High school football rankings: Raiders back on top, CCAL schools round out top 3

Central Catholic returns to the top of The Bee’s rankings this week but most importantly, the Raiders’ stock section-wide continues to climb.

The Raiders bested previously 6-1 Oakdale by nearly 20 points and previous No. 1 Downey lost to Turlock so the two schools flipped. Central Catholic, listed as the area’s top-ranked team by CalPreps, is once again the Stanislaus District’s No. 1 team after three weeks at No. 3. After the loss to Manteca, the game that pushed the Raiders down initially, coach Roger Canepa suggested the team needed to get better and all signs suggest they have drastically improved. They are playing better offensively and defensively and could go unbeaten in their final two weeks of the regular season.

In the CalPreps rankings, Central Catholic is ranked No. 2 in the entire Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division I bracket. The Raiders three losses this season are to Central Catholic of Oregon, St. Mary’s of Stockton and Manteca who are a combined 20-3 overall. Central Catholic, Turlock and Downey will all compete in the D-I playoffs this season.

Downey drops in The Bee’s rankings from No. 1 to below Turlock at No. 3 after a tough loss to the Bulldogs Friday in a game that decided the CCAL’s top team. The Bulldogs stay at the No. 2 spot only because the Raiders’ strength of schedule has passed that of Turlock.

1. Central Catholic (5-3)

Last Week: 46-27 win vs Oakdale

This Week: 10/25 at Mountain House

2. Turlock (5-3)

Last Week: 33-14 win vs Downey

This Week: 10/25 at Modesto (at Downey High)

3. Downey (7-1)

Last Week: 33-14 loss at Turlock

This Week: 10/24 vs Enochs

4. Hughson (8-0)

Last Week: 48-12 win at Orestimba

This Week: 10/25 at Hilmar

5. Oakdale (6-2)

Last Week: 46-27 loss at Central Catholic

This Week: 10/25 vs Sierra

6. Patterson (5-4)

Last Week: 55-27 win at Sierra

This Week: 10/25 vs Manteca

7. Escalon (3-5)

Last Week: 43-20 win vs Ripon Christian

This Week: 10/25 at Ripon

8. Hilmar (4-4)

Last Week: 28-19 loss at Summerville

This Week: 10/25 vs Hughson

9. Orestimba (5-3)

Last Week: 48-12 loss vs Hughson

This Week: 10/25 vs Ripon Christian

10. Ripon Christian (4-4)

Last Week: 43-20 loss at Escalon

This Week: 10/25 at Orestimba

Bubble Teams: Big Valley Christian (5-3), Ceres (5-3), Davis (4-4), Johansen (4-4), Waterford (4-4)

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.