Previous week’s rankings are in parentheses
1 (1) De La Salle 14-0
The Spartans won their 40th consecutive game, 45-17, versus Folsom in the NorCal Open final and have reached the State bowls every year since its inception in 2006.
The ground game was again impressive with 383 yards but the story was the defense not allowing a Jake Browning touchdown pass until the final minute against the Spartan reserves. Browning had 74 touchdown throws this season but the De La Salle team-wide defensive effort included good pressure with four down lineman, hard hits on the Bulldog receivers, and three interceptions.
De La Salle’s state bowl game versus St. John Bosco will be California’s biggest bowl game yet as Centennial also features a dominant running attack and strong defense. The game will be at 8pm in Carson on Saturday.
2 (2) Serra 11-3
Serra fell to a very good Del Oro team in the Division I bowl game, 28-20. The Padres hurt themselves with 12 penalties for 110 yards plus the Golden Eagles had the two best players on the field and ran for 233 yards.
This was the first season in which Serra won a CCS Open championship and, with Kava Cassidy, Kelepi Lataimua, and James Outman coming back, the Padres will be a major contender in 2014.
3 (3) Archbishop Mitty 11-2
The only two losses for the Monarchs this season were to Serra, but it was one of the best Mitty football seasons ever and the first time the school made it to the CCS Open championship game.
As for next season, Dakari Monroe will be one of the Bay Area top seniors in 2014.
4 (4) California 11-3
The Grizzlies’ season was already a success before the loss to De La Salle and Cal is 39-12 over the last four seasons with half of those losses to the Spartans.
Simi Hingano and Zac Guardino are among the top returning players next season.
5 (5) Pittsburg 10-3
The Pirates’ injuries caught up to them in their semifinal loss to Cal but, with Noah Palega, Keith Walker, Armani Levias, and Jaylyn Morgan returning, Pittsburg looks like a top five team again next year.
6 (9) Deer Valley 11-2
The Wolverines and the three teams below them get a big jump thanks to El Cerrito’s loss to Sacred Heart Prep.
This was one of the best seasons in Deer Valley history and it will be nearly impossible to replicate in 2014 because the Wolverines lose a loaded senior class, including quarterback Nsimba Webster.
7 (10) Valley Christian (San Jose) 8-4
It’s difficult to deny the blowout wins over Milpitas and Bellarmine this season as well as a one-point loss to Mitty in the WCAL schedule.
Running backs Kirk Johnson, Tre McCloud, and Mark Quinby will all be tough to stop next season, their senior years.
8 (11) Bellarmine 8-4
The Bells had wins over El Cerrito, San Leandro, St. Francis, and Wilcox.
Curt Calomeni, Kyle MacAuley, and Anthony Guttadauro is a solid trio to build around for next season.
9 (12) Terra Nova 10-1
Keep in mind that Terra Nova had a 20-0 first quarter and halftime lead in its 29-15 regular season win over Sacred Heart Prep, a win that propelled the Tigers to the CCS Open Division.
Despite the loss in the Open quarters, this Terra Nova team will go down as one of the school’s best of all-time and they bring back sensational quarterback Anthony Gordon next season.
10 (23) Sacred Heart Prep 13-1
The Gators jump into the top 10 and even with a win over 15-0 Corona del Mar in the state final, we wouldn’t rank this team any higher.
After a 42-7 hammering of El Cerrito in a shocking upset and winning margin, you have to be impressed by the physicality of Sacred Heart Prep and now the rest of the Bay Area is aware of Ben Burr-Kirven. The junior was already on many top programs radars, including Stanford, before his 163 yards rushing, four touchdowns, and 17 tackles against the Gauchos.
11 (6) El Cerrito 12-3
With their loaded talent, the NCS Division III champs should never lose to a team by 35 points unless it’s De La Salle. Injuries hurt the Gauchos but there are no excuses for a 42-7 loss.
This will still go down as the best season in El Cerrito history and the senior class led by Adarius Pickett, Derik Calhoun, Jalen Harvey, Keilan Benjamin, and more will make major impacts at the next level.
There was a pretty good sophomore class that will return as juniors in 2014.
12 (7) Marin Catholic 12-1
The Wildcats drop because of El Cerrito’s loss. The NCS Division III field took a hit with that lopsided defeat.
Marin Catholic’s most impressive wins were versus Miramonte and Analy.
Running back Darius Peterson looks poised to have a huge junior season next year.
