Top 20 most dominant California high school football programs in the MaxPreps era

By Staff Report Apr 18, 2014, 2:00pm

After compiling data since 2004, we have come up with the 20 best high school football programs in California.

De La Salle has been by far the most dominant high school football program in California over the past 10 years.
De La Salle has been by far the most dominant high school football program in California over the past 10 years.
Photo by Heston Quan
It has been 10 years now that MaxPreps has put out football computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard.

That's plenty of time to come up with a solid list of which programs have been the most dominant during the MaxPreps era.

For the purpose of the rankings, each team will be awarded points based off where it finished in the computer rankings after each season. For example, if a team finished No. 1 overall it receives 25 points. If the team finished No. 25 overall, it would get one point. A team also receives 30 points for winning a state title and 15 for being the runner-up.

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View California rankings for the past 10 years


Most Dominant California Football Programs in the MaxPreps Era

1. De La Salle (Concord) - 425 points
Overall record: 127-12-2
No question who is No. 1 here. The Spartans have not finished outside the Top 10, and have finished No. 1 four times. De La Salle has five state championships and three runner-up finishes.

2. Centennial (Corona) - 229
Centennial coach Matt Logan receives the state title
trophy in 2008.
Centennial coach Matt Logan receives the state title trophy in 2008.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Overall record: 123-18
Centennial finished No. 1 overall in 2008 after going 15-0 and winning the Division I state title. The Huskies also have two runner-up finishes.

3. St. Bonaventure (Ventura) - 170
Overall record: 105-29
St. Bonaventure has two state titles since the inception of the California State Bowl Games. The Seraphs have finished inside the Top 20 eight times.

4. Long Beach Poly - 166
Overall record: 108-24
The Jackrabbits have been in the state title game twice, losing by a combined six points. Poly has finished in the top five of the rankings five times.

5. Mission Viejo - 161
Overall record: 108-17-1
Mission Viejo finished No. 1 overall in 2004 after completing a perfect season. The Diablos have been ranked in the Top 25 all but one year.



6. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) - 152
Overall record: 119-15
A 2006 state title and nine Top 25 finishes have the Lions tied for No. 6 overall.

6. Oceanside - 152
Overall record: 110-18-3
The San Diego power has captured two state titles. The Pirates finished No. 4 overall in 2007.

8. Serra (Gardena) - 141
Overall record: 107-24
Serra has two state titles and a runner-up finish over the past 10 years.

9. Servite (Anaheim) - 134
Servite won the 2009 state title.
Servite won the 2009 state title.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Overall record: 84-39
Servite has finished 14-1 twice since 2004. The Friars finished No. 1 overall after their 2009 state title.

10. Orange Lutheran (Orange) - 118
Overall record: 86-31
Orange Lutheran finished No. 2 overall in 2006 after a state title win. The Lancers have finished in the Top 25 six times.

11. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) - 98
Overall record: 66-48
Santa Margarita's 2011 season is a big reason they land at No. 11 overall. The Eagles captured a Division I state title.



12. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) - 89
Overall record: 69-43
The Braves have surged up the rankings since 2011. St. John Bosco won the Open Division state title game this past season and finished No. 1 overall.

12. Bakersfield - 89
Overall record: 99-28
Bakersfield won its first state title in 2013 and finished No. 5 overall. The Central Section power has four Top 25 finishes.

14. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) - 85
Overall record: 82-38
The Monarchs have finished inside the Top 25 six times. Although it has no state title appearances, Mater Dei has finished as high as No. 3 overall.

15. Folsom - 82
Overall record: 92-28-1
The Bulldogs finished No. 2 overall in the state in 2010 after their Division II state championship win. They also finished No. 8 overall in 2013.

16. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) - 80
Michael Cooper and Canyon celebrated a state
title in 2006.
Michael Cooper and Canyon celebrated a state title in 2006.
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
Overall record: 89-29
Notre Dame finished as high as No. 5 overall in 2004. The Knights have seven Top 25 finishes.

16. Grant (Sacramento) - 80
Overall record: 100-24
The Pacers finished 14-0 in 2008 and captured the Open Division state title. Grant also finished 13-0 in 2006.



18. Canyon (Canyon Country) - 79
Overall record: 81-36-1
Canyon finished No. 1 overall in both 2005 and 2006. The Cowboys beat De La Salle for the Division I state title in 2006.

19. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) - 79
Overall record: 103-25
Vista Murrieta has finished within the Top 10 three times, and as high as No. 3 in 2011.

20. Palo Alto - 77
Overall record: 100-31-2
The Vikings went 14-0 in 2010 and brought home a Division 1 state title. Palo Alto was the state runner-up in 2006.
 
Next Five
21. Central Catholic (Modesto) - 75
22. Westlake (Westlake Village) - 74
23. Bellarmine (San Jose) - 72
24. Valley Christian (San Jose) - 71
25. Granite Bay - 63