MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

There is not much shuffling among the premier programs in the MaxPreps Southern California prep football rankings this week, although St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) makes a move into the Top 5. In fact, the Braves might be the hottest team around. They've emerged as the scariest team in the Trinity League.

Also worth noting is: Tustin enters the Top 20 for the first time this season and Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) also makes an appearance after being on the outside looking in for the last couple of weeks. Finally, Redlands (Calif.) is new to the poll and the Terriers hope to stay for a while.

Seven Southern California teams fill the Top 10 spots in the Farwest region in the Regional Computer Rankings Top 10 and two are featured in the most recent MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

1. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 1
Upon further review: Defeated Murrieta Valley (Murrieta), 45-17 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta) on Friday.
Extra point: No. 12 in the Xcellent 25 rankings, the Broncos have shown little, or no, signs of slowing down this season. It's full speed ahead as the playoffs loom.

2. Narbonne (Harbor City)
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 2
Upon further review: Defeated San Pedro, 28-7 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Washington (Los Angeles) on Friday.
Extra point: Behind senior quarterback and Washington commit Troy Williams, the Gauchos climbed up to No. 13 in the Xcellent 25 poll.

3. Mission Viejo
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 3
Upon further review: Defeated Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 55-32.
Countdown to kickoff: Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo) on Friday.
Extra point: With senior defensive back and USC commit Max Redfield at the helm, the Diablos moved to No. 13 in the Freeman Rankings.



4. St. Bonaventure (Ventura)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 4
Upon further review: Defeated Newbury Park, 35-7.
Countdown to kickoff: Royal (Simi Valley) on Friday.
Extra point: A legitimate argument could be made that the Seraphs should be ranked a spot or two higher given the way they've played in recent weeks.

5. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Overall record: 4-4 (Four forfeits)
Previous rank: 10
Upon further review: Defeated Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 27-19 / Story, Photos, Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Servite (Anaheim) on Friday.
Extra point: No. 20 in the Freeman Rankings, the Braves are undefeated on the field despite what the record reads. No one can tell them different.

6. Alemany (Mission Hills)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 6
Upon further review: Did not play.
Countdown to kickoff: Crespi (Encino) on Friday.
Extra point: Senior receiver and USC commit Steven Mitchell is playing on another level. The Warriors, as a result, are as tough as they come.

7. Centennial (Corona)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 7
Upon further review: Defeated King (Riverside), 49-17 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Roosevelt (Eastvale) on Friday.
Extra point: The Huskies have not had much, if any, trouble in Big VII League play and a pair of victories is the only thing separating them from a title.

8. Upland
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 8
Upon further review: Defeated Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), 47-7 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Alta Loma on Friday.
Extra point: Senior defensive lineman Joe Mathis is one of the nation's top unsigned recruits around and scouts will be in attendance at this week's game.

9. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 9
Upon further review: Defeated Calabasas, 47-21 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Moorpark on Friday.
Extra point: Senior receiver and Stanford commit Francis Owusu is capable of stretching the field vertically or making the tough catch over the middle.

10. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Overall record: 6-2
Previous rank: 5
Upon further review: Lost to St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 27-19.
Countdown to kickoff: Orange Lutheran on Friday.
Extra point: There are no easy games in the Trinity League. The Monarchs are well aware of that fact and dropped to No. 24 in the Freeman Rankings.



11. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 11
Upon further review: Defeated Orange Lutheran, 17-14.
Countdown to kickoff: JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) on Friday.
Extra point: If the Eagles hope to remain in contention in the Trinity League race, senior running back Ryan Wolpin must guide them to the top.

12. El Toro (Lake Forest)
Overall record: 9-0
Previous rank: 12
Upon further review: Defeated Trabuco Hills (Mission Hills), 35-17 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Mission Viejo on Nov. 2.
Extra point: Senior quarterback and Utah commit Conner Manning is getting the job done for the Chargers, who are No. 22 in the Freeman Rankings.

