MaxPreps Top 25 California high school football rankings

By Mitch Stephens Aug 26, 2019, 11:15am

Mater Dei, St. John Bosco separate themselves with national-level wins; Narbonne, La Habra score good in-state victories.

Video: National Top 25 high school football rankings
Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are not only California's best, but among the tops nationally.

The cream definitely rose to the top of the preseason MaxPreps California Top 25 rankings.

The top two teams — nationally-ranked Mater Dei and St. John Bosco — opened the 2019 season last week, defeating two other nationally ranked teams by a combined score of 77-19.

The two Southern Section and Trinity League powerhouses showed they have largely separated themselves from the rest of the state after displaying absolutely dominating defensive performances against two high-powered offenses.



The Monarchs and Braves weren't bad on offense either, while featuring two of the nation's top three-rated quarterbacks, DJ Uiagalelei and Bryce Young (Mater Dei). Each team also showed nifty new fleets of running backs. 

This doesn't bode well for the rest of the state.

In other big action around the state:

• De La Salle (Concord) played toe-to-toe with national No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), but made too many key mistakes in a nothing-to-be-ashamed of 24-14 home loss. The Spartans dropped to 0-3 in their history against Florida teams and 6-9 against out-of-state opponents since 2005.

• Sixth-ranked Narbonne scored the final 32 points and got three touchdown passes from highly touted junior quarterback Jacob Garcia — two to Elijah Queen — in an impressive 32-6 win at then 24th-ranked Buchanan, which got 133 yards rushing and a touchdown from Georgia-bound Kendall Milton. Buchanan controlled the ball and clock the first half, before Narbonne's stout defense took over in the second half.

• In the state's season opener pitting two of the nation's top players, visiting La Habra pulled a mild 21-14 upset over Upland. La Habra scored twice in the game's first four minutes and Ohio State-commit Clark Phillips III intercepted two passes in the second half to preserve the victory. The nation's top-ranked player, Upland linebacker Justin Flowe rushed for an 11-yard touchdown on the first carry of his career, but he later cramped up in the fourth quarter and did not return. La Habra quarterback Ryan Zanelli threw for 222 yards and three scores, all in the first half.



• All but five from the preseason Top 25 played games in Week 0, and those five will open this week. All but one Top 25 team will play this week.
Narbonne quarterback Jake Garcia evades a big rush from Kendall Milton in his team's 32-6 win at Buchanan on Saturday night. Garcia threw for three touchdowns in the win.
Narbonne quarterback Jake Garcia evades a big rush from Kendall Milton in his team's 32-6 win at Buchanan on Saturday night. Garcia threw for three touchdowns in the win.
Photo by Bobby Medellin
Top 25 California football rankings

1. (last week 1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Record: 1-0
Next week: Aug. 29 vs. Villa Park

2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Record: 1-0
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

3. (3) Centennial (Corona)
Record: 0-1
Last week: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 42-12
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange)

Record: 0-1
Next game: Aug. 30 at Central Catholic (Modesto)

5. (5) Folsom
Record: 0-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Jesuit (Carmichael)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat No. 24 Buchanan 32-7
Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)



Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Konaweana (Kealakekua, Hawaii) 38-14
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Chaminade (West Hills) 13-7
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. No. 20 Grace Brethren (Simi Valley)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat East (Salt Lake City) 24-14
Next game: Aug. 31 vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Westlake (Westlake Village) 26-7
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. No. 22 Lawndale

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 42-9
Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

Record: 0-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Garfield (Los Angeles)

13. (14) Calabasas
Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Bakersfield 29-14
Next game: Aug. 29 at Rancho Cucamonga



14. (20) La Habra 
Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Upland 21-14
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Redlands East Valley

15. (12) Upland
Record: 0-1
Last week: Lost to La Habra 21-14
Next week: Aug. 30 vs. Crenshaw (Los Angeles)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Vacaville 49-24
Next game: Aug. 30 at Oakdale

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Downey 57-20
Next game: Aug. 30 at St. Francis (Mountain View)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Edison (Fresno) 47-12
Next game: Aug. 30 at Grant (Sacramento)

Record: 0-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Aug. 31 vs. Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Aquinas (San Bernardino) 42-18
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Oaks Christian



21. (21) Norco
Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Williams Field (Gilbert, Ariz.) 52-27
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Rancho Cucamonga

22. (22) Lawndale 
Record: 0-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. No. 10 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano) 27-21
Next game: Aug. 30 at No. 3 Centennial

Record: 0-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Aug. 30 at JW North (Riverside)

25. (24) Buchanan (Clovis)
Record: 0-1
Last week: Lost to Narbonne 32-7
Next game: Aug. 30 vs. Bullard

Dropped out: None