Prep2Prep NCS Rankings
THROUGH WEEK 5
The top five spots remained intact, but after that there was some movement by 14 of the next 20 teams.
Note: Last week's rankings in parentheses
De La Salle’s two losses have come on the last play of the game, first against Serra and last week in a 24-20 defeat against Folsom. Despite that, it will take someone from the NCS beating the Spartans to supplant them from the top spot in the section, and that hasn’t happened in 31 years. It can’t happen this week as they have a bye, and then the Spartans march into Stockton to meet St. Mary’s in two weeks.
The Pirates had a bye week and will host McClymonds this Friday.
The Wildcats silenced anyone potentially questioning their being this high in the rankings after a second straight lopsided win over an NCS Open/Division 1 ticketed team. Marin Catholic followed up a 42-14 win over James Logan two weeks ago at home with a 34-11 victory at Antioch. At this point heading into five games against Marin County Athletic opponents, the Wildcats may very well be 10-0 heading into the NCS playoffs.
With East Bay Athletic League-Mountain Division play looming, it appears the Wolves are, withstanding a De La Salle team they don’t play this season, the top team in the league. Junior quarterback Luke Baker continues to impress. In last week’s 42-14 shellacking of Liberty, he was 22 of 28 for 381 yards with five TDs and one interception. Three of his TD passes went to senior wide receiver Gavin Jones, who finished with six receptions for 163 yards.
Just like they have been the past several years, the Cougars look like the top team in the Diablo-Foothill League as they prepare to open on the road at Benicia. Among its five wins, Campolindo has pinned losses on top teams in their divisions from the NCS and CCS -Windsor and Aptos, respectively. Last week in the win over Monte Vista, senior quarterback Dashiell Weaver was a pinpoint 16 of 19 for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Robbie Mascheroni was on the receiving end of two of the TDs and finished with eight catches for 175 yards.
After scoring twice in the first half on TD passes from junior quarterback and De Anza transfer Michael Vanhook, the Gauchos hung on for a 14-9 victory at Vacaville. Now, after moving up two spots last week they come up one more with Heritage losing. Unless someone pulls off a huge upset in the Tri-County League-Rock Division, the Gauchos have a chance to go undefeated in a complete regular season for the first time since 2012.
After dropping two spots last week with their loss to Vanden, Rancho Cotate gains back a spot despite being idle with Heritage losing. The Cougars are off the Chico this Friday where they will be favored against Pleasant Valley.
The Ugly Eagles paid for their close loss to Turlock with a two-spot drop last week, but at this point we’re still sticking with Clayton Valley as next in the EBAL-Mountain Division pecking order behind De La Salle and San Ramon Valley.
The Grizzlies had a bye, but move up along with Clayton Valley due to the Heritage loss. Granada is next in Livermore and California will be a solid favorite.
The Dons had a bye, but follow along with a one-spot bump heading into a non-league matchup with visiting Oakland High.
Based on strength of schedule that includes a close loss to, the Jaguars move up two spots. Skyline is next in Oakland.
It’s always tough to win a game for a town’s bragging right on the turf of an archrival, and it took overtime, but the Dons pulled it out against Foothill on a 1-yard plunge by Jake Goldsworthy for a 14-7 victory. Goldsworthy finished with 148 yards rushing. A big test is coming with CCS small school power Menlo on Saturday at home. There is some movement around them, but Amador Valley stays put.
Underdog and host Cardinal Newman showed heart but still lost 32-18 to St. Mary’s-Stockton. Even so, in a formula that includes a Heritage loss, the Cardinals move up a spot. Newman played a third straight game without star running back Santino Acevedo, but with a bye this week, the Newman faithful are hoping his ankle problems will heal up for the North Bay League-Oak Division opener at home with cross-town Montgomery.
No one expected the Mustangs to have much trouble in their Marin County Athletic League opener last Saturday at Archie Williams, and they didn’t in a game they led 43-0 at the half before posting a running clock 50-7 victory. The reward is a one-spot bump to stay behind Cardinal Newman as the No. 5 team in the Redwood Empire pecking order. The Mustangs will be big favorites in their next five league games before facing Marin Catholic at home in their regular-season finale.
The host Colts trailed 7-0 before scoring and then missing the PAT midway through the third quarter. From there the defense corralled the Patriots and Logan pulled it out with a TD and 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter, and then sealed it with a 45-yard field goal by soccer star-turned-kicker Ricky Burton. A 31-7 season opening loss to California prevents Logan from moving up more than one spot
The Heritage offense scored early in the first quarter but that was it. Fresno State-committed senior running back Devon Rivers still leads the NCS is rushing with 1,072 yards, but he could only muster 81 yards on 19 carries against the Colts. Next is a Bay Valley Athletic League opener at Freedom.
Despite the overtime loss to cross-town archrival Amador Valley and a sub .500 record, in this group the Falcons don’t fall and hold tight heading into a showdown at San Ramon Valley.
A 41-19 victory over Casa Grande solidifies the top spot in Vine Valley Athletic League. The Crushers were crushed in a 41-0 loss to Heritage but they have an overtime win over Antioch and that is what has them flipping with the Panthers.
The best 1-4 team in NCS and maybe all of Northern California was no match for visiting Marin Catholic, but it’s still only a one-spot drop back behind the Vintage team that beat them in overtime.
No surprises in 45-7 win over defending state CIF Division 7-A Bowl Game champion Balboa, but despite being unblemished, the Cowboys’ competitive equity resume will not allow them to move up heading into a non-league matchup with visiting College Park.
The Broncos stay unbeaten with a 28-14 win over College Park, but they have a weak competitive equity resume that keeps them in line behind Livermore heading into a DFAL opener at home with Miramonte.
After a blowout of Mt. Eden, the Mats now still have a lone loss to Oakdale on the road heading into a DFAL showdown with the Northgate team directly above them.
The Mustangs got some revenge from last year’s loss to Montgomery and they made a statement at the same time with 49-28 victory over the Vikings team, who moved into the North Bay League-Oak Division this year. After rushing for 272 yards and four TDs, senior star running back Kai Hall is now the No. 2 reported rushing leader in the NCS with 837 yards and 13 TDs.
Warriors put the hurt on McKinleyville, but their strength of schedule is questionable. Even a win over Eureka this week likely won’t change the fact they drop a spot since Eureka has a big loss to St. Bernard’s and that team lost big at home to St. Vincent de Paul.
The Mariners hold on to the final spot but it was not a cakewalk or statement win after they bested visiting Skyline. Moreau now hosts 1-3 Castro Valley before starting West Alameda County Conference-Mission League competition with visiting Berkeley.
