MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 High School Football Rankings

The Central Section is out.

With Bakersfield losing to Liberty, we just can't determine the best team in that area. Is it Liberty? Is it Bakersfield? Maybe it's Edison (Fresno), which beat Bakersfield but lost to Sanger?

Their loss is the San Diego Section's gain. Mission Hills, a regional finalist last season, is back into the rankings now.

Considering how great the teams from the Southern and San Diego sections, there might not be room in the Top 25 for teams from the Central and Los Angeles City sections at all this season. The stacked playoff brackets prove it.

We're now in the postseason all around, and a pair of ranked teams are still in the Top 25 but no longer playing. We'll have a hard time figuring out what to do with Alemany and Notre Dame - but for now they stick around.

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.


1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 2 national, 6 Xcellent 25

The Braves finished their season with a 58-34 win over Santa Margarita that featured 16 runs for 213 yards and four touchdowns from Sean McGrew. Santa Margarita led 28-24 entering the fourth quarter, the Bosco slammed the door. They open the playoffs against Cabrillo (Long Beach).

2. (2) Centennial (Corona), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 8 state, 33 national

The Huskies earned the Big VIII title by whacking Norco, 48-7. JJ Taylor earned 186 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Now they have an intriguing playoff matchup at home against Serra (Gardena) to open their first foray into the Pac 5.

3. (3) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 8 national, 24 Xcellent 25

The Lions finished off what is by far the best regular season in program history with a 38-21 victory over Servite. Ethan Aguayo ran a kickoff back 99 yards for a score and Austin Faoliu ran for a trio of scores. They will begin the playoffs hosting Santiago (Corona).

4. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 11 national

The Monarchs dispatched Orange Lutheran, 49-13, to secure their spot in the playoffs. The team ran for 195 yards and all six touchdowns came via the rush. They head back to Westlake to open the playoffs, a spot where they won with a partially blocked field goal attempt earlier this season.

5. (5) Long Beach Poly, 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 17 state, 88 national

The Jackrabbits had no trouble with Woodrow Wilson, winning 46-0, and now their easy Moore League schedule is over. Time to show just how good they are. Jackie Jones caught five passes for 103 yards and a score for Poly, which hosts Servite in a fun first-round playoff macthup.

6. (6) Oceanside, 10-0
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 68 national

The Pirates downed crosstown rival El Camino, 26-7, finishing off a perfect regular season. They are the No. 1 seed in the Open Division in the San Diego Section and will open with a battle against Carlsbad, a team they beat by 14 points in league play, after a week off.

7. (7) Crespi (Encino), 8-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 12 national

The Celts won 34-21 over Alemany and that grabbed them the top seed from the Mission League. Coach Troy Thomas has his team in the playoffs and expectations are justifiably high. They are the only team in the rankings to not play 10 regular season games. On Friday, Santa Margarita comes to town for a playoff battle.

8. (8) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 7-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 17 national

The Lancers earned the No. 2 seed from the Mission League thanks to their 38-24 victory over Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks). Ryder Ruiz went 33-for-47 with 415 yards and two touchdowns, and Brandon Arconado caught eight of those passes for 153 yards and a score. They get a favorable matchup and host Lakewood on Friday.

9. (9) Serra (Gardena), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 64 national

The Cavaliers got past Loyola pretty easily, 56-31. Three different rushers surpassed the 100-yard mark: Khalil Tate, Darrion Naylor and Job Mcginty. Friday's playoff contest at Centennial (Corona) will be a wonderful contest between two storied programs.

10. (12) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 9-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 67 national

The Dons had the week off, and the No. 2 seed in the Open Division will take another week off before a rematch with Torrey Pines, a team it beat 8-7 earlier this season.

11. (10) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 6-4
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 44 national

The Eagles got a vote of confidence from the selection committee, earning an at-large spot in the Pac 5 playoffs. They had dropped their regular season finale to St. John Bosco, 58-34, despite holding a lead entering the final quarter. KJ Costello threw four touchdown passes and Kyle Sweet caught two of them. They head to Crespi to open the playoffs.

