The Bee’s Top 25: Capsule updates, including four Sierra Foothill League teams in the Top 5
These are only high school football rankings, designed to update and inform, but people tend to take them entirely too seriously.
Not the head coaches. They generally focus on more pressing concerns, such as blocking and tackling and preparing for the next practice and game. Players stress such things because rankings aren’t just a pecking order of the top Sacramento-area teams but a measure of respect. Players feed off of respect, especially any perceived lack of it, and so do too many parents and followers.
Which leads us to our Sacramento Bee top five teams. Rankings are not win-loss standings where unbeatens soar to the top. Rankings like these are based on strength of schedule and league, and, of course, results, particularly for those in the Top 10
Folsom remained Bee No. 1 after it lost earlier this season to Serra of San Mateo by a point. No local losses mean no drop in rankings. Grant is ranked second with no local losses and three setbacks to out-of-area powerhouse programs. Oak Ridge remained in the top five despite three losses to out-of-section programs. Granite Bay remains ranked fifth with losses to No. 3 Rocklin and No. 4 Oak Ridge in the strongest league in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, the Sierra Foothill League.
Granite Bay is ranked ahead of red-hot Twelve Bridges of Lincoln despite the Raging Rhinos storming to a 7-0 start. The Bee ranks small schools in the 20-25 spots because those programs have earned their kudos. They compete just as hard as the Division I, II and III programs albeit on a smaller stage. This isn’t to suggest that unranked large-school teams couldn’t beat them, but that’s wasted energy.
The aim for ranked teams isn’t to muscle for positioning in the Top 25 but to win the rivalry games, to take the homecoming game, to compete for league and postseason championships, to make it a season to remember. These rankings have no bearing on playoff pairings or the CIF committee that crunches mounds of data, but rankings never fail as good conversation starters.
1. Folsom (7-1)
Division: I
Result: Beat Whitney, 69-7
Next: Friday at Jesuit
Update: The Bulldogs can clinch at least a tie for their ninth Sierra Foothill League crown since joining the section’s top conference in 2014 with a win this week. Ryder Lyons last week passed for 171 yards and five touchdowns, two to Jason Hill, Carter Jackson and Erick Orme scored on the ground, and Theo Greule and Kam Totton reached the end zone as tireless, do-all leaders.
2. Grant (6-3)
Division: II
Result: Beat Antelope, 52-7
Next: Nov. 1 vs. Cordova
Update: The Pacers in Metro League action rolled behind Luke Alexander’s 236 yards and three touchdown passes, two to rising-fast recruit TE Zo Edwards, Brandon Lambert’s two rushing scores and another stout defensive effort. The losses are to out-of-section powerhouse programs.
3. Rocklin (7-1)
Division: II
Result: Beat Granite Bay, 35-21
Next: Friday at Del Oro
Update: The Thunder of the SFL turned a 21-21 game into their game in the second half as superb line play on both sides led the charge. Rafi Merino and Derek Keeley combined to rush for 259 yards and four scores, Keeley and Alex Durham were in on a combined 21 tackles and Henry Hatada had two sacks. The loss was to Folsom.
4. Oak Ridge (4-4)
Division: I
Result: Beat Davis, 71-0
Next: Friday vs. Whitney
Update: In SFL action, the Trojans played an army of players, including Thorne Watson, who rushed for two scores. The stars had big gains, including TE Kaleb Edwards with a 50-yard TD from Phoenix Hester and Jasen Womack rushing 73 yards to the end zone. Isaac Piece had two interceptions.
5. Granite Bay (6-2)
Division: I/II
Result: Lost to Rocklin, 35-21
Next: Friday vs. Davis
Update: The Grizzlies have homecoming this week and close the regular season against Folsom before the real fun starts in the postseason. Joseph Cattolico continues to produce as a WR.
6. Twelve Bridges (8-0)
Division: IV
Result: Beat Placer, 51-34
Next: Friday at Roseville
Update: The Raging Rhinos took a step closer to the Foothill Valley League championship with a superb effort over a Placer bunch that could be a preview of a Division IV playoff rematch. Braeden Ward rushed for 229 yards and three scores giving him 18 on the season as an offensive line that includes 6-foot-5, 270-pound, 3-star recruit Colton Hogge has set a ferocious tone.
7. West Park (8-1)
Division: III
Result: Beat McClatchy, 63-3
Next: Friday at Kennedy
Update: The Panthers may not win a share of the Metro League but they will head into the D-III playoffs as a favorite, especially when fully healthy and rested. Jaden Jackson had four TD passes, two to Mason Johnson, and the defense was dominant.
8. Placer (6-2)
Division: IV
Result: Lost to Twelve Bridges, 51-34
Next: Friday vs. Yuba City
Update: The Hillmen surrendered 27 first-quarter points in a track meet of a game, making for an uphill climb the rest of the way. Placer rushed 40 times for 313 yards and five scores, three by Shaun Jones, who rushed for 107 yards, production that wins most games. The other loss was to Roseville.
9. Jesuit (5-3)
Division: II
Result: Beat Del Oro, 34-13
Next: Friday vs. Jesuit
Update: The Marauders in SFL play rushed 39 times for 270 tough yards, including Jack Patock going for 111 on seven carries and a score. QB Teddy Rios had three scores. Game balls to the defense that allowed little on the ground.