13. Chaminade (West Hills)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 13
Upon further review: Defeated Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywod), 78-34 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: St. Francis (La Canada) on Friday.
Extra point: Senior running back Terrell Newby rushed for more than 300 yards on the ground and found the end zone on eight occasions last week.

14. Edison (Huntington Beach)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 14
Upon further review: Defeated Marina (Huntington Beach) 78-0 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: Fountain Valley on Friday.
Extra point: A Sunset League championship is within reach and all of the signs point to the Chargers adding some new hardware to the trophy case at school.

15. Bishop Amat (La Puente)
Overall record: 6-1-1
Previous rank: 18
Upon further review: Defeated Crespi (Encino) 24-21.
Countdown to kickoff: Loyola (Los Angeles) on Friday.
Extra point: The Lancers delivered in a must-win situation last week and have an outside shot at winning the Serra League title with two more victories.

16. Lompoc
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 16
Upon further review: Defeated Santa Ynez, 56-7 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Nipomo on Friday.
Extra point: It has been smooth sailing for the Braves thus far. Tough tests loom in the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs, however.



17. Crenshaw (Los Angeles)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 19
Upon further review: Defeated Dorsey (Los Angeles), 34-14.
Countdown to kickoff: West Adams (Los Angeles) on Friday.
Extra point: It's a two-horse race in the CIF Los Angeles City Section and the Cougars are to destined to meet Narbonne (Harbor City) to decide things, possibly with a regional bowl bid on the line.

18. Serra (Gardena)
Overall record: 6-2
Previous rank: 20
Upon further review: Defeated St. Francis (La Canada), 42-6 / Box score
Countdown to kickoff: St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs) on Friday.
Extra point: The Cavaliers lost Anterio Bateman to an injury last week and finding a replacement for the senior running back will not be an easy task.

19. Rancho Cucamonga
Overall record: 6-2
Previous rank: 21
Upon further review: Defeated Glendora, 45-13 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Los Osos on Friday.
Extra point: The one constant for the Cougars this season has been the steady play of senior defensive backs Tahaan Goodman and Chris Hawkins.

20. Tustin
Overall record: 8-0
Previous rank: 22
Upon further review: Did not play.
Countdown to kickoff: Western (Anaheim) on Friday.
Extra point: An Empire League championship appears to be a foregone conclusion for the Tillers at this stage of the game. It's all or nothing, in fact.

21. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita)
Overall record: 6-2
Previous rank: 15
Upon further review: Lost to Mission Viejo, 55-32 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: San Clemente on Friday.
Extra point: We had a funny feeling the Titans might struggle once they played competitive programs. Sure enough, someone was right on the money.

22. Crespi (Encino)
Overall record: 7-2
Previous rank: 17
Upon further review: Lost to Bishop Amat (La Puente), 24-21
Countdown to kickoff: Alemany (Mission Hills) on Friday.
Extra point: Things certainly don't get any easier this week for the Celts, who are on the verge of losing a third-consecutive game in Serra League play.



23. Hart (Newhall)
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: 24
Upon further review: Defeated Saugus, 35-0 / Qwixcore, Photos
Countdown to kickoff: Valencia on Friday.
Extra point: The Foothill League title will essentially be up for grabs this week and the Indians would like nothing more than to beat to their rival to clinch things.

24. Redlands
Overall record: 7-1
Previous rank: NR
Upon further review: Defeated Redlands East Valley, 41-37 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Yucaipa on Friday.
Extra point: Behind senior running back and UCLA commit Craig Lee, the Terriers have not lost since their game with Rancho Cucamonga during the first week.

25. Orange Lutheran
Overall record: 6-2
Previous rank: 24
Upon further review: Lost to Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 17-14 / Qwixcore
Countdown to kickoff: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Friday.
Extra point: The Lancers nearly pulled off an upset last week. They can atone for the unfavorable result with a shocker this week though.

Sean Ceglinsky has covered prep and college sports in Southern California for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on twitter: @SeanCeglinsky