Prep football preview: Breaking down The Sacramento Bee’s Top 20
1. Folsom (16-0 in 2014)
League: Sierra Foothill
Coaches: Kris Richardson, Troy Taylor
Five-year record: 69-6
Opener: Friday vs. Clayton Valley Charter-Concord
Comment: The Bulldogs lost a ton of players to graduation but return a wealth of skill, speed, strength and size. They might also feature the region’s best running attack after years dominating with the pass.
2. Grant (14-1)
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Alberghini
Five-year record: 48-16
Opener: Friday vs. No. 10 Burbank
Comment: The Pacers are huge in the trenches again, and Deshawn Collins and Mike Green combined to rush for 3,601 yards and 44 touchdowns last year.
3. Del Oro (6-6)
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Casey Taylor
Five-year record: 49-21
Opener: Friday vs. Pleasant Grove-Utah
Comment: The Golden Eagles, who return nine starters on offense and seven on defense, aim for their third CIF State Bowl game since 2011 amid another brutal schedule.
4. Elk Grove (10-3)
League: Delta
Coach: Chris Nixon
Five-year record: 50-14
Opener: Friday vs. Reno
Comment: The Thundering Herd has been a run-heavy powerhouse, but expect more passing with quarterback Tyler Vander Waal, wide receiver Ryan Robards and four returning linemen.
5. Rocklin (9-3)
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Greg Benzel
Five-year record: 31-24
Opener: Friday vs. Pleasant Grove
Comment: The Thunder returns quarterback Will Floyd, running back Evyn Holtz and defensive tackle Chase Hatada, who is headed to Boise State on scholarship.
6. Jesuit (9-3)
League: Delta
Coach: Marlon Blanton
Five-year record: 32-24
Opener: Friday at No. 12 Granite Bay
Comment: The Marauders usher in a new field, a new quarterback (Calvin Brownholtz or Bailey Abercrombie) and new linemen, but they return bruising back Beau Bisharat.
7. Oak Ridge (5-5)
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Eric Cavaliere
Five-year record: 43-18
Opener: Friday vs. Whitney
Comment: The Trojans return three-year starting quarterback Ian Book and have a quick wide receiver in Kevin Kassis. The coaches are stressing, “No excuses.”
8. Franklin (7-5)
League: Delta
Coach: Mike Johnson
Five-year record: 43-17
Opener: Friday vs. Clovis North-Fresno at Cosumnes Oaks
Comment: In what Johnson has called his final season, the Wildcats likely will make a title run behind experienced quarterback Jacob Lopez and nationally recruited defensive back Lamar Jackson.
9. Inderkum (12-2)
League: Tri-County
Coach: Terry Stark
Five-year record: 52-12
Opener: Friday at Fairfield
Comment: Stark earned his 100th victory with Inderkum last season as he continued to pile up double-digit-win seasons behind stars such as returning tight end-linebacker Josh Falo.
10. Burbank (7-4)
League: Metropolitan
Coach: John Heffernan
Five-year record: 43-15
Opener: Friday at No. 2 Grant
Comment: The Titans seek their sixth successive league title behind the run-heavy triple option, led by 1,000-yard backs Eric Brown and Michael Roots.
11. Antelope (7-4)
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Matt Ray
Five-year record: 36-20
Opener: Friday vs. Monterey Trail
Comment: The Titans will be balanced with quarterback Montel Aaron (1,526 passing yards in 2014) and running back Devaun Welch (934 yards), with big recruit lineman Jaelan Lewis leading the way.
12. Granite Bay (9-4)
League: Sierra Foothill
Coach: Jeff Evans
Five-year record: 51-17
Opener: Friday vs. No. 6 Jesuit
Comment: Evans, who replaces founding Grizzlies coach Ernie Cooper, must replace a lot of graduated stars. Linebacker Sam Cusano leads the defense.
13. Placer (8-3)
League: Pioneer Valley
Coach: Joey Montoya
Five-year record: 43-16
Opener: Friday at Nevada Union
Comment: The Hillmen return 14 starters, none larger than tackle Jacob Capra (6-foot-5, 270 pounds) or as quick as running back Owen Scott, who heads the wing-T attack.
14. Sacramento (10-3)
League: Metropolitan
Coach: Justin Reber
Five-year record: 42-18
Opener: Sept. 5 vs. El Camino
Comment: The Dragons welcome a new coach and feature the section’s most prolific returning passer, Caden Voges (4,294 yards, 56 touchdowns).
15. Bear River (11-2)
League: Pioneer Valley
Coaches: Scott Savoie, Terry Logue
Five-year record: 39-17
Opener: Friday at Pacheco
Comment: The Bruins, the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division V champions, have 16 returning players as they continue to overcome declining enrollment.
16. Cosumnes Oaks (8-3)
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Derick Milgrim
Five-year record: 37-19
Opener: Saturday at Marin Catholic
Comment: The Wolfpack, which returns 11 starters, is led by the defense featuring Keoni Stallworth in the secondary, lineman Darius Archie and lineman-linebacker Xavier Forbes.
17. Vista del Lago (8-4)
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Mike Struebing
Five-year record: 42-18
Opener: Friday at Wood
Comment: The defending CAL champions return 14 starters, including running back Colby Carrera (1,649 yards, 32 touchdowns), linebacker Adam King and defensive lineman Wade Thomson.
18. Christian Brothers (8-3)
League: Capital Athletic
Coach: Dan Carmazzi
Five-year record: 30-26
Opener: Friday vs. River City at Hughes Stadium
Comment: The Falcons lost to Vista del Lago on the last play of the regular season in a game that decided the CAL title. Christian Brothers returns nine starters, including running back-defensive back Jamarri Jackson (1,055 yards, 19 touchdowns).
19. Del Campo (7-4)
League: Capital Valley
Coach: Mike Dimino
Five-year record: 35-21
Opener: Friday vs. Edison-Stockton
Comment: The Cougars expect to contend for a title. They’re led by experienced quarterback Ben Purcell and three-year linemen Nick Brand, Tristen Howard and Tariq Mitchell.
20. Capital Christian (13-1)
League: Golden Empire
Coach: Phil Grams
Five-year record: 41-16
Opener: Friday vs. Rio Americano
Comment: The Cougars, who capped their finest season with a Division VI section title last year, return quarterback Jacob Norville, tight end-linebacker Jack Haney and linebacker Marcus Fowler.
This story was originally published August 26, 2015 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Prep football preview: Breaking down The Sacramento Bee’s Top 20."