Longtime coach Mark Louriero of Escalon always has his team ready for the postseason. He is talking to players after a game last season in this photo. The Cougars play Los Banos in this week’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D4 semis.
Note: The top 10 teams that would be ranked by CalHiSports.com for the CIF Open Division in Northern California would be:
1. De La Salle (Concord); 2. Franklin (Elk Grove); 3. Folsom; 4. Bellarmine (San Jose); 5. Elk Grove; 6. Luther Burbank (Sacramento); 7. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills); 8. California (San Ramon); 9. Buhach Colony (Atwater); 10. Granite Bay.
With assistance from Harold Abend and Paul Muyskens, here are the Week 13 rankings for each of Northern California’s CIF bowl game divisions (previous ranking in parentheses; after games of Saturday, Nov. 17):
DIVISION I NORTH
1. (1) De La Salle (Concord) 11-0
2. (2) Franklin (Elk Grove) 12-0
3. (3) Folsom 12-0
4. (4) Bellarmine (San Jose) 10-1
5. (5) Elk Grove 11-1
6. (6) Luther Burbank (Sacramento) 12-0
7. (12) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 11-1
8. (10) California (San Ramon) 9-2
9. (8) Buhach Colony (Atwater) 10-2
10. (11) Granite Bay 9-3
11. (14) James Logan (Union City) 11-1
12. (NR) St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 8-3
13. (NR) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 8-3
14. (NR) Del Oro (Loomis) 7-5
15. (NR) Amador Valley (Pleasanton) 8-4
Drops: Previous No. 7 Oak Grove (San Jose) lost to Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 24-0; No. 9 St. Mary’s (Stockton) lost to Del Oro (Loomis) 21-10; No. 13 Freedom (Oakley) lost to James Logan (Union City) 33-18; No. 15 Pittsburg lost to De La Salle (Concord) 35-13.
Bubble Teams: Downey (Modesto) 10-2*, Freedom (Oakley) 9-3*, Grant (Sacramento) 5-6*, Lincoln (Stockton) 8-4*, Oak Grove (San Jose) 10-1*, Palma (Salinas) 8-3*, Palo Alto 8-3*, Pittsburg 8-4*, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 7-5*, San Ramon Valley (Danville) 6-6*, Serra (San Mateo) 9-2, St. Mary’s (Stockton) 9-3*.
*Indicates season complete.
No. 1 Team Result: De La Salle (Concord) defeated Pittsburg 35-13 in CIF North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals.
Race for No. 1: There are now just four undefeated teams remaining in this division after previous No. 7 Oak Grove fell flat in its first CCS Open Division outing against Archbishop Mitty. Two of those four – Franklin and Burbank – could play in next week’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship. The other two are De La Salle and Folsom…..
*If Franklin and Burbank do play and Franklin wins, that could tip the scales in favor of the Wildcats if it’s a choice between them and Folsom for the Open Division. Folsom, on the other hand, would get the edge if Oak Ridge (a team that has only lost to the Bulldogs) does well in this week’s game against Burbank and then in the D1 section final…..
*James Logan and California of San Ramon are playing in the other CIF North Coast Section D1 semifinal opposite De La Salle (which is playing Amador Valley). Logan advanced by topping Freedom of Oakley 33-18 and for most of the year has been considered the top threat to DLS in this year’s NCS playoffs. The Colts haven’t been ranked that high by us due to their lone loss, a 20-13 defeat against Del Oro (which was second in its league behind Granite Bay). That could all change very quickly depending on this week’s results…..
DIVISION II NORTH
1. (1) Clayton Valley (Concord) 10-1
2. (2) Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park) 11-0
3. (3) Oakdale 11-1
4. (4) Vista del Lago (Folsom) 10-1*
5. (5) Inderkum (Sacramento) 10-2
6. (7) St. Francis (Mountain View) 6-5
7. (8) Northgate (Walnut Creek) 9-2
8. (NR) American Canyon 11-1
9. (10) Milpitas 8-3
10. (NR) Paradise 8-3
*Default win not included.
Drops: Previous No. 6 Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) lost to American Canyon 28-20; No. 9 Sierra (Manteca) lost to Inderkum (Sacramento) 69-47.
Bubble Teams: Casa Grande (Petaluma) 7-4*, Chico 8-4*, Concord 10-2, Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 9-3*, Enterprise (Redding) 8-3, Foothill (Palo Cedro) 8-4*, Lincoln (San Francisco) 8-1**, Los Gatos 7-4, Newark Memorial (Newark) 9-3*, Sierra (Manteca) 10-2*, Wilcox (Santa Clara) 8-3.
*Indicates season complete; **Indicates two wins by default not included.
