High school football rankings: League play introduces intriguing top 10 matchups

From now until the end of the regular season, there will be at least one top 10 matchup almost every week, which can only mean one thing: League play is here.

The Trans-Valley League, Valley Oak League and Western Athletic Conference kicked off their schedules Friday night and six top 10 teams matched up.

Hughson and Ripon played in a classic in their TVL opener. Though Ripon lost — keeping the game close against the three-time defending section champs and reigning league champs — it moves from 10 to No. 9. It switches places with Ripon Christian, which lost to No. 7 Hilmar.

Top seed Central Catholic and No. 5 Patterson played in a close matchup until the Raiders scored 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points to start VOL play 1-0.

Escalon and Hilmar swapped places after the Yellowjackets won and the Cougars fell to Sonora. Hilmar moves from No. 8 to No. 7 and Escalon, which was the No. 7 team, drops one spot.

Central California Athletic League teams Turlock and Downey are among many teams in the league that have a bye this week before league play starts in early October.

Coming up this week, No. 6 Hughson hosts No. 10 Ripon Christian and No. 8 Escalon hosts No. 7 Hilmar.

Modesto Bee top 10 Rankings

1. Central Catholic (2-3)

Last Week: 35-18 win vs. No. 5 Patterson

This Week: 9/26 vs. Manteca

2. Oakdale (4-1)

Last Week: 48-0 win at Mountain House

This Week: 9/26 BYE

3. Turlock (1-4)

Last Week: 54-7 loss vs. Clovis West

This Week: 9/26 BYE

4. Downey (2-3)

Last Week: 48-40 loss at Edison of Stockton

This Week: 9/26 BYE

5. Patterson (1-4)

Last Week: 35-18 loss at No. 1 Central Catholic

This Week: 9/26 vs. East Union

6. Hughson (5-0)

Last Week: 31-28 win vs No. 9 Ripon

This Week: 9/26 vs No. 10 Ripon Christian

7. Hilmar (4-1)

Last Week: 35-21 win vs No. 10 Ripon Christian

This Week: 9/26 at No. 8 Escalon

8. Escalon (2-3)

Last Week: 49-14 loss at Sonora

This Week: 9/26 vs No. 7 Hilmar

9. Ripon (3-1)

Last Week: 31-28 loss at No. 6 Hughson

This Week: 9/26 at Modesto at Gregori High

10. Ripon Christian (4-1)

Last Week: 35-21 loss at No. 8 Hilmar

This Week: 9/26 at No. 6 Hughson

Bubble Teams: Pitman (3-2), Davis (2-2), Orestimba (2-2) Modesto (2-2), Beyer (2-2)

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.