By admin 
The guys in blue who play on a blue turf and who have generally left opponents feeling blue are top dogs again.
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The Folsom Bulldogs have started every fall season since 2011 as The Sacramento Bee’s top-ranked high school football team. Since 2010, Folsom has won five CIF state championships and 12 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section crowns. And here they come again — stout in the trenches, skilled and fast.
Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills is ranked second, where the Trojans finished in The Bee’s final rankings last season. The Grant Pacers are ranked third and, like Oak Ridge, return 17 starters. Folsom, Oak Ridge and Grant each covet the same prize: the section Division I championship and all the hardware that comes after in the CIF state playoffs. Folsom is Northern California-ranked No. 1 by Cal-Hi Sports, ahead of storied Bay Area programs such as De La Salle of Concord and Serra of San Mateo.
Oak Ridge is NorCal-ranked sixth and Grant seventh by Cal-Hi.
1. Folsom Bulldogs
Last season: 14-1
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: I
Outlook: Winners of five consecutive section D-I championships under coach Paul Doherty, Folsom will find out in a hurry how good it is with opening games against powerhouse programs Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa and Mission Viejo of Orange County. Cal-committed QB Brody Rudnicki starred in the 2025 playoffs and will have WRs Rob Larson (UCLA) and Carter Williams (San Jose State) and RBs Joseph Eyerman and Osias Bolton to work with. The lines are strong, and the defense is headed by Sacramento State-committed lineman Lua DeBerry.
2. Oak Ridge Trojans
Last season: 9-4
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: I
Outlook: Coach Casey Taylor has another powerhouse lot that seeks the school’s fifth consecutive section tile berth, having defeated Grant 9-7 in a section semifinal thriller in 2025. The defense is stacked with LBs Brayden Molloy and Justen Womack. Versatile linemen Nick Hunt, Troy Flemming and Blake Meggers will lead the charge, and QB Nick Johnson has a duel-threat to work with in Isaac Pierce.
3. Grant Pacers
Last season: 7-5
League: Metro
Division: I
Outlook: Coach Carl Reed has another skilled, fast and big team with defense expected to be a strength behind LB star Julian Bruno, who has 20 Division I scholarship offers. QB Blake Nycum returns, as do star WRs Zo Edwards (a Cal commit), Koby Shabazz (Sacramento State) and RBs Jayson Williams (Fresno State) and Thorne Watson. Speedy freshman A’Ron Richardson is also a factor.
4. Inderkum Tigers
Last season: 9-2
League: Capital Valley
Division: I
Outlook: Coach Justin Reber has the makings of a program that can make a dent in the D-I playoff field, and the Tigers have a loaded early schedule that includes Destiny Christian, CIF Northern Section No. 1 Pleasant Valley of Chico, defending CIF State Open Division champion and current state-ranked No. 1 Santa Margarita of Orange County and Folsom. QB Brody Cole, OL Preston Pitts and Sacramento High transfer RB Cordell Radcliffe will lead the way.
5. Monterey Trail Mustangs
Last season: 9-3
League: Delta
Division: I
Outlook: Coach TJ Ewing and his run-heavy, defensive-minded squad from the Elk Grove Unified School District have not lost in league play since 2017 and will again be fast and physical. RB Nigel Flowers, do-all Nigel Guerrero, DL Onyeka Ogbodo and company open against Bay Area powerhouse Pittsburg.
6. Woodcreek Timberwolves
Last season: 12-2
League: Capital Valley
Division: III
Outlook: Coach Kyle Stowers led the program to its first section crown in the 31-year history of the Roseville school, and they may be even better in 2026. Sixteen starters return with new QB Dylan England ready to lead the charge along with versatile talents Trace Murchison and Ethan Keim.
7. Del Oro Golden Eagles
Last season: 7-4
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: II
Outlook: Coach Josh Parry has a physical team that showed flashes in a scrimmage against Grant last week but also found out that the Golden Eagles still need some work. Landen Parry, son of the coach, can play LB, TE, DL and FB. Eastern Washington commit TE Darius Dismukes, rising recruit DB/athlete Chase Carmazzi and Oak Ridge QB transfer Luke Taber are among the leaders.
8. Granite Bay Grizzlies
Last season: 9-4
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: II
Outlook: Coach Joe Cattolico is a 200-game winner who has had the bonus thrill of coaching his sons, including returning starting QB Dominic. Graduation took a lot of players, but tradition never graduates for this Placer County program that seeks another trip to the section finals.
