MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 High School Football Rankings

 The best time to take over the top spot? The week before the Regional Bowl Games.

That's what Centennial (Corona) has done, and since the Huskies have been chosen for the Open Division spot in the Bowl Games, they will be the champs of the SoCal Rankings this season.

Centennial earned it fair and square from St. John Bosco in a 48-41 win in the Pac 5 final.

Another interesting aspect is that we welcome Central Section Division I champ Edison (Fresno) back after it secured the title and was selected for a Regional Bowl. Even more surprising is that we are giving Paso Robles the 25th spot. The Bearcats are 13-1 and even though they play way up in San Luis Obispo County, they have had a very good season that was lacking a signature win. They got it over Newbury Park.

Click here to see the previews for the Regional Bowl Games and Click here to see the MaxPreps national playoff page, and find your favorite California bracket.

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1. (2 last week) Centennial (Corona), 12-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 5 national, 17 Xcellent 25

The Huskies' amazing run to the state Open Division Bowl Game has been exciting to watch, and their 48-41 victory over St. John Bosco in the Pac 5 title game was no exception. They picked off tow interceptions and stole a fumble in the win, where they had to be considered slight underdogs. Sammonte Bonner has become a household name and he posted 43 runs for 227 yards, while quarterbacks Nate Ketteringham and Anthony Catalano each tossed touchdowns in their dual roles. Centennial was selected to play in the Open Division and there are no regional games this year in that division, so the Huskies are officially the SoCal champs in these rankings. They face De La Salle (Concord) a week from Saturday.

2. (1) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 12-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 2 state, 8 national, 18 Xcellent 25

The Braves will not play to defend their state title after they lost 48-41 to Centennial in the Pac 5 title game. In fact, they never led. Sean McGrew rushed 13 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns, while Jared Harrell caught five passes for 52 yards and a score. Bosco seemed destined for a De La Salle rematch but it wasn't in the stars.

3. (3) Oceanside, 13-0
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 40 national

The Pirates were selected to play in the Division I Regional Bowl and will host Edison (Fresno) on Friday night. They earned the San Diego Section Open Division crown with a 20-13 triumph over Helix that saw them erase an early 10-0 deficit and also trail by three entering the final quarter. Taj Apodaca blocked a punt and then Matthew Romero hit Johnny Arzola for a 40-yard touchdown to grab the lead. The Pirates were in the section title game for an amazing 11th-straight season, according to UT San Diego.

4. (4) Long Beach Poly, 11-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 8 state, 34 national

The Jackrabbits lost to St. John Bosco in the semifinals.

5. (5) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 9-4 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 28 national

The Lancers lost to Centennial in the semifinals.

6. (6) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 10-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 58 national

The Lions lost to Bishop Amat in the second round.

7. (7) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 29 national

The Monarchs lost to Centennial in the second round.

8. (8) Serra (Gardena), 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 55 national

The Cavaliers lost to Centennial in the opening round.

9. (9) Crespi (Encino), 9-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 32 national

The Celts lost to Long Beach Poly in the second round.

10. (10) El Capitan (Lakeside), 13-0
Classifications: San Diego (II), State III
Ranks: 16 state, 159 national

The Vaqueros were selected to play in the Division III Regional Bowl after they disposed of Rancho Bernardo in the SDS Division II title game, 14-7. Quarterback Brad Cagle rushed for a score and also threw to Isaiah Capoocia for the other touchdown. The defense smashed its way to seven sacks and one interception. Saturday will be a home game against Paso Robles.

11. (11) Helix (La Mesa), 10-3 *Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 17 state, 177 national

The Highlanders couldn't hold on to leads and lost 20-13 to Oceanside in the SDS Open Division final.

12. (12) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 6-5 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 23 state, 235 national

The Eagles lost to Crespi in the opening round.

13. (13) Servite (Anaheim), 4-7 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 26 state, 265 national

The Friars lost to Long Beach Poly in the opening round.

14. (14) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 10-2 *Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 204 national

The Dons lost to Helix in the semifinals.

15. (16) Mission Viejo, 12-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 91 national

The Diablos finished their season strong, ripping off 12 in a row, complete with a West Valley Division title. They beat Vista Murrieta 21-10 behind the connection of Brock Johnson and Connor Hill, who hooked up for scoring passes of 36 and 29 yards. Rome Innocenzi also rushed for a touchdown. The Diablos were not selected for the CIF Regional Bowl Games though, as they lost to Liberty of Bakersfield and Edison of Fresno beat Liberty for its section title.

16. (15) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 11-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 153 national

The Broncos lost 21-10 to Mission Viejo in the West Valley Division final. Jared Gallegos booted a 30-yard field goal and Seth Acda found Jamie Nunley for a touchdown.

17. (17) Upland, 10-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 21 state, 206 national

The Highlanders lost to Upland in the semifinals.

18. (18) Westlake, 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 22 state, 211 national

The Warriors lost to Mater Dei in the opening round.

19. (19) Alemany (Mission Hills), 7-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 110 national

The Warriors didn't make the playoffs.

20. (20) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 27 state, 267 national

The Titans lost to Vista Murrieta in the second round.

21. (22) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 33 state, 367 national

The Grizzlies lost to Oceanside in the semifinals.

22. (23) Great Oak (Temecula), 10-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 30 state, 283 national

The Wolfpack lost to Mission Viejo in the semifinals.

23. (24) Chino Hills, 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 40 state, 422 national

The Huskies lost to Great Oak in the first round.

24. (NR) Edison (Fresno), 12-1
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 198 national

The Tigers return to the rankings now that they won the Central Section Division I title over Liberty (Bakersfield). In that 21-14 win, the defense picked off two interceptions and allowed 245 yards of offense, a solid showing. Hunter Swearingen found Kamron Lewis for the deciding touchdown with about six minutes left. Had this team not stumbled to Sanger this season, it would be ranked much higher. Edison goes to Oceanside Friday.

25. (NR) Paso Robles, 13-1
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 188 national

We had a commented recently say that is was a travesty (or some other word close to that) that this team wasn't ranked. Well, Bearcat fans, here it is. The Computer Rankings number for Paso Robles is good, and the strength of schedule is so-so. Beating Newbury Park in the section final was the key, and it happened in a 13-10 mudbath. This time heads to El Capitan for a Division III Regional Bowl, and it should be a very good game.

Dropped out: 21. San Clemente, 25. Notre Dame