MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: Centennial/St. John Bosco QB breakdown

The finals have arrived in all three sections featured in the Southern California Top 25. And 11 teams in the Top 25 are still playing.

We could have a new No. 1 for the first time this season if St. John Bosco defeated Centennial in the Pac-5 title tilt Saturday in Anaheim. But either way, those two teams will stay at Nos. 1 and 2.

Read through to find out about everybody's most recent game and their next opponent, and click here to see all the MaxPreps California playoff brackets.


1. (1 last week) Centennial (Corona), 13-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 2 national, 2 Xcellent 25

The Huskies are in the Pac-5 final after surviving a late push from Mater Dei. They won 42-36 after holding a 42-16 advantage in the third quarter. Anthony Catalano threw for three scores and J.j. Taylor ran for 219 yards a score. They face St. John Bosco Saturday at Angel Stadium.

2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 13-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 1 national, 1 Xcellent 25

The Braves stomped Bishop Amat, 63-10, showing that they've got a great defense in addition to the offensive firepower. Quentin Davis was 17-for-20 with 305 yards and four touchdowns to go with an interception, just his second of the season. They face Centennial on Friday.

3. (3) Mission Viejo, 13-0
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 6 state, 20 national

The Diablos are in the West Valley Division title game after a 56-21 triumph over Chino Hills. It was 42-7 at the half, yet another blowout for Bob Johnson's boys. They will face Vista Murrieta for the title, on the road, Friday.

4. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 10-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 4 state, 13 national

The Monarchs lost 42-36 to Centennial. Freshman quarterback JT Daniels completed 20 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.

5. (5) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 10-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 5 state, 18 national

The Lancers are done after a 63-10 loss to St. John Bosco. As will happen when teams face the Braves, they yielded 500 yards of total offense.

6. (6) Long Beach Poly, 4-6 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 26 state, 255 national

The Jackrabbits missed the playoffs due to three forfeit losses. Their win over Narbonne earlier this season keeps them here but the Gauchos can overtake them in the coming weeks.

7. (7) Narbonne (Harbor City), 10-3
Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 42 state, 432 national

The Gauchos will face Crenshaw on Friday for the LA City Section Division I title. They blasted Dorsey, 42-0, behind 11-for-13 passing from Roman Ale that netted 314 yards and three scores.

8. (8) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 11-1 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 17 state, 155 national

The Lions lost to Bishop Amat in the quarterfinals.

9. (9) Serra (Gardena), 9-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 13 state, 100 national

The Cavaliers lost to Mater Dei in the quarterfinals.

10. (10) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 12-1
Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 11 state, 90 national

One more win and the Broncos will move up. They edged Rancho Cucamonga in an epic five-overtime game, 62-56. Khalil Shakir caught two touchdown passes. They face Mission Viejo Friday for the West Valley title.

11. (12) Helix (La Mesa), 10-1
Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Open Division
Rankings: 8 state, 50 national

The Highlanders took care of their business in the SDS Open semifinals, trouncing Cathedral Catholic, 42-14. Nathen Stinson ran 10 times for 150 yards in the rout. They face St. Augustine for the crown on Saturday.

12. (13) Camarillo, 13-0
Classification: Southern Section, Camino League, Northern Division
Rankings: 12 state, 91 national

The Scorpions are in Friday's Northern Division title game against Thousand Oaks after they crushed Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara), 54-28. Their four-point win over Thousand Oaks earlier this season required a comeback, so it's not a gimme.

13. (14) Norco, 8-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 29 state, 286 national

The Cougars lost to Bishop Amat in the opening round.

14. (15) Chaminade (West Hills), 7-4 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 21 state, 193 national

The Eagles lost to Centennial in the opening round.

15. (16) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 7-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 15 state, 131 national

The Lions did not make the playoffs.

16. (17) Orange Lutheran, 6-6 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 16 state, 135 national

The Lancers lost to Centennial in the quarterfinals.

17. (18) La Habra, 12-1
Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 18 state, 158 national

The Highlanders romped over Villa Park, 42-21, only allowing 51 rushing yards. Friday features a title game romp with San Clemente.

18. (19) Loyola (Los Angeles), 9-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 14 state, 105 national

The Cubs lost to St. John Bosco in the quarterfinals.

19. (20) St. Augustine (San Diego), 10-2
Classification: San Diego Section, Eastern League, Open Division
Rankings: 10 state, 89 national

The Saints proved us wrong by whacking Mission Hills, but looking at everything, Mission Hills was ranked too high. Thus no big jump, as St. Augustine lost to Loyola earlier this season. A section title win Saturday over Helix would solve the problem for the Saints, who got 438 rushing yards against a defense that had performed well all season.

20. (21) Chino Hills, 10-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 41 state, 417 national

The Huskies lost 56-21 to Mission Viejo and saw their season come to an end.

21. (23) Calabasas, 12-1
Classification: Southern Section, Canyon League, Western Division
Rankings: 33 state, 341 national

The Coyotes were victorious over Redondo Union, 41-17, to set up a title fight with Palos Verdes on Friday. Darnay Holmes ran 18 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

22. (24) Rancho Cucamonga, 9-4 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 27 state, 256 national

The Cougars went on an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter to force overtime but lost 62-56 to Vista Murrieta in five overtimes. Overtime or not, 677 yards of total offense is pretty good.

23. (25) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 9-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 28 state, 281 national

The Titans lost to Rancho Cucamonga in the quarterfinals.

24. (NR) Heritage (Romoland), 13-0
Classification: Southern Section, Sunbelt League, Inland Division
Rankings: 49 state, 515 national

The Patriots make their first appearance after moving to the Inland Division title game. Facing 11-2 Citrus Hill gives them a shot to solidify a spot in the rankings.

25. (11) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 11-1 *Season over
Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Open Division
Rankings: 40 state, 405 national

The Grizzlies were likely rated too high. They fell 48-14 to St. Augustine in the semifinals, though it is also likely that St. Augustine should have been higher. Either way, Mission Hills' great defensive season was washed away mostly in the loss.