MaxPreps Top 25 Southern California High School Football Rankings

Eastlake has hardly come out of nowehere to enter the Southern California Top 25. After all, the Titans are the defending San Diego Section Division I champs.

Eastlake makes its first appearance in the rankings this week, despite the fact that the UT San Diego poll has regarded Eastlake higher than Cathedral Catholic and Oceanside, two teams already in our rankings. The time has come to include the Titans, and in another San Diego story, San Pasqual and Mission Hills will do battle this week in a huge matchup.

Life in the Central Section is the same, and in the Southern Section, normalcy is craziness. Great teams face great teams each week, and that makes for big decisions. We have left Alemany in despite a second-straight loss, and Chino Hills while Trinity League squads Santa Margarita and JSerra Catholic leave.

Be sure to visit the Fresno metro site, the San Diego metro site and the Los Angeles metro site as well for more California coverage. Also, see the new MaxWire Los Angeles video at the end of the rankings.



MaxPreps Top 25 Southern California High School Football Rankings

1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 6 national, 4 Xcellent 25

The Braves stayed unbeaten with a 56-12 drubbing of Santa Margarita, a game that ended with a running clock. Josh Rosen threw for 211 yards but it was the rushing game that starred according to the Long Beach Press Telegram, as Bosco rolled up 344 ground yards. Rosen ran for four touchdowns, showing his running ability. Next up for the Braves is a home game against Orange Lutheran.

2. (2) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 21 national, 21 Xcellent 25

The Monarchs jumped out to a 21-0 lead against Servite and then ran out the clock over the final four minutes to win 28-21. According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 11,000 fans watched the game at Angel a stadium and they saw Jonathan Lockett catch six balls (two for touchdowns) for 145 yards and Justin Allen rush 28 times for 244 yards and a pair of scores. Mater Dei goes to Jserra Catholic on Friday.

3. (3) Serra (Gardena), 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 3 state, 9 national, 22 Xcellent 25



The Cavaliers scored twice in the first three minutes and never looked back in a 63-7 throttling of Harvard-Westlake. According to the Torrance Daily Breeze, they forced four turnovers in the first quarter, five for the game, and that sealed the victory early. Olajuwon Tucker recovered two fumbles for Serra, which will host Chaminade Friday in one of the section’s biggest games of the year.

4. (4) Mission Viejo, 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 19 national

The Diablos had the week off. They host San Clemente on Friday.

5. (5) Long Beach Poly, 6-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 77 national

The Jackrabbits kept their Moore League dominance going with a 31-0 victory over Jordan (Long Beach). They haven't allowed a point in league play. According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Josh Love threw for three scores in the first half and then the team went into a rushing attack for most of the second half. Poly will host Lakewood on Friday.

6. (6) Hart (Newhall), 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State II
Ranks: 9 state, 40 national



The Indians got 17 rushes for 99 yards from Joey Bilbo, who filled in admirably for Connor Wingenroth, and Hart beat West Ranch (Valencia) 38-24. All three touchdown passes from Brady White went to Trent Irwin. According to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, they trailed 7-0 before rattling off 38 unanswered points in a binge that lasted until the third quarter. The Indians' next opponent is Golden Valley.

7. (7) Chaminade (West Hills), 5-1
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 10 state, 41 national

The Eagles got an amazing effort from Donovan Lee in a 48-7 victory over Cathedral, according to the LA Daily News. He scored four touchdowns, including a 97-yard kickoff return and a 65-yard interception, and his team rolled. Brayden Lenius caught a touchdown pass in his first game after transferring in from Canada. Joseph McIntosh blocked a pair of punts as well. Next up is Friday's titanic showdown at Serra.

8. (8) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 6-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 8 state, 38 national

The Lions continued to blast their way through the Marmonte League West, as they downed Agoura 50-7. Brandon Dawkins tossed five touchdowns for Oaks Christian and ran for another. Oaks Christian will face Calabasas on Friday.

9. (10) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 5-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 32 national



As if we needed more evidence that Koa Farmer is a complete football player… He took over at quarterback when Grant Kraemer was injured and was instrumental in leading the Knights to a 31-21 triumph over Bishop Amat, according to the LA Times. The defense also swiped three turnovers, once again showing that Notre Dame is a battle-tested squad that can play with any team in the state. The Knights will host Alemany on Friday, looking to give that squad a third-straight loss.

10. (11) Centennial (Corona), 4-2
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 26 state, 144 national

The Huskies squashed the feel-good Norco story by winning 43-25 at home, one week after Norco knocked off Alemany. Tre Watson had yet another huge game, toting the ball 35 times for 382 yards and three scores – all in front of USC head coach Ed Orgeron, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. As we have come to expect from Centennial, the offense piled up 632 yards. Robert Webber also rushed for a score for Centennial, which goes to King (Riverside) on Friday.

11. (12) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 6-0
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 21 state, 116 national

The Grizzlies were all over Escondido on Friday, blanking their league opponent by a 42-0 count. What the biggest news is, though, is Friday’s home game against San Pasqual (Escondido). It will be a matchup pitting the UT San Diego poll’s top two teams – certainly one to keep an eye on.

