Players from Folsom did a team photo after their 24-20 win on Friday at De La Salle. There was much to celebrate. The last school from Northern California that posted two straight win over the Spartans was Salesian of Richmond way back in 1978-1979. Photo: Mark Tennis.
On a weekend in which five of the top 10 teams in the state plus 14 of the top 25 all had byes, the focus shifted north as No. 5 Folsom edged No. 6 De La Salle of Concord on a touchdown with 15 seconds left in the game. No. 4 Serra of San Mateo also played and topped its rivals from St. Francis. Another big winner was Carlsbad of the CIF San Diego Section.
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(Rankings based on previous State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Sept. 23)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 5-0
Does not play. This week is a bye week for the Monarchs after their non league schedule was completed. They have JSerra of San Juan Capistrano next week and the week after that they will be hosting No. 2 St. John Bosco at the Santa Ana Bowl.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 5-0
Defeated Central Catholic (Modesto) 65-0. The score was 34-0 at the end of the first quarter in a game the Braves could have set records. If they want any teams like Central Catholic (which was good enough to play in the CIF D2-AA state final last season) to even consider playing them, however, they have to ease up. Two weeks to go until the first of likely two national No. 1 vs No. 2 showdowns with Mater Dei.
3. Centennial (Corona) 4-1
Does not play. It’s a bye week as well for the Huskies, who have lost only to No. 1 Mater Dei and also remain highly ranked nationally. Centennial plays next the following week in its Big West League opener vs Chaparral of Temecula.
4. Serra (San Mateo) 4-0
It wasn’t flashy, but Serra (San Mateo) pulled out a 29-7 victory at St. Francis (Mountain View). Padres never trailed in the contest, but were only up 8-7 at halftime. Serra takes command of the West Catholic Athletic League race, but undefeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) up next.
5. Folsom 4-1
Defeated No. 6 De La Salle (Concord) 24-20. Austin Mack stretched the ball over the goal line with 15 seconds left for the winning touchdown as the Bulldogs beat the Spartans for the second straight time. They had lost to them in 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2021 in the regular season before winning in last year’s CIF NorCal D1-AA final. Folsom responded two different times after DLS scored, once when it was 10-7 and then again when it was 20-17.
Folsom head coach Paul Doherty makes a point to his team about not winning a league title last year after win this season at De La Salle. Photo: Mark Tennis.
6. De La Salle (Concord) 3-2
LOST to No. 5 Folsom, 24-20, on Friday at home. As Darren Saabedra of the San Jose Mercury-News pointed out after the game the Spartans have lost four times in the last year to NorCal opponents (twice now to Folsom, once each to Serra of San Mateo and St. Francis of Mountain View) by a combined total of 11 points. That’s of little solace to the Spartan faithful, but they and the coaches know that by just stringing together just a few more drives and defensive stops that the season can still turn around. And who knows it’s very possible that if Folsom and DLS both win section titles (along with Serra of San Mateo) that a rematch in the NorCal D1-AA final would be played. It would just be played in Folsom.
7. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 5-0
Does not play. Poly has a bye this week, which is different from some of the others taking a bye since the Jackrabbits already have played one league game. Next game will be the following week against a Long Beach Millikan team that was just hit with four forfeit losses.
8. Mission Viejo 5-1
Defeated Leuzinger (Lawndale) 49-20 Friday at El Camino College. Kadin Semonza passed for 231 yards and three TDs and added two rushing TDs. The Diablos have a bye next week.
9. Los Alamitos 3-2
Does not play. The Griffins enjoy a bye this week and then face Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) on the road to start Sunset Surf League. Corona del Mar follows in a game we’ll see on the Thursday before the Mater Dei-Bosco matchup the following night.
10. Chaminade (West Hills) 5-0
Does not play. The Eagles have a bye this week before they start competition in the Mission League the following week against longtime rival Alemany (Mission Hills).
11. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 3-1*
Does not play. Officially, the Eagles are 4-1 due to their forfeit win over St. Augustine of San Diego. They are taking a bye this week and next week will start Trinity League play by taking on Orange Lutheran.
12. Inglewood 5-0
Does not play. The Sentinels also are on a bye this week and should roll through the Ocean League. Their next game will be Sept. 30 vs Centennial (Compton).
13. Edison (Huntington Beach) 5-0
Does not play. The Chargers have a bye this week before opening Sunset Surf League play at Huntington Beach.
14. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 4-1
Defeated Damien (La Verne) 35-7. It was a solid win for the Lancers, but it looked ugly in the handshake line as players & coaches were seen shoving each other. It was reported Saturday there was a police report filed by someone who was perhaps assaulted.
15. Lutheran (Orange) 4-1
Does not play. OLu is taking a week off before hosting No. 11 Santa Margarita Catholic at Orange Coast College the following week in a Trinity League opener.
16. Serra (Gardena) 3-2
Does not play. Head coach Scott Altenburg’s club is another with a bye this week. The Cavs return for their Mission League opener vs Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.
