Bee’s Best: Breaking down the Sacramento-area’s Top 25 prep football teams

The gap between the best high school football teams in Southern California and those at the top of the Northern California heap is about as far as the distance from the state capital in Sacramento to the heart of Orange County - considerable, daunting and steep.

And the only way to close that gap is for NorCal teams to schedule the bruisers from the south, to take on programs with rosters dotted with Division I college prospects and surrounded by massive population bases of which to draw from, not to mention the scores of transfers that flood in.

On Friday night in Orange County, Bee No. 1-ranked Folsom was soundly defeated by state No. 4-ranked Mission Viejo, 53-14. The Bulldogs trailed 37-6 at the half and suffered their worst defeat since 2006. Mission Viejo recorded 10.5 sacks, broke up five passes and held Folsom to 24 yards rushing on 32 carries, a lot of that tied to the sacks.

Ohio State-committed quarterback Luke Fahey passed for 323 yards and five touchdowns and Folsom’s BYU-bound Ryder Lyons passed for 202 yards and a score. Lyons wrote on a social media post that his team “just got absolutely belted,” adding, “Reminder - everyone’s human.”

Folsom bounced back before

Folsom has used crushing defeats in the past to elevate its program. This included a 54-10 loss to Elk Grove in a 2006 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game in an era when the Bulldogs celebrated two-game winning streaks. The Folsom coaches then understood that they could not win smash-mouth games in the trenches, so they introduced the spread offense, to open things up, to get the ball to players in open space and to let them go.

By 2009, Folsom was roaring at a different speed, going 11-2 that fall. After losing to Grant in a season opener 49-14 to start the 2010 season, Folsom coaches used the setback to refocus the program. Folsom won the rematch against Grant in the section finals, 41-20, enroute to the program’s first of five CIF state crowns.

Folsom’s 14-0 seasons in 2012 and 2013 were capped by crushing losses to De La Salle of the Bay Area in the CIF NorCal Open finals, and the Bulldogs hit the weight room with renewed vigor. In 2014, Folsom went 16-0, didn’t play De La Salle, and stormed to a CIF State crown.

A year ago, Folsom lost by a point to Serra of San Mateo and rebounded by reaching a CIF state final. This season, Folsom toppled Serra for the first time in four meetings, 56-42. Serra then lost to new NorCal No. 1 De La Salle, 26-0.

The top three teams down South are national No. 1 Mater Dei, national No. 2 Bosco and Mission Viejo. NorCal teams eager to reach the CIF Open finals, the highest classification in the, need to pump the breaks. Just win the day. Win the week, and refocus.

Miners are Bee’s Team of the Week

Our weekly Team of the Week nod goes to the gritty Miners of Nevada Union, who moved to 2-1 after routing Christian Brothers 52-20 in a tremendous throwback effort of power running and stout defense, pleasing coach Brad Sparks, who coaches his guys hard and hugs them all for a job well done.

The Miners rushed for 439 yards, including 233 and two scores from Brandon McCallum and 131 and three touchdowns by equally-as-tough Rhyder Eelkema. Craig Statler was fierce in the trenches, including recording two sacks.

1. Folsom (2-1)

The Bulldogs are still the top team in the Sac-Joaquin Section with wins over Grant (51-13) and Bay Area No. 3 Serra (56-42). Folsom now readies for 2-0 Sacred Heart Prep of San Francisco before opening Sierra Foothill League play against Rocklin.

2. Rocklin (3-0)

The Thunder have wins over then-Modesto Bee No. 2 Turlock (35-7), Reno No. 1 Bishop Manogue (28-23) and Stockton Record No. 2 Lincoln of Stockton (41-22) with a bye to focus on Folsom. Rocklin is thundering along.

3. Oak Ridge (1-1)

The Trojans of El Dorado Hills have a 40-7 win at Bakersfield power Frontier and a 24-13 loss to San Diego Section heavyweight Mission Hills with St. Mary’s of Stockton visiting this week before opening SFL action at Del Oro.

4. Grant (1-2)

The Pacers were jolted in Santa Rosa, falling to decades-long power Cardinal Newman, 15-7, undone by six interceptions. Next is Central Section No. 3-ranked Clovis East (3-0).

5. Granite Bay (2-1)

The Grizzlies bounced back from a 42-36 loss at Bay Area No. 3 Pittsburg with a 45-7 triumph over Vista del Lago by rushing 37 times for 348 yards, including 20 carries and 215 yards and three scores by the relentless Isaiah Ene, who also had an interception. Next is upstart Ponderosa.

6. Twelve Bridges (3-0)

The Raging Rhinos of Lincoln beat nearby Whitney 42-27 behind smooth QB Connor Frontiera, reliable Will Gant (two touchdown catches) and dominating line play. Next is a road game at high-scoring Arroyo Grande of the Central Coast.

