Playoff fallout: Five teams drop from Bee’s Top 20. Who replaces them?

The opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs included some crushers, some last-second defeats and some upsets.

The coming weeks promise more drama as the games are expected to get tighter.

Top-seeded Folsom dismantled No. 16 seed River City 76-9 in Division I, a game in which Folsom played reserves in the second quarter and there was a second-half running clock. The Bulldogs rolled to their 20th section playoff win out of their last 21 encounters.

In D-II, second-seeded Inderkum needed a second-half rally to beat No. 15 Vintage of Napa 35-24 on the same night Del Oro needed a 53-yard, last-play field goal to beat Lincoln 16-14 to set up a rematch of last season’s championship, won by Del Oro. The Golden Eagles are riding a nine-game section-playoff winning streak (and have won 14 of 15).

The only surprise, seeding-wise, in D-III was No. 11 Rio Linda bouncing No. 6 Los Banos 16-14, setting up a meeting against No. 3 Christian Brothers, which steamed Benicia 59-0 behind another gem effort by quarterback Gunnor Faulk.

All the higher seeds held true in D-IV, including No. 1 Placer rolling No. 8 Natomas 53-6 in the mud and muck of famed LeFebvre Stadium.

In D-V, upsets were the theme as the top four seeds fell, including No. 6 Bear River beating No. 3 Capital Christian 26-7 and No. 5 Colfax bouncing No. 4 Orestimba 43-20 and No. 7 Ripon downing No. 2 Calaveras 28-13.

In D-VI, the top seeds rolled with Bradshaw Christian blasting Western Sierra 75-7 and No. 2 Escalon taking down No. 7 Mariposa 36-6.

In D-VII, top seeds Rio Vista and Ripon Christian had byes while No. 4 Woodland Christian nipped No. 5 Big Valley Christian 50-13 as Eric Wyatt scored a late touchdown to give the Cardinals their first program playoff victory.

The Bee regional and section rankings will continue throughout the playoffs, as these are the games that really matter. Five teams dropped out after being eliminated from the playoffs.

The Bee’s Top 20

With last week’s ranking in parentheses.

1. Folsom (1) 11-0

Six different runners scored touchdowns in rolling River City, and Noah Jenkins earned defensive honors as Bulldogs coaches cleared the bench early. Well-coached Tracy looms.

2. Oak Ridge (2) 10-1

How’s this for terrific quarterback depth? Matt Jenner steps in for recovering Marco Baldacchino and passes for 302 yards and six touchdowns to scorch Lincoln of Stockton to earn a shot against 11-0 Gregori.

3. Inderkum (3) 11-0

The Tigers have a lot of seniors who remember the sick feeling Del Oro gave them after losing in the D-II finals last season at Sacramento State. Redemption time is here, this time at home.

4. Sacramento (4) 10-1*

The Dragons settled on Dixon as a “home” venue and then throttled Wood 55-3 to set up a super showdown at defensive-minded Del Campo as the D-II field starts to heat up.

5. Granite Bay (5) 9-2

The Grizzlies negated any speed factor from Burbank to deliver a 42-20 rout in looking the part as battle-tested and proven D-II top seed, and they now draw 10-1 Antelope.

6. Jesuit (6) 9-2

A galvanizing theme is how well Josh Farr and Hank Harvego have worked together as both rotated at quarterback early and now often hook up on scoring plays.

7. Sheldon (7) 9-2

The Huskies took apart a talented Cosumnes Oaks team and now head to Stockton seeking the program’s biggest playoff win against defending D-I champion St. Mary’s.

8. Del Campo (8) 11-0

The Cougars have been dominant much of this season with defense, and the “D” will be tested against the fastest team in the D-II field when Sac High comes in.

9. Antelope (10) 10-1

The Titans are ready to end the playoff losing streak to Sierra Foothill League teams, having fallen to Rocklin and Del Oro the last two seasons and now bracing for Granite Bay.

