A No. 2 vs. No. 3 Matchup Highlights The Schedule This Week After A Relatively Quiet Week Within The NorCal Football Rankings •
PICTURED AT TOP: Linebacker Drew Cunningham of No. 3 De La Salle. (Chace Bryson Photo)
Northern California football teams are slowly but surely transitioning from nonleague play to more familiar league contests, and that shift played a role in a mostly status quo week when it comes to the NorCal Top 20.
The Top 20 games that did take place last week largely affirmed what the rankings have shown so far this season. No. 3 De La Salle-Concord used its longtime trademarks – rushing and defense – to deal No. 4 St. Mary’s-Stockton a 24-10 defeat in Concord.
Meanwhile, No. 5 San Ramon Valley-Danville used three touchdowns by running back John Pau Mendoza and further staked its claim among NorCal’s elite with a convincing 35-7 win over No. 16 McClymonds-Oakland.
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The biggest result of the week nearly came from SRV’s Tri-Valley neighbor, California-San Ramon, but No. 6 Pittsburg managed to grit its collective teeth late and escape with a 38-35 win in an all-orange and black showdown that really should be played on Halloween in the future.
The win of the week in the Sac-Joaquin Section came in Orangevale where No. 10 Del Oro-Loomis turned away up-and-coming Casa Roble by a final of 31-13. Fellow Sierra Foothill League power Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills also took a road trip, bringing back a win from the Northern Section as the No. 7 Trojans beat Pleasant Valley-Chico, 31-7. Both Del Oro and Oak Ridge will carry unbeaten records into league play, as will No. 13 Rocklin, when SFL action begins next week.
A strong collective start to the season by the East Bay Athletic League is now reflected in the NorCal rankings as Amador Valley’s 41-34 win over Monte Vista-Danville brings the Dons into the rankings this week at No. 18. Even with the loss, the Mustangs also join the party at No. 20 and they’ll put that spot on the line this week when they host Campolindo-Moraga.
What does the week ahead have to offer? Only one of NorCal’s most anticipated annual matchups. De La Salle takes the trip to No. 2 Folsom in a showdown that will have immediate implications on the NorCal rankings and most likely a long-term impact when it comes to postseason play.
No. 1 Serra-San Mateo opens West Catholic Athletic League play against Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco at Kezar Stadium. And, Saturday brings another compelling WCAL showdown when No. 17 Riordan-San Francisco hosts No. 19 St. Ignatius-San Francisco.
NorCal Football Rankings
Preseason rank in parenthesis / Records are through Sept. 16 (via MaxPreps)
1. (1) Serra-San Mateo 3-0
LAST WEEK: BYE
FRIDAY: @ Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. (0-3), 7 pm
2. (2) Folsom 3-1
LAST WEEK: BYE
FRIDAY: v. No. 3 De La Salle (2-2), 7 pm
3. (3) De La Salle-Concord 2-2
LAST WEEK: d. No. 4 St. Mary’s-Stockton 24-10
FRIDAY: @ No. 2 Folsom (3-1), 7 pm
4. (4) St. Mary’s-Stockton 3-1
LAST WEEK: LOST to No. 3 De La Salle 24-10
THIS WEEK: @ Bishop Amat-La Puente (1-3), 7 pm
5. (5) San Ramon Valley-Danville 4-0
LAST WEEK: d. No. 16 McClymonds 35-7
FRIDAY: v. Liberty-Brentwood (3-1), 7 pm
6. (6) Pittsburg 4-0
LAST WEEK: d. California-San Ramon 38-35
FRIDAY: BYE
7. (8) Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 5-0
LAST WEEK: d. Pleasant Valley-Chico 31-7
FRIDAY: BYE
8. (7) Central Catholic-Modesto 2-2
LAST WEEK: d. Bishop Manogue-Reno 16-7
FRIDAY: v. Pleasant Valley-Chico (2-1), 7 pm
9. (9) Grant-Sacramento 4-1
LAST WEEK: d. Burbank-Sac 48-0
FRIDAY: v. McClatchy (1-3), 7:30 p.m.
10. (10) Del Oro-Loomis 3-0
LAST WEEK: d. Casa Roble 31-13
FRIDAY: BYE
11. (11) Los Gatos 3-1
LAST WEEK: d. Palo Alto 42-0
FRIDAY: BYE
12. (12) St. Francis-Mountain View 1-2
LAST WEEK: BYE
FRIDAY: v. Mitty (3-0) 7 pm
13. (13) Rocklin 4-0
LAST WEEK: BYE
FRIDAY: @ Tracy (4-0), 7:15 pm
14. (14) El Cerrito 3-0
LAST WEEK: d. Foothill-Pleasanton 35-0
FRIDAY: v. Vacaville (2-2), 7 pm
15. (15) Marin Catholic-Kentfield 4-0
LAST WEEK: d. James Logan-Union City 42-14
SATURDAY: v. Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (2-2), 2 pm
16. (16) McClymonds-Oakland 2-1
LAST WEEK: LOST to No. 5 San Ramon Valley 35-7
FRIDAY: BYE
17. (19) Riordan-S.F. 2-1
LAST WEEK: BYE
SATURDAY: v. No. 19 St. Ignatius-S.F. (2-1), 2 pm
18. (NR) Amador Valley-Pleasanton 3-1
LAST WEEK: d. Monte Vista-Danville 41-34
FRIDAY: v. Foothill-Pleasanton (0-3), 7 pm
19. (NR) St. Ignatius-S.F. 2-1
LAST WEEK: BYE
SATURDAY: @ No. 17 Riordan (2-1), 2pm
20. (NR) Monte Vista-Danville 3-1
LAST WEEK: LOST to No. 18 Amador Valley 41-34
FRIDAY: v. Campolindo (1-1-1), 7 pm
DROPPED OUT:
No. 17 Clayton Valley, No. 18 Manteca, and No. 20 Escalon
NEXT FIVE KNOCKING: 21. Casa Roble-Orangevale (3-1), 22. San Marin-Novato (3-0), 23. Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa (3-1), 24. Escalon (4-1) and 25. Tracy (4-0).