The Bee’s Top 25: High school football updates, review of big wins heading into CIF playoffs
The Sacramento-area high school football season is a two-part package.
There is the regular season that consists of 10 games, including a sprint through league play — and then there are the playoffs.
It starts with the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section postseason tournaments, which start Friday at home sites and conclude on Thanksgiving weekend at Sacramento City College’s famed Hughes Stadium for Divisions I through VI, with the smallest-school D-VII playing its title game in Stockton.
All section champions will advance to a CIF Northern California regional final on Dec. 6-7, and those winners compete for state championships on Dec. 13-14, otherwise known as the fortunate few.
In The Sacramento Bee’s final regular-season Top 25, we factor in who had the biggest wins, both against Bee-ranked teams and out-of-section. Spoiler alert: Folsom is the clear No. 1, the lone loss coming early to powerhouse Serra of San Mateo by a point.
Oak Ridge moves up to No. 2 by virtue of the Trojans finishing second to Folsom in the top conference in the section, the Sierra Foothill League. Oak Ridge had three early losses to out-of-area powers. The Trojans have wins over previous No. 3 Rocklin (17-6), No. 5 Granite Bay (30-17) and then-No. 8 Jesuit (23-3), now ranked 13th. Oak Ridge also gave Folsom its toughest SFL game, trailing 14-7 at the half of a 35-7 contest.
Rocklin is ranked third by The Bee with ranked wins over Granite Bay (35-21) and Jesuit (52-14). The Thunder lost to Folsom (51-14) and Oak Ridge (17-6) but also had a big nonleague win over Bishop Manogue of Reno (48-17), which beat section heavyweight St. Mary’s (21-14). St. Mary’s, seeded second in the D-II playoff bracket, gave NorCal No. 1 De La Salle its stiffest game this season before falling 38-35.
Grant is ranked fourth by The Bee, and the Pacers are seeded third in the D-II playoffs, a spot behind St. Mary’s with Rocklin the top seed. Grant has Bee-ranked wins over No. 7 West Park (48-7), No. 8 Inderkum (35-21) and No. 11 Destiny Christian Academy (30-12).
Grant’s losses are to heavyweights: 42-14 to De La Salle; 59-45 to Central Section No. 1-ranked Clovis East of Fresno, which is 10-0; and 49-19 to San Diego Section No. 1 Lincoln, which is 8-2.
We will post a final ranking after the CIF state finals.
1. Folsom (9-1)
Division: I
Result: Beat Granite Bay, 48-10
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Bulldogs earned the No. 1 seed in the Division I playoffs and get the winner of the Downey of Modesto vs. Edison of Stockton opener. A section crown would be the program’s 11th since 2010 and fourth in succession. Do you take Folsom in this bracket or pick the field?
2. Oak Ridge (6-4)
Division: I
Result: Beat Rocklin, 17-6
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Trojans earned the No. 2 seed in the large-school scramble as the section selection committee factors in strength of schedule, including nonleague games. The Trojans lost the last two D-I section title games to Folsom in tight games. Is the third time the charm?
3. Rocklin (8-2)
Division: II
Result: Lost to Oak Ridge, 17-6
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Thunder are the top seed in the D-II bracket and seek a section repeat. Rocklin plays the winner of the Kimball of Tracy against Elk Grove opener.
4. Grant (7-3)
Division: II
Result: Beat Cordova, 55-0
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The D-II No. 3-seeded Pacers seek a section title three-peat after winning the previous two D-III section crowns, moving up as part of the section’s “sustained success” model. Grant won’t flinch. The Pacers will take on the Jesuit-Lodi winner.
5. Granite Bay (7-3)
Division: I
Result: Lost to Folsom, 48-10
Next: Friday vs. Pleasant Grove
Update: The Grizzlies are the No. 5 seed in D-I, though there was plenty of argument for them to be the No. 4 seed. The losses were all in SFL play — to Folsom, Oak Ridge and Rocklin. The playoffs mean more Isaiah Ene, the team’s star RB/DB.
6. Twelve Bridges (10-0)
Division: IV
Result: Beat Del Campo, 48-12
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Raging Rhinos of Lincoln were the clear choice to be the top seed in D-IV after reaching the D-V finals last season, and they’re even stronger this season. 12B faces the winner of the Yuba City vs. Sierra of Manteca opener. Bee-ranked wins include Christian Brothers, Casa Roble, Placer and Roseville.
7. West Park (9-1)
Division: III
Result: Bye
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Panthers of Roseville are the No. 2 seed in a bracket that includes top-seeded Oakdale, No. 3 Vanden and No. 4 Christian Brothers. West Park plays the winner of the Rio Americano-Merced opener. The Panthers have ranked wins over Casa Roble, Roseville, Woodcreek (when ranked) and Destiny Christian.
8. Inderkum (8-2)
Division: I
Result: Beat Ponderosa, 50-0
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Tigers are the No. 4 seed in D-I, thanks in large part to a stout defense and the the skills and magic of QB star Ricky Cole, who has 100 total touchdowns in his prep career. Inderkum’s ranked wins are Monterey Trail and Woodcreek (when ranked), with ranked losses to Christian Brothers and Grant.
9. Monterey Trail (7-3)
Division: I
Result: Beat Elk Grove, 21-20
Next: Friday vs. Lincoln-Stockton
Update: The Mustangs won the Delta League with a 6-0 record and will play Oak Ridge if they win this week. The losses were to Inderkum and to Bay Area heavies Pittsburg, El Cerrito and California of San Ramon.
