Bee’s Best: Breaking down the Sacramento-area’s Top 25 prep football teams
The Jesuit Marauders were not the first Big Red to storm through the Sacramento region in high school football.
That honor belongs to the Cordova Lancers, who famously went by Big Red in the 1970s and ‘80s when their nationally recognized program stomped most all comers. It still shows Big Red in big bold red and black letters on that school’s campus as the Lancers are in the midst of building up their storied program.
Jesuit has embraced the Big Red tag in its storied sports romp for years, too. Jesuit opened its pristine Carmichael campus in 1963, the same year as Cordova, but it took the Marauders awhile to gain firm football footing. The school produced its first playoff football team in 1988 under quarterback and scholar Greg Harcos, who later won championships as the school’s varsity basketball coach and has been a fixture in the science/biology department for years. Harcos still coaches basketball at his alma mater.
By the early 1990s, coach Dan Carmazzi and the Marauders had become an elite local program, and the good times continued. Carmazzi won 258 career games, most of those at Jesuit before concluding his career at Christian Brothers. Marlon Blanton is in his 14th season as Jesuit’s head coach, having won his 100th game with the Marauders and then his 101st on another milestone evening on Saturday at Hughes Stadium.
Jesuit rolled Christian Brothers 28-7 in the 54th Holy Bowl, giving Jesuit its 400th victory in program history. Cordova, since we’re always keeping score here, won its 400th all-time game just over a year ago, a 15-14 effort over Mesa Verde.
The Bee’s Team of the Week
The Sutter Huskies won 13 CIF Northern Section championships in their rich gridiron history and then moved into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. The old values of blocking and tackling continued, as Sutter reached a section final last season, dropping a heartbreaker to Hughson.
So here come the small-school Huskies again with a championship march. Sutter beat Bradshaw Christian 42-21 on Friday night, earning Bee Team of the Week honors under longtime coach Ryan Reynolds.
Sutter is 4-0.
The Bee’s Top 25 rankings
1. Folsom (3-1)
The Bulldogs bounced back from their crushing loss at nationally ranked Mission Viejo with a satisfying 49-7 effort over Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, the alma mater of Folsom coach Paul Doherty. With 5-star QB Ryder Lyons nursing a sore ankle, backup Brody Rudnicki dazzled with five touchdown passes, and the defense allowed 42 yards rushing on 20 carries. Next: A Sierra Foothill League opener at Rocklin.
2. Rocklin (3-0)
The Thunder had a bye after victories over Turlock (35-7), Bishop Manogue of Reno (28-23) and Lincoln of Stockton (41-22) behind senior offensive cogs Reeve Slone, Connor Bow, Josiah Andrews and Greyson Smith. Next: Folsom in an SFL rumble.
3. Oak Ridge (2-1)
The Trojans of El Dorado Hills impressed in their 56-35 effort over St. Mary’s of Stockton in a top-five meeting of Sac-Joaquin Section programs, moving coach Casey Taylor to 5-0 all-time against that program, including his time at Del Oro. Nick Johnson passed for 185 yards and three touchdowns to Isaac Pierce. Tyler Andujar ran for two scores and Keith Erickson had a defensive TD. Next: Del Oro in a reunion game of sorts for Coach Taylor.
4. Grant (2-2)
The Pacers used a 99-yard drive to stun Central Section powerhouse Clovis East 19-14 behind grinder back Thorne Watson. The losses were to Folsom and North Bay power Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa. Next: a home showdown with Northern California top-ranked De La Salle.
5. Granite Bay (3-1)
The Grizzlies beat previous No. 20 Ponderosa 42-7 as four-year starter and Sacramento State-bound Isaiah Ene rushed for 138 yards and three scores. Billy Heinselman had 10 tackles. The loss was a thriller to Bay Area power Pittsburg. Next: Jesuit in an SFL opener.
6. Twelve Bridges (4-0)
The regular-season winning streak for the Raging Rhinos of Lincoln is now 24, dating back to the start of the 2023 season, and the latest effort was one to remember. 12B beat Arroyo Grande of the Central Coast 42-41 as Chase Wyhlidko rushed for 173 yards and three scores to go with 10 tackles. Colton Hogge had four sacks and led the offensive line charge. Next: A nonleague contest at Destiny Christian.
7. Del Oro (3-0)
The Golden Eagles had an uncharacteristically off season in Loomis last fall, winning just twice. DO has found its gear in this fast and physical start, including a 61-7 rout of Northern Section No. 2-ranked Foothill as Nolen Sauve passed for 229 yards and five TDs, two to Brennen Gibbs. Next: A home game against Oak Ridge.
