed against a good Rams team as coach Joey Montoya won his 170th career game. Steady QB Rian Miller passed for 113 yards and two TDs to Baylor Kelley, who ran for 100 yards and two scores. Danny Sanchez was a blur, rushing for 119 yards and two scores, and DB Luke Platzer had a big game in the secondary. Game ball to RB Shaun Jones, a brutish blocker.
9. Vacaville (1-0)
Last game: Beat Escalon, 23-21
Next: Friday at Granite Bay
Update: This was a gritty effort over a storied program as Jimmy MacNiven passed for 154 yards and two TDs, and Tanner Boyd rushed for 126 and a TD. Noah Wilcox had 19 tackles. It doesn’t get easier this week.
10. West Park (1-0)
Last game: Beat Whitney 10-7 (OT)
Next: Friday at Casa Roble
Update: The Panthers overcame four interceptions, received 129 yards rushing and a TD from Ben Osby, and won it with a Dylan Smith field goal. Briggs Bevans had three sacks, Calvon Johnson two and Tristan Esquivel two. That pass rush has to get to Casa Roble this week.
11. Casa Roble (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Placer, 42-20
Next: Friday vs. West Park
Update: Aidan Lopez impressed in his first Rams start, passing for 312 yards, and he has receivers galore in Ethan Horton, Elijah Huddle and Conner Campbell, last season’s star QB who could play anywhere on the field. Turnovers and penalties stung against a strong Hillmen team.
12. Elk Grove (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Manteca, 49-9
Next: Friday at Downey-Modesto
Update: There’s no shame in losing to a program that has won nine section titles since 2001, and three since 2019 with power running. The Buffaloes rushed for 340 yards and seven TDs. It’s how the Herd responds that will be telling. QB David Hale rushed for 143 yards and a TD.
13. Del Oro (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Reed-Reno, 28-14
Next: vs. Placer, Sept. 6
Update: The Golden Eagles lost to the No. 9-ranked team in Nevada, managing just 87 yards rushing on 26 carries. A bye week this week will help get things back in order with Placer looming.
14. Jesuit (0-0)
Last game: Did not play
Next: Friday vs. Rio Americano
Update: The Marauders will usher in a new era of Friday night games with permanent lights after years of fighting the good fight to make it happen.
15. Twelve Bridges (1-0)
Lat game: Beat Christian Brothers, 28-10
Next: Friday at Reed-Reno
Update: What an impressive effort against a storied program that has speed and experience as the Raging Rhinos of Lincoln ushered in a host of new starters, and never missed a beat after going 12-1 in 2023. Braeden Ward rushed and rumbled for 200 yards and two scores behind good blocking, Davin Markle had 4 ½ tackles for loss, and Jameson Elmer had two sacks. Reed is a great test, having just beaten Del Oro.
16. Pleasant Grove (1-0)
Last game: Beat River City, 37-0
Next: Friday at Lodi
Update: The Eagles of Elk Grove struck early and often, storming to a 31-0 first-quarter lead, starting with an 80-yard, first-play TD strike from Cole Davis to Cody Nydegger. Davis passed for 318 yards and four TDs, OL Josh Fong was strong in the trenches, and the student rooting section — “The Flock” — was loud and proud as part of a packed home stadium.
17. Roseville (1-0)
Last game: Beat Antelope, 48-19
Next: Friday vs. Oakmont
Update: Mason Susnara was solid last season and looked superb here, passing for 207 yards and three TDs, two of them to JJ Yong, who had 112 yards. Colton Wolfe rushed for 96 yards and two scores, and Santi Barbonier and Peanut Hawkins each had interceptions. A rivalry showdown dating back to 1965 looms.
18. Sacramento (1-0)
Last game: Beat Woodcreek, 21-14 (OT)
Next: Friday at Armijo-Faifield
Update: The Dragons of Oak Park delighted in an overtime effort over an established program that reached a section final in 2023, and coaches and players danced. Robert Hamel had a kickoff return TD and a TD catch from Laron James-Radcliffe, and Gayland Lee had 10 tackles and two sacks to lead the charge.
19. Vista del Lago (1-0)
Last game: Beat Laguna Creek, 33-27
Next: Friday vs. Bradshaw Christian
Update: The Eagles of Folsom always have a good passer, and the current one is Grant Rogers. He had 215 yards in the air and four TDs, three to Will Green, who had 140 yards receiving. Trevor Kaestner had 15 tackles and Nicholas Navarre 11. Next is the great rushing attack of Bradshaw Christian.
20. Laguna Creek (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Vista del Lago, 33-27
Next: Friday at Tokay-Lodi
Update: The Cardinals of Elk Grove have a bruiser of a RB in Armon Thorntona, who rushed for 139 yards and three TDs. He also had seven tackles. Ryan Eddy made plays on defense and had eight tackles.
21. Woodcreek (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Sacramento, 21-14 (OT)
Next: Friday vs. Whitney
Update: Not having the services of FB/LB leader Brody Krupp hurt as the four-year varsity starter nursed a sore ankle. He will be back. Formidable test looms against Whitney.
22. Christian Brothers (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Twelve Bridges, 28-10
Next: Friday vs. Memorial-Fresno
Update: The Falcons have the talent to pursue championships but have work to do after passing for 62 yards and rushing for 86. Memorial is another challenge.
23. Bradshaw Christian (1-0)
Last game: Beat Woodland Christian, 27-6
Next: Friday at Vista del Lago
Update: Revenge was sweet as the Pride avenged a 15-14 opening loss to WC in 2023 in rushing for 280 yards and four scores, three of those end zone visits coming from Nathan Zeppieri. The OL leader was Josh Sowards, who earned “Roughneck of the Game” honors. Brandyn Broussard, Myles Damallie and Devyn McDonald combined for 6 ½ sacks.
24. Sutter (1-0)
Last game: Beat Argonaut, 24-0
Next: Friday vs. Kimberly-Idaho
Update: The defense was stout as Mason Cartwright had 13 tackles, Brandon Dobson 10, Justice White 15 and Troy Bowens 15. The team had 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.
25. Woodland Christian (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Bradshaw Christian, 27-6
Next: Friday vs. El Dorado
Update: The Cardinals had the longest streak in the state snapped at 15 and have work to do to if they expect a championship return. The potential is there.
Bubble: Bear River (1-0), Colfax (1-0), Cosumnes Oaks (0-1), Del Campo (1-0), Destiny Christian (1-0), Foothill (1-0), Liberty Ranch (1-0), Nevada Union (1-0), Pioneer (1-0), Union Mine (1-0), Yuba City (1-0).
This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM.