Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10 high school football rankings via SBLive Sports/Sports Illustrated, 9/11/23
The Sac-Joaquin Section prepares for league openers for most teams, but the most juicy games are nonleague affairs.
How's this one for a Friday night whopper: St. Mary's-Stockton at De La Salle-Concord, a year after the Rams beat the Spartans of the Bay Area for the first time.
Or Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills taking on the top team in the Northern Section at Pleasant Valley-Chico?
Or Casa Roble-Orangevale hosting Del Oro-Loomis?
And Vacaville hosting Granite Bay?
Is it kickoff yet?
Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10 Football Rankings, 9/11
1. Folsom (3-1)
Last ranking: 1
Last game: Beat Turlock, 49-7
Next game: Sept. 22, vs. De La Salle-Concord
The Bulldogs have yet to play a home game, but that changes after this week's bye with DLS coming, a rematch of last year's thrilling nonleague and playoff showdown. QB Ryder Lyons has played beyond his years. He's just a sophomore. The loss was 21-14 to Northern California No. 1 Serra-San Mateo.
2. St. Mary's-Stockton (3-0)
Last ranking: 2
Last game: Bye
Next game: Friday at De La Salle-Concord
The Rams beat DLS last season 45-35, the biggest home victory in school history, and the rematch figures to be a good one as well. Samson Hunkin passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two in that contest, and he's back for another crack at the most storied program in Northern California history.
3. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (4-0)
Last ranking: 5
Last week: Beat Clayton Valley Charter-Concord, 28-0
Next game: Friday at Pleasant Valley-Chico
The Trojans won their Southern California Honor Bowl game and then the Northern California version with offensive balance and defense, a unit headed by nose guard Markus Hoffman. Coming soon: A Sierra Foothill League opener at Folsom.
4. Central Catholic-Modesto (2-2)
Last ranking: 3
Last game: Lost to Serra-San Mateo, 38-7
Next game: Sept. 22, vs. Pleasant Valley-Chico
The Raiders and coach Roger Canepa schedule tough, and the losses are 42-33 to St. Mary's and 38-7 to Serra-San Mateo. The intent is to remain unbeaten in SJS play.
5. Grant-Sacramento (3-1)
Last ranking: 6
Last game: Beat Los Gatos, 22-21
Next game: Friday vs. Burbank-Sacramento
Needing a game after a scheduled contest with El Cerrito was dropped, Grant got a big one in Central Coast Section powerhouse Los Gatos. RB Leon Martin came off the bench and rushed 37 times for 214 yards for Grant, which opens Metro League play this week as the heavy favorite to repeat.
6. Rocklin (4-0)
Last ranking: 8
Last game: Beat Manteca 35-14
Next game: Sept. 22 at Tracy
In the Honor Bowl at Oak Ridge, the Thunder exacted a bit of revenge against the program that ended their season in the 2022 playoffs as the defense stood tall, including Mavrik Collins returning an interception for a touchdown. Reeve Slone had four touchdown passes.
7. Del Oro-Loomis (4-0)
Last ranking: 7
Last game: Beat Lincoln-Stockton 39-7
Next game: Friday at Casa Roble-Orangevale
Landon Vander Koii blocked a punt for a score and Breyden Rush had a pick-6 to to fire up the Golden Eagles. who reside in the Sierra Foothill League with Folsom, Oak Ridge, Rocklin and Granite Bay.
8. Casa Roble-Orangevale (3-0)
Last ranking: 10
Last game: Bye
Next game: Friday vs. Del Oro-Loomis
The Division 5 Rams have their best team in years, if not ever, and that includes bulk in the trenches and a star WR/DB in Cole Owens. The showdown against Del Oro is a great test, to say the least.
9. Manteca (2-2)
Last ranking: 5
Last game: Lost to Rocklin, 35-14
Next game: Sept. 22, at Lodi
The Buffaloes are a banged-up lot but offer no excuses. The losses have been to Rocklin and St. Mary's and the wins are over Vista del Lago-Folsom (42-35) and Granite Bay (15-0). The Valley Oak League race includes Central Catholic.
10. Jesuit-Carmichael (2-1)
Last ranking: 14
Last game: Beat Christian Brothers-Sacramento, 41-8
Next game: Saturday vs. Sheldon-Sacramento
The Marauders like to go by "Big Red", and they put a big-time bruise on rival Christian Brothers-Sacramento in the 52nd Holy Bowl. CJ Lee is a duel-threat QB star, and Caleb Dixon had a 66-yard TD catch and a sizzling 99-yard kickoff return for a score for the Delta League favorites.
The next 5:
11. Escalon (3-1)
12. Downey-Modesto (4-0)
13. Granite Bay (2-2)
14. Vacaville (2-1)
15. Tracy (3-0)
