With overall and league records from the regular season in the rearview mirror and postseason play well underway, Southern California's premier programs appear to be as focused as ever. The goal is simple: Bring home some new hardware for the trophy case at school.
Winning a title is easier said than done, however. Games from here on out in the CIF Southern Section, CIF San Diego Section as well as the Los Angeles City Section figure to be a test from start to finish.
Here are the playoff brackets from the CIF Southern Section, Los Angeles City Section and San Diego Section.
MaxPreps will be at the Alemany vs. Mater Dei game on Friday and will include a SoCal roundup with the story so be sure to check back. Also, view the Southern Section score projections via the Freeman Rankings.
That said, let's take at the newest edition of the Southern California poll and some of the teams considered to be the favorites to win a championship, along with a few underdogs.
MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings
John Smith and Long Beach Poly have rebounded from a rough start to crack the Southern California Top 25.
Photo by John Downey
11-0
Previous rank: 1
Upon further review: Defeated South Hills (West Covina), 34-6 /
QwixcoreCountdown to kickoff: Norco on Friday.
2. Narbonne (Harbor City)Overall record: 11-0
Previous rank: 2
Upon further review: Defeated Locke (Los Angeles), 57-14 /
Box scoreCountdown to kickoff: Garfield (Los Angeles) on Friday.
3. St. Bonaventure (Ventura)Overall record: 10-1
Previous rank: 3
Upon further review: Defeated Cabrillo (Long Beach), 39-7.
Countdown to kickoff: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Friday.
4. Mission ViejoOverall record: 11-0
Previous rank: 4
Upon further review: Defeated Westlake (Westlake Village), 42-10 /
QwixcoreCountdown to kickoff: Long Beach Poly on Friday.
5. St. John Bosco (Bellflower)Overall record: 7-4 (Four forfeits)
Previous rank: 5
Upon further review: Defeated Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 38-17 /
QwixcoreCountdown to kickoff: Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) on Friday.
Centennial beat up Los Osos last week.
Photo by John Downey
10-1
Previous rank: 6
Upon further review: Defeated Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), 47-21 /
PhotosCountdown to kickoff: Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) on Friday.
7. UplandOverall record: 11-0
Previous rank: 7
Upon further review: Defeated Great Oak (Temecula), 35-6 /
QwixcoreCountdown to kickoff: Redlands on Friday.
8. Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Overall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 8
Upon further review: Defeated Lakewood, 71-10 /
Box score Countdown to kickoff: Alemany (Mission Hills) on Friday.
9. Alemany (Mission Hills)Overall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 9
Upon further review: Defeated Moorpark, 42-14.
Countdown to kickoff: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Friday.
10. Chaminade (West Hills)Overall record: 10-1
Previous rank: 10
Upon further review: Defeated Pacifica (Oxnard), 64-11 /
Qwixcore Countdown to kickoff: Morro Bay on Friday.
11. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)Overall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 12
Upon further review: Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest), 38-13 /
Qwixcore Countdown to kickoff: St. Bonaventure (Ventura) on Friday.
12. Edison (Huntington Beach)Overall record: 10-1
Previous rank: 14
Upon further review: Defeated Esperanza (Anaheim), 27-3.
Countdown to kickoff: Valencia (Placentia) on Friday.
13. LompocOverall record: 11-0
Previous rank: 15
Upon further review: Defeated St. Francis (La Canada), 42-7 /
QwixcoreCountdown to kickoff: Culver City on Friday.
14. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)Overall record: 8-3
Previous rank: 18
Upon further review: Defeated Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 28-27 /
Box scoreCountdown to kickoff: St. John Bosco (Bellflower) on Friday.
15. TustinOverall record: 11-0
Previous rank: 19
Upon further review: Defeated El Dorado (Placentia), 35-6.
Countdown to kickoff: Huntington Beach on Friday.
Crenshaw will match up against Dorseyagain this week.
File photo by Anthony Watson
10-1
Previous rank: 16
Upon further review: Defeated Arleta, 38-7.
Countdown to kickoff: Dorsey (Los Angeles) on Friday.
17. Serra (Gardena)Overall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 17
Upon further review: Defeated Oxnard, 49-14 /
Box scoreCountdown to kickoff: Santa Monica on Friday.
18. Rancho CucamongaOverall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 21
Upon further review: Defeated Santiago (Corona), 33-17 /
Box scoreCountdown to kickoff: Charter Oak (Covina) on Friday.
19. OceansideOverall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 22
Upon further review: Did not play (Bye)
Countdown to kickoff: Hilltop (Chula Vista) on Friday.
20. La MiradaOverall record: 9-1
Previous rank: 23
Upon further review: Defeated Arcadia, 42-7.
Countdown to kickoff: Santa Fe (Santa Fe Springs) on Friday.
21. El Toro (Lake Forest)Overall record: 9-2
Previous rank: 11
Upon further review: Lost to Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 38-13.
Countdown to kickoff: Season is over.
22. Crespi (Encino)Overall record: 8-2
Previous rank: 18
Upon further review: Did not play.
Countdown to kickoff: Season is over.
23. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)Overall record: 8-3
Previous rank: 13
Upon further review: Lost to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 28-27.
Countdown to kickoff: Season is over.
24. Bishop Amat (La Puente)Overall record: 7-3-1
Previous rank: 19
Upon further review: Lost to Long Beach Poly, 40-25 /
Qwixcore Countdown to kickoff: Season is over.
25. Long Beach PolyOverall record: 8-3
Previous rank: NR
Upon further review: Defeated Bishop Amat (La Puente), 40-25
Countdown to kickoff: Mission Viejo on Friday.
Sean Ceglinsky has covered prep and college sports in Southern California for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on twitter: @SeanCeglinsky