12. (14) Edison (Fresno), 6-0
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 61 national



Edison won 25-7 over Sanger, and the Tigers have possibly added another dimension. According to the Fresno Bee, transfer Hunter Swearingen became eligible for the game and that enabled quarterback A.J. Greeley to move to wide receiver or running back on some plays. Greely caught a scoring pass from Swearingen and then threw two of his own. The defense was stellar as well, and Edison will face Madera South on Thursday.

13. (15) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 5-1
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 88 national

The Dons’ Chris Moliga was his usual self, rushing for four touchdowns in a 42-3 romp over Scripps Ranch (San Diego). He finished with 23 carries for 210 yards. As a team, Cathedral Catholic tallied 322 rushing yards, according to UT San Diego. The Dons go to Lincoln (San Diego) on Friday.

14. (16) Rancho Cucamonga, 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 94 national

The Cougars got a head start on the week’s victory by beating Etiwanda 37-18 on Thursday. According to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, it was tight up until the final minutes of the second quarter, when Rancho Cucamonga pulled away. They put it away by scoring on their first three possessions of the second quarter. The Cougars face Glendora on Friday.

15. (17) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 5-1
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 23 state, 122 national



The Broncos got back to blasting the scoreboard, as they won 60-18 over Temecula Valley. Coltin Gerhart was all over the place, rushing for 125 yards and three touchdowns to go with 149 passing yards and two more scores. A 32-point third quarter really put the game out of reach for Temecula Valley. The next opponent for the Broncos will be at Great Oak (Temecula) on Friday.

16. (13) Servite (Anaheim), 3-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 22 state, 119 national

The Friars’ third loss of the season was a familiar story: They faced a nationally ranked team and came up short. Hard to fault this team for losing to Bishop Gorman, De La Salle – and now Mater Dei. It was a 28-21 final, and Travis Waller got it to that score when he got into the end zone from two yards out with 4:10 left. But the Mater Dei offense was able to run out the clock to earn the win. Life in the Trinity League is always tough, and Servite will look to bounce back on Friday with its matchup against Santa Margarita.

17. (20) Orange Lutheran, 6-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 100 national

The Lancers kept their record perfect with a 29-13 victory over JSerra Catholic in the Trinity League opener. Luke Langdon threw for 164 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown strike to Mathew Hannon, and ran for a score as well according to Patch.com. That was the good news. The bad news is that the schedule says Orange Lutheran has to head to St. John Bosco on Friday.

18. (9) Alemany (Mission Hills), 5-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 92 national



The Warriors stumbled yet again, losing 31-20 to Loyola (Los Angeles). Stopping the run has been a major issue in their past two games, and if they don't find a way to beat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) on Friday, they could be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Pac 5 playoffs.

19. (19) Clovis North (Fresno), 5-1
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 28 state, 155 national

In a 37-17 triumph over Clovis West, the Broncos broke open a tight game at the half – something they have grown accustomed to doing. The ground game got rumbling in the second half, led by Bolu Olorunfunmi, and that broke a 10-all tie. Olorunfunmi tallied 205 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Ranked No. 3 in the Central Section by the Fresno Bee, Clovis North will face Clovis East on Friday.

20. (21) Bakersfield, 4-2
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 27 state, 145 national

The Drillers put a 45-10 whipping on Liberty (Bakersfield), and it was over early. They took an interception on the first pass of the game, and recovered a fumble on the next possession and turned each into points. Four different Drillers scored touchdowns and Asauni Rufus surpassed 100 yards rushing and passing. They go to Independence on Friday.

21. (22) San Pasqual (Escondido), 6-0
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 39 state, 240 national



The Golden Eagles romped 35-0 against Fallbrook, and information was hard to find. That is certainly not going to be the case on Friday, when they take on Mission Hills in a titanic San Diego Section tilt.

22. (18) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 5-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 25 state, 137 national

The Lancers' 31-21 loss at Notre Dame came after the led 7-6 at the halftime break. The rushing game was held to 98 yards on 29 carries. Matthew Zahn caught six passes for 63 yards and Brandon Arconado returned a punt for a touchdown. The Lancers are off this week, then host Alemany.

23. (23) Oceanside, 4-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 24 state, 128 national

The Pirates registered a 28-7 victory at Carlsbad. Matthew Romero tossed touchdowns from 50 and 59 yards away in the first quarter to get the win rolling. Next up for the Pirates is a road game at Vista.

24. (NR) Eastlake (Chula Vista), 5-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 30 state, 191 national



The Titans may not have looked good in their season opener (a 28-17 loss to Hamilton of Arizona) but they are on a roll since. They beat Sweetwater (National City) 52-41 last week and own victories over Madison and St. Augustine. Moreover, the UT San Diego poll has them ranked ahead of Oceanside and Cathedral Catholic. These rankings, and the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, aren't ready to say Eastlake is better than either of those teams. But the defending Division I section champs are a contender once again.

25. (NR) Chino Hills, 5-1
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 42 state, 252 national

The Huskies beat South Hills (West Covina) 41-26 on Saturday, with Daniel Martinez running for three scores, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Brysen Charbonier ran nine times for 114 yards as well. A showdown with Charter Oak (Covina) is next, scheduled for Friday.

Dropped out:
24. JSerra Catholic lost 29-13 to Orange Lutheran
25. Santa Margarita lost 56-12 to St. John Bosco