1. Serra
2022 season: 13-1, WCAL Champions, CCS Division I Champions, Open Division State Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 26 vs. Folsom, September 2 vs. De La Salle, September 9 at Central Catholic, September 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, September 30 vs. St. Francis, October 6 at Mitty, October 14 vs. Bellarmine, October 21 vs. Riordan, October 27 at Valley Christian, November 3 vs. St. Ignatius
Season Outlook: The past two seasons have been historic for the Padres with back-to-back Open Division State Bowl game appearances, a first win over De La Salle and its first undefeated run in the WCAL in five years. However, it isn’t until this fall that its stellar 2024 class reaches its senior years. The core includes quarterback Maealiuaki Smith, LB/RB Jabari Mann (San Jose State), LB/DB Danny Niu (San Diego State), defensive back Joseph Bey, RB/SS Marley Alapati (Army), offensive lineman John Holthaus (Colorado State), running back Jaden Green and TE/DE Cole Harrison. Serra is 42-5 over the past five seasons.
2. De La Salle
2022 Season: 10-4, NCS Open Division Champions, 1-AA NorCal Champions, 1-AA State Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 25 vs. Orange Lutheran, September 2 at Serra, September 8 at St. Francis, September 15 vs. St. Mary’s Stockton, September 22 at Folsom, September 29 vs. McClymonds, October 13 at San Ramon Valley, October 20 vs. Foothill-Pleasanton, October 27 at Monte Vista, November 3 vs. Clayton Valley Charter
Season Outlook: There were some highs (another NCS title and a NorCal title) and some lows (losing three of four games all to NorCal teams and losing in the state finals) in 2022. The Spartans graduated key senior leaders like Derek Thompson, Cooper Powers and Charles Greer, but returners to watch include 2024 Top 50 players linebacker Drew Cunningham and WR/DB Jonathan Guererro. The Spartans have a good junior group with quarterback Toa Faavae, running back Derrick Blanche, running back Dominic Kelley, defensive back Robert Santiago and defensive end Matthew Johnson. 2026 WR/DB Jaden Jefferson is also a player to watch.
3. Folsom
2022 Season: 12-2, SFL Champions, SJS Division I Champions, 1-AA NorCal Runner-Ups
2023 Schedule: August 18 at Monterey Trail, August 26 at Serra, September 1 at Edison-Stockton, September 8 at Turlock, September 22 vs. De La Salle, September 29 vs. Oak Ridge, October 6 at Rocklin, October 13 vs. Whitney, October 20 at Del Oro, October 27 vs. Granite Bay
Season Outlook: Folsom saw a deep and talented senior class move on and then saw an unexpected departure with quarterback Austin Mack deciding to reclassify to the 2023 class and sign with Washington. The Bulldogs remain talented with Army bound receiver Brian Ray, Top 50 safety RJ Whitten and 2026 quarterback Ryder Lyons, who will provide a dual threat option. Folsom also has a strong group of defensive linemen with 2024 Luke Farr, 2024 Lucas Hardeman, 2025 Nela Tupou and 2025 Theo Gruele to help bolster what was one of the region’s best defenses last year. The Bulldogs have won seven of the last nine SJS Division I titles.
4. St. Mary’s-Stockton
2022 Season: 10-1, undefeated regular season, lost in SJS Division I quarterfinals
2023 Schedule: August 18 vs. Clovis West, August 25 vs. Central Catholic, September 1 vs. Manteca, September 15 at De La Salle, September 22 at Bishop Amat, September 29 vs. Lodi, October 6 at West, October 13 at Tracy, October 20 vs. Tokay, October 27 at Lincoln-Stockton
Season Outlook: Throughout the Rams’ undefeated 2022 regular season (convincing wins ove Central Catholic and De La Salle), the thought was St. Mary’s is really good and might be a year away. However, an early playoff exit halted the momentum that will start again later this month. St. Mary’s returns 2024 quarterback Samson Hunkin, 2024 running back Asante Carter, 2026 wide receiver Kenneth Moore III and Harvard bound safety Omari Gayles. After going a combined 13-10 in 2018 and 2019, the Rams have gone 20-4 in the past two full seasons.
5. Oak Ridge
2022 Season: 10-3, SJS Division I Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 18 vs. Spanish Springs, August 25 vs. Grant, September 1 vs. Madison, September 9 vs. Clayton Valley Charter, September 15 at Pleasant Valley, September 29 at Folsom, October 6 at Del Oro, October 13 vs. Granite Bay, October 20 at Whitney, October 27 vs. Rocklin
Season Outlook: Entering year three under head coach Casey Taylor, the Trojans are looking to build off last year’s section title game run. They will be strong on the offensive line led by Fresno State-bound Ethan Dasmann and Zane Roeder. Oak Ridge also boasts one of the region’s best overall players in junior tight end Kaleb Edwards. Defensively, Oak Ridge brings back nose guard Markus Hoffman and will have a very good kicker in Alex Henslee. With section titles at Capital Christian (year two) and Del Oro (year four), is year three the time for Taylor and the Trojans?
