High school football rankings: The Stanislaus District’s best entering 2025
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Central Catholic, Turlock and Oakdale headline 2025 rankings with key returners
- Quarterback changes and transfers shuffle positions across top and mid-tier teams
- Non-league schedules pose early tests, with playoff seeding stakes already in play
In 2024, Stanislaus District teams won league titles, section titles and competed for NorCal titles. Now, after a busy offseason, just like that, we’re on the doorstep of the 2025 campaign.
Week 1 of the new season kicks off Friday night in some highly anticipated matchups between small-school powers and large schools looking to improve their chances at getting a good playoff seed.
Entering 2025, The Bee’s top three teams are closer than they’ve been in years prior, with all three returning key players on their offense and defense. A key transfer shakes things up for a top-five team that made it to a section title game last season, dropping it a few spots from where it ended the season in The Bee’s final rankings last year. Four teams in the bottom half of the rankings return their quarterback and key skill players, while one will have a quarterback battle that could last a few weeks.
Here is the Stanislaus District’s full first top 10 of 2025. Teams are listed along with their 2024 record:
1. Central Catholic (7-4 in 2024)
League: Valley Oak League
Key Games: 8/22 vs. Pleasant Valley, 8/29 at St. Mary’s, 9/12 at St. Bonaventure, 9/26 vs. Manteca, 10/17 at Oakdale
Though they were upset last season by Turlock, the size and skill Central Catholic returns has it at the top of the rankings heading into the season’s first game. There are once again no breaks in the Raiders’ schedule as they kick off 2025 against Pleasant Valley, a team that has gone to three straight NorCal Bowl Games and a state championship. They then play UCLA-bound Kenneth Moore III and St. Mary’s before hosting the No. 3 team in Oregon, Central Catholic and traveling to Ventura to take on St. Bonaventure. Then it’s off to the VOL, where they are looking to start another win streak against Manteca and take a league title. With returners at quarterback, skill positions and on the line, expect a more experienced team.
2. Turlock (9-4)
League: Central California Athletic League
Key Games: 8/22 at Rocklin, 9/5 at Central East, 9/12 vs. Sonora, 9/19 vs. Clovis West, 10/24 at Downey
The Bulldogs started 2024 No. 5, but a deep playoff run last season and the return of an all-district quarterback, a Division I-bound offensive lineman and key stars made it a tough choice between Turlock and top-seeded Central Catholic. A strong nonleague showing could shake things up. Turlock’s nonleague schedule is once again one of the toughest in the Stanislaus District playing playoff teams from two sections. As for the CCAL title, that will likely be decided once again by the Bulldogs’ matchup with Downey. This time, it’s the penultimate game, Oct. 24.
3. Oakdale (9-4)
League: Valley Oak League
Key Games: 8/22 vs. Sonora, 8/29 at Lincoln-Stockton, 9/5 vs. Escalon, 10/17 vs. Central Catholic, 10/31 vs. Manteca
Oakdale started last year ranked the No. 7 team in the Stanislaus District but made it to the Division III section title game and returns all of its rushing attack and key linemen. They will be tested early against small-school section and state champion Sonora in their season opener. The Mustangs this year host what are anticipated to be their two biggest league games of the year against Central Catholic and Manteca, after falling to both on the road in 2024. They’re looking for another top-three finish in a VOL that just keeps getting better.
4. Downey (10-2)
League: Central California Athletic League
Key Games: 8/22 vs. Del Oro, 8/29 at Elk Grove, 9/5 vs. Merced, 9/12 at Amador Valley, 9/19 at Edison-Stockton, 10/24 vs. Turlock
Downey’s first matchup against SFL opponent Del Oro in at least the past 20 years highlights the importance the Knights place on a strong nonleague schedule. Games against Merced, Amador Valley and Edison mean Downey will face opponents from three different sections before turning the page to CCAL play Oct. 3 against Gregori. The Knights will have to replace a lot of offensive production, but they return two of their top three tacklers in AJ Harper and Elias Haynes, who each recorded 90 or more tackles last season. They will hope for some home-field advantage Oct. 24 when they take on two-time defending league champ Turlock.
