High school football rankings: Shakeups include new No. 1 and a new team added

Three weeks into the new season and there already IS a new No. 1 team.

Central Catholic and Turlock have played incredibly tough nonleague games.

The Raiders’ strength of schedule is in many ways tougher, going up against a defending D-II section semifinalist in St. Mary’s, a defending NorCal finalist in Pleasant Valley and the current No. 3 team on Oregon in Central Catholic. The Raiders’ strength rating according to MaxPreps is 34.9, fourth in the section.

Turlock is not far behind. Its MaxPreps strength rating is 32.2, fifth in the section. The Bulldogs took on the Central Section’s top team (Central East), Tracy and defending Division II finalist Rocklin.

But the biggest key for moving Turlock up is its win. It beat a rebounding Tracy 26-23 in Week 2.

The Raiders, though they were beating Central Catholic and St. Mary’s by a point at halftime despite multiple injuries, have yet to put one in the win column.

Turlock takes on defending state champion Sonora and Central Catholic travels to Southern California to take on St. Bonaventure, the No. 31 team in the Southern Section.

Last week’s No. 4 and 5 teams, Downey and Patterson, respectively, flipped places after this week’s results. Patterson got its first win over Lathrop while Downey fell to Merced. The Knights earned their first win in Week 2.

The two sides have a common opponent in the Bears. Patterson played Merced in Week 1, falling in overtime while the Knights fell behind 28-12 at halftime and staged a furious comeback, losing 41-39.

Ripon enters the top 10 after its hot 3-0 start, just below its rival Ripon Christian. The Knights have a win over defending state champion Summerville on their resume as part of their 3-0 start, which went a long way in moving them up from No. 10 to No. 9. Ripon’s blowout win over Ripon propels it from a bubble team to No. 10.

Modesto Bee Top 10 Rankings

1. Turlock (1-2)

Last Week: 44-20 loss at Central East of Fresno

This Week: 9/12 vs Sonora

2. Central Catholic (0-3)

Last Week: 36-22 loss vs Central Catholic (Oregon)

This Week: 9/12 at St. Bonaventure

3. Oakdale (2-1)

Last Week: 27-13 win vs No. 7 Escalon

This Week: 9/12 at Vista del Lago

4. Patterson (1-2)

Last Week: 28-13 win at Lathrop

This Week: 9/12 at Valley Christian

5. Downey (1-2)

Last Week: 41-39 loss vs Merced

This Week: 9/12 at Amador Valley

6. Hughson (3-0)

Last Week: 24-21 win at Pitman at Turlock High

This Week: 9/12 vs Linden

7. Escalon (1-2)

Last Week: 27-13 loss at No. 3 Oakdale

This Week: 9/12 vs Lodi

8. Hilmar (2-1)

Last Week: 48-20 loss at Palma

This Week: 9/12 vs Atwater

9. Ripon Christian (3-0)

Last Week: 38-21 win at Calaveras

This Week: 9/12 vs Mesa Verde

10. Ripon (3-0)

Last Week: 21-6 win vs Oakland

This Week: BYE

Bubble Teams: Enochs (1-2), Gregori (1-2), Davis (1-2), Modesto (2-1), Pitman (2-1)

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.