BAY AREA NEWS GROUP TOP 25

1. De La Salle Last season: 11-2

De La Salle has again stacked its nonleague schedule with regional and out-of-state heavyweights, beginning with the opener Friday at home against Folsom. DLS has lost soundly in the past two state Open title games but will aim for another chance behind standouts such as linebacker/running back Henry To’oto’o and tight end Isaiah Foskey, both four-star prospects. Look for the Spartans to throw more than previous years as sophomore Dorian Hale is expected to take over at quarterback.

2. Pittsburg Last season: 9-3

Pittsburg is bursting with talent as six seniors made 247Sports’ Class of 2019 state rankings, including four-star defensive tackle Jacob Bandes, threestar athlete Willie Harts, three-star linebacker Jaden Tauanuu and tight end Koby Gross, a San Ramon Valley transfer.

3. Serra Last season: 13-2

Luke Bottari returns for his senior season after throwing for 2,850 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2017 while earning first-team All-Bay Area News Group honors. Linebacker/running back Edmond Lahlouh, who had 14 tackles in the Division 2-AA state title game against Cajon, also is back,

4. Liberty Last season: 11-2

Liberty won the NCS Division I title last season. QB Jay Butterfield, RB Tyerell Sturges-Cofer and WR Sione Vaki are back from that team.

5. St. Francis Last season: 11-4

St. Francis returns standouts such as DE Joshua Pakola and WR/DB Evan Williams. But the big question is whether record-setting RB Darrell Page remains on the team. Sources outside of the program have said or speculated that the senior is not. The school has declined to comment, citing “confidential issues involving minors.”

6. Clayton Valley Charter Last season: 8-3

Air Force commit Cade Carter, a 6-3, 220-pound LB/TE, and Dusty Mitchell, a 6-2, 215-pound outside linebacker, are among the players expected to lead the way.

7. Valley Christian Last season: 9-3

The Warriors aren’t known for falling off the radar, and this team, which features three-star tight end Skylar Loving-Black, figures to be in the mix again.

8. Menlo-Atherton Last season: 7-5

Few teams have a defensive tandem like 6-2, 280-pound tackle Noa Ngalu, a Washington commit, and 6-2, 225-pound linebacker Daniel Heimuli, whose 25-school list of college offers includes Alabama, USC, Washington and Notre Dame.

9. Freedom Last season: 9-3

For the first time since he took over in 2002, Kevin Hartwig is not Freedom’s coach. He resigned in December and was replaced by former Moreau Catholic coach Andrew Cotter.

10. McClymonds Last season: 14-0

The Warriors have won back-to-back state championships — last year in Division 5-AA — and 25 games in a row. RB/LB Jarmar Julien, RB Adi Anderson, a Moreau Catholic transfer, and LB Javanz Dornners are among the standouts.

11. Bishop O’Dowd Last season: 9-3

The Dragons still have a key member of their 2016 state title team in Stanford commit RB Austin Jones, who rushed for 1,560 yards and 23 touchdowns last season as O’Dowd reached an NCS semifinal. The team’s graduation hit was notable as wide receiver Jevon Holland (Oregon), lineman Miles Owens (Cal) and quarterback/ DB Quinn Brinnon (Colorado State) have moved on.

12. Antioch Last season: 8-4

Back from last season’s team are quarterback Willem Karnthong (1,601 yards passing, 800 rushing) and leading receiver Gaudie Campbell (760 yards, 10 TDs).

13. San Ramon Valley Last season: 9-2

Recent Stanford commit Tristan Sinclair, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound strong safety/ outside linebacker, and RB Jason Javier are among the returning players.

14. San Leandro Last season: 8-5

Three-star LB Jordan Cobbs is No. 200 in 247Sports’ Class of 2019 state rankings. QB Cameron Stanley, now a senior, threw for 736 yards and seven TDs last season.

15. El Cerrito Last season: 7-2

The Gauchos have no shortage of talent, with six players ranked among the top 250 in 247Sports’ Class of 2019 state rankings, including defensive tackle Franklin Banks (6-foot-1, 360 pounds) and athlete Makai Polk.

16. Milpitas Last season: 14-1

Milpitas will be challenged to duplicate last year’s success, but the program has been good for too long to expect a free fall.

17. Campolindo Last season: 10-5

Under coach Kevin Macy the program just seems to reload. Campolindo has played in four state finals over the past seven seasons, winning titles in 2014 and 2016.

18. Archbishop Mitty Last season: 5-6

The Monarchs have a new coach — Sione Ta’ufo’ou — and return QB Shamir Bey (1,644 yards passing; 775 rushing) and WR/S Joseph Vaughn.

19. Bellarmine Last season: 4-7

Coming off their first losing season since 2006, the Bells have a lot of question marks. Most important, was last season merely an aberration?

20. Aragon Last season: 10-2

Paul Lautaimi rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior last fall, receiving third-team All-Bay Area News Group honors and leading the Dons to a CCS Open Division II semifinal.

21. Acalanes Last season: 9-2

Nick Kresnak (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) completed 61 percent of his throws as a sophomore last season in limited duty.

22. Foothill Last season: 8-4

The Falcons are starting a new era as Greg Haubner has taken over for longtime and highly successful coach Matt Sweeney.

23. Wilcox Last season: 7-4

The Chargers have two of their top three rushers back — Paul M. Rosa (1,246 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Gabe Herrera (878 yards, eight TDs).

24. Los Gatos Last season: 6-6

The Wildcats return LB Kyle Smith, a Cal commit and third-team All-Bay Area News Group selection last fall.

25. Monte Vista Last season: 4-7

With Matt Russi in his second season as head coach and 6-foot-3 junior Jack Stewardson back at quarterback, Monte Vista could be poised for a bounce back this fall. Capsules by Darren Sabedra. Teams eligible for these rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.