5. Patterson (7-6)
League: Valley Oak League
Key Games: 8/22 at Merced, 8/29 vs. California, 9/19 at Central Catholic, 10/10 vs. Oakdale, 10/24 at Manteca
Patterson hopes for yet another deep playoff run after falling in the D-IV section title game the past two years. Sacramento State commit Daniel Mataele on the offensive line, Jace Johnson, who continues to come into his own at tight end, and returning defensive stalwart Royale Tago will have to lead the team after record-holding quarterback Max Medina transferred this summer. Now, Rob Cozart and the Tigers are in the same position they were in three years ago, rolling with a freshman quarterback in Jacob Pierce. Patterson opens the season once again with Merced and plays California of San Ramon. It opens league play in the tough VOL against Central Catholic on Sept. 19 as it continues to find footing in its second year in the league.
6. Hughson (13-1)
League: Trans-Valley League
Key Games: 9/19 at Atwater, 9/19 vs. Ripon, 10/3 at Escalon, 10/10 at Sonora, 10/24 vs. Hilmar
Three leaders from the 2024 TVL championship team are gone from the Hughson High program, including quarterback Robert McDaniel. Now, it’s an adjustment period for the Huskies, who have a good mix of returners and new, young players ready to make their mark. Fresno State-bound Bryce McDaniel returns for his senior season in a new position, making the switch from receiver to tight end, Lawson Aviles, Eli Wilbanks and Valente Soria also return and will have a say in how the Huskies’ season plays out. There is a quarterback battle in Hughson that will play out over the nonleague schedule. Fresh off a run to three straight section titles, Hughson looks to go on another deep playoff run.
7. Escalon (6-6)
League: Trans-Valley League
Key Games: 8/22 vs. Rodriguez, 9/5 at Oakdale, 9/19 at Sonora, 9/26 vs. Hilmar, 10/3 vs. Hughson
Plagued by injuries last season, Escalon is ready to leave 2024 in the past. The coaching staff did a good job shuffling players and the next man up seemed to consistently make an impact, leading to a first-round playoff win. This season, Logan Huebner is back at quarterback. And after playing well as a freshman, Dylan Ball will have more responsibility as just a sophomore. Lorenzo Teixeira is the lone returner on the offensive line and is expected to play both sides of the ball. Escalon could have a say in how the TVL standings and the playoff seedings play out later this season.
8. Davis (5-5)
League: Western Athletic Conference
Key Games: 8/22 at Hilmar, 9/26 at Lathrop, 10/17 at Ceres, 10/30 vs. Johansen
Caleb Zaragoza is back at quarterback, Lincoln Brooks returns after an impressive junior season as a two-way player and Zane Gerbo looks to have a successful senior campaign after a career-ending injury in 2024. Add in key returners Izmael Sanchez, Martin Pimentel, Iziaha Gray, Aron Olvera De Anda and more and the Spartans could make a run in the WAC. They finished last season behind champion Lathrop and second-place Ceres in the league standings as part of a three-way tie for third place. Despite going .500, Davis missed the 2024 postseason. After ending last year’s regular season as a bubble team, the combination of returners and key additions, the Spartans start 2025 in the preseason rankings.
9. Ripon Christian (5-7)
League: Trans-Valley League
Key Games: 9/5 at Calaveras, 9/19 at Hilmar, 10/10 vs. Ripon, 10/24 vs. Orestimba
Mason Tameling and Amos Cady enter the final year of their varsity careers after standout seasons at quarterback and receiver/defensive back, respectively. Tameling along with returning senior and leading tackler Aaron Van Hofwegen are both captains. Those aren’t the only returners, though as the Knights return nine starters on both sides of the ball. Last season’s leading rusher, Lushen Sanders, along with Matthew Chapman, Chase Bunnell and linemen Sergio Rubion and Braden Schaapman, are all back ready to advance far in the playoffs and make things interesting near the top of the TVL standings.
10. Johansen (5-6)
League: Western Athletic Conference
Key Games: 9/5 vs. East Union, 9/26 v.s Ceres, 10/9 vs. Lathrop, 10/30 at Davis
Johansen is a team that finished 2024 on the bubble but with 14 returners this year, the Vikings start the season in the top 10 and could not only stay, but they could move up this list. Johansen returns first and second team All-WAC players, a quarterback that is continuing to grow in his role, key linemen and a number of two-way skill players. One of the most important things in Johansen’s run-first offense is who is coming out of the backfield and Ezekiel Rodriguez returns at running back after recording 660 yards in the final six games of the season. The Vikings were part of a three-way tie for third place in the WAC standings and advanced to the Division III playoffs last season.