2022 season: 13-1, WCAL Champions, CCS Division I Champions, Open Division State Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 26 vs. Folsom, September 2 vs. De La Salle, September 9 at Central Catholic, September 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, September 30 vs. St. Francis, October 6 at Mitty, October 14 vs. Bellarmine, October 21 vs. Riordan, October 27 at Valley Christian, November 3 vs. St. Ignatius
Season Outlook: The past two seasons have been historic for the Padres with back-to-back Open Division State Bowl game appearances, a first win over De La Salle and its first undefeated run in the WCAL in five years. However, it isn’t until this fall that its stellar 2024 class reaches its senior years. The core includes quarterback Maealiuaki Smith, LB/RB Jabari Mann (San Jose State), LB/DB Danny Niu (San Diego State), defensive back Joseph Bey, RB/SS Marley Alapati (Army), offensive lineman John Holthaus (Colorado State), running back Jaden Green and TE/DE Cole Harrison. Serra is 42-5 over the past five seasons.
2. De La Salle
2022 Season: 10-4, NCS Open Division Champions, 1-AA NorCal Champions, 1-AA State Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 25 vs. Orange Lutheran, September 2 at Serra, September 8 at St. Francis, September 15 vs. St. Mary’s Stockton, September 22 at Folsom, September 29 vs. McClymonds, October 13 at San Ramon Valley, October 20 vs. Foothill-Pleasanton, October 27 at Monte Vista, November 3 vs. Clayton Valley Charter
Season Outlook: There were some highs (another NCS title and a NorCal title) and some lows (losing three of four games all to NorCal teams and losing in the state finals) in 2022. The Spartans graduated key senior leaders like Derek Thompson, Cooper Powers and Charles Greer, but returners to watch include 2024 Top 50 players linebacker Drew Cunningham and WR/DB Jonathan Guererro. The Spartans have a good junior group with quarterback Toa Faavae, running back Derrick Blanche, running back Dominic Kelley, defensive back Robert Santiago and defensive end Matthew Johnson. 2026 WR/DB Jaden Jefferson is also a player to watch.
3. Folsom
2022 Season: 12-2, SFL Champions, SJS Division I Champions, 1-AA NorCal Runner-Ups
2023 Schedule: August 18 at Monterey Trail, August 26 at Serra, September 1 at Edison-Stockton, September 8 at Turlock, September 22 vs. De La Salle, September 29 vs. Oak Ridge, October 6 at Rocklin, October 13 vs. Whitney, October 20 at Del Oro, October 27 vs. Granite Bay
Season Outlook: Folsom saw a deep and talented senior class move on and then saw an unexpected departure with quarterback Austin Mack deciding to reclassify to the 2023 class and sign with Washington. The Bulldogs remain talented with Army bound receiver Brian Ray, Top 50 safety RJ Whitten and 2026 quarterback Ryder Lyons, who will provide a dual threat option. Folsom also has a strong group of defensive linemen with 2024 Luke Farr, 2024 Lucas Hardeman, 2025 Nela Tupou and 2025 Theo Gruele to help bolster what was one of the region’s best defenses last year. The Bulldogs have won seven of the last nine SJS Division I titles.
4. St. Mary’s-Stockton
2022 Season: 10-1, undefeated regular season, lost in SJS Division I quarterfinals
2023 Schedule: August 18 vs. Clovis West, August 25 vs. Central Catholic, September 1 vs. Manteca, September 15 at De La Salle, September 22 at Bishop Amat, September 29 vs. Lodi, October 6 at West, October 13 at Tracy, October 20 vs. Tokay, October 27 at Lincoln-Stockton
Season Outlook: Throughout the Rams’ undefeated 2022 regular season (convincing wins ove Central Catholic and De La Salle), the thought was St. Mary’s is really good and might be a year away. However, an early playoff exit halted the momentum that will start again later this month. St. Mary’s returns 2024 quarterback Samson Hunkin, 2024 running back Asante Carter, 2026 wide receiver Kenneth Moore III and Harvard bound safety Omari Gayles. After going a combined 13-10 in 2018 and 2019, the Rams have gone 20-4 in the past two full seasons.
5. Oak Ridge
2022 Season: 10-3, SJS Division I Runner-Up
2023 Schedule: August 18 vs. Spanish Springs, August 25 vs. Grant, September 1 vs. Madison, September 9 vs. Clayton Valley Charter, September 15 at Pleasant Valley, September 29 at Folsom, October 6 at Del Oro, October 13 vs. Granite Bay, October 20 at Whitney, October 27 vs. Rocklin
Season Outlook: Entering year three under head coach Casey Taylor, the Trojans are looking to build off last year’s section title game run. They will be strong on the offensive line led by Fresno State-bound Ethan Dasmann and Zane Roeder. Oak Ridge also boasts one of the region’s best overall players in junior tight end Kaleb Edwards. Defensively, Oak Ridge brings back nose guard Markus Hoffman and will have a very good kicker in Alex Henslee. With section titles at Capital Christian (year two) and Del Oro (year four), is year three the time for Taylor and the Trojans?
