EDITOR'S NOTE: The small-school ranking is comprised of teams from the Central California Athletic Alliance, Mother Lode League, Southern League and Trans-Valley League. Last week's ranking and current records in parenthesis.
1. (1) Modesto Christian (9-0, 4-0): The Crusaders were idle last week. Next: vs. Ripon.
2. (2) Escalon (7-2, 3-2): The Cougars opened up the playbook in a 42-0 victory over Livingston. Quarterback Lucca Dutra completed 14 of his 18 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Next: at Hughson.
3. (3) Ripon (8-1, 4-1): In his final regular-season home game, three-year starter Ryan Daggett put on a show. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 193 yards, and rushed for 74 yards and another score in a runaway victory over Hughson on Senior Night. With the win, the Indians remained in the TVL title hunt. Next: at Modesto Christian.
4. (4) Ripon Christian (9-0, 6-0): The Knights clinched at least a share of their first Southern League title since 2012 with a victory over Le Grand last week. Now Trey Ozenbaugh’s thin-but-explosive bunch takes aim at the outright crown and a perfect regular season. Next: vs. Delhi.
5. (5) Hilmar (7-2, 3-2): The Yellowjackets bounced back from their loss to Modesto Christian with a 56-6 victory over Riverbank. Hilmar rushed for 305 yards and six touchdowns. Next: vs. Livingston.
6. (6) Denair (8-1, 5-1): The Coyotes can set a school record for wins in the MaxPreps era with a victory over reeling Waterford, which has lost two straight. Denair is doing it with defense, too. It has allowed just 13 points the last two weeks. Next: vs. Waterford.
7. (7) Sonora (5-4, 4-0): The Wildcats picked up their first win against a top-10 program with last week’s 21-7 victory at Calaveras. With its fifth consecutive victory, Sonora, once 0-4 and searching for answers, clinched at least a share of its fifth straight MLL title. Next: vs. Summerville.
8. (8) Orestimba (6-3, 4-2): Tyler Vargas has three straight 100-yard receiving games, including 138 yards and two touchdowns on just five catches in the Warriors’ 38-7 victory over Delhi. Vargas leads the section with 1,100 yards and 16 TDs. Next: vs. Gustine.
9. (10) Big Valley Christian (8-1, 5-0): Javyn Drobnick and the Lions clinched at least a share of the CCAA crown with a 42-18 victory over Brookside Christian. Drobnick, the section’s leading rusher, gashed the Knights for 343 yards and four touchdowns. Next: vs. Sierra Ridge/ROP.
10. (9) Calaveras (5-4, 3-1): Calaveras had its four-game winning streak snapped by MLL rival Sonora and needs a win this week to enhance its playoff seeding. Next: at Bret Harte.
Follow James Burns on Twitter @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.