9. Jesuit Marauders
Last season: 6-5
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: II
Outlook: Coach Marlon Blanton and staff have found out that Big Red can compete in the muscle-bound SFL after decades in the Delta League. Jesuit is big in the trenches, including Lolo Mabalot (6-2, 310 pounds), Donnie Robinson (6-5, 280) and Max Vaughn (6-5, 290).
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10. Rocklin Thunder
Last season: 6-6
League: Sierra Foothill
Division: II
Outlook: Coach Jason Adams has to replace scores of starters, but the new guys look promising, including 6-6 QB Parker Lively (he has a Sacramento State offer). Whitney transfer RB Cameron Taylor II is a load.
11. Destiny Christian Lions
Last season: 5-6
League: Metro
Division: III
Outlook: Aaron Garcia stepped down as head coach and remains as athletic director, ushering in the Antuan Simmons coaching era after he served as co-coach in recent seasons. The lions are massive in the trenches, fast at the skill positions and have players with scores of scholarship offers including versatile talents Ahmir Laster, Antonio Johnson and Lance Lewis.
12. Sutter Huskies
Last season: 13-2
League: Golden Empire
Division: V
Outlook: The small-school guys can rumble and compete, and that’s been the case for years under coach Ryan Reynolds, whose team stormed to the section D-V title and a NorCal crown last season. Fifteen section championship trophies fill the trophy case. Cal-bound TE/LB/DL star Troy Bowens leads the attack along with 1,600-yard rusher Losi Asiata and LB Andrew Barker.
13. Roseville Tigers
Last season: 11-3
League: Foothill Valley
Division: IV
Outlook: The storied Tigers won a section crown last season in dramatic fashion but graduated 30 players. Still, coach Adam Reinking is encouraged by the depth on the lines and QB Hunter Felkins, who went 3-1 as a starer in 2025. LBs Mateo Martinez and Cash Fischer lead the defense.
14. Placer Hillmen
Last season: 6-5
League: Foothill Valley
Division: Division IV
Outlook: Coach Joey Montoya is in his 20th season as head coach at his alma mater with another monstrous lineman in UCLA-bound Gage Esty ready to lead the charge. QB Chase Rodarte and RB/LB Jesiah Aday are key cogs for program seeking its 18th consecutive playoff berth.
15. Casa Roble Rams
Last season: 11-2
League: Golden Empire
Division: IV/V
Outlook: Preparing for his 10th season as head coach and 27th on the Orangevale campus, Chris Horner has to replace scores of starters. But the eternal optimist praises his defense and both lines and the leadership of captains Karter Coss, Urijah Fear, Jordan Keller and Ayden Ante.
16. Liberty Ranch Hawks
Last season: 11-1
League: Sierra Valley
Division: V/VI
Outlook: The Hawks of Galt and coach Warren Schroeder return QB Ryan Ogas and three 1,000-yard rushers in Joe Lara, Andrew Quinn and Wyatt Corriea. They combined to score 58 rushing touchdowns behind returning OL leader Deshaun Jackson.
17. Franklin Wildcats
Last season: 8-3
League: Delta
Division: I
Outlook: Coming off its best season since 2017, the Elk Grove Unified School District program is ready for more succes under coach Joseph McCray, lead by QB Braylon Robinson (2,539 yards passing, 32 TDs) and tackling guru Mason Towne (117 stops).
18. Twelve Bridges Raging Rhinos
Last season: 11-1
League: Foothill Valley
Division: IV
Outlook: The fast-rising program in Placer County under guru coach Chris Bean seeks a fourth successive 10-0 regular season, but it won’t be easy after mass losses to graduation. RB Josh Chittom and two-way star Dylan Amos lead the way.
19. Vanden Vikings
Last season: 9-3
League: Monticello Empire
Division: III
Outlook: Larry Hogue, an alum of nearby Fairfield High, steps in as the new coach and the goals remain: Another section, NorCal and CIF State crown.
20. Vacaville Bulldogs
Last season: 8-3
League: Monticello Empire
Division: III
Outlook: The Bulldogs have towered in Solano County for decades and seek their 19th playoff team in the last 20 seasons. The senior-dominated team includes two-way player Devin Bishop.
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The Next 5
21. Elk Grove (4-7 last season)
22. Rio Americano (7-5)
23. West Park (6-5)
24. Sacramento (7-4)
25. Bradshaw Christian (9-3)