10. Christian Brothers (11) 9-2

Among the unsung effort guys on a team full of them: Jack O’Hearn, Jake Regino and Jacob Tucker as the winning streak is now nine.

11. Rocklin (12) 7-4

The Thunder belted Downey of Modesto 37-7 in D-II and now head to the 209 to take on storied Central Catholic in Modesto in a classic public vs. private duel.

12. Placer (13) 10-1

The Hillmen trailed Natomas 6-0 then led 46-6 at the half as reserves got into the act, including sophomore Hans Grassman – three touchdowns and the sound of “Haaaaans” resonating through Auburn.

13. Del Oro (14) 6-5

A vote for Ryan Whalley for Loomis town mayor, or to offer up kicking lessons on pressure-cooker shots of 50-plus yards. Next is Inderkum.

14. Lincoln (15) 8-3

Agonizing loss at Del Oro doesn’t erase an otherwise big Zebras season under impact coach Chris Bean with more good seasons looming.

15. Franklin (9) 7-4

The Wildcats gave outgoing coach Mike Johnson one last gritty effort, falling at unbeaten Gregori in Modesto in D-I. He will be missed.

16. Vista del Lago (-) 7-4

Judging by all the banter regarding musical taste, this is a united team with 10-1 Patterson looming in D-III as Grant Patterson continues to play well at quarterback.

17. Colfax (-) 8-3

The Falcons fear no trek or team, so a 300-mile round trip to bounce 10-0 Orestimba was a memorable one for coach Tony Martello and crew.

18. Bear River (-) 8-3

Twice in three seasons, the Bruins eliminated host Capital Christian in the D-V field, and now Bear River hosts a playoff game, eager for more.

19. Rio Linda (-) 7-4

The Knights were superb in ball control and on defense in downing higher-seeded Los Banos 16-14 to earn a shot at prolific Christian Brothers.

20. Woodland (-) 7-4

The Wolves made a two-hour bus ride to Placerville a memorable one, dumping El Dorado 56-17 in D-IV as Christian Stice had three touchdown passes and Martin Vazquez rushed for three scores.

Dropped out: No. 16 Monterey Trail, No. 17 Capital Christian, No. 18 Cordova, No. 19 Cosumnes Oaks, No. 20 Yuba City.

* Does not include three forfeit losses due to a seldom-used ineligible player.

Bubble teams (alphabetical order): Bradshaw Christian (8-3), Burbank (6-4), Capital Christian (7-4), Casa Roble (6-5), Center (6-5), Cordova (7-4), Cosumnes Oaks (5-6), Dixon (7-4), East Nicolaus (11-0), El Dorado (7-4), Elk Grove (5-6), Grant (4-6), Monterey Trail (6-5), Rio Americano (6-5), Rio Vista (7-3), River Valley (7-4), Union Mine (5-6), Woodland Christian (10-1), Yuba City (6-5).

The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 20

From 190 schools in the second-largest of California’s 10 sections

1. Folsom (11-0)

2. Oak Ridge (10-1)

3. Oakdale (10-1)

4. Central Catholic-Modesto (9-1)

5. Inderkum (11-0)

6. Sacramento (10-1)*

7. St. Mary’s-Stockton (9-2)

8. Granite Bay (9-2)

9. Jesuit (9-2)

10. Sheldon (9-2)

11. Vacaville (8-3)

12. Del Campo (11-0)

13. Manteca (9-2)

14. Gregori-Modesto (11-0)

15. Rocklin (8-3)

16. Antelope (10-1)

17. Christian Brothers (9-2)

18. Franklin (7-4)

19. Tracy (8-3)

20. Placer (10-1)

* Does not include three forfeit losses due to a seldom-used ineligible player.

This story was originally published November 13, 2017 at 3:55 AM with the headline "Playoff fallout: Five teams drop from Bee’s Top 20. Who replaces them?."