The Bee’s Top 25: Sacramento-area football rankings following losses by Folsom and Grant
The Sacramento area’s best lost to the Bay Area’s best in high school football showdowns over the weekend, and the setbacks either inspire Folsom and Grant or they don’t.
Folsom fell to Serra of San Mateo for the third consecutive season, and again in a tight one, falling on a late field goal, 22-21. Several fans on social media were kissing the elite CIF state Open Division game entry goodbye, and who cares, right? More concerning is the Folsom coaches and a star player wondering how mature their team is right now.
That game is in December, light-years from now.
Grant lost 42-14 at De La Salle. Like the Folsom coaches, Grant coaches know their bunch can play better and has to play better.
We do not drop our ranked heavyweights far if at all when they play out-of-area heavies. Who else is playing Serra and De La Salle around here? Rocklin does move up a spot to No. 2, which sets up a nice Sierra Foothill League showdown in the coming weeks against Folsom. We know, we know. One week at a time.
The biggest showdown of ranked teams will come Saturday, when No. 3 Grant hosts No. 4 Inderkum.
1. Folsom (1-1)
Last week: Lost to Serra, 22-21
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Turlock
Update: The Bulldogs figured to beat a Serra team that had graduated the house from its finest team but were issued a wake-up call, including trailing 13-0 and then punctuated with a late, long field goal by the Padres. Folsom recovered from close losses to Serra and De La Salle last season to win a CIF state crown.
2. Rocklin (2-0)
Last week: Beat Bishop Manogue-Reno, 48-17
Next: Friday vs. Lincoln-Stockton
Update: The Thunder impressed in downing the No. 4-ranked team in Nevada and a group that defeated powerhouse St. Mary’s of Stockton the previous week, 21-14. Reeve Slone tossed two touchdowns to Mavrik Collins. Derek Keeley and Rafi Merino each rushed for two scores. Keeley and Travis Ledbetter had two sacks each and Asher Runnion added 1 ½. Keeley also had two interceptions.
3. Grant (1-1)
Last week: Lost to De La Salle, 42-14
Next: Saturday vs. Inderkum
Update: The Pacers wanted to gauge themselves against the storied Spartans and found out the following: They can’t make that many mistakes against a program this stout, and there must be improvement for a CIF state three-peat showing. They have a tight end of note, too, in Zo Edwards.
4. Inderkum (2-0)
Last week: Beat Marin Catholic, 26-0
Next: Saturday at Grant
Update: The Tigers put the defensive muscle to a championship program in preparing for the showdown with Grant. Boston Costley and Ricky Cole each ran for a TD. Cole reached the end zone on a scoop-and-score on special teams, and Denzaiah Lewis recovered a fumbled special teams snap for a TD. Lono Chouteau had two interceptions for Indy.
5. Granite Bay (2-0)
Last week: Beat Vacaville, 17-14
Next: Friday at Overfelt
Update: Isaiah Ene rushed 29 times for 150 yards and two scores while making seven tackles on defense. Jimmy Deslaurier had a field goal and two extra points. The defense allowed 64 yards rushing and no scores. Next is a reunion trip of sorts for Grizzlies coach Joe Cattolico with a visit to Overfelt, a program he coached to its first section championship in 1998.
6. Oak Ridge (0-2)
Last week: Lost to San Clemente, 30-23
Next: Saturday at McCallie-Tenn.
Update: The Trojans scheduled up, falling to Central Section power Frontier of Bakersfield 28-14 and to Southern California power San Clemente. QB Joaquin Graves-Mercado went down with an injury. Kaleb Edwards caught a TD pass. He also had nine tackles and two sacks. Next is a road trip to Tennessee to face a defending state champion.
7. Monterey Trail (0-2)
Last week: Lost to Pittsburg, 42-13
Next: Friday vs. El Cerrito
Update: The Mustangs hold steady here with a one-score loss to Inderkum and the setback to a loaded Pirates team. D’Adrien Sanders rushed for 160 yards and two TDs. El Cerrito is another strong program from the Bay.
8. Placer (2-0)
Last week: Beat Rio Linda, 54-7
Next: Friday at Del Oro
Update: The Hillmen rushed 31 times for 306 yards and five TDs, including two by Baylor Kelley, who also had a sack. Del Oro is a rivalry game that dates back decades — and a great opportunity for a Placer County statement.
9. Vacaville (1-1)
Last week: Lost to Granite Bay, 17-14
Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Newman
Update: The Bulldogs were right there with Granite Bay as Jimmy Macniven tossed two touchdown passes. The secondary broke up three passes.
10. West Park (2-0)
Last week: Beat Casa Roble, 35-30
Next: Friday vs. Roseville
Update: The Panthers of Roseville are the newer kids on the block and they are about to take on the old guard in the Roseville Tigers in the newly created “747” rivalry series. WP showed a ton against Casa Roble with Jaden Jackson tossing two TDs and running for two more. Ben Osby rushed for 100 yards and a score. Topher Petersen and Deacon Ogden combined for 28 tackles and Aiden Frisk recorded two sacks.
11. Jesuit (1-0)
Last week: Beat Rio Americano, 56-7
Next: Friday at Bellarmine-San Jose
Update: The Marauders celebrated their new permanent lights in style. Teddy Rios hit Rocco Lucchetti for a TD pass. Jack Patock recorded nine tackles while causing and recovering a fumble to help coach Marlon Blanton earn his 175th career victory (from multiple schools). Bellarmine figures to be a much tighter game.
