The Bee's Stanislaus District Rankings

LARGE SCHOOLS
(Division 1-3)

1. (1) Buhach Colony (10-0): Top seed in Division 2 after a surprisingly narrow 28-21 win over rival Atwater. Four of Buhach's five CCC games were tight in second half.

2. (2) Oakdale (10-0): Average victory is 48-14, and its three nonleague wins were over teams with a combined 21-7 record.

3. (3) Pitman (9-1): Pride's kicking game is ready for the playoffs, with three field goals providing the difference in the 16-13 win over Turlock.

4. (4) Los Banos (9-1): Nine-game winning streak since losing opener to Rocklin, and Tigers have the skill and size to make a run in D3.

5. (7) Turlock (7-3): Bulldogs might have the best defense in the CCC — or a close second to Buhach. Missed a FG on final play vs. Pitman, but Grant is a monster.

6. (6) Manteca (9-1): Playoffs have been unkind to Buffs in the last two years — 0-2, including a loss to No. 16 seed last year. Defense will decide how long Buffs play this season.

7. (nr) Beyer (8-2): School's best team since Doug Sever led 1975 squads Turkey Ball and a loss to Stagg. In a fun twist, Patriots hosting Stagg in Friday's D1 playoffs.

SMALL SCHOOLS
(Division 4-6)

1. (1) Escalon (10-0): Cougs have won 22 in a row going back to early 2010 loss to Patterson, and the defense allows five points a game.

2. (2) Hilmar (8-2): Week off meant time to rest, add a few twists to their schemes in advance of hosting Linden. Was No. 4 seed, but rose to No. 3 opposite Escalon.

3. (3) Central Catholic (8-2): Fell 35-34 to D2 No. 5 seed St. Mary's and was on the 2-yard line on the final play of a 35-28 loss to D3 No. 3 Los Banos, so Raiders for real.

4. (4) Le Grand (10-0): Having scored 596 points in the regular season, 'Dogs could finish among the state's most prolific if they can get three more games.

5. (6) Ripon (8-2): Been a few decades since Ripon had a time to boast about. Not since legends of 1982-83 (Fred Corral, Tom West) has Ripon been this hot.

6. (5) Sonora (7-3): Looking at a grinding first-rounder vs. Bear River. Each team has lost twice to dominant teams, but each burdened by inexplicable loss to a lesser foe.

7. (7) Argonaut (9-1): Seven straight wins since lopsided loss to Ripon. With section dropping Mustangs to No. 4 in seeding, it means seeing Central in quarters — ouch!