7. Monterey Trail (2-0)

The Mustangs defeated a team that played for a CIF State title last season in Amador Valley of the Bay Area, winning 14-10 as Nigel Flowers had a spectacular 72-yard touchdown run. The defense had two goal-line stands as linebackers Ian Guerrero and Loni Kafovalu had big games. Next is another North Coast Section heavy in California of San Ramon.

8. Inderkum (2-1)

The Tigers lost 27-22 to Monterey Trail in an opener and responded with a 21-20 effort over Bay Area power Marin Catholic and a 35-14 win over Northern Section top-ranked Pleasant Valley of Chico. Next is Destiny Christian, a homecoming of sorts for Inderkum coach Justin Reber, a star player and graduate of Capital Christian, which became DCA just over a year ago.

9. Del Oro (2-0)

The Golden Eagles rejoiced in their satisfying 45-13 rout of Placer as ever-steady quarterback Nolen Sauve passed for a touchdown and ran for one, and the defense received scores from Victor Suarez and Ashton Greenhalgh, firing up a team bent on reversing its two-win campaign of 2024. Next is Foothill of the Northern Section.

10. Roseville (3-0)

Playing without quarterback leader Mason Susnara and other key pieces because of injury, the gritty Tigers beat West Park 23-17 in double overtime, a credit to coach Adam Reinking and staff. Next is another rumble with a Roseville team in Woodcreek.

11. Woodcreek (2-0)

The Timberwolves had a bye after beating Jesuit 38-13 and Whitney 37-20 and they play Roseville this week. Josiah Melendez and Trace Murchison are off to a fast start on offense.

12. Destiny Christian (2-1)

The Lions of Sacramento have found their stride in beating Menlo-Atherton of the Bay Area 41-7 and Yuba City 28-7. Now they have two whopper games looming at home against Inderkum and Twelve Bridges before opening Metro League play against West Park and Grant.

13. Jesuit (2-1)

The Marauders rolled Bellarmine of San Jose 42-7 as Teddy Rios passed for two touchdowns and Brody Quinn ran for two and the defense dominated to give beloved coach Marlon Blanton his 100th win with the program and 183rd overall. Next is Christian Brothers on Saturday in the Holy Bowl at Hughes Stadium.

14. Casa Roble (2-1)

The Rams after beating Placer 46-30 in an opener lost 36-34 to Ponderosa and then beat rival Bella Vista 35-26, setting up an intriguing showdown in Grass Valley this week against Nevada Union.

15. Placer (1-2)

The Hillmen have losses to Casa Roble and Placer, and a lot of questions on what’s happened to the defense. Antelope hosts Placer this week before Foothill Valley League action kicks off.

16. Whitney (1-2)

The Wildcats of Rocklin lost to Twelve Bridges 42-27 after falling to Woodcreek 37-20 and opening with a 17-13 win over West Park. Davis visits this week before the SFL schedule kicks off.

17. West Park (1-2)

A season of promise has taken a jolt with losses to Whitney and Roseville, but wins have a way to get teams right back on track. Reed of Reno visits this week before Metro League play kicks off.

18. Sutter (3-0)

The small-school Huskies are a juggernaut, blasting through Argonaut 56-7, Fairfield 63-13 and Douglas of Nevada 46-21 to set up a showdown against Bradshaw Christian, teams that have battled to the wire in recent meetings.

19. Bradshaw Christian (2-0)

Despite mass losses to graduation, the Pride have not broken stride, beating Calaveras 21-20 and Vista del Lago 50-28 with an off week to prepare for Sutter at home. Small ball excellence.

20. Ponderosa (3-0)

The Bruins of Shingle Springs have wins over El Dorado (29-0), Casa Roble (36-34) and Foothill of Sacramento (50-6) and now face Granite Bay in the ultimate gauge game before opening Capital Valley Conference play against Woodcreek.

The Next 5

21. Pleasant Grove (3-0)

22. Vacaville (1-2)

23. Nevada Union (2-1)

24. Sacramento (1-1)

25. Woodland Christian (1-1)

Bubble: Elk Grove (1-2), Franklin (2-1), Liberty Ranch (2-0), Yuba City (2-1).

The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 15

1. Folsom (2-1)

2. Manteca (3-0)

3. Rocklin (3-0)

4. St. Mary’s-Stockton (3-0)

5. Oak Ridge (1-1)

6. Grant (1-2)

7. Granite Bay (2-1)

8. Twelve Bridges (3-0)

9. Monterey Trail (2-0)

10. Turlock (1-2)

11. Central Catholic-Modesto (0-3)

12. Inderkum-Sacramento (2-1)

13. Vanden-Fairfield (3-0)

14. Sonora (3-0)

15. Oakdale (2-1)

This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 12:24 PM.