St. Mary’s being higher-ranked than Folsom proved to be correct as the Rams rolled over the Bulldogs 56-25 to win SJS Division I title. The bigger question for the section rankings, however, is what to do about Del Oro as it looks to win a second straight CIF state title. Should the Golden Eagles continue to be behind Oak Ridge in the rankings despite a head-to-head loss?
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Reporters had to be getting out the record books after St. Mary’s of Stockton posted its 56-25 victory over Folsom in Saturday’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I final at Sacramento State.
St. Mary’s head coach Tony Franks and Folsom head coach Kris Richardson greet each other after Saturday’s game at Sac State. Photo: Paul Muyskens.
It’s the second most points by a winning team in the top bracket of the section playoffs since Elk Grove ran up 77 in its legendary 77-22 romp past Atwater. Folsom’s insane team from 2014, led by QB Jake Browning, scored 55 in the D1 final against Tracy (won 55-7) and it should be noted scored 56 the next week in a NorCal regional bowl game against Grant, which went 14-0 that season and won the D2 section title before meeting the Bulldogs in a CIF state game.
No changes in the section rankings, however, happened despite the St. Mary’s performance. We already had the Rams No. 1 in the section and one spot higher than Folsom in the state. Folsom’s previous wins over Oak Ridge and Del Oro also keep the Bulldogs at No. 2.
When Oak Ridge and Del Oro played each other, the Trojans prevailed 34-32. They continued to be ranked higher last week heading into the section finals but now that Del Oro has added a 35-13 win over Inderkum in the D2 championship and will now get a chance to win the CIF D1-A state title (up from D2-AA from last year), we’re now going against that previous head-to-head result.
If Del Oro’s earlier loss to Oak Ridge had been more one-sided (like the one to Folsom), then there would be no CIF state result whatsoever that would change it. At 34-32, however, the ranking can be different. Please note that if Del Oro does not win the CIF state title in that division, then Oak Ridge definitely goes back in front.
(After games of Saturday, Dec. 3)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) St. Mary’s (Stockton) 13-1
2. (2) Folsom 12-2*
3. (4) Del Oro (Loomis) 12-2
4. (3) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 10-3*
5. (5) Elk Grove 11-2*
6. (7) Manteca 12-1
7. (8) Oakdale 12-2
8. (6) Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-3*
9. (9) Sacramento 10-2*
10. (10) Turlock 9-3*
11. (11) Jesuit (Carmichael) 9-4*
12. (12) Central Catholic (Modesto) 8-4*
13. (13) Pitman (Turlock) 10-2*
14. (14) Antelope 12-1*
15. (15) Sheldon (Sacramento) 8-4*
16. (16) Grant (Sacramento) 8-4*
17. (18) Merced 9-4*
18. (19) Napa 7-4*
19. (20) Vacaville 8-4*
20. (17) Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 11-3*
21. (21) American Canyon 10-3*
22. (22) Roseville 9-2*
23. (23) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 8-4*
24. (24) Davis 5-6*
25. (25) Capital Christian (Sacramento) 11-2
*Season complete.
Dropped Out:
None.
4 Comments
Using your logic, with Oak Ridge having a 1 point loss to Folsom and win or Del Oro, shouldn’t Oak Ridge still be ranked ahead of DO? In the end you state that if DO doesn’t win state, then OR bounces back ahead of them … shouldn’t it be the other way around? OR should be ahead of DO until otherwise proven better. Bottom line is OR is DO’s last loss (just like last year), and DO has not seen comparable competition since (just like last year).
The only difference is that Del Oro will have to eventually beat a very good team (Edison or San Clemente) to win state. We’d rather put them up there now if they do. They are in a higher division than last year. And last year we did rank Oak Ridge higher all the way through. We’d have done that again, but winning D1-A state title would overcome a two-point head-to-head loss, at least that’s the way we look at it.
Thanks for the quick reply! I appreciate your reasoning, although I still believe the team who wins the head to head should be ranked above UNTIL proven otherwise (which could come with a DO state championship win). Either way it is all in good fun and I enjoy the discussions … lots of quality football in our area and everyone is going to go to bat for their team.
Thanks again!
In 2014 Folsom scored 52 against Grant, not 56. And due to a safety that wasn’t on the last play of the first half, two of Folsom’s points shouldn’t have counted — but, who’s counting?