Sometimes, you get lucky. While rummaging through some faded files in a soiled cardboard box hidden away in a dank upstairs closet that has the faint aroma of ancient sweat socks, there it was: The Chronicle's 1968 late-season prep football rankings (most of the best teams had finished their seasons) for all of NorCal, from the Oregon border south to Fresno and associated rural environs. The Chron at that time covered high school sports very well. Tim Gartner was the prep editor in those days. What follows is his NorCal Top 20 published just prior to Thanksgiving Day:
1. (tie) Alameda, 9-0 and Serra, 9-1
3. Mira Loma, 10-0
4. Edison, 9-1
5. Los Altos, 9-0
6. Pleasant Hill, 8-0-1
7. Woodside, 8-0-1
8. Vallejo, 8-1
9. Sequoia, 7-1
10. Ayer, 8-0
11. Tracy, 10-0
12. Monterey, 8-0-1
13. South San Francisco, 8-0-1
14. Coalinga, 9-1
15. Fresno, 7-1
16. St. Francis, 8-2
17. Hayward, 7-1-1
18. Hogan, 8-1
19. Arroyo, 7-0-1
20. Sanger, 9-1.
Note: Until this month, the 1968 season was the only previous time that Serra was rated No.1 in NorCal during the regular season. And that was a tie with the Hornets. The Padres have been fielding a varsity since the 1946 season. By the way, that 1968 list includes St. Ignatius, 6-4, as an honorable mention. The SI QB on that team: Dan Fouts, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
1. (tie) Alameda, 9-0 and Serra, 9-1
3. Mira Loma, 10-0
4. Edison, 9-1
5. Los Altos, 9-0
6. Pleasant Hill, 8-0-1
7. Woodside, 8-0-1
8. Vallejo, 8-1
9. Sequoia, 7-1
10. Ayer, 8-0
11. Tracy, 10-0
12. Monterey, 8-0-1
13. South San Francisco, 8-0-1
14. Coalinga, 9-1
15. Fresno, 7-1
16. St. Francis, 8-2
17. Hayward, 7-1-1
18. Hogan, 8-1
19. Arroyo, 7-0-1
20. Sanger, 9-1.
Note: Until this month, the 1968 season was the only previous time that Serra was rated No.1 in NorCal during the regular season. And that was a tie with the Hornets. The Padres have been fielding a varsity since the 1946 season. By the way, that 1968 list includes St. Ignatius, 6-4, as an honorable mention. The SI QB on that team: Dan Fouts, a Pro Football Hall of Famer.