Final MaxPreps California Top 25 high school football rankings: St. John Bosco finishes No. 1 after title win over No. 3 De La Salle

By Mitch Stephens Dec 16, 2019, 11:14am

Braves finish off state championship season with tough, impressive win over state's third-ranked team.

Video: St. John Bosco finishes off De La Salle
Game highlights of Bosco's 49-28 victory to clinch state and national crown.

Jason Negro was running on sheer exhilaration. Perhaps, elation.

The St. John Bosco football coach had just watched his team complete the journey on Saturday, a 49-28 CIF Open Division Bowl championship win at Cerritos in Norwalk as Clemson-bound DJ Uiagalelei completed an illustrious career with a landmark performance.

It was Bosco's third state Open Division title since 2013, all against De La Salle, two weeks after pulling off his team's signature win, a 39-34 win over arch Southern California rival Mater Dei (Santa Ana), fighting back from a 28-5 deficit to beat the then-No. 1 team in the country.



The Braves took over that honor after beating the Monarchs, but it would largely mean nothing unless they defeated the pesky Spartans, no slouch themselves, the No. 3 ranked state team and No. 8 in the nation.

But after it was finally all over, after every team and individual championship photo was shot, Negro took a big breath and reflected it all. Winning a state crown at the highest division in California is a monumental effort.

"To have to go through and beat Calabasas and Centennial-Corona and Mater Dei and then De La Salle," he said shaking his head. "It was daunting and our kids had to come to work every single week and be prepared and I think our guys did a really good job of that. I couldn't be prouder of these guys."

The last three teams he mentioned finished Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in the MaxPreps final California rankings.

The final week of play saw seven ranked teams play and the biggest climber was Pacifica (Oxnard), which outgained three-time defending state champion McClymonds 411-112 en route to a dominating 34-6 Division 2-A title win, also at Cerritos College.

The Tritons (15-1) made the biggest jump from No. 18 to No. 12 with the win.

Previous No. 9 Central (Fresno) changed placed with previous No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) after an impressive 34-19 win over the Trailblazers in the Division 1-AA finals.



Sixth-ranked Corona del Mar held strong by completing a perfect 16-0 season with a hard-fought 35-27 win over an inspired Serra (San Mateo) squad, which actually moved up a spot to No. 10 with a spirited effort against the Sea Kings.

Corona del Mar received its own signature quarterback moment from Washington-bound Ethan Garbers, who accounted for 397 yards and all five touchdowns. He became the second quarterback in state history — Folsom's Jake Browning was the other — to throw for more than 70 touchdowns in a season.
Bosco's DJ Uiagalelei signals touchdown in his team's state-championship win over De La Salle.
Bosco's DJ Uiagalelei signals touchdown in his team's state-championship win over De La Salle.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Final 2019 Top 25 California high school football rankings

1. (Last week 1) St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Record: 13-1
Last week: Beat De La Salle (Concord) 49-28

Record: 12-1
Next game: Season over

3. (3) De La Salle (Concord)
Record: 12-2
Last week: Lost to St. John Bosco 49-28

4. (4). Centennial (Corona)
Record: 9-3

Record: 16-0
Last week: Beat Serra (San Mateo) 35-27

Record: 14-0
Last week: Beat Sierra Canyon 34-19

8. (8) Servite (Anaheim)
Record: 7-4

9. (7) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Record: 14-2
Last week: Lost to Central (Fresno) 34-19

10. (11) Serra (San Mateo)
Record: 13-2
Last week: Lost to Corona del Mar 35-27

11. (10) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley)
Record: 12-2

12. (18) Pacifica (Oxnard)
Record: 15-1
Last week: Beat McClymonds (Oakland) 34-6

13. (12) Helix
Record: 12-2



14. (13) La Habra
Record: 10-3

Record: 9-2

16. (15) Pittsburg
Record: 11-2

17. (16) Alemany (Mission Hills)
Record: 9-3

18. (17) Rancho Cucamonga (Rancho Cucamonga)
Record: 9-4

19. (19) Valley Christian (San Jose)
Record: 11-2

20. (20) Buchanan (Clovis)
Record: 10-3

21. (21) Calabasas
Record: 7-3

24. (24) Monterey Trail (Elk Grove)
Record: 12-2

25. (25) Folsom
Record: 10-2
Ethan Garbers rushed for 142 yards and passed for 255 more in Corona del Mar's 35-27 D1-A championship win over Serra.
Ethan Garbers rushed for 142 yards and passed for 255 more in Corona del Mar's 35-27 D1-A championship win over Serra.
Photo by Louis Lopez