No. 1 Team Result: Clayton Valley (Concord) defeated Dublin 47-7 in CIF North Coast Section Division II quarterfinals.
Race for No. 1: The dynamics of this division probably won’t change much down the stretch with the likely outcome being a NorCal bowl game between the NCS D2 champion and the Sac-Joaquin D3 winner…..
*With the SJS D3 semis matching 11-1 Oakdale vs. 11-1 American Canyon and 10-1* Vista del Lago vs. 10-2 Inderkum, it looks pretty solid to us that whichever team that wins the title will get one of the two NorCal bids…..
*The only scenario that might deny the NCS D2 of that other slot is if a team like Northgate or Concord come through with a couple of upsets. That could open the door for St. Francis from the CCS or whichever team wins in this week’s Northern Section Division I championship between Paradise and Enterprise. Paradise is gunning for its third straight crown and beat Enterprise 42-41 earlier this season…..
DIVISION III NORTH
1. (1) Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 11-1
2. (2) El Cerrito 12-0
3. (4) Sutter 12-0
4. (5) Seaside 11-0
5. (7) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 11-1
6. (10) Analy (Sebastopol) 12-0
7. (9) Los Banos 11-1
8. (NR) Escalon 10-2
9. (3) Placer (Auburn) 11-1
10. (NR) West Valley (Cottonwood) 11-1
Drops: Previous No. 6 Campolindo (Moraga) lost to Analy (Sebastopol) 38-34; No. 8 Ripon lost to Central Catholic (Modesto) 40-21.
Bubble Teams: Arcata 11-1, Aptos 9-2, Argonaut (Jackson) 11-1*, Campolindo (Moraga) 10-2*, Carmel 9-2*, Center (Antelope) 10-2, Justin-Siena (Napa) 10-2, Monterey 9-2, Ripon 11-1*, Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) 10-1, Sobrato (Morgan Hill) 8-3, Soquel 9-2, St. Helena 11-1, Valley Christian (San Jose) 5-6.
*Indicates season complete.
No. 1 Team Result: Marin Catholic (Kentfield) defeated Miramonte (Orinda) 59-6.
Race for No. 1: We took some extra time digging deeper this week between Sutter and Seaside and if it comes down to one of those two teams for the second NorCal bowl berth in this division it’s like an election that is just too close to call…..
*With the NCS D3 playoffs down to four teams – Marin Catholic vs. Cardinal Newman and El Cerrito vs. Analy – it’s safe to go ahead and pencil in the eventual winner into the NorCal D3 bowl game. Last year, Campolindo came on strong as an unbeaten team to win the title and this year that team could be Analy. The Tigers beat Campo 38-34 last week and while they’re underdogs vs. El Cerrito keep in mind that when Campo played El Cerrito earlier this season it was a one-point margin…..
*The Sutter vs. Seaside scenario also would be further complicated by what happens in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs. If Central Catholic wins that title, no Sac-Joaquin teams would be eligible for the NorCal D3 bowl from that bracket because the Raiders would be in D4. If it’s Escalon, Los Banos or Center of Antelope, the winner probably will have avenging losses to talk about and a possible strength of schedule edge over both Sutter and Seaside. Escalon, in fact, will try to avenge one of its two losses this week against Los Banos and the Cougars already have their big win over previously unbeaten Placer in their belt…..
*We stuck with Sutter slightly ahead of Seaside in this week’s rankings. We think the Huskies benefit by getting to play West Valley of Cottonwood in this week’s Northern Section D2 final. West Valley avenged its only loss in the semis with a 13-10 win over Central Valley of Shasta Lake and also has wins this year over McClymonds of Oakland (probable Oakland champion) along with D1 section finalist Enterprise. Sutter, in fact, may need Enterprise (a team it also has beaten) to win in its game against Paradise as much as its own game. Seaside, on the other hand, can benefit by what happens with Monterey in the CCS D3 playoffs. The Spartans certainly weren’t helped by Palma of Salinas getting dumped by St. Ignatius in the CCS Open Division….
DIVISION IV NORTH
1. (1) Central Catholic (Modesto) 10-2
2. (2) McClymonds (Oakland) 8-3
3. (3) Ferndale 11-1
4. (9) St. Vincent de Paul (Petaluma) 10-2
5. (7) Foresthill 10-1
6. (8) Brookside Christian (Stockton) 9-2
7. (5) Capital Christian (Sacramento) 10-2
8. (6) California School for the Deaf (Fremont) 10-2
9. (NR) Le Grand 10-2
10. (NR) Willows 8-4
Drops: Previous No. 4 Pierce (Arbuckle) lost to Willows 3-0; No. 10 Ripon Christian lost to Foresthill 32-26.
