With the start of the high school football season less than two weeks away, we continue our countdown of the Bay Area News Group’s rankings, which this season have expanded from 20 to 25 teams.
As usual, much of the preseason rankings is based on tradition, given that most programs graduate quite a bit every year and fill in spots with lesser known players.
Once the games get going — the season starts Aug. 17 — look for our weekly rankings here or here every Monday.
In the meantime, we’ll give you five teams per day, culminating Monday with Nos. 1-5.
Here are Nos. 6-10.
10. McClymonds
Last season: 14-0
Why No. 10: The Warriors have won back-to-back state championships — last year in Division 5-AA — and will bring a 25-game winning streak into the new season. Jarmar Julien, now a senior, is back at running back and middle linebacker. McClymonds also has added Moreau Catholic transfer and three-star college prospect Adi Anderson, who helped the Mariners win a league title last fall. Javanz Dornners, a senior linebacker, also is a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports. The Warriors open the season against Marin Catholic on Aug. 24, then face Liberty, both at home in Oakland.
9. Freedom
Last season: 9-3
Why No. 9: For the first time since he took over in 2002, Kevin Hartwig is not Freedom’s coach. He resigned in December and was replaced by former Moreau Catholic coach Andrew Cotter. The new coach inherits one of the Bay Area’s top college prospects, three-star running back Giles Jackson, who rushed for 1,586 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 324 yards and five TDs while leading the Falcons to the NCS Division I final last season. Quarterback Joey Aguilar also is back. He threw for 2,501 yards and 27 TDs in 2017. The non-league schedule includes San Leandro and San Ramon Valley.
8. Menlo-Atherton
Last season: 7-5
Why No. 8: Few teams have a defensive tandem like 6-2, 280-pound tackle Noa Ngalu, a Washington commit, and 6-2, 225-pound linebacker Daniel Heimuli, whose 25-school list of college offers includes Alabama, USC, Washington and Notre Dame. The Bears also have two notable skill position players returning in sophomore wide receiver Troy Franklin and senior running back De’Marshaun Payton. M-A again opens the season against Bellarmine and Archbishop Mitty. The non-league schedule also includes a visit to Valor Christian of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Christian McCaffrey’s alma mater.
7. Valley Christian
Last season: 9-3
Why No. 7: Make no mistake, Valley Christian graduated a lot from a class that reached a state final as juniors in 2016 and contended for league and section titles last season, including defensive back/running back D’Angelo Mckenzie, defensive end RJ Stone (both at Washington State) and fullback Conner Edgar. But the Warriors aren’t known for falling off the radar, and this season’s team, which features three-star tight end Skylar Loving-Black, figures to be in the mix again. The early schedule includes a visit to Pleasant Valley-Chico and a home game against Clovis West. The Warriors open the season against Wilcox.
6. Clayton Valley Charter
Last season: 8-3
Why No. 6: The Ugly Eagles have reached the NCS Open Division playoffs in each of the two seasons that the section has had the four-team best-of-the-best division. But both times they were seeded fourth and lost to top seed De La Salle. CVC probably will avoid such a matchup this season with a win in its season opener at Pittsburg. Air Force commit Cade Carter, a 6-3, 220-pound LB/TE, and Dusty Mitchell, a 6-2, 215-pound outside linebacker, are among the players expected to lead the way. The non-league schedule also includes home games against Antioch on Sept. 7 and Canyon Springs-North Las Vegas on Sept. 21.
Look for Nos. 21-25 here, Nos. 16-20 here and Nos. 11-15 here.
Teams eligible for these rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Check back Monday for Nos. 1-5.
