Video: Plays of the Week (Sept. 18-25) #MPTopPlayWhile only one team exited this week's rankings, it has two major ramifications. The first is that Clovis, which exited after barely winning its game, is the Central Section's best but does not appear to be good enough on a regional level to crack the rankings.
Second, the final spot in the rankings opened up and it's between a handful of schools that all have solid claims to be there. We gave Chaminade the spot but barely. Camarillo and St. Bonaventure could also move right in.
Lots of teams have bye weeks this week, so the action will be sparse before league play heats up all around.
Southern California Top 25 Football Rankings
Alemany continues to blow out opponents this season.
Photo by Skip Clark
Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 3 national, 2 Xcellent 25
The Huskies took the week off but moved up in the Xcellent 25. They host Valencia on Friday.
2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 5-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 12 national, 5 Xcellent 25
The
Braves also moved up in the Xcellent 25, thanks to their 56-14 blowout of St. Peter's Prep (N.J.).
Sean McGrew ran 19 times for 179 yards and
Quentin Davis tossed three scores. They are taking this week off before heading to Santa Margarita for a Trinity League opener.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 5-0Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 3 state, 14 national, 22 Xcellent 25
The Monarchs broke open a somewhat tight game and won 42-26 over Edison (Huntington Beach).
Brandon LaMarche carried the ball 19 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns and
Amon-ra St.Brown had a touchdown as part of an 88-yard receiving day. They will take the week off before heading to Orange Lutheran on Friday.
4. (4) Long Beach Poly, 3-1 (1-0 Moore)Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 5 state, 27 national
The Jackrabbits led just 20-14 at halftime against Woodrow Wilson, then stormed to a 67-30 league win.
Jack Jones caught seven passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. They host Cabrillo (Long Beach) on Friday.
5. (5) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 4-1 (1-0 Mission)Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 6 state, 34 national
The Lancers opened league play with a 56-7 blasting of Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), getting 235 rushing yards on 17 carries and three touchdowns from
Torreahno Sweet. They will host Crespi on Friday.
6. (6) Mission Viejo, 6-0Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 7 state, 37 national
The Diablos got yet another victory over a good team, taking down Redondo Union 35-16. Once again, the defense played a very good game. They finally get a week off before hosting Dana Hills (Dana Point) in their South Coast League opener.
7. (8) Serra (Gardena), 4-1 (1-0 Mission)Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 8 state, 54 national
The Cavaliers started fast against Loyola and didn't look back in a 35-17 victory to open Mission League play. Do-everything quarterback
Khalil Tate ran 26 times for 175 yards and a pair of scores. They go to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) on Friday.
8. (9) Alemany (Mission Hills), 5-0 (1-0 Mission)Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 10 state, 90 national
The Warriors' climb continued with an 18-0 shutout of Crespi in the Mission League opener for both teams. That moved Alemany's combined score this season to 220-32. They will head to Chaminade on Friday.
9. (14) Orange Lutheran, 3-2Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 25
state, 191 national
The Lancers are a great story to follow this season. They beat Vista Murrieta 29-14 last week, showing once again that the defense should be regarded as one of the region's best. And they played Centennial very competitively in one of their losses, while the other was at De La Salle (Concord). They're not afraid of anybody. OLU will take this week off before hosting Mater Dei.
10. (10) Narbonne (Harbor City), 2-2Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 23 state, 181 national
The Gauchos had no trouble with Paramount, registering a 54-6 victory.
Cedric Byrd caught six balls for 110 yards and
Kameron Denmark scored three touchdowns on the ground. They head to Los Alamitos for a Thursday game.
11. (7) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 3-1Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 35 state, 307 national
The Broncos were held in check by Orange Lutheran in a 29-14 loss. The defense yielded 380 rushing yards, definitely the key to the game. They will head to San Diego to take on a very good St. Augustine team on Friday.
