In today’s Top 20 release with no team movement, we are taking a look at the five new section champions in Folsom, Pittsburg, St. Francis, Grant and Wilcox.
Folsom has won four straight SJS Division I titles with its most convincing championship win during this stretch in a 41-0 win over Oak Ridge on Saturday night. The Bulldogs’ defensive line is the best front in the region with Texas bound Josiah Sharma, USC bound Nela Tupou, four year varsity contributor Theo Greule and talented sophomore Lua DaBerry. The Bulldogs are fast on the backend and the defense gave up just seven total first half points in three playoff games, including shutting out Inderkum and Oak Ridge. Carter Jackson had two touchdowns in the win as the run game continued to produce.
Pittsburg has probably been the second best team in the NCS with no section titles to show for their prowess over the last decade plus. Now the Pirates have won four straight Division I titles after a 35-28 win over San Ramon Valley in one of the best games of the weekend. For three of the four titles, Pittsburg lost to De La Salle in the Open finals before dropping down to Division I. Marley Alcantara threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns and made some key plays with his legs. The defense collected three interceptions, with two coming from UCLA bound Jadyn Hudson. Over the past three years, the Pirates are 1-2 in NorCal games and lost in its state bowl appearance. This week, they will try to avenge a loss to Folsom (28-25) in last year’s NorCal Bowl.
St. Francis won its first section title in 10 years by beating Los Gatos 27-7. Star running back Kingston Keanaaina left the game due to injury, but the Lancers leaned on their defense to slow down the Wildcats. Junior wide receiver Perrion Williams caught his eighth touchdown of the season on Friday. Next up is a Grant squad that was moved up to SJS Division II after winning two straight SJS Division III titles. The Pacers used a last minute scoring drive to beat Rocklin 30-28 as sophomores Koby Shabazz and Zo Edwards each had more than 100 receiving yards. The win continues the upward trend for the Pacers, which went winless on the field in 2021, but have followed it up with three section titles, two NorCal titles and a 2022 state title.
Finally, Wilcox overcame a 20-7 halftime deficit to Palma to beat the Chieftains 35-26 for the CCS Division II title and the Chargers’ ninth straight win. Playing without their starting quarterback, Wilcox ran for more than 300 yards in getting back to a NorCal bowl for the first time since 2021. Wilcox hits the road to take on 13-0 Twelve Bridges, which won its first section title with just the second senior class in school history, in a matchup of two strong running attacks. If the rankings were expanded to 21 teams, Twelve Bridges would be on the list too.
1. De La Salle (12-0)
2. Folsom (12-1)
3. Pittsburg (11-2)
4. San Ramon Valley (11-2)
5. St. Ignatius (10-2)
6. St. Francis-Mountain View (10-3)
7. Grant (10-3)
8. St. Mary’s-Stockton (9-3)
9. Oak Ridge (8-5)
10. Rocklin (10-3)
11. Los Gatos (10-3)
12. Riordan (7-5)
13. Cardinal Newman (10-2)
14. Marin Catholic (8-3)
15. Manteca (10-2)
16. Soquel (8-3)
17. Serra (5-6)
18. Turlock (9-4)
19. Salinas (8-3)
20. Wilcox (11-2)
Folsom has won four straight SJS Division I titles with its most convincing championship win during this stretch in a 41-0 win over Oak Ridge on Saturday night. The Bulldogs’ defensive line is the best front in the region with Texas bound Josiah Sharma, USC bound Nela Tupou, four year varsity contributor Theo Greule and talented sophomore Lua DaBerry. The Bulldogs are fast on the backend and the defense gave up just seven total first half points in three playoff games, including shutting out Inderkum and Oak Ridge. Carter Jackson had two touchdowns in the win as the run game continued to produce.
Pittsburg has probably been the second best team in the NCS with no section titles to show for their prowess over the last decade plus. Now the Pirates have won four straight Division I titles after a 35-28 win over San Ramon Valley in one of the best games of the weekend. For three of the four titles, Pittsburg lost to De La Salle in the Open finals before dropping down to Division I. Marley Alcantara threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns and made some key plays with his legs. The defense collected three interceptions, with two coming from UCLA bound Jadyn Hudson. Over the past three years, the Pirates are 1-2 in NorCal games and lost in its state bowl appearance. This week, they will try to avenge a loss to Folsom (28-25) in last year’s NorCal Bowl.
St. Francis won its first section title in 10 years by beating Los Gatos 27-7. Star running back Kingston Keanaaina left the game due to injury, but the Lancers leaned on their defense to slow down the Wildcats. Junior wide receiver Perrion Williams caught his eighth touchdown of the season on Friday. Next up is a Grant squad that was moved up to SJS Division II after winning two straight SJS Division III titles. The Pacers used a last minute scoring drive to beat Rocklin 30-28 as sophomores Koby Shabazz and Zo Edwards each had more than 100 receiving yards. The win continues the upward trend for the Pacers, which went winless on the field in 2021, but have followed it up with three section titles, two NorCal titles and a 2022 state title.
Finally, Wilcox overcame a 20-7 halftime deficit to Palma to beat the Chieftains 35-26 for the CCS Division II title and the Chargers’ ninth straight win. Playing without their starting quarterback, Wilcox ran for more than 300 yards in getting back to a NorCal bowl for the first time since 2021. Wilcox hits the road to take on 13-0 Twelve Bridges, which won its first section title with just the second senior class in school history, in a matchup of two strong running attacks. If the rankings were expanded to 21 teams, Twelve Bridges would be on the list too.
1. De La Salle (12-0)
2. Folsom (12-1)
3. Pittsburg (11-2)
4. San Ramon Valley (11-2)
5. St. Ignatius (10-2)
6. St. Francis-Mountain View (10-3)
7. Grant (10-3)
8. St. Mary’s-Stockton (9-3)
9. Oak Ridge (8-5)
10. Rocklin (10-3)
11. Los Gatos (10-3)
12. Riordan (7-5)
13. Cardinal Newman (10-2)
14. Marin Catholic (8-3)
15. Manteca (10-2)
16. Soquel (8-3)
17. Serra (5-6)
18. Turlock (9-4)
19. Salinas (8-3)
20. Wilcox (11-2)
