MaxPreps final Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

The high school football season is over, and the rankings have had some small changes due to the California State Championship Bowl Games. Check out where teams from the Central, Southern, Los Angeles City and San Diego sections finished.


1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 16-0 *State champ
Classifications: Southern (Pac-5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 1 national, 3 Xcellent 25

The Braves let America know that they are worthy of a national title, as they led De La Salle the entire way in the Open Division Bowl. Our Computer Rankings went with the Braves, while the Xcellent 25 went with Washington (Miami) and Allen (Texas) ahead of St. John Bosco. That 20-14 win over the Spartans gave many people reason to claim the Braves as national champions, and it's hard to argue against that. Josh Rosen found Jaleel Wadood for two touchdown passes and Reid Budrovich kicked two field goals. Bosco beat Mater Dei twice, Centennial, De La Salle and Alemany as well.

2. (4) Chaminade (West Hills), 14-2 *State champ
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 4 state, 18 national

The Eagles simply can't be denied this spot after throttling Enterprise (Redding) 41-9 in the Division II Bowl Game behind three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and a rushing score from Donovan Lee. Those four interceptions paved the way for a running clock in the fourth quarter. This team does have a pair of losses, which could lead some to question a No. 2 final ranking. But the Eagles avenged their regular-season losses to Hart and Serra in the section final and Regional Bowl, respectively, so they made up for those setbacks. This team also beat Oaks Christian, Valencia, Notre Dame and St. Francis.

3. (3) Serra (Gardena), 13-1, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 11 state, 56 national

The Cavaliers lost to Chaminade in the Western Division final for their only setback this year. They own wins over Oceanside, Desert Ridge, Notre Dame, Chaminade and St. Francis.

4. (2) Centennial (Corona), 12-3 *Section champ
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 27 national

The Huskies lost to St. John Bosco 70-49 in the Open Division Regional Bowl to end their season. Their losses were to Long Beach Poly, Alemany and Bosco, while they beat St. Bonaventure, Norco and Vista Murrieta.

5. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 11-3, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac-5), State I
Ranks: 3 state, 10 national

The Monarchs bowed out in the Pac-5 final to St. John Bosco. They lost to Bosco twice and Santa Margarita, while beating Servite, Orange Lutheran, Long Beach Poly, Mission Viejo and Edison.

6. (6) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 12-2, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 44 national

The Broncos lost to Centennial in the Inland Division final, their only other setback after dropping a tight one to Cathedral Catholic. They own a win over Norco.

7. (7) Long Beach Poly, 11-2, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac-5), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 54 national

The Jackrabbits lost to Mater Dei in the Pac-5 semifinals. They are the only team to beat Bakersfield this season, and also bested Centennial, Crenshaw, Orange Lutheran and St. Bonaventure. Their other loss was to Servite.

8. (11) Bakersfield, 13-2 *State champ
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 21 national

The Drillers are a slight victim of their section, as a Division I state title should perhaps equal a higher ranking. But you can't deny the schedules the teams above them played. Bakersfield was spectacular in a Division I State Bowl win over Del Oro (Loomis), taking a 56-26 win over the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champs. Asauni Rufus ran for 184 yards and two scores, and also passed for one in the win. The Drillers own wins over Del Oro, Mission Hills and Clovis North, while they lost to Oaks Christian and Long Beach Poly.

9. (8) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 12-2 *Section champ
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 75 national

The Grizzlies lost 35-28 to Bakersfield in the Division I Regional Bowl, on a final-minute scoring drive. They beat Oceanside twice and Helix, while losing to San Pasqual and Bakersfield.

10. (9) Alemany (Mission Hills), 10-3, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac-5), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 62 national

The Warriors lost to St. John Bosco in the semifinals. They beat Centennial, St. Bonaventure, Notre Dame and Servite, while losing to Norco, Loyola and St. John Bosco.

11. (10) Mission Viejo, 11-1, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 35 national

The Diablos lost to Mater Dei in the second round of the Pac-5 playoffs. They beat Don Bosco Prep and Santiago.

12. (12) Hart (Newhall), 12-3 *Section champ
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State II
Ranks: 17 state, 99 national

The Indians lost 28-10 to Chaminade in the Division II Regional Bowl to end their season. They also lost to Valencia and Canyon, but avenged the Valencia loss in the Northern Division final. They also beat Santiago and Palos Verdes.

13. (13) Oceanside, 10-3, Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 111 national

The Pirates lost to Mission Hills in the Open Division final, their second setback to that squad in addition to a loss to Serra. They beat St. Augustine and Eastlake.

14. (14) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 11-2 *Section champ
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 94 national

The Dons won their section title but did not get selected for a Bowl Game. They beat Vista Murrieta and Ramona, while they lost to Helix and St. Augustine.

15. (15) San Pasqual (Escondido), 11-2, Season over
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 34 state, 277 national

The Golden Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Cathedral Catholic in the section title game, and also had a two-point loss to Rancho Buena Vista during the regular season. But they beat Mission Hills, Carlsbad and La Costa Canyon.

16. (16) St. Augustine (San Diego), 11-2 *Section champ
Classifications: San Diego (II), State II
Ranks: 21 state, 128 national

The Saints won their section title but were not selected to play in a Bowl Game. They lost to Oceanside and Eastlake, but beat Cathedral Catholic and Mission Bay.

17. (NR) Corona del Mar (Newport Beach), 16-0 *State champ
Classifications: Southern (Southern), State III
Ranks: 51 state, 432 national

Throw out the Computer Rankings on this one, as a small school has a big resume. CDM was awesome all year long and capped it off by beating Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton) in the Division III State Bowl, 27-15, behind Cole Martin. Martin ran 28 times for 152 yards and a touchdown, and Barrett Barbato ran an interception back for a touchdown as well. They beat Pac-5 team El Toro this season, and knocked off an undefeated Garden Grove team for the section title before eliminating Nordhoff in the Regional Bowl. They now own California's longest winning streak at 26.

18. (17) Valencia, 11-3, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State I
Ranks: 31 state, 250 national

The Vikings lost in the Northern Division final to Hart, dropping a rematch with a team they beat in league play. The Vikings finished their season with losses to Hart, Chaminade and Loyola, while beating Hart and Santa Monica.

19. (18) Norco, 9-4, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 22 state, 164 national

The Cougars lost to Vista Murrieta in the semifinals. They own wins over Alemany, La Serna and Rancho Cucamonga while losing to Centennial, Vista Murrieta, Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos.

20. (19) Rancho Cucamonga, 10-2, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 26 state, 227 national

The Cougars lost to Norco in the playoffs. They own wins over Norco, Bishop Amat and Glendora, while losing to Norco and Upland.

21. (20) Servite (Anaheim), 6-6, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 106 national

The Friars lost to Alemany in the second round of the playoffs. They own wins over Long Beach Poly, Edison, Orange Lutheran and Westlake, while their losses are impressive: Bishop Gorman, De La Salle, Mater Dei, JSerra Catholic, St. John Bosco and Alemany.

22. (21) Westlake (Westlake Village), 8-3, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 43 state, 365 national

The Warriors lost in the first round to Servite. They beat Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure, while losing to Canyon, Servite and La Serna.

23. (22) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 8-3, Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 63 national

The Lions lost in their playoff opener to Mater Dei. They own wins over Bakersfield, Upland, Venice and Crenshaw, while losing to Mater Dei, Westlake and Chaminade.

24. (23) Eastlake (Chula Vista), 10-2, Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 35 state, 294 national 

The Titans lost to Oceanside in the section semifinal and lost their season opener to Arizona finalist Hamilton. In between, they won 10 in a row including wins over Madison and St. Augustine.

25. (24) Helix (La Mesa), 9-3, Season over
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 25 state, 193 national

The Highlanders lost in the playoffs to Mission Hills, and lost 10-6 to both Punahou (Honolulu) and Ramona. They beat Cathedral Catholic and La Costa Canyon.