High school football rankings: Schedule strength matters in ranking non-league games

In rankings, strength of schedule matters.

Computer and human rankings systems have many differences, but one thing will always be the same: teams are rewarded for playing good teams — win or loose.

Central Catholic, though 0-2, through the season’s first two weeks, has played the two best games of any Stanislaus District team. Pleasant Valley of Chico is the No. 1 Northern Section team and the defending NorCal Division 3-A runner-up and St. Mary’s of Stockton, the No. 3 team in the section and a top 20 team in the state. The Raiders improved from Week 1 to Week 2, which coach Roger Canepa noted postgame, but the team is itching for its first win of 2025. This week, the Raiders host the Central Catholic Rams, the No. 2 ranked team in Oregon.

Turlock picked up a big win over Tracy last week and could claim the top spot next week with a Central Catholic loss and another win this week against Central East of Fresno, the top ranked team in the Central Section and a top 25 team in California.

Hilmar’s hot 2-0 start, despite losing some offensive production, has it up two spots from last week. The Yellowjackets recently knocked off Los Banos, winning by 10 points for their second double-digit victory in as many games.

Ripon has the chance to jump into the top 10 with a 3-0 start but Escalon has the biggest chance to climb. The No. 7 Cougars will travel to Oakdale to take on the No. 3 Mustangs who just scored 70 points against Lincoln of Stockton.

Modesto Bee Top 10 Rankings

1. Central Catholic (0-2)

Last Week: 52-28 loss at St. Mary’s

This Week: 9/5 vs Central Catholic-Oregon

2. Turlock (1-1)

Last Week: 26-23 win vs Tracy

This Week: 9/5 at Central East of Fresno

3. Oakdale (1-1)

Last Week: 70-30 win at Lincoln-Stockton

This Week: 9/5 vs No. 7 Escalon

4. Downey (1-1)

Last Week: 43-42 win at Elk Grove

This Week: 9/5 vs Merced

5. Patterson (0-2)

Last Week: 14-11 loss vs California-San Ramon

This Week: 9/5 at Lathrop

6. Hughson (2-0)

Last Week: 27-21 win at Atwater

This Week: 9/5 at Pitman at Turlock High

7. Escalon (1-1)

Last Week: 37-30 loss at Chavez

This Week: 9/5 at No. 3 Oakdale

8. Hilmar (2-0)

Last Week: 31-21 win at Los Banos

This Week: 9/5 at Palma

9. Gregori (1-1)

Last Week: 45-13 loss at Merced

This Week: 9/5 at Atwater

10. Ripon Christian (2-0)

Last Week: 41-6 win vs Le Grand

This Week: 9/5 at Calaveras Bubble Teams: Enochs (1-1), Ripon (2-0), Davis (1-1), Modesto (2-0), Pitman (2-0)

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.