Folks,NorCal high school football played out mostly by the book this week—dominant squads flexing as expected with blowouts and hard-fought wins that followed the script, save for one surprising result. Here's how my Top 10 fared. These teams are led by De La Salle's unstoppable machine that's got eyes on challengers nationwide. But that Clovis North vs Central East game, stunner? Depends on who you ask. Surprising margin of victory? Definitely.

Powerhouse Performances

#1 De La Salle (6-0) stays atop the heap after dismantling Cathedral Catholic 35-14. The Spartans' ground game chewed up yards, with the defense holding the Dons 26 points below their season average—a metric the De La Salle D is almost averaging against every opponent they face. They're rising in national polls—SPIN having them at No. 8 nationwide looks more accurate every week—and they get a bye before Amador Valley on 10/17. This program's legacy? Unmatched, but they're not resting until they get that coveted Open Division State Title which is the STANDARD for the Spartans.

#3 Archbishop Riordan (5-0) lit up Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep 56-30, showcasing a passing attack that's West Catholic Athletic League nightmare fuel. Adonyae Brown and the crew piled on points, keeping their perfect record intact. Up against St. Ignatius College Prep on 10/11—expect more fireworks from the Crusaders.

#8 Manteca (6-0) crushed Sierra 74-7, turning it into a track meet. The Buffaloes' offense exploded, with multiple scores in every quarter...duh. Somehow they're flying under some radars but dominating the Valley Oak League. 0-6 Mountain House awaits on 10/10, the backups can expect a lot of playing time in this one.

Close Calls and Comebacks: Teams on the Edge

#2 Folsom (5-1) trailed 7-9 at halftime but then broke out with 3 explosion plays in the second half mixed with dominant defense to secure a 28-9 victory over rival Oak Ridge, who they have now beat 24 or 25 times in a row depending on who you ask. Folsom’s pass game orchestrated the win, but the Bulldogs' D stole the show, limiting the Trojans to single digits and a second half shutout. Next: Del Oro on 10/10, where the perennial Sac-Joaquin bully looks to all but seal yet another Sierra Foothill League title.

#5 Pittsburg (4-1) edged Los Gatos 30-27 in a thriller where kicking matters. Luis Rodriguez hit FG’s from 39 & 49 yards in the 4th quarter to seal the deal.The Pirates are cruising and have Heritage on 10/10. #6 J. Serra (2-3) has been the hot topic in the rankings after and 0-3 start to juggernauts Folsom, De La Salle, and St John Bosco. They’ve bounced back with two straight dominant performances, this time a 45-10 rout of St. Ignatius, leaning on a stout front seven that sacked the QB relentlessly. This win signals they're WCAL contenders. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep looms on 10/11.

#10 St. Mary's (4-2) blanked Lodi 53-0, a statement shutout where the Rams' speed overwhelmed from the jump. This was a get right game was much needed after last weeks 7-36 loss to DLS. Kimball on 10/10 should be another tune-up.

The Stumblers: Losses That Sting but Don't Define

#4 Oak Ridge (4-2) fell 9-28 to Folsom, a defensive battle where the Trojans couldn't crack the code. The Trojans started off the game with an 11 minute TD drive which helped keep the Bulldogs electric offense off the field. With as good as the 1st half went leading 9-7 at halftime, the seal broke in the 2nd half with the Bulldogs out scoring them 21-0. Still, their résumé includes wins over St. Mary's and Del Oro. Jesuit on 10/10 should be a good one.

#7 Clovis North (5-1) got hammered 13-56 by Central East, whose only loss is to the Jekyll & Hyde Grant Pacers. Going to have to rebound against Clovis on 10/1.

Idle but Intriguing: The One That Sat Out

#9 Cardinal Newman (4-1) was idle this week. They are one of the most interesting stories in High School Football this season. Windsor on 10/10 kicks off a tough stretch.

For NorCal, De La Salle seems to be on track to represent the north in the state game and Folsom and Riordan look to be on a crash course for the NorCal Championship. Things change fast in high school football but if playoffs started today, we'd be in for a treat almost certainly with upsets reminding us: Any given Friday. Stay tuned—the road to state bowls just got more interesting.