By admin 
The opening night of the Sacramento-area high school football season saw wins for the six Sierra Foothill League teams in The Bee’s Top 25 rankings and losses for previously ranked No. 4 Inderkum and No. 5 Monterey Trail.
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The SFL winners were top-ranked Folsom, No. 2 Oak Ridge, No. 5 Del Oro, No. 6 Granite Bay, No. 7 Jesuit and No. 8 Rocklin. Whitney was also triumphant and it now ranked No. 19. That’s the entire SFL.
Over the top on the rankings with his bunch? Not at all, given the strength and depth of the top league in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section over the years.
The most impressive 8-man team is the best 8-man team from 2025 – the Mira Loma Matadors. Behind Deangelo Keys’ 286 yards rushing and six scores, Mira Loma beat Valley 46-0 on Thursday in the region’s first game of the season.
1. Folsom (1-0)
Last week: Beat Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, 23-17
This week: vs. Mission Viejo
Update: The Bulldogs trailed the top-ranked team in the North Bay 10-0 after the first quarter and then rallied on the strength of two blocked kicks, including one late in the fourth quarter by Lua DeBerry, and a 99-yard kickoff return score by CJ Wallace. QB Brody Rudnicki scored the game winner in overtime on a run. To a man, Folsom players and coaches know they have to up their game against state-ranked Mission Viejo of Orange County, the last team to beat the Bulldogs, doing so early last season.
2. Oak Ridge (1-0)
Last week: Beat Argyle-Texas, 27-26
This week: vs. Central East-Fresno
Update: The Trojans made their trip to Texas a triumphant one, rallying late to win it behind Nick Johnson, who passed for 298 yards; RB Dylan Esten, who rushed for two scores; and a stout defensive effort in the final quarter. Central East looks the part of a defending CIF state champion.
3. Grant (0-1)
Last week: Lost to Central East-Fresno, 42-12
This week: vs. Cathedral-Los Angeles
Update: Grant was the only team to topple Central East in 2025, and that Central Section program went 14-1 and won a CIF state title. Blake Nycum passed for 181 yards and two touchdowns, but the Pacers were undone by mistakes in facing a powerhouse state-ranked team. Grant breaks in its new home field this week.
4. Woodcreek (1-0)
Last week: Beat Chico, 28-6
This week: vs. Sonora
Update: Dylan England passed for 166 yards and a score to Ethan Keim, Jeremiah Whyte rushed for 87 yards and two scores and the defense went to work for the defending CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champions. Now it’s payback time as Sonora comes to Roseville for a rematch of a NorCal title game last season, won by Sonora – and punctuated by the Sonora coaches saying they won because they were more physical.
5. Del Oro (1-0)
Last week: Beat Downey-Modesto, 42-20
This week: at Saint Francis-Mountain View
Update: The Golden Eagles scored 35 points in the first half and the defense recorded eight sacks, led by Landen Parry with two. Grayson Haugen passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns, Brennen Gibbs ran for 126 yards and two scores and Reid Elam returned a blocked punt for a score to lead the Golden Eagles’ surge.
6. Granite Bay (1-0)
Last week: Beat Vista del Lago, 47-16
This week: vs. Cosumnes Oaks
Update: Dominic Cattolico passed for two scores, Gabe Smyth rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Dylan Tetz rushed for 100 yards and a score as the Grizzlies pounded away for 33 carries and nearly 300 yards, averaging nine yards a carry.
7. Jesuit (1-0)
Last week: Beat Lincoln-Stockton, 33-14
This week: vs. Rio Americano
Update: Jeremiah Brannon passed for 100 yards and a score, Brody Quinn rushed for 74 yards, and do-all speedster Kwanna Smith made plays as a runner, receiver and return specialist with 141 all-purpose yards. The defense had 11 quarterback hurries. Rio and rivalry week loom.
8. Rocklin (1-0)
Last week: Beat Turlock, 46-7
This week: vs. Bishop Manogue-Reno
Update: Welcome to the big time Parker Lively, the Thunder’s next quarterback of potential and promise. The 6-foot-5 junior passed for 179 yards and three touchdowns, two to Malachi Kendall, and Cameron Taylor rushed for 102 yards and made five tackles in his Thunder debut.
9. Destiny Christian Academy (1-0)
Last week: Beat Inderkum, 28-12
This week: at Rodriguez-Fairfield
Update: The DCA Lions impressed in taking down previous No. 4 Inderkum, and players celebrated Antuan Simmons as he won his head-coaching debut. Vincent Scott passed for 156 yards with a TD strike to Josiah Webb, K’Aden Minor rushed for 112 yards and a score and the lines played big. None of it matters if DCA doesn’t back it up this week.
