Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10 high school football rankings via SBLive Sports/Sports Illustrated, 9/5

Top two teams Folsom and St. Mary's have flexed so far with more opportunities on the near horizon

The Sac-Joaquin Section has already flexed its considerable muscle with more opportunities looming.

Top-ranked Folsom trailed 21-0 after one quarter at Serra-San Mateo earlier this season and fought to the end in a 28-21 setback.

Soon: De La Salle-Concord visits Folsom, and then the meat grinder that is the Sierra Foothill League with Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, Granite Bay, Del Oro-Loomis and Rocklin.

No. 2 St. Mary's-Stockton has a 42-33 win over No. 3 Central Catholic-Modesto and also a 44-7 win over No. 5 Manteca. The Rams have a shot to beat De La Salle for the second consecutive season on Sept. 15 in Concord.

The biggest game of the week is Saturday at Sacramento City College, where close to 15,000 fans will attend the Holy Bowl between No. 14 Jesuit-Carmichael versus Christian Brothers. Jesuit has owned the series of late winning 16 of the last 19 meetings with one tie. Christian Brothers last prevailed in 2019, 30-27. 

A glimpse of the crowd at last season's Holy Bowl in Sacramento, a 21-7 Jesuit victory over Christian Brothers. Photo: Gary Jones

Sac-Joaquin Section Top 10 Football Rankings, 9/5

1. Folsom (2-1)

Last ranking: 1

Last game: Beat Edison-Stockton, 48-15

Next game: Friday at Turlock

The Bulldogs have just the 21-14 opening loss to Northern California No. 1 Serra-San Mateo and rolled Edison on the road behind QB Ryder Lyons and the defensive pursuit of linemen Theo Greule and Lucas Hardeman.

2. St. Mary's-Stockton (3-0)

Last ranking: 2

Last game: Beat Manteca, 44-7

Next game: At De La Salle-Concord, Sept. 15

The Rams are loaded and stand as the team to beat in the SJS Division 2 playoffs, but that's months away. Samson Hunkin passed for 217 yards and three touchdowns, two to Kennth Moore, and Asante Carter ran for two scores.

3. Central Catholic-Modesto (2-1)

Last ranking: 3

Last game: Beat Bishop Manogue-Nv., 16-7

Next game: Friday vs. Serra-San Mateo

The Raiders rushed 37 times for 243 yards, including 92 by Joey Alcutt, who scored. Troy Leota and Tyler Wentworth, also the star QB, each had two of the team's six sacks.

4. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (3-0)

Last ranking: 5

Last week: Beat Madison-San Diego, 22-20

This week: Saturday vs. Clayton Valley Charter-Concord

The Trojans are banged up on defense but not short of depth and desire. Sophomore RB Jasen Womack has played beyond his years, including 31 carries for 140 yards and a score.

5. Manteca, 2-1

Last ranking: 7

Last week: Lost to St. Mary's, 47-7

This week: Saturday vs. Rocklin

This is a monstrous outfit when RB star Bryson Davis is in the lineup, and he rumbled for a whopping 325 yards on 35 carries in an early win over Vista del Lago-Folsom but hasn't played since with torn elbow ligaments. He's due back soon.

6. Grant-Sacramento (2-1)

Last ranking: 6

Last game: Beat Reno, 42-0

Next game: Friday at Los Gatos (MAY BE AT GRANT - DETERMINED TUESDAY AM

The Pacers have a 21-18 loss at Oak Ridge and bounced back with the rout of Reno as Luke Alexander passed for 355 yards and four touchdowns, two to Oregon-bound star Kingston Lopa, and Wayshawn Parker rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

7. Del Oro-Loomis (3-0)

Last ranking: 8

Last game: Beat Placer-Auburn, 35-20

Next game: Sept. 15, at Casa Roble-Orangevale

Senior QB Caden Pinnick is off to a tremendous start for the storied Golden Eagles of Placer County. He passed for 209 yards and three TDs and rushed for 60 yards and had a score. Now he has a bye week to rest and rev up.

8. Rocklin (3-0)

Last ranking: 9

Last game: Beat Buchanan-Fresno, 42-20

Next game: Saturday vs. Manteca

The Thunder are physical in the trenches and balanced on offense, led by sophomore QB Reeve Sloan and versatile RB Derek Keeley, who rushed for 10 yards and two scores and caught one.

9. Escalon (3-0)

Last ranking: NR

Last game: Beat Windsor, 42-39

Next game: Friday at California-San Ramon

The Cougars have been a powerhouse for decades, punctuated by eight SJS titles and a CIF State crown. Small school at D5? Yes, but a big-time puncher, including wins this season over much larger Golden Valley-Merced, 20-14, Buchanan-Clovis, 23-21, and Windsor, 42-39. Escalon has fewer than 800 students, and one of them is senior Joshua Graham, who leads the team in rushing with 393 yards.

10. Casa Roble-Orangevale (3-0)

Last ranking: 14

Last game: Beat Lincoln, 42-0

Next game: Sept. 15, vs. Del Oro-Loomis

The Rams are a one-time D1 program but are now D4/5 with much smaller enrollment, and they can hang with anyone. The test is Del Oro in their next game.

The next 5

11. Granite Bay (1-2)

12. Vacaville (2-1)

13. Downey-Modesto (3-0)

14. Jesuit-Carmichael (1-1)

15. Tracy (2-0)