12. (15) Upland, 8-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 96 national

The Highlanders move up thanks to a six-game winning streak. They finished the season with a 45-20 win over Etiwanda, getting six catches, 150 yards and a touchdown from Malik Yoakum in the win. That earned them the top seed from the Baseline League and they will open the playoffs at home against San Juan Hills.

13. (14) Servite (Anaheim), 4-6
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 81 national

The Friars lost at JSerra Catholic, 38-21, and finished with a losing record, dropping their final four contests of the season. But they did earn an at-large bid to the Pac 5 playoffs. Travis Waller ran eight times for 53 yards and poked in two rushing touchdowns. What is almost certainly the best 4-6 team in America will go to Long Beach Poly to start the playoffs.

14. (16) Westlake (Westlake Village), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 87 national

The Warriors prevented Oaks Christian from reaching the playoffs by winning 35-7. The running game did the work, racking up 247 yards and three scores, two of which came from quarterback Malik Henry. Now comes a huge opportunity for revenge in the playoff opener, as Mater Dei comes back to town after they edged Westlake earlier this season on a partially blocked field goal in the final seconds.

15. (18) Chino Hills, 8-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 21 state, 126 national

The Huskies finished their regular season by beating Los Osos, 38-7. Jake Herber caught four passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, while the defense stole an interception and two fumbles. Now comes a playoff opener at home against Great Oak (Temecula).

16. (19) El Capitan (Lakeside), 10-0
Classifications: San Diego (II), State III
Ranks: 15 state, 86 national

The Vaqueros earned a signature victory in the season-ender, beating Helix 24-17 to finish off an undefeated regular season. Brad Cagle earned touchdowns with two of his 10 completions, and DJ Smith rushed for a score as well. As the top seed in the SDS Division II bracket, the Vaqueros get a bye this week in the first round and will face either Mt. Carmel or Del Norte next week.

17. (13) Alemany (Mission Hills), 7-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 76 national

The Warriors finished with a bit of a down note, losing three of five in league play. They fell 34-21 to Crespi to finish things off and their season is over. It's a tough break for a team that went 7-3, and it will be tough to decide where to rank the Warriors the rest of the way, as they had a quality season but ran into trouble in a tough league.

18. (20) La Mirada, 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Southeast), State II
Ranks: 49 state, 522 national

The Matadores won the Suburban League title with a 35-21 win over Norwalk, a team that finished undefeated last season. Christian Lara was extremely efficient, going 9-for-11 with 262 yards and five touchdowns. The rushing game added 107 yards. They start the playoffs at home against Salesian (Los Angeles).

19. (21) Mission Viejo, 8-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 25 state, 190 national

The Diablos did not play last week, and enter the playoffs on an eight-game win streak. They host Temecula Valley Friday.

20. (22) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State II
Ranks: 23 state, 161 national

The Titans won 45-14 over San Juan Hills to finish the regular season 8-2. They will host Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) in the playoff opener on Friday.

21. (17) Helix (La Mesa), 8-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 107 national

The Highlanders lost to El Capitan in the big-time SDS battle last week, 24-17. Nathan Stinson ran 24 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Now they are ready for the playoffs, and the No. 3 seed opens against Ramona, a team Helix beat 42-0 earlier this season.

22. (24) St. Francis (La Canada), 10-0
Classifications: Southern (Southeast), State II
Ranks: 33 state, 317 national

The Golden Knights whacked Salesian, 46-15, to cap off an undefeated regular season. Quarterback Jeremiah Martin rushed for 20 yards and two touchdowns in addition to three passing scores. They open the playoffs at home against Mayfair (Lakewood).

23. (25) Corona del Mar (Newport Beach), 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 47 state, 476 national

The Sea Kings won 14-0 over Northwood, with quarterback Chase Garbers scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns. As a team, CDM rushed for 206 years. The Sea Kings begin the playoffs Friday against Tustin.

24. (NR) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 8-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 34 state, 324 national

The Grizzlies are back in the rankings, and will be the No. 4 seed in the SDS Open Division playoffs. They have this week off and then will host Eastlake.

25. (23) Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks), 6-4
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 24 state, 178 national

The Knights are done this season after losing 38-24 to Bishop Amat.  They lost three of four to finish the season and it's very possible they could fall out of the rankings soon. Leo Lambert iii rushed 16 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Dropped out: 11. Bakersfield