13 (8) Campolindo 12-1
Campolindo’s most impressive wins were over Miramonte and a regular season tilt against El Cerrito.
Jack Stephens, Nick Fadelli, and Tyler Petite will be the next group of Campolindo players to put up prolific offensive numbers next season.
14 (13) James Logan 9-3
James Logan is 21-5 over the last two years and, despite a tough schedule, its only win over a ranked team was a 21-18 decision over San Ramon Valley.
Quarterback Christian Leota returns for his senior year in 2014.
15 (14) San Ramon Valley 7-5
San Ramon Valley is the only team to play both of the Open regional bowl participants, De La Salle and Folsom, this season.
Mitchell Allan, J.J. Koski, Christian Fuca, and Carter Nichols keep the Wolves a contender.
16 (15) Wilcox 9-2
Keep in mind that the Chargers own a win over Division II regional bowl runner-up Manteca, which just suffered its second loss to Enterprise.
It won’t be easy repeating as De Anza champs, but returning standouts Matt Alquetra, Jonathan Pohahau, and Manu Turituri is a good start.
17 (16) Miramonte 12-2
The Mats won their first NCS title in 10 years with a 41-28 victory versus Casa Grande and Drew Anderson finished with 4,074 yards passing and 47 touchdowns on the year. Both totals led the NCS and are fourth best in the entire state.
It would have been exciting to see the Mats get a chance in a NorCal bowl game as it loses a very good senior class. Drew’s younger brother, Ryan, will enter his junior season in 2014 and is next in line to keep up the winning tradition.
18 (17) Los Gatos 10-3
The Wildcats’ passing game helped win the CCS Division II title with an impressive 31-14 upset win over St. Francis. San Diego State commit Nick Bawden passed for 281 yards and two scores and junior Joey Wood finished just 36 rushing yards shy of 2,000 after a 137-yard effort.
Matt Wilcox and Dru Brown join Wood as the Cats look to repeat next season.
19 (18) St. Francis 9-4
For a team that might have deserved an Open Division berth and could have possibly made a bowl game, the loss to Los Gatos was extremely disappointing. The defense allowed 444 yards.
The Lancers return Devin Hurtado, Riley Quinn, and Alexander Carbonel in 2014.
20 (19) Milpitas 11-2
In its 37-23 revenge CCS championship win over San Benito, Squally Canada finished a banner season with 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Milpitas will be led by the trio of John Keller, Savion Black, and Christian Rita on offense while the three leading tacklers return on the other side of the ball.
21 (20) Casa Grande 13-1
The Gauchos had their best season ever but losing a shot at a bowl game is very disappointing after a 41-28 loss to Miramonte in the NCS title game. John Porchivina was one of the best two-way players in the Bay Area and had 167 yards and two touchdowns in the defeat.
Casa Grande’s loss is so devastating because it means the end of a stacked senior class. Casey Longaker will be a senior in 2014 and was the third leading tackler.
22 (21) Clayton Valley 11-2
As far as these rankings are concerned, Clayton Valley’s best results this season were losses (De La Salle and Miramonte).
Miles Harrison will be downright scary in his senior season in 2014 after a 2,020 yard performance this year. Also back next year is leading tackler Richard Peralta.
23 (22) Freedom 6-6
In his final high school game, Joe Mixon rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns and finished his career with over 4,200 rushing yards and 69 touchdowns.
In 2014, Joe Sweeney returns at quarterback for his junior year, Isiah Johnson will be a good back, and Dominic Frederickson will be one of the best linemen in the Bay Area.
24 (24) Foothill 8-3
The loss of Jamirr Holland had a dramatic effect on the Falcons defense as Foothill allowed an average of 41 points in the three games the senior missed to close the season.
Kyle Kearns and Isaiah Langley will again be one of the more dynamic duos in Northern California next year.
25 (25) Analy 11-2
The Tigers’ offensive exploits might be even more impressive with the return of their three main weapons, Ja’Narrick James, Will Smith, and Kerr Johnson in 2014.
Dropped out: None
Bubble: Acalanes 8-4, Aptos 11-2, Burlingame 11-1, Cardinal Newman 8-4, Carmel 11-1, Concord 8-4, Granada 7-5, McClymonds 10-3, Montgomery 10-3, Northgate 9-3, Pacific Grove 11-2, Palma 7-4, San Leandro 6-5, St. Ignatius 4-9, St. Mary’s 10-4, Windsor 6-6
