SBLive's Sac-Joaquin Section Fab 15 football rankings: No. 1 Folsom, No. 2 St. Mary's appear on collision course
The top two teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section have emerged, and it's no surprise that it is Folsom and St. Mary's-Stockton, two of the most storied and successful football programs in regional history. The teams would meet in the SJS Division I finals if they win out in the regular season and survive the early rounds of the playoffs.
The best of the Valley Oak League will be decided this week when Manteca takes on Central Catholic-Modesto. CC won the section Division II championship last season, the program's 20th such title (most of them in lower divisions), and CC will now be in the Division I playoffs.
The Delta League championship is Friday as defending champ Jesuit-Carmichael visits Elk Grove.
SJS Fab 15 football rankings (All records through Oct. 15)
1. Folsom (7-1)
Last week rank: No. 1
Last week result: Defeated Del Oro-Loomis, 34-7
Next game: Friday vs. Granite Bay
Austin Mack continued his brilliant junior season, completing 28 of 42 for 399 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Del Oro. Nine of his completions for 239 yards and a touchdown went to Onterrio Smith Jr., a 3-star athlete who has offers to BYU, Sacramento State, Oregon State, Utah and Northern Arizona.
2. St. Mary's-Stockton (8-0)
Last week rank: No. 2
Last week result: Defeated Tracy, 63-33
Next game: Friday at Tokay-Lodi
The Rams followed their impressive first-ever victory over De La Salle-Concord with a second-half eruption over a good Tracy team to seize control of the Tri-City Athletic League as Samson Hunkin passed for three touchdowns and Asante Carter rushed for 100 yards and five scores.
Michael Gonzales (62), St. Mary's guard. Photo: Ralph Thompson
3. Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (6-2)
Last week rank: No. 4
Last week result: Bye
Next game: Friday at Grant-Sacramento
The Mustangs have not played in too long with McClatchy-Sacramento forfeiting due to low numbers and then a bye week. The Metro League championship will be decided Friday.
4. Del Oro-Loomis (7-1)
Last week rank: No. 3
Last week result: Lost to Folsom, 34-7
Next game: Friday at Whitney-Rocklin
The Golden Eagles were within 21-7 at the half of Folsom before the Bulldogs pulled away. DO has not beaten Folsom since 2009.
5. Manteca (7-0)
Last week rank: No. 5
Last week result: Defeated East Union-Manteca, 62-6
Next game: Friday vs. Central Catholic-Modesto
The Buffaloes have a fitting mascot as they have run over all comers. Hudson Wyatt passed for two touchdowns and Bryson Davis and Blake Nichelson each ran for two scores to set up a Valley Oak League showdown for the championship against storied Central Catholic.
6. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills
Last week rank: No. 6
Last week result: Defeated Whitney-Rocklin, 55-7
Next game: Friday at Rocklin
The Trojans rolled in this SFL affair as Maddox Varella had three touchdown passes and Jake Hall rushed for two. The loss was to Folsom.
7. Central Catholic-Modesto (4-4)
Last week rank: No. 7
Last week result: Defeated Oakdale, 35-7
Next game: Friday at Manteca
Few teams in Northern California have endured quite the schedule as these Raiders, with setbacks to teams such as St. Mary's and Bosco-Bellflower. The VOL championship is in state now. Tyler Wentworth tossed two touchdowns and Tyler Jacklich ran for two against Oakdale.
8. Downey-Modesto (8-0)
Last week rank: No. 8
Last week result: Defeated Enochs-Modesto, 49-13
Next game: Friday at Gregori-Modesto
The Knights are the class of the Central California Conference and Conner Stoddard is the top player as the senior quarterback passed for 387 yards and six touchdowns, three to Gabe Hernandez and two to Gavin Garcia.
9. Rocklin (6-2)
Last week rank: No. 10
Last week result: Defeated Granite Bay, 21-14
Next game: Friday vs. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills
The Thunder turned a scoreless first half into their game as Mason Silva rushed for two scores in the SFL rivalry game. The local loss was 33-20 to Del Oro.
10. Jesuit-Carmichael (7-1)
Last week rank: No. 11
Last week result: Defeated Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove, 28-7
Next game: Friday at Elk Grove
The Delta League championship comes down to this week. CJ Lee has played well at quarterback and the line play has been strong. The loss was to Clayton Valley Charter-Concord, 35-21, in nonleague.
The Jesuit backers Sept. 10 at Sac City. Photo: Gary Jones
11. Granite Bay (5-3)
Last week rank: No. 9
Last week result: Lost to Rocklin, 21-14
Next game: Friday vs. Folsom
The Grizzlies have SFL losses of 21-10 to Del Oro, 17-16 to Oak Ridge and 21-14 to Rocklin, so it's a young team that's in every game, and now it's a shot to beat Folsom for the second consecutive season.
12. Placer-Auburn (8-0)
Last week rank: No. 12
Last week result: Defeated Nevada Union-Grass Valley, 63-32
Next game: Friday at West Park-Roseville
The Hillmen can win the Foothill Valley League with a win this week. Against Nevada Union, Joshua Craycraft had three touchdown passes and Jaden Suggs rumbled for 235 yards and four scores.
13. Elk Grove (4-3)
Last week rank: No. 14
Last week result: Defeated Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove, 62-8
Next game: Friday vs. Jesuit
The Thundering Herd got defensive against Pleasant Grove, scoring four times off interceptions and blocking a punt. A win over Jesuit will crown them as Delta League champions.
14. Turlock (4-4)
Last week rank: No. 19
Last week result: Defeated Modesto, 58-15
Next game: Friday vs. Enochs-Modesto
The Bulldogs have an opening win over Rocklin, a nonleague win over Clayton Valley Charter-Concord and a CCC loss of 24-22 to Downey-Modesto. The record is beyond misleading.
15. Vacaville (5-3)
Last week rank: No. 17
Last week result: Defeated Fairfield, 38-0
Next game: Thursday vs. Armijo-Fairfield
The Bulldogs have early losses to SFL bruisers Oak Ridge and Granite Bay, lost their quarterback for the season in the process and still are a win away from clinching another Monticello Empire League championship.
Bubble:
No. 16 Tracy (6-2)
No. 17. Oakdale (6-2)
No. 18 Vanden (7-1)
No. 19. Sheldon-Sacramento (6-3)
No. 20 Sutter 9-0
Around the SJS
* Sutter in its first season in the SJS after years of good living in the Northern Section has clinched the Pioneer Valley League championship, thanks to the hard running of Luke Miller and dominating line play and defense.
* Liberty Ranch-Galt has a player to behold in senior running back/defensive back Arthur Draeger. He has rushed for 1,418 yards and 24 touchdowns after going for 248 and four in a 42-14 win over Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento. The Hawks are 8-0 and inching closer to a Sierra Valley League championship.
* It's been a hard fall for Union Mine-El Dorado coach Kirk Anderson. His wife, Presley Anderson, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last month. The Anderson's have four young children. Games home and away have included an outpouring of support and a "Fill the Helmet" benefit to help support.
* A week after catching a school-record 18 passes, Sheldon-Sacramento senior receiver Scott Nixon had 10 catches for a school-record 303 yards and four touchdowns, giving him eight scores in two weeks. Playing running back for the first time in his life earlier this season due to injury, Nixon promptly rushed for 230 yards and four scores.