12. Twelve Bridges (2-0)
Last week: Beat Reed-Reno, 39-36
Next: Friday vs. Whitney
Update: First, the Raging Rhinos graduated nearly everyone from a 12-1 team, then impressed in a scrimmage against Del Oro, then beat Christian Brother and then took down a Reed team that handled Del Oro. Braeden Ward was superb again, rushing 32 times for 188 yards and two scores behind great line work, and Jay Elmer was dominant at DE with 13 tackles.
13. Casa Roble (0-2)
Last week: Lost to West Park, 35-30
Next: Friday at Bella Vista
Update: The Rams will benefit from the early schedule. They lost a main cog when WR star Elijah Huddle went down early with an ankle injury against West Park, though he will be back. Aiden Lopez passed for 228 yards, hitting Conner Campbell eight times for 117 yards and a TD, and Brayden Blevins rushed for 167 yards and three scores.
14. Del Oro (0-1)
Last week: Bye
Next: Friday vs. Placer
Update: After opening with a tough loss in Reno at Reed, the Golden Eagles had a bye week to sort things out. Del Oro’s home crowd will fill it up against Placer in as great of a home vibe as there is in the state.
15. Pleasant Grove (2-0)
Last week: Beat Lodi, 41-0
Next: Friday vs. Tokay
Update: The Eagles have scored 78 points and allowed none, and though they haven’t played Georgia or Michigan, it’s a great start. Cole Davis passed for 236 yards and hit Jacob Beals for a 62-yard scoring strike in a win over Lodi. Bobby Mitchell ran for 82 and three scores. Sophomore DJ Oropeza had five carries for 82 yards and a score. Tackle Mason Hanner also played well and nose guard Garrett Moon led the defensive charge.
16. Roseville (2-0)
Last week: Beat Oakmont, 36-7
Next: Friday vs. West Park
Update: Duane “Peanut” Hawkins opened the defensive effort with a pick-six touchdown, and the Tigers received rushing touchdowns from Graham Dahle, D’Marcis Gresham and Colton Wolfe to set up the showdown with West Park.
17. Sacramento (2-0)
Last week: Beat Armijo-Fairfield, 48-21
Next: Sept. 13 at Natomas
Update: The Dragons backed up their opening-night 21-14 win over Woodcreek with an offensive show. They have one more game before joining the new-look Monticello Empire League, which includes Vacaville and Vanden.
18. Woodcreek (1-1)
Last week: Beat Whitney, 49-35
Next: Sept. 13 at West Park
Update: The Timberwolves earned their bye this week after Joey Melendez threw for 113 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 190 yards and four scores. Game balls also to Dylan Grbic, who played well in his first high school start, and LB Roman Pereyda, who played well on defense.
19. Elk Grove (0-2)
Last week: Lost to Downey-Modesto, 53-42
Next: Friday at Golden Valley-Merced
Update: Elk Grove’s defense has to show up after allowing Carson Lamb to pass for 328 yards and five TDs in a loss to Downey. The Thundering Herd welcomed in five Valley transfers after that school dropped football due to low roster numbers.
20. Bradshaw Christian (2-0)
Last week: Beat Vista del Lago, 50-48
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Sutter
Update: Beating much-larger school Vista ranks as the greatest regular-season victory for the Pride, especially since they did it their way: running the ball. BC rushed 55 times for 410 yards, with Mateo Mojica going for 223 yards and two scores and Brandon Bruden for 118 and three.
21. Vista del Lago (1-1)
Last week: Lost to Bradshaw Christian, 50-48
Next: Friday at Vanden
Update: The Eagles were stunned by Bradshaw Christian, but it won’t sting as bad if BC keeps on rolling. Grant Rogers, Nicholas Navarre and Jahaan Kalkat each accounted for two scores. Vanden won’t be any easier.
22. Laguna Creek (1-1)
Last week: Beat Tokay-Lodi, 62-40
Next: Friday vs. Manteca
Update: After opening with a tight loss to Vista del Lago, the Cardinals unleashed their offense some more as Owen Burke passed for 282 yards and three TDs, Ryan Eddy rushed for 135 yards and three scores, and Kyle Draper ran for three scores and caught one.
23. Sutter (2-0)
Last week: Beat Kimberly-Idaho, 28-14
Next: Friday vs. Marysville
Update: The Huskies beat a good program in an Idaho showcase as Braden Scritchfield passed for 174 yards and two TDs, and Marcus Meras ran for 120 yards and a score.
24. Destiny Christian Academy (2-0)
Last week: Beat Stagg-Stockton, 35-6
Next: Friday vs. Linden
Update: The school that went by Capital Christian since 1977 is bouncing to a good vibe with the fast start and great home crowds. Dallas Munn passed for 247 yards and two TDs, RB Malakai Taione rushed 11 times for 153 yards and a score, and Caleb Hill ran for two TDs.
25. Woodland Christian (1-1)
Last week: Beat El Dorado, 50-6
Next: Sept. 13 vs. Pioneer
Update: After falling to Bradshaw Christian 27-6, the Cardinals bounced back big, leading 42-0 at the half.
Bubble: Bear River (1-0), Christian Brothers (0-2), Colfax (1-1), Cosumnes Oaks (1-1), Del Campo (2-0), East Nicolaus (1-0), Franklin (2-0), Nevada Union (2-0), Pioneer (2-0), Wheatland (2-0), Winters (1-0), Yuba City (2-0).