Previous week’s rankings are in parentheses
1 (1) De La Salle 13-0
The Spartans won their 22nd consecutive NCS championship with a 49-17 win over California. Not that we needed further proof of the bruising run game, but 553 rushing yards in a section title game is ridiculous. John Velasco had his first 200+ yard game with a career-high 234 yards.
De La Salle plays Folsom in the Open regional bowl game and gets its wish with a game at Diablo Valley College on Saturday at 7:30pm.
2 (2) Serra 11-2
The Padres' defense kept Serra in the game long enough for the offense to explode for three touchdowns in a 21-7 win over Mitty. Other than the loss to De La Salle, Serra was held to its lowest rushing total of the season but Matt Fa’aita passed for a career-high 222 yards.
Serra plays Del Oro in the regional Division I bowl game and gets to play at San Jose City College on Friday at 7:30pm.
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 (5) *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 (6) *Pittsburg 10-3
The Pirates lost Harris Ross in their game against Cal and never recovered in a 31-17 NCS Division I semifinal loss. Ross carried it 11 times for 128 yards, but it was the first time since the opener - when he missed a half - that the Oregon State commit didn’t net 20 or more carries.
With Noah Palega, Keith Walker, Armani Levias, and Jaylyn Morgan returning, Pittsburg looks like a top five team again next year.
6 (7) El Cerrito 12-2
The cream is rising to the top as the Gauchos dominated for the second straight week against a top caliber team with a 54-38 win over Marin Catholic for the school’s first-ever NCS title. Adarius Pickett, who might be the Bay Area’s best player this season, rushed for 255 yards and four touchdowns.
El Cerrito now has to fight complacency with a date against Sacred Heart Prep at De Anza High School on Saturday at 7:30pm. The Gauchos are going to be told how good they are throughout this week.
7 (4) *Marin Catholic 12-1
The Wildcats made uncharacteristic mistakes, but clearly lost to a better team in a 54-38 setback to El Cerrito, ending the program’s 24-game win streak versus Northern California teams.
Running back Darius Peterson looks poised to have a huge junior season next year.
8 (10) *Campolindo 12-1
The Cougars' semifinal loss to El Cerrito looks a little better after the Gauchos' romp over the weekend. Other than a regular-season win over the Gauchos, Campo also hammered NCS Division II champ Miramonte.
Jack Stephens, Nick Fadelli, and Tyler Petite will be the next group of Campolindo players to put up prolific offensive numbers next season.
9 (9) *Deer Valley 11-2
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.
10 (8) *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. However, we should put the Warriors behind Deer Valley because the resumes are close enough that the different results against Vacaville make a difference.
Running backs Kirk Johnson, Tre McCloud, and Mark Quinby will all be tough to stop next season, their senior years.
11 (12) *Bellarmine 8-4
The Bells have 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.
12 (13) *Terra Nova 10-1
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 the Tigers bring back sensational quarterback Anthony Gordon next season.
13 (14) *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.
14 (15) *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.
15 (16) *Wilcox 9-2
Keep in mind that the Chargers own a win over Division II regional bowl participant Manteca, its only loss of the season.
It won’t be easy repeating as De Anza champs, but returning standouts Matt Alquetra, Jonathan Pohahau, and Manu Turituri is a good start.
16 (18) *Miramonte 12-2
The Mats' running game was held to its lowest total (48 yards) of the season, but the passing game again flourished as Drew Anderson threw for 439 yards and five touchdowns. The Mats won their first NCS title in 10 years with a 41-28 victory versus Casa Grande and 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’s disappointing that the Matadors won’t continue their season in a bowl game because they are so hot right now and we still want to know how improved Miramonte is from the team that suffered blowout losses to Marin Catholic and Campolindo.
17 (25) *Los Gatos 10-3
The Wildcats' passing game won the CCS Division II title in 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 yards shy of 2,000 after a 137-yard rushing effort.
Matt Wilcox and Dru Brown join Wood as the Cats look to repeat next season.
18 (11) *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.
19 (21) *Milpitas 11-2
Milpitas gets a boost, not only because of its CCS Division I title, but also because of the Los Gatos Division II win and the 'Cats carrying the De Anza banner. In its 37-23 revenge 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.
20 (17) *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.
It’s difficult to put the Gauchos too high in the rankings because they don’t own a single win over a top-25 team.
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.
21 (19) *Clayton Valley 11-2
For this poll, 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.
22 (20) *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.
23 (22) Sacred Heart Prep 12-1
The Gators saved their highest scoring game of the season with a 56-21 CCS Division IV championship win over Pacific Grove. Andrew Segre rushed for a remarkable 351 yards and six touchdowns.
Of all of the teams in the rankings, the Gators can make the biggest jump with an upset over El Cerrito on Saturday.
24 (23) *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 (24) *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 10-2, *Montgomery 10-3, *Northgate 9-3, *Pacific Grove 11-2, *Palma 7-4, *San Leandro 6-5, *St. Ignatius 4-9, St. Mary’s 9-4, *Windsor 6-6
*- Season is over
