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

The Sierra Foothill League towers above the rest in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, the second largest of the 10 sections dotted across California.

The Folsom Bulldogs lead the pack as the four-time defending section Division I, large-school champion with a chance to secure the program’s 10th SFL crown next week since joining the league before the 2014 season.

Granite Bay is Bee-ranked No. 2, has a bye this week and visits Folsom in a regular-season finale on Oct. 31 for a shot at the SFL banner.

Ranking Granite Bay second sets up the fourth Bee No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown of the season, following Folsom victories in order against Grant, Rocklin and Oak Ridge.

League championships still matter, and are still a goal for those also seeking bigger prizes. To win or tie for the SFL crown is a big deal.

Grant has endured the region’s toughest schedule and is the juggernaut of the Metro League with visions of a fourth consecutive section banner and third CIF state crown in four seasons. The Pacers of Del Paso Heights are now in the Division I section field, meaning a potential showdown with Oak Ridge and/or a rematch with Folsom.

SFL teams occupy The Bee’s No. 4-7 spots with Oak Ridge, Del Oro, Rocklin and Jesuit. Granite Bay, Oak Ridge, Del Oro, Rocklin and Jesuit are all in the section Division II playoff scramble (brackets will be released by the section office on Nov. 2).

The Bee’s Team of the Week

Del Oro arrived in Carmichael a bit short-handed with some key starters nursing injuries, but no one weeps for the wounded in this sport. You just play. The Golden Eagles of Loomis defeated Jesuit 29-16, delivering the sort of haymaker shot to a powerhouse that the program had been seeking this season after enduring an uncharacteristic 2-win campaign in 2024.

Nolan Sauve, Brandon Alfonso, Stephen Volz, Landen Parry, Luke Galer and Chase Carmazzi all made contributions for Del Oro. Everyone in Golden Eagles colors did, actually, because it takes everyone to win games in the SFL.

1. Folsom (7-1): The Bulldogs have a loss to state powerhouse Mission Viejo of Orange County, which was a needed wake-up call, and have been especially tough on defense this season otherwise. A section Division I five-peat would be a record at the division.

2. Granite Bay (7-2): The Division II Grizzlies have wins over Jesuit (31-20), Del Oro (14-13), Whitney (42-7) and Rocklin (29-20), and RB/DB Isaiah Ene has had a tremendous season and career with plenty of season left to go.

3. Grant (5-4): The Division I Pacers have a bye this week, close Metro League play with Cordova and then set aim on the bigger prizes in the postseason. Grant has played four quarterbacks this season and has an emerging running game with an enormous and talented offensive line.

4. Oak Ridge (5-3): The Division I Trojans have big wins over Frontier of Bakersfield (40-7), St. Mary’s of Stockton (56-35), Del Oro (12-8), Granite Bay (21-14) and Monte Vista of Danville (38-13) with local losses to Folsom (28-9) and Jesuit (24-14).

5. Del Oro (5-3): The Division II Golden Eagles of Loomis celebrated their hard-earned 29-16 win at then-No. 2 Jesuit after tough losses to Oak Ridge (12-8), Granite Bay (14-13) and Folsom (35-20). This week it’s rivalry week against Rocklin.

6. Rocklin (5-3): The Division II Thunder started the season 3-0, dropped games to Folsom (34-21) and to Jesuit (20-14), beat Whitney (53-20) and Monterey Trail (35-14) and fell last week to Granite Bay (29-20). The final two games of SFL play are whoppers: Del Oro and Oak Ridge

7. Jesuit (5-3): The Division II Marauders beat two Bee No. 2-ranked teams in successive weeks in Oak Ridge (24-14) and Del Oro (29-16) and finish SFL play with Folsom and Whitney.

8. Twelve Bridges (8-0): The Division IV Raging Rhinos of Place County have a 28-game, non-playoff winning streak, dating back to 2022. The team survived a thriller against Roseville last week, 44-34 to all but secure the Foothill Valley League crown.

9. Inderkum (7-1): The Division I Tigers inched closer to securing the Capital Valley League crown with a 38-35 thriller over Woodcreek as Brody Cole fired five touchdown passes, three to brother Jordan Cole and two to LeAndrew Jenkins. The winning streak is seven.

10. Woodcreek (7-1): The Division III Timberwolves of Roseville are no longer unbeaten but they remain a serious contender in the section playoff scrum.

11. Monterey Trail (6-2): The Division I Mustangs are about to win another Delta League championship behind strong line play and speedback Odie Jefferson, who ran for 180 yards and a score in a 28-10 win over Franklin.

12. Roseville (6-2): The Division IV Tigers showed championship grit in battling red-hot Twelve Bridges, leading 35-21 in the fourth quarter before falling, 44-34. Mason Susnara tossed two TD strikes to JJ Yong. There could be a section playoff rematch.

13. Sutter (9-0): The Division V Huskies have posted three consecutive shutouts, and national recruit edge-rusher Troy Bowens is worth a watch. The Golden Empire League championship is on Halloween night against visiting Casa Roble.

14. Casa Roble (7-1): The Rams were class acts before, during and after an emotional game at Dixon, where those Rams of Solano County are dealing with a suicide death of one of their players. QB Aidan Lopez has had a stellar season.

15. Vacaville (6-2): The Division III Bulldogs are closing in on another Monticello Empire League crown. Five different runners scored touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Sacramento.

16. Vanden (6-2): The Division III Vikings are hopeful of clinching a share of the MEL crown, having earlier lost to frontrunner Vacaville.

17. Placer (5-3): The Division IV Hillmen outlasted Yuba City 49-48 in a wild Foothill Valley League game as Danny Sanchez-Harlow ran for 218 yards and three scores. Placer finishes FVL play against Nevada Union and Roseville.

18. Lincoln (7-1): The Division V Zebras of Placer County are closing in on the Pioneer Valley League championship with games against Colfax and Marysville looming. Mason Volzer, Brock Galer and Eli Duff have led the charge.

19. Liberty Ranch (8-0): In what longtime Hawks coach Warren Schroeder called “one of the best wins in program history,” Liberty Ranch topped longtime power Bradshaw Christian, 28-21. That inches the Division VI Hawks of Galt closer to the Sierra Delta League crown.

20. Bradshaw Christian (6-2): The Division VI Pride dropped a tough 28-21 contest to Liberty Ranch and have an early setback to unbeaten Sutter. A rematch with Liberty Ranch could happen in the section playoffs.

The Next 5

21. Woodland Christian (7-1)

22. West Park (5-4)

23. Winters (6-1)

24. Pioneer (6-2)

25. Rio Americano (5-3)

8-Man

1. Mira Loma (7-0)

2. Foresthill (6-1)

3. Vacaville Christian (7-1)

4. Valley Christian (5-2)

5. Delta (5-3)

This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM.