MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: (3) Corona Centennial vs. Serra - High School Football Preview
MaxPreps hypes up the huge matchup between Centennial and Serra set for this weekend.

Welcome to the first edition of the MaxPreps Southern California High School Football Rankings. All four sections that are part of the SoCal region are represented in the rankings thus far.

But some teams haven't played yet, and some pushed off marquee matchups until the second week. Pay special attention to Centennial vs. Serra at the Honor Bowl, Narbonne vs. Long Beach Poly on Thursday and Norco vs. Rancho Cucamonga.


1. Centennial (Corona), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 8 national, 3 Xcellent 25

The Huskies whacked East (Salt Lake City) 49-13 in their season opener. They'll head to Oceanside for the Honor Bowl and face Serra on Saturday.

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 5 state, 42 national, 10 Xcellent 25

The Braves gave up the first eight points of the night to La Mirada, then scored 76 unanswered points in a blowout. They face Norwalk on Friday.

3. Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 12 national

The Monarchs had an impressive season-opener by knocking off then-Xcellent 25 team Bishop Amat by a 24-21 score. Their tough schedule continues Friday at home against Tesoro.

4. Narbonne (Harbor City), 0-0
Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 6 state, 56 national

The Gauchos are loaded, and fans will finally get a chance to see their talent in action when they host Long Beach Poly on Thursday in a season opener.

5. Bishop Amat (La Puente), 0-1
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 3 state, 13 national

Amat's 24-21 loss to Mater Dei can't be regarded as a reason for panic. It was a close loss against a great team. Next up is a Friday home game against another Trinity League team, Servite.

6. Long Beach Poly, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 7 state, 62 national

The Jackrabbits took last week off, still glowing after a 13-12 win over Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) the week before. Poly heads to Narbonne on Thursday.

7. Serra (Gardena), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 10 state, 91 national

The good news for the Cavaliers was that they won 41-15 over Lakewood. The bad news is that Khalil Tate was ejected and the quarterback will not be available for Saturday's Honor Bowl game against Centennial.

8. Mission Viejo, 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 11 state, 99 national

The Diablos won in Hawaii to start their season (63-7 over Baldwin of Kahuku) and then went to Bakersfield last week and felled one of the Central Section's best in Liberty, winning 27-14 (it was 20-0 at halftime). Their home opener is Friday against Oak Hills.

9. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 0-0
Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 13 state, 117 national

The Broncos open their season Friday against Ballard (Seattle).

10. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 8 state, 69 national

The Eagles won big in the Brothers In Arms Classic, taking out Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 40-14. They go to Santiago (Corona) on Friday.

11. Alemany (Mission Hills), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 22 state, 261 national

Garfield (Los Angeles) was no match for the Warriors, who won 61-7. They will face a solid Colony (Ontario) team Friday in the Honor Bowl.

12. Redlands East Valley, 0-0
Classification: Southern Section, Citrus Belt League, Inland Division
Rankings: 14 state, 140 national

The returning Division II state champions will head to Chaminade on Friday to open their season, and there's lots to be excited about.

13. Norco, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 18 state, 182 national

The Cougars smashed Etiwanda by a 66-13 count to open the season. They'll get a great test from Rancho Cucamonga in a Friday home game. After that, they have a bye before a big game against Mission Viejo.

14. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 25 state, 293 national

The Lions had a tough battle with Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) and emerged with a comeback 41-34 victory. They'll face Cathedral Catholic Saturday at the Honor Bowl in Oceanside.

15. Westlake (Westlake Village), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 36 state, 366 national

The Warriors won 31-17 at Oxnard to kick things off. Now they will host Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.) on Friday.

16. Crespi (Encino), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 15 state, 163 national

The Celts pulled away from Sylmar in a 43-20 victory last Friday. They will battle Orange Lutheran on Friday in their home opener.

17. Rancho Cucamonga, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 15 state, 163 national

The Cougars started their season with a 45-10 triumph over Trabuco Hills. Things will be much tougher this Friday, as the team will go on the road to face Norco.

18. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 23 state, 267 national

Tesoro registered a 35-16 victory over Edison (Huntington Beach) and will face a brutal matchup Friday at Mater Dei.

19. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 16 state, 171 national

The Lions breezed by Cabrillo (Long Beach) with a 48-13 win. Their next task will be against Chino Hills, Friday on the road.

20. Mission Hills (San Marcos), 1-0
Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 40 state, 404 national

The Grizzlies took over the top spot in the U-T San Diego football poll after winning 38-26 over a pesky Crenshaw squad. They'll look to retain that top spot when they go to Torrey Pines on Friday.

21. Loyola (Los Angeles), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 17 state, 181 national

The Cubs started fast against Harvard-Westlake with 21 first-quarter points and cruised to a 34-0 victory to start their season. They will host Highland (Palmdale) on Friday.

22. Helix (La Mesa), 0-1
Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 20 state, 189 national

The Highlanders came into the season touted as the top team in the San Diego Section and also one of the state's better squads. While they did lose to a very good Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) team by a 23-19 count, they are still a group likely to climb in the rankings this season. They will take this week off before facing Eastlake (Chula Vista).

23. Los Alamitos, 0-0
Classification: Southern Section, Sunset League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 78 state, 930 national

The Griffins have the respect of local media, while the computer rankings say the opposite. We'll find out soon how good Los Alamitos is, as the nonleague schedule gets progressively tougher and is capped off with a game versus Narbonne. Los Alamitos hosts Paramount on Thursday in the season opener.

24. La Habra, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 26 state, 304 national

The Highlanders went down to El Toro and delivered a 41-7 shellacking after yielding the first touchdown of the game, and that turned some heads. After they face South Hills on Friday, they have back-to-back battles with ranked teams.

25. Clovis, 1-0
Classification: Central Section, Tri-River Athletic Conference, Division I
Rankings: 35 state, 361 national

So the Central Section is part NorCal and part SoCal, but we will keep them in the rankings this season. Clovis is the top team in the section and proved it in a 27-24 victory over Paso Robles, a team that was in the rankings after winning a section title last season. Clovis will face a stiff challenge from Lemoore on Friday.