Folsom players hold up five fingers to represent five straight Sierra Foothill League titles after their 40-0 road win Friday over previously unbeaten Del Oro of Loomis. Photo: @FolsomBulldogFB / Twitter.com.
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last week)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Oct. 27)
*Indicates forfeit result not included.
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 10-0
Defeated No. 23 Servite (Anaheim) 56-0. After finishing behind Mater Dei the last two years in the Trinity League standings, the Braves wrapped up that monster league crown by cruising past the Friars. Up next will be getting the top seed for the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
2. Centennial (Corona) 10-0
Defeated Roosevelt (Eastvale) 84-14 on Thursday. It’s not a category, but we would guess that the Huskies have set a national record for most points scored by one team during a league schedule. They were ahead in this game with 77 points in the first half. Still, we don’t know how good they are since the rest of the Big VII League has fallen off in recent years and we won’t probably know until the CIFSS D1 semifinals.
3. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 9-1*
Defeated No. 17 Lutheran (Orange) 45-7. Domani Jackson, a freshman (they keep them coming at MD & Bosco with no end in sight), grabbed an interception and returned it for a TD for the game’s first touchdown. The Monarchs will be the No. 3 seed for CIFSS D1 playoffs behind only Bosco & Centennial.
Josh Calvert is one of the top players for Oaks Christian. Photo: Twitter.com.
4. De La Salle (Concord) 10-0
Defeated California (San Ramon) 49-0. Sophomore Dorian Hale hooked up with junior Grant Daley for three first-half scoring passes to spark the Spartans to a 42-0 halftime lead. They will now head into the CIF North Coast Section Open Division playoffs as the top seed and will have a week off next week.
5. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 10-0
Defeated No. 42 Westlake (Westlake Village) 13-7. The Lions were behind 7-0 in this game into the fourth quarter when they finally tied it on a Josh Calvert TD pass and then went ahead with two minutes left on a 17-yard interception return TD by Jack Lenthall.
6. Folsom 9-1
Defeated No. 22 Del Oro (Loomis) 40-0. Although Del Oro was unbeaten, this margin isn’t a surprise based on two recent close calls by the Golden Eagles. Folsom, which has lost its only game to De La Salle in a game it had five turnovers (compared to one for DLS), was awarded the top seed for the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 playoffs on Saturday and will have a bye next week.
7. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 8-2
Defeated No. 41 Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 42-7. The last-place team in the Trinity League last year, Orange Lutheran, got into the CIFSS D1 playoffs and won its first game. Santa Margarita can’t do that this season since it only won two games overall. JSerra, meanwhile, could be looking at No. 5 or No. 6 seed in that bracket.
8. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 8-2*
Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills) 24-19. The Lancers capped a perfect run through the Mission League by defeating the Warriors. They also have a forfeit win against Mater Dei and a one-point loss to JSerra.
9. Central (Fresno) 10-0
Defeated Clovis East (Clovis) 54-38 on Thursday. After not really looking vulnerable in any game earlier this season, the Timberwolves’ running attack made this a concerning result. Trent Tompkins also ended regular season with 47 TD passes. Central gained the top seed on Saturday in the CIF Central Section D1 bracket.
10. Liberty (Brentwood) 10-0
Defeated Heritage (Brentwood) 49-0. In what they call the Brentwood Bowl rivalry, the Lions showed no hangover from their big win in their previous game against Pittsburg and rolled past the Patriots.
11. St. Francis (Mountain View) 8-1
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 28-7. The Lancers haven’t finished their regular season yet and still have to get past Serra of San Mateo to win an outright league title. A loss would put them in a three-way tie with Valley Christian.
12. Torrey Pines (San Diego) 10-0
Defeated La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 38-0. QB Jason Heine had another top-notch outing for the Falcons, who followed up last week’s 71-41 win against Oceanside with a rout of the Mavericks. They were announced as the top seed for the San Diego Open Division on Saturday and will face No. 4 seed San Marcos in the next game. That was the team Torrey Pines was playing when a recent game was stopped and eventually called a “no contest” two weeks ago.
13. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 8-1*
Defeated Point Loma (San Diego) 59-7. Officially, counting a forfeit win against Lincoln of San Diego from last week, the Dons are 9-1 heading into the CIF San Diego Section Open Division playoffs. They are the No. 2 seed and found out Saturday they’re playing No. 3 Carlsbad in two weeks.
14. Narbonne (Harbor City) 7-3
Defeated Carson 41-7. It was only a 7-0 lead for the Gauchos but they blew it open in the second half, partly due to a punt return TD by Ja’Maree Boone.