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10. Inderkum (0-1)
Last week: Lost to Destiny Christian Academy, 28-12
This week: at Pleasant Valley-Chico
Update: The Tigers were taken to task, looking the part of a team with potential but with much work to do. The top-ranked team in the CIF Northern Section is looming, followed by state No. 1 Santa Margarita and Folsom.
11. Monterey Trail (0-1)
Last week: Lost to Pittsburg, 40-7
This week: at Downey-Modesto
Update: The Mustangs of the Delta League faced a North Coast Section powerhouse in the storied Pirates as coach TJ Ewing schedules tough to toughen up his group. It was 20-7 at the half. Nigel Flowers rushed for 131 yards for Monterey Trail.
12. Sutter (1-0)
Last week: Beat Bishop Lynch-Texas, 49-28
This week: at Douglas-Nevada
Update: The Huskies traveled to Texas, checked out the region, including the barbecue joints, and then rolled to a 49-28 victory as Losi Asiata rushed for 280 yards and four scores. Sutter as a team rushed 33 times for 446 yards.
13. Roseville (1-0)
Last week: Beat Antelope, 12-0
This week: vs. Oakmont
Update: Hunter Felkins went 3-1 last season as a starter and his team is 1-0 now, hitting Jude Navarro for a touchdown strike, and the defense was nails for the defending section Division IV champions in stalling Antelope’s wing-T rushing attack. Mateo Martinez recorded a safety to lead the defense.
14. Placer (1-0)
Last week: Beat Casa Roble, 18-13
This week: vs. Ripon
Update: The Hillmen got an injury scare when QB Chase Rodarte went down with a leg injury, but it is not serious. His backup Cole Atwood helped engineer the victory. Isaiah Caminiti rushed for two scores and starred on defense, and Jesiah Aday ran for 72 yards
15. Casa Roble (0-1)
Last week: Lost to Placer, 18-13
This week: at Bella Vista
Update: The Rams of Orangevale have to erase the frustrating setback at Placer and gear up for rivalry week against Bella Vista in a rumble of San Juan Unified School District programs. Dunedin Tupou can run with power and defend with purpose for the Rams.
16. Liberty Ranch (1-0)
Last week: Beat Escalon, 28-24
This week: at Sheldon
Update: The Hawks, fresh off of an 11-1 season, took down a 12-time section winning program by rushing 46 times for 285 yards. Joe Lara ran for 104 yards and Andrew Quinn for 100.
17. Franklin (1-0)
Last week: Beat Chavez-Stockton, 34-14
This week: vs. Edison-Stockton
Update: Braylon Robinson passed for 180 yards and two scores and ran for 48 yards, and Caden Bowers and Jovan Harper made plays as versatile leaders for the Wildcats of Elk Grove. Edison is fast and talented.
18. Twelve Bridges (1-0)
Last week: Beat Bella Vista, 61-20
This week: Redwood-Larkspur
Update: The Raging Rhinos of Placer County ushered in a new era with a host of new starters and rolled behind leaders Dylan Amos, Joshua Chittom and a host of others. Next is a playoff regular from the North Coast Section.
19. Whitney (1-0)
Last week: Beat West Park, 22-6
This week: at Lincoln
Update: Behind 356 yards passing and two TD passes from Bradley Duncan and a sealing 15-yard rushing score by Isaiah Stone, the Wildcats of Placer County celebrated Brian Brickey’s first win as program head coach. It doesn’t get easier this week.
20. Vanden (1-0)
Last week: Beat Amador Valley-Pleasanton, 16-0
This week: vs. Dublin
Update: Game balls to the defense for pitching a shutout and giving Larry Hogue his first win as head coach at his alma mater. Hogue served as Vanden’s defensive coordinator for 12 seasons. Perone Oates and Amir Vincent scored touchdowns for the Vikings of Fairfield.
The next 5
21. Vacaville (1-0)
22. Rio Americano (1-0)
23. Pleasant Grove (1-0)
24. Yuba City (1-0)
25. Ponderosa (1-0)
The Bee’s Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10
1. Folsom (1-0)
2. Oak Ridge (1-0)
3. St. Mary’s-Stockton (1-0)
4. Grant (0-1)
5. Manteca (0-1)
6. Central Catholic-Modesto (0-1)
7. Woodcreek (1-0)
8. Del Oro (1-0)
9. Granite Bay (1-0)
10. Oakdale (1-0)
The Bee’s Joe Davidson is part of the weekly 3 Stooges Podcast with Jordan Georgeson and Chris Jackson with breakdowns of CIF football.
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