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

It’s called the Sierra Foothill League, a collection of high school football programs lumped into one meat-grinder race, with schools stretching from Placer County through Carmichael, past Folsom and up to El Dorado Hills on the Highway 50 corridor.

The SFL can also stand for Strongest Football League, or Superior Football League as it continues to tower over the rest of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. Top-ranked Folsom seeks a record fifth consecutive Division I section championship, No. 2 Oak Ridge is aiming for its fourth successive D-I title appearance, and No. 3 Rocklin is driven to reach its third section final in five seasons while No. 4 Granite Bay is fully capable of adding to its considerable trophy case.

All seven SFL teams are Bee-ranked, including No. 7 Del Oro, No. 11 Jesuit and No. 16 Whitney.

Team of the Week

The Valley Vikings of the Elk Grove Unified School District are The Bee’s Team of the Week.

A year after putting the program on hold after low roster numbers forced such a difficult decision, the Vikings dropped down to 8-man football and are off to a 2-2 start with 25 players and visions of rejoining the 11-man ranks next season.

Last week, coach Brian Lewis celebrated a 30-28 overtime victory over San Juan, using a last-play, goal line stand inches from the end zone. Valley is led by 6-foot-3 quarterback and 3.85 student Charles Wilson, who plays three sports “because it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

1. Folsom (4-1)

The Bulldogs kicked off the SFL schedule with a 34-21 win over previous No. 2 Rocklin behind QB Ryder Lyons and superb second-half defense. The team’s one loss was to state powerhouse Mission Viejo of Orange County, a much-needed wake-up call. Next: Oct. 3 vs. Oak Ridge.

2. Oak Ridge (3-1)

The Trojans of El Dorado Hills have a loss to San Diego heavyweight San Marcos, and they have successive impressive wins over St. Mary’s of Stockton (56-35) and Del Oro (12-8). Next: Friday vs. Granite Bay.

3. Rocklin (3-1)

The Thunder led Folsom 14-13 at the half before falling 34-21 in feeling that they had a shot to derail the Bulldogs. Next: Friday at Jesuit.

4. Granite Bay (4-1)

The Grizzlies impressed in a 31-20 triumph over Jesuit as RB Isaiah Ene, do-all star Darnell Turner and the defense stood tall. The loss was a thriller to Bay Area powerhouse Pittsburg. Next: Friday at Oak Ridge.

5. Grant (2-3)

The Pacers showed no quit against the state’s top-ranked team in De La Salle, dropping a 47-20 contest. The other losses are to Folsom and North Bay No. 1-ranked Cardinal Newman (15-7) with wins over Fresno-based Central Section powers Central East (42-26) and Clovis East (19-15). Next: at Lincoln of San Diego, a defending CIF state champion.

6. Twelve Bridges (5-0)

The Raging Rhinos of Lincoln rage on, holding off a late charge to beat Destiny Christian, 38-30, to extend their regular-season winning streak to 25 and 30 for non-neutral site games. This includes 16 straight at home, so hat’s off to coach Chris Bean and his stellar staff. Next: Nevada Union on Oct. 3

7. Del Oro (3-1)

The Golden Eagles went toe-to-toe in a slugfest of a 12-8 loss to Oak Ridge in Loomis. A year after people in town urged the removal of the coaches for not winning enough, those coaches have Del Oro back in a groove. Next: Whitney.

8. Monterey Trail (3-1)

The Mustangs beat Laguna Creek in a Delta League opener, 34-13, as Odie Jefferson ran for 232 yards and three scores and Xander McKee went for 116 and two. Next: at Sheldon.

9. Inderkum (4-1)

The Tigers opened Capital Valley Conference action with a resounding 61-7 rout of Christian Brothers as Brody Cole passed for 248 yards and three scores and ran for one. The loss was an opener to Monterey Trail. Next: at Vista del Lago, Oct. 3

10. Woodcreek (4-0)

The Timberwolves of Roseville started CVC play with a 24-7 win over Ponderosa after wins over Bee-ranked Jesuit (38-13), Whitney (37-20) and Roseville (21-11). Next Rio Americano.

11. Jesuit (3-2)

The Marauders dropped a 31-20 contest to Granite Bay and prepare for a full schedule of more SFL bruisers. Next: vs. Rocklin.

12. Roseville (3-1)

The Tigers needed the bye week break to heal up key players. The loss was to Woodcreek. Next: Deer Valley of Antioch in a nonleague finale.

13. Destiny Christian (2-3)

The Lions of Sacramento showed grit with a short-handed team (a handful of players still seeking CIF transfer clearance) in dropping a 38-30 thriller to Twelve Bridges. Next: A Metro League opener at West Park.

14. Casa Roble (3-1)

The Rams of Orangevale had a bye to rest and recover with a favorable schedule to ramp up momentum for another shot at the Golden Empire League championship showdown against Sutter. Next: vs. Woodland.

15. Placer (3-2)

The Hillmen steamed Burbank 42-6 with both teams agreeing to a running clock in the second quarter as the Titans of Sacramento have just 20 players. This was the right thing to do. Next: vs. Del Campo.

16. Whitney (2-2)

The Wildcats of Placer County beat Davis 43-0 in a nonleague game as Carson Floyd passed for two scores and the defense applied constant pressure. Next: at Del Oro

17. Sutter (5-0)

The Huskies blasted Woodland 64-8 as Braden Scritchfield tossed three touchdowns and Losi Asiata ran for 146 yards and two scores for the defending Golden Empire League champs. Next: Dixon.

18. Bradshaw Christian (3-1)

The Pride rolled Galt 60-0 in a Sierra Valley Conference opener in a nice bounce-back effort after falling to Sutter. Next: El Dorado

19. West Park (2-3)

The Panthers crushed Cordova 64-14 to open Metro League play as Jaden Jackson passed for four touchdowns and Deacon Ogden rushed for two scores. Next: A fun one vs. Destiny Christian.

20. Sacramento (3-1)

The Dragons opened Monticello Empire League action with a 48-18 rout of Wood of Vacaville behind RB Cordell Radcliffe and Laron James-Radcliffe and a dominating defense. Next: At Pioneer of Woodland.

The Next Five

21. Vacaville (3-2)

22. Franklin (4-1)

23. Pleasant Grove (3-1)

24. Elk Grove (2-3)

25. Liberty Ranch (4-0)

The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 15

1. Folsom (4-1)

2. Oak Ridge (3-1)

3. Manteca (4-0)

4. Granite Bay (4-1)

5. Rocklin (3-1)

6. St. Mary’s-Stockton (3-1)

7. Grant (2-3)

8. Twelve Bridges (5-0)

9. Monterey Trail (3-1)

10. Central Catholic-Modesto (2-3)

11. Inderkum (4-1)

12. Twelve Bridges (5-0)

13. Sonora (5-0)

14. Vanden (4-1)

15. Oakdale (4-1)

This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM.