The latest San Joaquin County football power rankings are in.
Each week, The Record will rank all 26 county high school football teams while tracking how the landscape shifts throughout the season.
It’s more than just wins and losses. Movement is explained. Results are detailed. Every ranking carries a reason.
After Week 2, here’s how all 26 county teams rank heading into Week 2. Movement reflects changes from The Record’s Week 1 rankings.
1. St. Mary's (—) (1-2)
Serra hadn't forgotten. Not how close it was, how late it happened or who kept the Padres from playing for a state championship. Meeting for the first time since last year's CIF State NorCal regional championship, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady's alma mater got its revenge with a 21-7
win.
2. Manteca (—) (1-2)
On a night celebrating 100 seasons of Manteca football, perhaps it was only fitting that history was made. Nikko Juarez rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns, passing Blake Nichelson's career record of 4,078 yards to become the program's all-time leading rusher as the Buffaloes beat Chavez 29-7. Quite the way to earn a first win after the program's first 0-2 start since 1996.
3. Tracy (—) (3-0)
With everything happening away from the field, Tracy kept rolling on it. The Bulldogs followed their first top-100 state win since 2014 with a 56-0 win over Lathrop. MaxPreps now has Tracy as the county's highest-ranked team and No. 63 in the state.
4. Edison (↑2) (2-1)
Edison lost, but there was plenty more proof that the Vikings are the real deal. Without their No. 1 receiver again, Ayden McClendon threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-31 loss to Marin Catholic. Travis Gresham caught two scores and Kailan Beaver one, with both finishing with 90 receiving yards. Wide Receiver University? Maybe it's time to drop the question mark.
5. Lincoln (↓1) (1-2)
So much for getting a chance to enjoy Lincoln's biggest win in years. Grant, a top-30 team in the state, brought that momentum to a halt with a 31-6 win.
6. Ripon Christian (↑2) (3-0)
Graduation took most of “the best Ripon Christian football team ever,” and somehow, it hasn't mattered. Calaveras entered unbeaten after winning the CIF SJS Division VII and CIF State Division 5-A titles last season. Ripon Christian took care of the defending champions 28-14.
7. East Union (—) (2-0)
Zero completions against Modesto. Zero problems. Yet, East Union still had something to prove through the air. Sophomore Dante Tafoya took his first varsity snaps and provided the answer, throwing for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-6 win over Johansen.
8. Chavez (↑1) (1-2)
Almost nothing went right for Chavez. Elijah Walker was held to a career-low 53 passing yards, only his third sub-100-yard game in 25 starts, and Oregon State commit Jackson Batch finished with one catch for just the second time in his Chavez career. One rough night doesn't change everything, though. The Titans remain the team to beat in the SJAA.
9. Escalon (↑2) (1-2)
Two close losses had “a year away” looking bleak. Then Escalon broke through. Dylan Ball rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns as the Cougars knocked off then-top-100 Oakdale 21-14. For a program with 12 section championships, that's one way to get a season back on track.
10. Oakdale (↓5) (1-2)
Nearly 5,000 rushing yards and 74 rushing touchdowns don't walk out the door without consequences. Still, beating back-to-back state champion Sonora in the opener made it look like Oakdale might not miss a beat. Turns out, replacing that much production isn't quite that simple.
11. Tokay (—) (3-0)
Third time was the charm. Tokay flipped the script against Pleasant Grove with a 22-19 win, powered by three touchdowns from Mason Zeer.
12. Ripon (—) (2-1)
Playing without Andrew Shaw hurt Ripon a week ago. This time, the Indians didn't give it a chance to matter. Kael Rangel rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-10 rout of Pitman.
13. Linden (—) (2-1)
Not quite as dominant defensively as the week before, but plenty good enough. Linden beat Golden Valley 28-14 for its second straight win.
14. McNair (↑1) (3-0)
Pick a week, any week, and McNair's offense has produced. The Eagles have racked up 468, 451 and 391 total yards. The latest outburst produced a 47-13 win over Ceres.
15. Stagg (↑1) (1-2)
Want to give a first-year varsity coach his first win? Hand the ball to Darnell Holmes. The Stagg running back erupted for 169 yards and four touchdowns, carrying the Delta Kings to a 34-7 win over Grace Davis and the first victory of the Sopeter Mao era.
16. River Island (↑1) (3-0)
River Island set a program record with three wins last year. It took only three games to match it. The third-year program continued its offensive explosion with 520 total yards in a 46-20 win over Modesto Christian, its third straight game scoring more than 40 points.
17. Lathrop (↓3) (1-2)
18. Sierra (—) (2-1)
19. Merrill West (—) (2-1)
20. Lodi (↑1) (1-2)
21. Franklin (↑2) (1-2)
22. Mountain House (—) (1-2)
23. Bear Creek (↓3) (0-3)
24. Kimball (↑1) (0-3)
25. Millennium (↓1) (2-1)
26. Weston Ranch (—) (0-3)
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County high school football power rankings after Week 2