10. Placer (8-2)
Division: IV
Result: Beat River Valley, 41-6
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Hillmen drew the No. 4 seed in the D-IV race, and they’re not at all pleased about it, boggled that No. 2 Patterson is the No. 2 seed at 5-5 (but with a brutal schedule). Now they can do something about it. The losses were to Roseville by a point and to Twelve Bridges, 51-34.
11. Destiny Christian (8-2)
Division: III
Result: Beat McClatchy, 47-0
Next: Friday vs. Ponderosa
Update: The Lions are the No. 5 seed in a strong D-III bracket and would face Christian Brothers with a win this week. The losses were in Metro League play to Grant, 30-12, and West Park, 23-21. The Lions are capable of taking this bracket.
12. Elk Grove (6-4)
Division: II
Result: Lost to Elk Grove, 21-20
Next: Friday vs. Kimball
Update: The Thundering Herd had their six-game winning streak suddenly turn into a two-game skid, but they can turn things around with a win this week. You can bet that senior QB leader David Hale will come to work.
13. Jesuit (6-4)
Division: II
Result: Beat Whitney, 48-7
Next: Friday vs. Lodi
Update: The Marauders are the No. 6 seed in D-II and will take on a dangerous Flames team with Grant looming in the second round. The ranked win is 7-0 over Jesuit, with SFL setbacks to Granite Bay (30-17), Rocklin (52-14), Oak Ridge (23-3) and Folsom (55-10).
14. Christian Brothers (6-4)
Division: III
Result: Lost to Rio Americano, 7-3
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Falcons lost a stunner to a fired-up Rio Americano team and can use that as a wake-up call as they await the winner of Destiny Christian-Ponderosa. Ranked wins are over Inderkum and over once-ranked Vista del Lago and Woodcreek. The ranked losses are to Twelve Bridges (28-10) Jesuit (7-0).
15. Vacaville (7-3)
Division: II
Result: Beat Wood, 35-7
Next: Friday vs. Atwater
Update: The Bulldogs are the No. 7 seed in the D-II race, and with a win this week, earn a visit to No. 2-seeded St. Mary’s. The losses were to playoff entries in Granite Bay (17-14), Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa (28-10) and Rodriguez of Fairfield (22-16).
16. Sacramento (7-3)
Division: IV
Result: Beat River City, 56-13
Next: Saturday vs. Del Campo
Update: The Dragons of Oak Park have found their groove and are the No. 6 seed in D-IV with a real shot to reach the finals. The losses were in Monticello Empire League play to Rodriguez (15-13), Vanden (21-14) and Vacaville (21-14).
17. Bradshaw Christian (10-0)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Rosemont, 44-0
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Pride earned the top seed in D-VI with visions of winning their sixth overall small-school championship. Ranked wins are over Woodland Christian (27-6), Sutter (28-21) and then-ranked Union Mine (35-0).
18. Roseville (7-3)
Division: IV
Result: Beat Woodcreek, 31-6
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Tigers are the No. 3 seed in D-IV and get the winner of the Del Campo-Sacramento opener. Roseville has ranked wins over Oakmont (36-7) and Placer (36-35) with setbacks to West Park (35-28), Yuba City (28-28) and Twelve Bridges (55-20). The Tigers have the talent to reach the section finals.
19. Sutter (9-1)
Division: V
Result: Beat Casa Roble, 42-21
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The Huskies are the No. 2 seed in D-V, opposite of powerhouse Hughson. Winners of eight Northern Section crowns since 2012, Sutter seeks its first in this section. The loss was a last-play heartbreaker to Bradshaw Christian, 28-21.
20. Laguna Creek (5-5)
Division: I
Result: Beat Pleasant Grove, 34-19
Next: Friday at Turlock
Update: The gritty Cardinals of Elk Grove have won four of five games under fired-up coach Ryan Nill and star RB Armon Thornonta, who rushed for 1,000 yards in six games during an injury ravaged season. LC faces a talented and hardened Turlock team.
21. Pleasant Grove (6-4)
Division: I
Result: Lost to Laguna Creek, 34-19
Next: Friday at Granite Bay
Update: The Eagles of the Elk Grove Unified were sky high after rolling Elk Grove and then brought back to earth last week. They can rock the D-I bracket with a win this week.
22. Woodland Christian (9-1)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Highlands, 60-12
Next: Nov. 15, TBA
Update: The No. 2 seed in the D-VI field opposite the only team to beat them this season in Bradshaw Christian, the Cardinals seek a section, NorCal and CIF state repeat. A monstrous nonleague win was Oct. 10 over powerhouse Escalon, 27-0, which seeks a section title three-peat.
23. Winters (9-0)
Division: IV
Result: Beat 48-0
Next: Friday vs. Paradise
Update: The Warriors of Yolo County have one more week of regular-season action before seeking their eighth overall Northern Section championship. This is one of the best Winters teams of the last 30 years.
24. Wheatland (9-1)
Division: VI
Result: Beat Oakmont, 26-9
Next: Friday vs. Calaveras
Update: From 0-10 two years ago to 3-7 last fall to this inspired strong start, the Pirates have arrived, earning every bit of the Pioneer Valley League championship. The D-VI bracket is a small-school bonanza.
25. Oakmont (7-3)
Division: V
Result: Lost to Wheatland, 26-9
Next: Friday vs. Dixon
Update: From 0-10 last season to hosting their first playoff game in 23 years, the Vikings of Roseville have a lot to be proud of. Now they’re geared to make a run to their first section final since 1987.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:45 AM.