MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 High School Football Rankings

The San Diego Section threw the rankings into chaos this week, showing that there really isn't one team that can prove it is the best in the area. The Southern Section, meanwhile, didn't experience the same upheaval.

And in the Central Section, Clovis North is out and the team that beat the Broncos - Central of Fresno - will slide in.

With playoffs coming up, there are going to be some very good teams that stand the chance of being left out in the cold. Expect to see some exciting storylines from this week all the way to the state bowl games.

Be sure to visit the Fresno metro site, the San Diego metro site and the Los Angeles metro site as well for more California coverage. Also, see the new MaxWire Los Angeles video at the end of the rankings.


1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 4 national, 5 Xcellent 25

The Braves did their part in setting up the Trinity League's top game fo the year, whacking JSerra Catholic 48-7. Six touchdowns were scored by six different players, including a defensive one for the first tally of the game. Reid Budrovich also booted a pair of field goals. Friday's game against Mater Dei is the featured item for the MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week feature, and will be at home.

2. (3) Serra (Gardena), 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 2 state, 6 national, 10 Xcellent 25

The Cavaliers won 45-14 over Cathedral (Los Angeles) in yet another dominant performance. Jalen Greene was a perfect 7-for-7 passing and three of those passes were for touchdowns - to three different receivers. Adoree' Jackson returned an interception 104 yards for a touchdown and the team registered four sacks. Yes, everything appears to be going about as good as possible for Serra. Next up is a Friday home game against 8-0 St. Francis that could all but clinch a league title.

3. (4) Mission Viejo, 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 9 national

The Diablos have shown that their defense deserves as much as credit as the offense. They blew past Tesoro, 37-7, as Ian Fieber found Sean Modster for two touchdown passes in the second quarter and Zach Olson kicked three field goals in the game. Steven Macke returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown as well. Alex Suchesk sat out with an injury, and is a big part of the offense. A trip to Trabuco Hills awaits the Diablos on Friday.

4. (5) Long Beach Poly, 7-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 72 national

The Jackrabbits were off last week, and head to Millikan (Long Beach) on Friday.

5. (6) Hart (Newhall), 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State II
Ranks: 13 state, 67 national

The Indians went to Saugus and won 38-3. Joey Bilbo has stepped in nicely at running back after Connor Wingenroth's injury, as he ran for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Brady White completed 26 passes for 375 yards, and the defense limited Saugus to 88 passing yards. The defense hauled in two interceptions. Hart hosts Valencia on Friday in a matchup of teams with 3-0 Foothill League records.

6. (7) Centennial (Corona), 6-2
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 86 national

The Huskies blanked Roosevelt (Eastvale), 55-7. Tre Watson ran 13 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns while Robert Webber passed for four scores. Eric Locklin caught four passes for 129 yards and a touchdown as well. A Friday home game with Santiago (Corona) is a matchup of the only two 3-0 teams in the BIG VIII.

7. (8) Edison (Fresno), 8-0
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 71 national

The Tigers easily dispatched Madera, 42-6. But it wasn't like that the whole way. According to the Fresno Bee, Edison led 7-6 at the half and could have been trailing had Madera not missed a short field goal on the half's final play. But the team's depth rose up for a second-half blitz and registered the win. Edison is likely going to get a challenge at San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) on Friday.

8. (2) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 7-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 31 national

The Monarchs dropped a disappointing game to Santa Margarita, as they had a chance to create an 8-0 vs. 8-0 matchup with St. John Bosco. They lost 16-7 to the Eagles, and Chase Forrest had a tough night, throwing three interceptions. They led 7-6 entering the fourth quarter but yielded 10 unanswered points. The defense held Santa Margarita to 87 passing yards and six completions but yielded 158 rush yards. The Monarchs go to St. John Bosco Friday.

9. (9) Chaminade (West Hills), 6-2
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 14 state, 68 national

The Eagles rolled 64-13 through St. Paul, and it was 64-0 in the third quarter. Brad Kaaya needed just 10 completions to pick up 332 passing yards and Dymond Lee and Edward Sias each threw one pass - both of which were good for touchdowns. Next up is a Friday tilt against Harvard-Westlake.

10. (10) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 7-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 47 national

The Lions' destruction of the Marmonte League continued with a 56-2 romp over Calabasas. They have outscored their three league opponents thus far by a staggering 169-16 count. A trip to Moorpark awaits Friday.   

11. (11) Rancho Cucamonga, 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 53 national

The Cougars (who are ranked ahead of Mater Dei and Chaminade in the Los Angeles Times rankings) continued their impressive season with a 20-16 triumph over Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga). Reports are that the Cougars won the game in the final minute with a touchdown. Stats loaded to MaxPreps stated that Rancho Cucamonga held Los Osos to just 87 yards of total offense. Blake Fisher caught seven passes for 122 yards and three scores. A road game against Alta Loma awaits on Thursday.

12. (14) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 7-1
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 48 national

The Broncos won 49-14 over Murrieta Valley, and Coltin Gerhart was 8-for-15 passing with 108 yards and a score. He also ran 10 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Compared with earlier performances, that was actually sub-par for Gerhart, an Arizona State commit. Jalen Russell intercepted two passes as well. Murrieta Mesa comes to town on Friday.

13. (15) Servite (Anaheim), 5-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 17 state, 75 national

The Friars grabbed victory from the clutches of defeat Friday, as a 40-yard Hail Mary from Travis Waller to Equanimeous St. Brown on the final play of regulation knotted their game with Orange Lutheran. Andrew Acosta won it with his extra point and Servite pulled off one of the year's most exciting victories, 20-19. Andrew Moore and Waller each ran for touchdowns. They will host JSerra Catholic on Friday.

