Serra will start the new high school football season where it finished the last one. At the top of the Bay Area News Group’s rankings.
But how long will the San Mateo powerhouse stay there?
The Padres open the season at home Saturday against Sacramento-area juggernaut Folsom, followed by another home game a week later against North Coast Section powerhouse De La Salle.
If Serra wins both of those games, it could have a lengthy run at No. 1.
The Padres are that strong.
But De La Salle is right behind Serra in the rankings. The Concord school has a big test in its opener Friday at home against Southern California heavyweight Orange Lutheran.
Four schools that weren’t in the final Top 25 last season — Valley Christian, Archbishop Riordan, Menlo-Atherton and Monte Vista — are ranked to begin this one.
Valley Christian, after a two-win season last fall, seems poised to make a big leap. The Warriors are No. 10 in the rankings, three spots ahead of talent-laden Riordan.
One-stop shopping: Where to find our complete preseason coverage
Menlo-Atherton is ranked 20th. Monte Vista is 21st.
On to the Top 25 …
Bay Area News Group Top 25
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 SERRA
Final 2022 ranking: 1
Season opener: Saturday vs. Folsom, noon
No. 2 DE LA SALLE
Final 2022 ranking: 2
Season opener: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 PITTSBURG
Final 2022 ranking: 3
Season opener: Saturday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral at Kezar Stadium, 1 p.m.
No. 4 CLAYTON VALLEY
Final 2022 ranking: 13
Season opener: Friday at Salinas, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SAN RAMON VALLEY
Final 2022 ranking: 5
Season opener: Friday at St. Ignatius, 7 p.m.
No. 6 ST. FRANCIS
Final 2022 ranking: 9
Season opener: Friday vs. Helix-La Mesa, 7 p.m.
No. 7 LOS GATOS
Final 2022 ranking: 11
Season opener: Thursday vs. Soquel, 7 p.m.
No. 8 ST. IGNATIUS
Final 2022 ranking: 18
Season opener: Friday vs. San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 9 WILCOX
Final 2022 ranking: 15
Season opener: Friday at Valley Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 10 VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Final 2022 ranking: Not ranked
Season opener: Friday vs. Wilcox, 7 p.m.
No. 11 MCCLYMONDS
Final 2022 ranking: 4
Season opener: Sept. 1 at Bellarmine, 7 p.m.
No. 12 SACRED HEART PREP
Final 2022 ranking: 10
Season opener: Friday at Archbishop Riordan, 3 p.m.
No. 13 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN
Final 2022 ranking: Not ranked
Season opener: Friday vs. Sacred Heart Prep, 3 p.m.
No. 14 EL CERRITO
Final 2022 ranking: 7
Season opener: Friday at Amador Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 15 LIBERTY
Final 2022 ranking: 16
Season opener: Thursday at Enochs-Modest at Johansen-Modesto, 7 p.m.
No. 16 CAMPOLINDO
Final 2022 ranking: 6
Season opener: Friday at Vanden-Fairfield, 7 p.m.
No. 17 ACALANES
Final 2022 ranking: 14
Season opener: Friday at San Marin, 7 p.m.
No. 18 JAMES LOGAN
Final 2022 ranking: 24
Season opener: Friday vs. Archbishop Mitty, 7 p.m.
No. 19 CHRISTOPHER
Final 2022 ranking: 25
Season opener: Friday vs. North Monterey County, 7 p.m.
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No. 20 MENLO-ATHERTON
Final 2022 ranking: Not ranked
Season opener: Friday vs. Bellarmine at San Jose City College, 7 p.m
No. 21 MONTE VISTA
Final 2022 ranking: Not ranked
Season opener: Friday at Granada, 7 p.m.
No. 22 TENNYSON
Final 2022 ranking: 23
Season opener: Friday vs. East Union-Manteca, 7 p.m.
No. 23 ARCHBISHOP MITTY
Final 2022 ranking: 8
Season opener: Friday at James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 24 HALF MOON BAY
Final 2022 ranking: 22
Season opener: Friday vs. Leland, 7 p.m.
No. 25 LIVE OAK
Final 2022 ranking: 20
Season opener: Friday vs. Gilroy, 7:15 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