8. Monterey Trail (2-1)
The Mustangs of the Elk Grove Unified lost to unbeaten California of San Ramon 35-21 in nonleague play despite touchdown runs by Nigel Flowers and Odie Jefferson and 11 tackles from Ian Guerrero. Big wins include Inderkum and a defending NorCal champion in Amador Valley of the Bay Area. Next: A Delta League opener against Laguna Creek.
9. Inderkum (3-1)
After dropping a tight opener to Monterey Trail, the Tigers have peeled off wins over Bay Area power Marin Catholic, Northern Section top-ranked Pleasant Valley of Chico and Destiny Christian 31-20 in a fun family feud showdown as QB Brody Cole accounted for three scores and King Concepcion-Copeland recorded two sacks. Next: A Capital Valley Conference opener against Christian Brothers.
10. Woodcreek (3-0)
The upstart Timberwolves won the Junction Bowl over rival Roseville, 21-10, as Josiah Melendez regularly hit top target Trace Murchison, including for a TD, and he ran for one. The opening win was over Jesuit. Next: A CVC opener against Ponderosa.
11. Jesuit (3-1)
After opening with a loss to Woodcreek, the Marauders have rolled, taking down Rio Americano 35-0, Bellarmine Prep of San Jose 42-7 and Christian Brothers 28-7. Next: An SFL opener at Granite Bay.
12. Roseville (3-1)
The walking-wounded Tigers expect to be at full strength soon, but the grit remains, including a 21-11 loss to Woodcreek following wins over Antelope (21-17), Oakmont (34-14) and West Park (23-17). Next: Deer Valley of Antioch on Sept. 26.
13. Destiny Christian Academy (2-2)
The Lions of Sacramento are not a complete team with 12 transfer players awaiting and hoping for CIF clearance in an appeal effort at the end of the month that will include lawyers. Ahmir Laster and K’Aden Minor are impressive sophomore skill players. Next: Twelve Bridges at home.
14. Casa Roble (3-1)
The Rams soaked in their road trip to Grass Valley with a 39-14 victory as Aidan Lopez passed for two touchdowns, Jaylan Barcenas had three total scores and sophomore Dunedin Tupo had 18 tackles and two forced fumbles. Next: Woodland on Sept. 26 in a Golden Empire League opener.
15. Placer (2-2)
The Hillmen bounced back from a crunching loss to Del Oro to deliver a 31-0 effort over Antelope as Shaun Jones and Danny Sanchez rushed for two scores. Next: A nonleague game against Burbank.
16. Whitney (1-2)
The Wildcats had a bye and have losses to Twelve Bridges and Woodcreek with a win over West Park. Next: A nonleague game against Davis.
17. Sutter (4-0)
Behind Losi Asiata’s 205 yards rushing and four touchdowns, the Huskies beat Bradshaw Christian 42-21 to avenge a last-second loss to BC. Troy Bowens and Justice White each had 13 tackles and Andrew Barker had 14. Next: At Woodland in a GEL opener.
18. Bradshaw Christian (2-1)
The Pride lost to Sutter 42-21 despite three total touchdown runs from Devin Hatcher and Bishop Porter. A big win was a 50-28 effort over Vista del Lago. Next: At Galt in a Sierra Valley Conference League opener.
19. West Park (1-3)
The Panthers of Roseville dropped a 42-35 game to Reno power Reed as Jaden Jackson tossed two TDs and ran for one and Declan Shindelbower rushed for 123 yards and two scores. The other losses were to Whitney (17-13) and Roseville (23-17) and the win was over Vacaville (22-6). Next: A Metro League opener at Cordova.
20. Sacramento (2-1)
The Dragons of Oak Park raced past Cosumnes Oaks 51-21 as Lamar James-Radcliffe passed for 228 yards and five TDs, three to Damarie Taylor, and Corie Radcliffe rushed for 209 yards and two scores. The loss was 30-27 to Livermore. Next: A Monticello Empire League opener against Wood of Vacaville.
The Next Five
21. Vacaville (2-2)
22. Elk Grove (2-2)
23. Franklin (3-1)
24. Pleasant Grove (3-1)
25. Liberty Ranch (3-0)
The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 15
1. Folsom (3-1)
2. Manteca (3-0)
3. Rocklin (3-0)
4. Oak Ridge (2-1)
5. Grant (2-2)
6. Granite Bay (3-1)
7. St. Mary’s-Stockton (3-1)
8. Twelve Bridges (4-0)
9. Monterey Trail (2-1)
10. Central Catholic-Modesto (1-3)
11. Inderkum (3-1)
12. Sonora (4-0)
13. Vanden (3-1)
14. Turlock (1-3)
15. Oakdale (3-1)
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 12:28 PM.