10. Christian Brothers (6-3)
Division: III
Result: Beat Bella Vista, 33-7
Next: Friday at Rio Americano
Update: The Falcons clinched at least a share of the Capital Valley Conference crown and have that gritty win over Inderkum to boot. Isaiah Jordan rushed for 148 yards and a score, Jay Cummings had 120 and two scores, and Josiah Campbell had 22 tackles, 17 solo. The local losses were early - 28-10 to Twelve Bridges and 7-0 to Jesuit.
11. Inderkum (6-2)
Division: I
Result: Beat Woodcreek, 21-7
Next: Friday vs. Rio Americano
Update: In a gritty CVC effort, Ricky Cole passed for 311 yards and two TDs and he ran for 68 and a score. Denzaiah Lewis rushed for 75 yards, and the defense allowed 46 yards on 20 carries and 27 yards passing.
12. Monterey Trail (4-4)
Division: I
Result: Beat Franklin 48-8
Next: Friday vs. Cosumnes Oaks
Update: The Mustangs are closing in on a Week 10 showdown against Elk Grove for the Delta League championship. They rushed 48 times for 399 yards and seven scores, including 208 yards and four scores by D’Adrien Sanders and 129 and two from Odie Jefferson. Three losses were to out-of-area playoff-bound programs.
13. Elk Grove (6-2)
Division: II
Result: Beat Sheldon, 32-7
Next: Friday vs. Pleasant Grove
Update: The Thundering Herd have won six consecutive games after opening losses to out-of-area teams that are a combined 14-2. Elk Grove rushed 50 times for 262 yards and four scores, three by veteran QB David Hale.
14. Destiny Christian (5-2)
Division: III
Result: Beat Cordova, 49-0
Next: Friday vs. Antelope
Update: The Lions on-field losses were in the Metro League in entertaining if not maddening setbacks to Grant and West Park. Dallas Munn passed for three scores against Cordova and the defense smothered the Lancers.
15. Sacramento (5-3)
Division: IV
Result: Lost to Vacaville, 21-14
Next: Saturday vs. Fairfield
Update: The Dragons sorely miss RB and leader Darius Moore, who returns this week with a healed-up ankle. The Monticello Empire League losses to Rodriguez (15-13), Vanden (21-14) and this last one were played without Moore.
16. Vacaville (5-3)
Division: II
Result: Beat Sacramento, 21-14
Next: Friday vs. River City
Update: The Bulldogs used a defensive stand in the closing seconds inside the 2-yard line to escape Oak Park with an inspired victory as Tanner Boyd rushed for 144 yards and three scores. The losses were to playoff-bound programs Granite Bay, Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa and Rodriguez of Fairfield.
17. Yuba City (6-2)
Division: IV
Result: Beat Del Campo, 18-12
Next: Friday at Placer
Update: The Honkers muscled to victory as Ryan Corum and Ulysses Vaca rushed for scores, and Jayden Brown had two sacks and Austin Foley had three QB hurries. The Honkers can make a statement with a big effort in Auburn.
18. Roseville (6-2)
Division: IV
Result: Beat Nevada Union, 28-17
Next: Friday vs. Twelve Bridges
Update: The no-quit Tigers have positioned themselves for a shot at a share of the FVL championship, and a win this week would resonate throughout the section. So would a competitive effort as Twelve Bridges has rolled teams.
19. Bradshaw Christian (7-0)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Liberty Ranch, 49-9
Next: Friday at Argonaut
Update: The Sierra Valley Conference championship is nearly in the bag after another big offensive outing, including 49 rushes for 457 yards and six TDs, four of those by Brandon Burden. Myles Damallie, Sam Danilyuk and Mateo Mojica combined for 33 tackles.
20. Casa Roble (5-3)
Division: V
Result: Beat Dixon, 44-20
Next: Friday at El Camino
Update: The defending Golden Empire League and Division V section champions were led by a heating-up Aidan Lopez, who passed for 307 yards and six TDs, two each going to Connor Campbell and Cohen Peabody. Braylen Blevins chugged for 175 yards.
21. Sutter (7-1)
Division: V
Result: Beat Natomas, 53-0
Next: Nov. 1 at Casa Roble
Update: The Huskies have a bye this week, all the better to rest for the GEL championship showdown against Casa Roble. Natomas coaches applauded Sutter for good sportsmanship, including the teams coming together as one after the game.
22. Woodland Christian (7-1)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Rio Vista, 54-0
Next: Friday vs. Highlands
Update: Fresh off a 28-0 nonleague win over nine-time section champion Escalon, the Cardinals rolled on and can clinch at least a share of the Sierra Delta League crown this week. The loss was to Bradshaw Christian in an opener.
23. Winters (7-0)
Division: IV
Result: Beat East Nicolaus, 48-0
Next: Friday at Willows
Update: This has been a small-school powerhouse in the Northern Section since famed coach Jack Delbar prowled the sideline from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. Daniel Ward, an alum of the school, has been the Warriors’ head coach since 2008, and this may be his best team, one led by RBs Gio Jimenez and Sebastian Rodriguez.
24. Marysville (4-4)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Wheatland, 22-6
Next: Friday at Oakmont
Update: It’s been years since the Indians have been ranked and they haven’t been this good since 2016 when they went 9-3. In a spirited homecoming effort to keep their Pioneer Valley League championship hopes alive, RB star Dennis Syders rushed for 105 yards and three TDs, and Elias Delozier and Kaleb Hill had interceptions.
25. Wheatland (7-1)
Division: VI
Result: Lost to Marysville, 22-6
Next: Friday vs. Center
Update: The Pirates managed just 15 yards rushing on 19 carries in a wake-up setback. Wheatland can still tie for the PVL championship.
This story was originally published October 21, 2024 at 12:28 PM.