12. (11) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 5-0Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 13 state, 108 national
The Lions continued to blow teams out, with a 42-7 win over St. Paul. The strength of schedule is quite lacking, but wins are wins at this point. After a week off they will go to Servite.
13. (12) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 5-0Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 24 state, 185 national
The Lions won easily over Birmingham (Lake Balboa), 55-7.
Matt Corral threw four touchdown passes and
Michael Pittman caught three of them as part of an eight-catch, 221-yard day. Friday features another Los Angeles City Section opponent, University (Los Angeles), at home.
14. (13) Norco, 3-1Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 26 state, 201 national
The Cougars had to come back for their 31-28 victory over Citrus Hill (Perris), with sophomore
Travis Dye rushing for 124 yards and a score. They host Serrano (Phelan) on Friday.
15. (15) Westlake (Westlake Village), 4-1Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 40
state, 334 national
The Warriors went to Dominguez (Compton) and won the game 35-7 behind seven catches, 133 yards and a touchdown from
Theo Howard. They have a bye this week and then will held to Paraclete (Lancaster).
16. (16) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 4-1Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 21 state, 173 national
The Eagles won easily over King (Riverside), 56-7.
Dylan Crawford hauled in eight passes for 106 yards in the victory. Santa Margarita will take this week off before hosting St. John Bosco.
17. (17) Rancho Cucamonga, 4-1Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 38 state, 325 national
The
Cougars ran to a 59-21 victory over La Serna (Whittier), in which they moved to 4-1 on the season. After a bye week this week they will start Baseline League play at Damien (La Verne).
18. (18) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 5-0Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 43 state, 424 national
Escondido was no match for the Grizzlies, as Mission Hills won 42-3. That's just 17 points allowed in their last four games and 43 for the season. They will have a bye this week before Oceanside comes to town for a big game on Oct. 9.
19. (19) Helix (La Mesa), 2-1Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 9 state, 64 national
The
Highlanders had the week off. They go to Bonita Vista (Chula Vista) on Friday.
20. (21) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 4-1Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 19 state, 167 national
The Titans won 45-31 over Corona del Mar, breaking it open in the fourth quarter. In a tie game with 4:22 left,
Devon Modster scored a 3-yard touchdown and then
Cameron King iced it a little more than a minute later with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. Not bad for a team missing both its starting cornerbacks. Tesoro will host San Clemente on Friday.
21. (25) San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano), 5-0Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 17 state, 142 national
The
Stallions continue a rocket-propelled pace up the computer rankings. They romped to a 54-26 victory over Los Alamitos behind 126 yards and three rushing scores from
Cole Suchesk - on just seven carries. They move ahead of La Habra due to the fact that La Habra needed a hail mary to beat the same team. San Juan Hills faces Beckman (Irvine) on Thursday.
22. (22) La Habra, 4-1Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 14 state, 111 national
The Highlanders blasted Colony (Ontario), 49-6, and the defense held Colony to 200 yards. Next up is a bye before a road game at Sonora (La Habra) on Oct. 9.
23. (20) Loyola (Los Angeles), 4-1 (0-1 Mission)Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 18 state, 157 national
The Cubs lost 35-17 to Serra and will have to fight back in the Mission League standings. They host Chaminade on Friday.
24. (24) Redlands East Valley, 3-1 (1-0 Citrus Belt)Classification: Southern Section, Citrus Belt League, Inland Division
Rankings: 22 state, 179 national
The
Wildcats kicked off their league schedule with a 50-0 pasting of Carter (Rialto).
Joey Harman ran for an impressive four touchdowns. Next up is the Smudge Pot game against Redlands, on Friday.
25. (NR) Chaminade (West Hills), 3-1Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 22 state, 179 national
The Eagles sneak in thanks to their win over St. Bonaventure, which defeated Redlands East Valley. Chaminade lost to REV. But this spot could also go to schools like Camarillo, Calabasas and St. Bonaventure, so we'll see what Chaminade does this Friday against Alemany.
Dropped out: 23. Clovis