Bubble Teams: Chester 9-1**, Hamilton (Hamilton City) 9-3, Maxwell 8-3*, Pierce (Arbuckle) 11-1*, Portola 9-1**, Ripon Christian 9-3*, St. Bernard’s (Eureka) 7-5*, Tomales 6-5*, Valley Christian (Dublin) 8-3*, Waterford 9-2.
**Default win not included. *Indicates season complete.
No. 1 Team Result: Central Catholic defeated Ripon 40-21.
Race for No. 1: With previous No. 4 and unbeaten Pierce going down in a 3-0 defeat to Willows in the CIF Northern Section Division III semifinals, it’s obvious that the north section won’t have a team that will be picked to play in the D4 bowl game this season…..
*One of the two NorCal D4 bowl bids likely will be decided this weekend. First, in the Oakland Silver Bowl final, McClymonds is going for its second straight section crown against Oakland Tech. If the Warriors win, we like their strength of schedule and talent to be better than any remaining teams in the NCS D5 bracket or in either of the two SJS playoff divisions…..
*Ferndale is one team for McClymonds to watch for, however. The Wildcats could win the NCS D5 title this weekend against St. Vincent de Paul, would finish with a better record and did beat Mack when the two played last season. The key in that Mack vs. Ferndale possible vote is that it was a game played last season, which may not carry that much weight with the voting section commissioners. St. Vincent, meanwhile, was jumped up to No. 4 this week after avenging one of its two losses with a 13-12 victory over California School for the Deaf. Its only other loss is to D3 North St. Helena…..
*If Central Catholic loses in the SJS D4 playoffs, then a McClymonds vs. Ferndale matchup could end up being the NorCal D4 bowl game. If Central Catholic were to win the title in that bracket, it won’t matter that much which of the two between Mack or Ferndale gets the extra game. The boys from Modesto would be heavy favorites…..
Comments or corrections? Email markjtennis@gmail.com.
13 Comments
In my opinion, St. Ignatius would “dump” any of the other teams in Div3. Except marin Catholic of course.
Sutter dad. This is the only video of the team I can find. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im-E0-v0PYU&feature=youtube_gdata_player… Are those behemoths hiding somewhere?
Try HUDL videos. I believe a few current videos are posted there. Good luck this weekend!
You can check out on youtube the 2008 championship game versus West Valley as well. Sutter is the real deal. Since 1995, they have had 5 perfect seasons and 5 Section titles. They have a program that is to be envied…..great coaches who have been there for years, great community support and the school back them 100%. They have what we call in coaching “buy-in” from everyone involved. Their youth program is nails too. If they do get a chance to play in the regional, they won’t disappoint. School of only 600+.
Sutter is ranked around #92 in the state….Seaside around #220. Strength of schedule favors Sutter. Just sayin’.
How many state titles does Sutter have. Yeah just sayin.
John, don’t know your school, but Sutter has zero state titles. I am just saying that it would be good to see them get a chance. Again, a school of 600 that is consistently winning……there are a handful of schools that can say that.
Well my point is unless you have won a state bowl, your team needs a way better strength of schedule. The days of staying home and just winning your section are over, if you want to be considered a contender for state.
A public school at that!! Could’ve been in the bowl game in I believe 2008 but lost to Central Catholic on a game winning FG. Go Sutter!
The strength of schedule is a little tough in high school with talent graduating, Sutter beat Bethel who made SJS div 1 playoffs this year and beat Grant last year, they beat a north sect div 1 team in Enterprise who is in div 1 sect championship game, went to Idaho and beat a banged up Clarkston team that was a section champ the previous year but lost their #1 rusher to a ACL injury two werks prior and struggled since but that matchup was made by the promoter of the Idaho Classic not Sutter, beat Central Valley who won their league and lost to West Valley in semis, then keep in mind alot of teams won’t play Sutter, Central Catholic, Yuba City, River Valley all dropped Sutter off their schedule. Sutter trys to schedule up but their league schedule hurts them as far as strength of schedule but there is not much a team can do about that! Also logistics, money and other factors have alot to do with scheduling seems like everyone wants Sutter to travel to them, giving up home games and revenue is something Sutters administration is not thrilled with!
Justafan you want me to believe that Central Catholic dropped Sutter because they are so good, and went out and replaced them with Placer ????????????
Did i say that? I just said they didn’t want to play i don’t know who they replaced the game with or why. Pre season scheduling is getting tough gotta play up for strength of schedule
Hi Mark,
“*Ferndale is one team for McClymonds to watch for, however. The Wildcats could win the NCS D5 title this weekend against St. Vincent de Paul, would finish with a better record and did beat Mack when the two played last season.” But Mack beat them the year before so I think that counters that point.???