14. (16) Alemany (Mission Hills), 7-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 36 national

The Warriors appear to have moved on from a tough stretch, as they found a way to win against a tough Bishop Amat squad, 29-26. Amat's questionable clock management gave Alemany a last chance and Alif Grayes found Desean Holmes for a touchdown pass with less than 90 seconds left to win the game. It likely solidified Alemany's quest to reach the postseason. After a bye this week, the Warriors will face Crespi in their regular season finale.

15. (17) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 6-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 59 national

The Knights won 47-21 over Crespi - and leapt out to a 21-0 lead to open the game. Grant Kraemer took care of all the passing after battling injuries, and went 7-for-10 with 112 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Colarossi ran 22 times for 218 yards as well, with the team registering 300 yards on the ground as a whole. The Knights will head to Loyola on Friday before they end their season a week earlier than the rest of the area.

16. (18) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 7-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 60 state, 454 national

The Grizzlies bounced back from their first loss of the season by dispatching Fallbrook, 61-21. And they moved back to the top of the UT San Diego poll in the process by a miniscule margin over Oceanside. According to UT San Diego, they scored on offense and special teams - plus forced a turnover - in the first five minutes. It was 27-0 after the first quarter and 41-0 at halftime.

17. (20) Bakersfield, 6-2
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 30 state, 194 national

The Drillers doubled-up on Frontier (Bakersfield), 42-21. They jumped ahead 28-7 at halftime then rode it out. They are No. 2 in the Bakersfield Californian's poll. Centennial (Bakersfield) is the opponent for Friday's home matchup.

18. (23) Oceanside, 6-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 8 state, 46 national

The Pirates gave Ramona its first loss of the season and made a massive jump in the computer rankings. Furthermore, they are now No. 2 in the UT San Diego poll and earned 11 of the 23 first-place votes. In their 42-0 shellacking of Ramona (No. 25 last week), the Pirates got four interceptions and only allowed three complete passes to go with 43 total passing yards. They will host La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) on Friday. And we offer our best wishes to coach John Carroll, who is in the hospital, according to UT San Diego.

19. (24) Eastlake (Chula Vista), 7-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State II
Ranks: 29 state, 191 national

The Titans posted their third shutout in four games in a 27-0 triumph over Bonita Vista. They're averaging just more than 11 points allowed per game. According to UT San Diego, Isiah Olave scored on a 5-yard run, caught a 77-yard pass for a score and returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown. They will host Olympian on Friday.

20. (12) San Pasqual (Escondido), 7-1
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 40 state, 259 national

The Golden Eagles dropped a 38-36 contest to Rancho Buena Vista after they had grabbed the top spot in the San Diego Section the week before. They came a 2-point conversion short. According to UT San Diego, Sebastian Tengan found Jajuan Thomas for a 13-yard touchdown in the final minute but was sacked on the conversion try. They blew a 28-17 halftime lead in the loss and fell to No. 4 in the UT San Diego poll. A Friday home game with Valley Center awaits.

21. (NR) Helix (La Mesa), 6-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 109 national

The Highlanders are back in after a 44-7 win over West Hills. It helped that Cathedral Catholic lost to St. Augustine as well. Aaron Hardin caught four passes for 78 yards and two scores, while Jalen Davis also caught four passes for 77 yards and two scores. They will head to Grossmont on Friday.

22. (22) Orange Lutheran, 6-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 107 national

The Lancers dropped an aforementioned heartbreaker to Servite, 20-19. Luke Langdon did connect on eight of 12 passes for 186 yards and the team rolled up 259 rushing yards as well. The two-game losing streak the Lancers are in the midst of isn't too bad when you consider the losses are to Bosco and Servite. But this Friday's game against Santa Margarita will speak volumes about how good the Lancers are.

23. (NR) La Habra, 7-1
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 31 state, 196 national

The Highlanders' schedule isn't the toughest around. But a 7-1 record and only a loss to Mission Viejo means this is a quality team. All of their wins have been by comfortable margins, and losing to Mission Viejo by 25 isn't actually any worse than other teams have experience. They are 3-0 in the Freeway League and the final game of the season could see them face Buena Park for the title. But first they must beat Sonora (La Habra) on Friday.

24. (NR) St. Francis (La Canada), 8-0
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 33 state, 210 national

We welcome the Golden Knights to the rankings. That is the good news for them. The bad news? They go to Serra this week and face Chaminade the next week. But the perfect record can't be denied, nor the No. 18 ranking from the Los Angeles Times. Last week, they took care of Harvard-Westlake 44-14.

25. (NR) Central (Fresno), 6-2
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 55 state, 439 national

The Grizzlies' state ranking is not impressive (at least in terms of these rankings) but they are playing their best football of the year and living up to the promise that was put upon them before the season started. They were in these rankings to start the season but fell out after losing to Valor Christian of Colorado. They beat then-No. 19 Clovis North, 30-14, on Friday to enter the rankings. Their only other blemish is a triple-overtime loss to Liberty (Bakersfield). Central goes to Clovis West for a Thursday game.

Dropped out:
13. Cathedral Catholic lost 19-7 to St. Augustine
19. Clovis North lost 30-14 to Central (Fresno)
21. Bishop Amat lost 29-26 to Alemany
25. Ramona lost 42-0 to Oceanside