Carlsbad WR/TE Zach Marshall has committed to Michigan and was eligible to play this season for the first time this week. He played last season at Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach). Photo: raise.snap.app.
17. Pittsburg 3-1
Does not play. After taking the tough 23-15 loss to Folsom, the Pirates have a bye this week. They’ll return next Friday to welcome state No. 44 McClymonds (Oakland).
18. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 3-2
Does not play. The Lions will host No. 1 Mater Dei after this week’s bye week to start Trinity League play.
19. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 3-3
Defeated Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) 35-3. All of the Dons’ losses are to teams from outside of the CIF San Diego Section (Corona Centennial, Chandler of Arizona & De La Salle).
20. Buchanan (Clovis) 5-0
Does not play. There also are teams taking byes this week in the CIF Central Section. Buchanan will take the extra time to prepare for unbeaten Clovis West the following week.
21. Carlsbad 4-1
It was a statement win on Friday evening for Carlsbad, as quarterback Julian Sayin breezed to a 27-0 blanking of Central Section power No. 25 Liberty (Bakersfield). Friday was the first game for Michigan commit and Santa Fe Christian transfer Zack Marshall, as the senior athlete had one touchdown reception, a touchdown pass and a sack for Carlsbad. Sayin grabbed a flight afterward for an unofficial visit to LSU.
22. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 4-2
This team blasted winless Kennedy (Sacramento) 69-0. The Mustangs had 275 yards rushing in the first half and ended the game with 326 total.
23. Lincoln (San Diego) 5-1
While Carlsbad welcomed a Central Section side, Lincoln of the San Diego Section headed north to take on Garces Memorial (Bakersfield). UCLA commit Roderick Robinson had two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in the 42-16 blowout.
24. Warren (Downey) 4-1
Does not play. Head coach Kevin Pearson’s squad will have a bye this week and then will start San Gabriel Valley League play the following week against Mayfair of Lakewood.
25. Liberty (Bakersfield) 3-2
The San Diego Section wasn’t kind to Liberty (Bakersfield), as the second ranked team in the Central Section was shutout 27-0 by No. 21 Carlsbad.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Alemany (Mission Hills) 2-2
Defeated Lawndale 18-14. The Cardinals just lost 21-0 to Inglewood and played Alemany pretty tough.
Apple Valley 4-1
Does not play. The Sun Devils are on a bye and will go against Serrano of Phelan next week.
Citrus Valley (Redlands) 4-1
Defeated previously unbeaten Ayala (Chino Hills) 28-7. Impressive win for the Blackhawks, who were coming in after getting a win last week over Norco. Only loss to Oak Hills.
Granite Bay 5-0
Does not play. It’s a bye week for Grizzlies, who were joined in State TOP 50 this week by league rivals Del Oro and Oak Ridge.
Helix (La Mesa) 5-1
Defeated Servite (Anaheim) 38-31. Any win over any Trinity League team is big. Highlanders at Mission Viejo next week.
Madison (San Diego) 5-0
Defeated Granite Hills (El Cajon) 15-12. Entering fourth quarter it looked like the Warhawks were cooked with a 12-0 deficit. They rallied for a three-point win.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 4-1
Defeated San Clemente 48-31 on Friday. The Nighthawks raced out a 20-0 lead and never let up.
Norco 3-2
Defeated Santiago (Corona) 47-7 on Thursday in bounceback from loss to Citrus Valley.
Oak Hills (Hesperia) 5-0
Does not play. Team has a bye after big win from last week vs St. Bonaventure (Ventura).
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 3-2
Defeated Loyola (LA) 34-7. Lions’ losses to Chaminade & Serra (Gardena).
Rancho Cucamonga 3-2
Defeated Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 39-21. Jonah Dawson reported with nine catches for 232 yards, including 98-yard TD. Vista Murrieta was 4-0.
Salinas 5-0
Once again a big time fourth quarter turned a close game into a blowout, as Salinas scored 13 unanswered points to push past Hollister 33-13. UC Berkeley commit Nyziah Hunter had a 65-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 2-3
Does not play. The Trailblazers are on a bye this week.
St. Mary’s (Stockton) 5-0
The Rams traveled north of the Golden Gate Bridge to square off with Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) and the Cardinals wouldn’t let the Rams run away with the game. The Sac-Joaquin Section side came away with the 32-18 victory over the Cardinals. St. Mary’s plays at 5-0 Lodi in league opener next week.
West Ranch (Valencia) 5-0
Defeated Saugus 43-6. This was team that had just beaten Simi Valley. Ryan Staub passed for 358 yards and 5 TDs plus he had 99 yards rushing.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 4-0
Menlo-Atherton scored late in Friday’s contest against Wilcox on a touchdown catch by 5-star Oregon commit Jurrion Dickey and then the Bears went for the two-point-convention with three minutes remaining. It was stopped and the Chargers recovered the onside kick and were able to run off the clock for the 21-20 victory.
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