Decade Dash: Racing To Be Teams Of The ’10s

   One of my favorite state record files to update each summer is the one in which it’s determined which schools around the state have the best records in football during the current decade.

   When the decade is young, it’s not that difficult to piece together two or three unbeaten or one-loss seasons. When the decade reaches six years in length, like it has now, teams can fall off or rise up in the standings.

   California has a ridiculously successful school in this category, of course, with De La Salle-Concord. The Spartans lead the state at 84-3 since 2010 and two of those losses were not even to California teams “” one in Florida to St. Thomas Aquinas-Ft. Lauderdale and one in Texas to Trinity-Euless.

   Here is a list of top NorCal schools ranked according to winning percentage in the Decade of Dominance category, at least so far this decade (2010 to 2015):

84-3 “” DE LA SALLE -CONCORD (96.5%)

   The Spartans also had the best record in the state for the 1980s (105-10-1) and 1990s (125-1) but did not for the 2000s, finishing behind both St. Bonaventure-Ventura and Oaks Christian-Westlake Village.

83-7 “” FOLSOM (92.2%)

   Three of the Bulldogs’ losses in the decade have come to De La Salle. They also are No. 2 in the state in this category.

67-10 “” McCLYMONDS-OAKLAND (87.0%)

   This total does not include forfeits. Those forfeits were in the 2014 season. The new CIF Bowl Game system should help add statewide awareness of the Warriors.

73-11 “” MARIN CATHOLIC-KENTFIELD (86.9%)

   NFL No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff was a major part of the Wildcats’ success for 2011 and 2012.

70-12 “” CAMPOLINDO-MORAGA (85.4%)

   The Cougars followed up their 16-0 CIF Division III state title season from 2014 by reaching the CIF Div. III-AA state final last year where they lost to La Mirada.

74-14 “” CENTRAL CATHOLIC-MODESTO (84.1%)

   Last year’s historic 16-0 season that ended with the CIF Small Schools Open Division title really helped the Raiders pass a lot of schools heading into this season.

68-13 “” SACRED HEART PREP-ATHERTON (83.9%)

   The Gators have definitely left no doubt in the last few years that they can beat anybody from any league in the CCS.

64-13 “” INDERKUM-SACRAMENTO (83.1%)

   Although the Tigers have had difficulty with teams from the Valley Oak League in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs, they haven’t had a problem getting 10-win seasons.

70-16 “” OAKDALE (81.4%)

   Speaking of the Valley Oak League”¦ The Mustangs hitting over 80 percent for the decade even though they are in the VOL says a lot about the skill of head coach Trent Merzon and his staff.

63-15 “” ELK GROVE (80.8%)

   Last year’s 13-1 season pushed the Thundering Herd up the charts. They’re still trying to recover from a 4-6 showing from 2010.

59-14 “” CARMEL (80.8%)

   With the way they score, the Padres have been fun to watch while they’ve been winning in recent seasons.

61-17 “” SUTTER (78.2%)

   The best from the CIF Northern Section should be better in 2016 after going 9-5 in 2015.

63-18 “” CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER-CONCORD (77.7%)

   In the last three season, the Uglies have gone 13-2, 15-1 and 11-2. It’s the 6-6 and 6-5 seasons in 2010 and 2011 that is still dragging them down a bit.

   Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.