Ten of the Top 25 ranked teams in the Golden State also play the toughest schedules.
Video: Top 25 preseason California football rankings The 10 teams playing the toughest California schedules are also 10 of the Top 25 teams in the state.
It's not a coincidence. Teams that challenge themselves are rewarded, on the field and off.
A tough schedule is a risk-reward game that tests a team and prepares it for future success and to overcome adversity.
These squads are among the Golden State's elite because of their willingness to challenge themselves with tough and gritty opponents. Four of them, in fact, are ranked among the top 20 in the country.
Top 10 toughest California football schedules for 2019
10. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)Three toughest gamesAug. 30 vs. Grace Brethren (Simi Valley)
Sept. 6 vs. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Oct. 25 vs. Calabasas
9. CalabasasThree toughest gamesSept. 6 vs. Serra (Gardena)
Sept. 13 vs. La Habra
Sept. 20 at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
8. Serra (Gardena)Three toughest gamesSept. 6 at Calabasas
Sept. 20 at Narbonne (Harbor City)
Oct. 11 vs. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
7. Narbonne (Harbor City)Three toughest gamesAug. 24 at Buchanan (Clovis)
Sept. 13 at Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Sept. 20 vs. Serra (Gardena)
6. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)Three toughest gamesAug. 31 vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Sept. 6 vs. Centennial (Corona)
Sept. 13 at Helix (San Diego)
5. De La Salle (Concord)Three toughest gamesAug. 23 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla)
Sept. 13 at Folsom
Sept. 20 vs. Buchanan (Clovis)
Shamar Garrett, De La Salle running back.
File photo by Gint Federas
Aug. 13 at Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Aug. 30 vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Sept. 6 at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
3. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)Three toughest gamesAug. 31 vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
Oct. 11 vs. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Nov. 1 at Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)Three toughest gamesAug. 24 vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Sept. 13 vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Oct. 25 vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Three toughest games
Sept. 14 vs. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Sept. 27 at St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Oct. 25 at St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
When you play a tough schedule, says Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson, the better the chance you hold up a trophy at the end of the season.
File photo by Louis Lopez
