MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 High School Football Rankings

Section titles are on the line this weekend. And we all know what that means: Bowl berths will be handed out.

It's one of the most exciting weekends in California high school football - unless your favorite team wins a section title but gets left out.

We're down to only a few ranked teams still in action, but there are still massive amounts of change possible.

Click here to see the MaxPreps national playoff page, and find your favorite California bracket.

Be sure to follow @lelandmaxpreps and @lamaxpreps for information specific to Southern California. Also, the California Computer Rankings can be accessed by clicking here.

And for Bowl Game predictions, click here to see Kevin Askeland's choices for each game.


1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 12-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 4 national, 5 Xcellent 25

The Braves got a good test from Long Beach Poly but moved on to the Pac 5 title game thanks to a 33-21 victory. Down by a point entering the fourth quarter, the Braves iced the victory with a Sean McGrew touchdown run. Mykal Tolliver returned an interception for a score and Josh Rosen tossed for two scores. They face Corona Centennial Saturday at 8 in Angel Stadium.

2. (2) Centennial (Corona), 11-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 2 state, 8 national, 22 Xcellent 25

The Huskies barely survived Bishop Amat, but they moved into the Xcellent 25 and into the Pac 5 title game Saturday. A late fumble by the Huskies turned into an Amat touchdown and the Lancers chose to go for a 2-point conversion. Centennial stuffed it and won 38-37. Javon Mckinley was a beast with 11 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

3. (4) Oceanside, 12-0
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 61 national

The Pirates are one win away from a perfect mark that should equal a Division I Bowl Game bid. They eliminated Mission Hills 38-31 behind three third-quarter touchdowns. Matthew Romero aired it out, going 26-for-31 with 319 yards. Josh Bernard scored twice on the ground, running 20 times for 129 yards. They will face Helix Saturday night for the section title.

4. (3) Long Beach Poly, 11-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 28 national

The Jackrabbits lost 33-21 to St. John Bosco and saw their season end. Josh Love threw for two touchdowns, one of them for 59 yards to Johnnie Rucker. Jackie Jones caught six balls for 80 yards and a score.

5. (5) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 9-4 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 25 national

The Lancers decided to go for a 2-point conversion against Centennial instead of kicking the extra point and heading to overtime. It failed, and their season ended.

6. (6) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 10-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 53 national

The Lions lost to Bishop Amat in the second round.

7. (7) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 22 national

The Monarchs lost to Centennial in the second round.

8. (9) Serra (Gardena), 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 90 national

The Cavaliers lost to Centennial in the opening round.

9. (10) Crespi (Encino), 9-2 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 27 national

The Celts lost to Long Beach Poly in the second round.

10. (15) El Capitan (Lakeside), 12-0
Classifications: San Diego (II), State III
Ranks: 13 state, 115 national

The Vaqueros stayed perfect with a 34-7 drubbing of Brawley. The level of competition may not be high compared with that of the other teams in the rankings, but it's hard to deny 12-0 and a win over Helix. Brad Cagle tossed four touchdowns as part of a 301-yard day and Dj Smith scored a rushing touchdown. They face Rancho Bernardo Saturday for the title.

11. (18) Helix (La Mesa), 10-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 132 national

The Highlanders avenged a regular-season loss to Cathedral Catholic with a 27-5 whooping, and advance to the SDS Open Division final against Oceanside. In their two games against the Dons they yielded a total of 12 points.

12. (12) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 6-5 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 23 state, 218 national

The Eagles lost in the opening round.

13. (13) Servite (Anaheim), 4-7 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 26 state, 259 national

The Friars lost in the opening round

14. (8) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 10-2 *Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 182 national

The Dons lost 27-5 to Helix and saw their season end against a team they had felled 9-7 earlier this year.

15. (19) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 11-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 101 national

The Broncos eliminated Upland with a 24-14 win. Jalen Russell sealed the win with an interception return for a score in the fourth quarter. The running game did almost all the work, toting 30 carries for 213 yards. Next up is Mission Viejo and a chance at the program's first bowl bid.

16. (17) Mission Viejo, 11-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 123 national

The Diablos earned another win to stay alive in their quest for a title. The 41-36 triumph featured a solid Diablos defense that yielded just 2.5 yards per rush and they came back from an early 14-0 deficit. Rome Innocenzi is tearing it up lately from his running back spot. They face Vista Murrieta on Saturday.

17. (11) Upland, 10-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 185 national

The Highlanders saw their season end when they fell 24-14 to Vista Murrieta. Josh Woods ran 10 times for 80 yards and Malik Yoakum caught a touchdown pass.

18. (14) Westlake (Westlake Village), 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 191 national

The Warriors lost to Mater Dei in the opening round.

19. (16) Alemany (Mission Hills), 7-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 128 national

The Warriors didn't make the playoffs.

20. (20) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 25 state, 258 national

The Titans lost to Vista Murrieta in the second round.

21. (22) San Clemente, 12-1
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 27 state, 268 national

The Tritons started slow - really slow - against Capistrano Valley, but won 28-27 in overtime to advance. A missed extra point from CV helped them and freshman Chase Berman booted through the winning extra point in overtime. Vlad Dzhabiyev ran for 59 yards. They will face Trabuco Hills for the Southwest Division title.

22. (21) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 9-3 *Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 32 state, 362 national

The Grizzlies lost 38-31 to Oceanside, with their seven-point halftime lead evaporating in the third quarter.

23. (23) Great Oak (Temecula), 10-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 31 state, 313 national

The Wolfpack saw their season end with a 41-36 loss to Mission Viejo. Laquan Williams passed for 392 yards and Brandon Presley caught 12 passes for 217 yards and two scores.

24. (24) Chino Hills, 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 41 state, 443 national

The Huskies lost in the first round.

25. (25) Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks), 6-4 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 28 state, 298 national

The Knights did not make the playoffs.