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EDITOR'S NOTE: The large-school rankings are comprised of teams from the Central California Athletic League, Central California Conference, Valley Oak League and Western Athletic Conference. Last week's ranking and current records in parenthesis.
1. (1) Central Catholic (8-1, 5-0): The Raiders won their seventh consecutive game with a 70-19 defeat of Kimball and can clinch the outright VOL title with a victory at Oakdale in their regular-season finale. Central Catholic racked up a season-high 617 yards of offense, including 405 and eight TDs on the ground. Next: at Oakdale.
2. (2) Merced (9-0, 5-0): The Bears can wrap up a perfect regular season — and possibly a top seed in the Division III playoffs — with a victory over another resurgent program, Mayor’s Cup rival Golden Valley. Next: vs. Golden Valley.
3. (3) Pitman (9-0, 4-0): Payton Bass, Treyton Fair and the resilient Pride avenged a 2017 loss to Downey with a come-from-behind 37-33 win last week, setting up a winner-take-all showdown in the CCAL with a bitter rival. Next: vs. Turlock.
4. (4) Turlock (6-3, 4-0): The Bulldogs scored 35 unanswered points in a 63-21 victory over Gregori, blowing open a game between reigning conference champions. Quarterback Jonah Kosakiewicz rushed for a game-high 182 yards. Next: vs. Pitman.
5. (6) Manteca (6-3, 4-1): With a 50-7 victory over Sierra, the Buffaloes kept their slim VOL title hopes alive. Manteca needs to beat East Union in its regular-season finale and hope Oakdale knocks off season-long No. 1 Central Catholic. Next: at East Union.
6. (5) Downey (5-4, 2-2): Despite another strong performance from junior quarterback Bryce Gouker (18 of 20, three touchdowns), the Knights were eliminated from the CCAL title picture with a stunning loss to Pitman last week. Downey led 33-23 going into the fourth quarter. Next: at Modesto.
7. (7) Oakdale (7-2, 4-1): The Mustangs were idle last week. Next: vs. Central Catholic.
8. (8) Buhach Colony (7-2, 4-1): The Thunder survived a scare from upstart Golden Valley, which refused to let the Buhach Colony Fly offense to take flight. Rising recruit Trey Paster highlighted the 26-21 win with two early touchdowns, including a 77-yard scamper. Next: vs. Atwater.
9. (9) Pacheco (8-1, 6-0): The Panthers clinched at least a share of the program’s first league championship with a 56-23 victory over winless Beyer. Marcus Ordunez scored three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter for Pacheco, which can take sole possession of the WAC title with a win over surging Los Banos. Next: at Los Banos.
10. (nr) Los Banos (6-3, 5-1): The Tigers can force a title share in the WAC with a victory over Pacheco in the Crosstown Clash. Junior Justin Incaprera has carried Los Banos down the stretch with back-to-back 200-yard rushing games. Incaprera has 480 yards the last two weeks, including 248 in a 42-7 win over Lathrop last week. Next: vs. Pacheco.
Dropped out: Gregori.
Follow James Burns on Twitter @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.
