High school football rankings: Conversion lifts CC to first win and back to No. 1

Central Catholic had to wait until its trip to Southern California in the fourth week of the season to get its first win. After not scoring a first-half point, the Raiders put up 15 in the fourth quarter to beat St. Bonaventure of Ventura. Kayden McHenry scored the final touchdown on a one-yard QB sneak, then handed the ball to Isaiah Faagata for the eventual game-winning two-point conversion with 32 ticks left. Because of its strength of schedule, a win was all the Raiders needed to jump Turlock, which lost to a physical Sonora, and regain the top spot.

Oakdale also jumps Turlock, taking over the No. 2 spot. The Mustangs are playing their best ball of the season heading into Valley Oak League play, putting up over 45 points in two of the three games of their win streak. Turlock has lost two straight, with a game against Clovis West coming Friday.

Downey also jumps Patterson after scoring 40 points on the road and moving to 2-2, taking over fourth and dropping the Tigers to fifth. Ripon Christian jumps up one spot form 10th to ninth after moving to 4-0. Pitman is the area’s top bubble team, collecting its third win in four games to start the year.

Modesto Bee top 10 Rankings

1. Central Catholic (1-3)

Last Week: 15-14 win at St. Bonaventure

This Week: 9/19 vs No. 5 Patterson

2. Oakdale (3-1)

Last Week: 49-17 win at Vista del Lago

This Week: 9/19 at Mountain House

3. Turlock (1-3)

Last Week: 35-24 loss vs Sonora

This Week: 9/19 vs Clovis West

4. Downey (2-2)

Last Week: 40-28 win at Amador Valley

This Week: 9/19 at Edison of Stockton

5. Patterson (1-3)

Last Week: 42-11 loss at Valley Christian

This Week: 9/19 at No. 1 Central Catholic

6. Hughson (4-0)

Last Week: 28-21 win vs Linden

This Week: 9/19 vs No. 9 Ripon

7. Escalon (2-2)

Last Week: 35-28 win vs Lodi

This Week: 9/19 at Sonora

8. Hilmar (3-1)

Last Week: 52-28 win vs Atwater

This Week: 9/19 vs No. 10 Ripon Christian

9. Ripon Christian (4-0)

Last Week: 40-14 win vs Mesa Verde

This Week: 9/19 at No. 8 Hilmar

10. Ripon (3-0)

Last Week: BYE

This Week: 9/19 at No. 6 Hughson

Bubble Teams: Pitman (3-1), Modesto (2-2), Davis (1-2), Gregori (1-3), Beyer (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.