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15. Calabasas 8-2
Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 44-16. Yes, we know the Coyotes probably aren’t going to be the top seed for the CIFSS D2 playoffs in favor of unbeaten Rancho Verde but we’ll continue to rank them higher with losses only to D1 teams Oaks Christian and JSerra and with wins against Lawndale and Sierra Canyon. Calabasas’ earlier win over Rancho Cucamonga also picked up some strength on Friday night with how the Cougars did in their win over Upland.
16. Mission Viejo 9-1*
Defeated Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo) 37-7. Jacob Nowland scored on a blocked punt return to help break the game open for the Diablos, who bounced back from their loss in their previous game to San Clemente. Both Mission Viejo & San Clemente will be in CIFSS D1 playoffs.
17. Lutheran (Orange) 5-5
LOST to No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 45-7. Ryan Hilinski threw a touchdown pass to account for the only Lancers’ points in this game. They gained the fourth spot from the Trinity League for the CIFSS D1 playoffs.
18. Pittsburg 7-3
Defeated Antioch 42-10 on Saturday in 100th Big Little Game annual rivalry series that is one of the best in Northern California. Pitt head coach Vic Galli lobbied for his team to be the No. 3 seed for the NCS Open Division. Our rankings have had the Pirates in that position for several weeks despite a head-to-head loss to Clayton Valley in the season-opener since Clayton Valley later lost 35-34 to Antioch and Pitt’s strength of schedule is so much better. It’s just been expected that Clayton Valley would get that third slot since in the NCS head-to-head results have tended to carry the most weight.
19. Villa Park 9-1*
Defeated Canyon (Anaheim) 41-8. This win gave the CIFSS D4 playoff favorites their ninth straight league championship. The Spartans, who have lost only to Mission Viejo (on-the-field) but who also have a win over Trinity League member Servite of Anaheim, also have now won 38 straight league games.
20. Buchanan (Clovis) 8-2
Defeated Clovis North (Fresno) 49-21. This completed the Bears’ sweep of the other Clovis schools and secured No. 2 seed in CIF Central Section D1 playoffs, especially due to having a win over Liberty (Bakersfield).
21. Servite (Anaheim) 4-5*
LOST to No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 56-0. Despite having a Trinity League win against Santa Margarita and owning a win over Norco, the Friars are being projected to not be making it into the CIFSS D1 playoffs.
22. Del Oro (Loomis) 9-1
LOST to No. 6 Folsom 40-0. By not winning the Sierra Foothill League title (a D1 league), the Golden Eagles fall to the D2 bracket for the SJS playoffs (because of enrollment) and on Saturday were announced as the No. 1 seed.
23. Upland 8-2
LOST to Rancho Cucamonga 34-20. This one was for the Baseline League title and the Highlanders suffered. The winning Cougars played a tough preseason schedule and were 0-4 but are now 6-4. Upland still is a team to watch for the CIFSS D2 playoffs. Rancho Cucamonga is D1.
24. Norco 8-2
Defeated Corona 63-0 on Thursday. Two rushing TDs by Jadyn Ott and two TD passes by Shane Illingworth helped the Cougars to a big early lead.
25. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 8-2
Defeated Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 35-21 on Thursday. The Broncos, who have a win over Los Alamitos with losses to Norco and Orange Lutheran, captured the Southwestern League title despite QB Hank Bachmeier of the Nighthawks setting the CIFSS career TD pass record.
Jaxen Turner, a two-sport standout who has committed to Arizona for football, had the game-winning touchdown in unbeaten Rancho Verde’s win against Heritage of Menifee. Photo: Twitter.com.
Cajon (San Bernardino) 8-1
Defeated Carter (Rialto) 46-14.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 9-1
Defeated Oakdale 54-14.
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 7-1-1
Defeated Huntington Beach 41-7.
Clayton Valley (Concord) 9-1
Defeated Northgate (Walnut Creek) 62-6.
Eastlake (Chula Vista) 9-1
Defeated Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) 14-0.
Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 8-2
Defeated Camarillo 42-21.
Helix (La Mesa) 6-4
LOST to Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) 22-21.
Heritage (Menifee) 7-3
LOST to Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 17-10.
Lawndale 7-2
Defeated Hawthorne 55-6.
Los Alamitos 7-1-1
Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach) 17-10.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-2
Did not play. Bye.
Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 10-0
Defeated McClatchy (Sacramento) 55-0. Outscored league foes 284-6 and probable No. 2 seed for SJS D1 playoffs.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 6-4
LOST to No. 25 Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 35-21.
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 7-3
Defeated Chaminade (West Hills) 52-24. Will be D2 for CIFSS playoffs.
Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 10-0
Defeated Heritage (Menifee) 17-10. Decided league title and likely a top seed for CIFSS D2 bracket.
San Clemente 6-4
Did not play. Bye.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 7-3
Defeated Paraclete (Lancaster) 49-14.
South Hills (West Covina) 10-0
Defeated Charter Oak (Covina) 23-6.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 8-2
Defeated Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) 35-0.
Westlake (Westlake Village) 6-3
LOST to No. 5 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 13-7.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 9-0
Defeated Milpitas 28-7.
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7 Comments
If Pittsburg gets the 3rd set and beats no 2 in the rematch do they have a chance to play in the open Division with a close or win over De La Salle
The first team north of Fresno to beat DLS since 1991 is of course going to be an Open Division contender. In that case you describe, though, think CIF would pick Folsom.
I posted this question on a gold club post not realizing if there was a response, so I will re-ask it here, although some of it has been addressed on your CIF post for the Nor Cal and So Cal opens
1) Assuming Folsom and Central win out and barring any major DLS upset, these two will get selected for Nor Cal 1AA open. Do we think the game will be tight or do we think the gap between Folsom this year and everyone else, save DLS (even though Central beat Buchannan by a greater margin than DLS did) is too big to have a close game? I think Folsom wins it no matter what but I am curious if there is a challenge here? Could it be similar to 2014 when everyone that Grant would put a scare in Folsom but they still won 52-21? I think Folsom’s D and OL are playing at a very high level that if Folsom O is clicking, no stopping them
2) Should Folsom win, who will they face in CIF D1AA? Will it be another San Diego team and if so, are we looking at another 2014?
3) How are DLS and Folsom looking for next year? Folsom does have D. Ngata and E. Badger back and supposedly a tremendous qb lined up (then again DLS QB this year will be back next).
4) If you had to pick a round robin for 4 teams in Nor Cal and So Cal, and then widdle it down to a final four, what would it be? Here are mine:
Nor Cal:
1. DLS vs. 4. Liberty, 2. Folsom vs. 3. Central
So Cal:
1. SJB vs. 4. Oaks Christian, 2. Centennial vs. 3. MD
Final Four (two scenarios): 1. DLS vs. 2. Folsom – Folsom wins (I am bias but I also think Folsom would re-adjust and not have 6 turnovers and be at Sac State), and 1. SJB vs. 2. Centennial – SJB wins, or
1 SJB vs. 4. Folsom
2 Centennial vs. 3 DLS
Final: SJB vs. Folsom (1st Scenario), SJB vs. Centennial (2nd Scenario)
Winner: SJB (when vs Folsom – though I would say it is possible Folsom could pull upset and I do not think I would be entirely shocked) but I will go for upset and say Centennial over SJB in Scenario 2
Lots of questions. 1. Folsom also could play Liberty if Liberty plays DLS and that’s a close game. Liberty/Central is a tough one. I’ve seen both. Folsom isn’t as good as 2014 (skill players now are better, but lines in 2014 were better) but probably will win CIF D1-AA title again. Narbonne (LA City) or San Diego Open right now seem to be the two that would play in South for D1-AA. Maybe not the rout of 2014 but still probably a solid Folsom win. 2. For next year, DLS is losing a lot of great seniors and if Folsom isn’t losing much at the QB spot could certainly get that win. 3. Your round robins make sense and coming into the season I thought Folsom’s offense should be able to score on anybody. Then the shutout happened and I’ve now seen Bosco up close.
If Centenniel gets past MD, Bosco will handle Centennial (expect high-scoring game, but Negro will have enough data from the playoffs to pick them apart; Bosco doesn’t really have any weaknesses). If MD wins, I expect a tighter, lower-scoring game; 70/30 chance Bosco wins again. Key to beating Bosco is pressuring the QB and shutting down the run which is almost impossible with Bosco’s O-line. Maybe the game against Oaks Christian who has #1 overall HS player in the nation ( Kayvon Thibodeaux) and happens to be a WDE will help shed light on how Ugli responds to real pressure.
Love that Folsom and DLS get a bye in first week of CIF while Southern Section teams face a top 40 team in first round… Just another example of how out of whack the consistency is when comparing sections.
You can actually compare entire country because CIFSS is only one in which the top teams in its entire section or an entire state all in the same playoff division and it’s a section of 600 plus schools. Of course, it’s the best/toughest/greatest playoff division in the nation. If the top teams in Florida were all in the same division doing the same thing it would be comparable but travel there makes it impossible. The tradeoff for having a division like that in the CIFSS is that it’s not necessarily good for the CIF regional/state games and a lot of great teams will not get the chance to win CIF state titles.