MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: (3) Corona Centennial vs. Orange Lutheran - High school football preview

Those wonderful nonleague matchups pitting the region's best high school football teams continue, as we saw four matchups featuring ranked squads facing each other.

It will go on yet again this week, and that means that losses aren't all that bad - as long as they come against higher-ranked squads.

Teams like Upland, St. Augustine (San Diego), Arroyo Grande and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) are knocking on the door, and Westlake - the only team to drop this week - can easily return.


1. (1 last week) Centennial (Corona), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 6 national, 3 Xcellent 25

The Huskies posted another blowout, this time a 52-13 result over Serra (Gardena). Javon Mckinley took the opening kickoff 84 yards to the 1, and from there on it was all Huskies. His 78-yard touchdown catch in the early second half made it 42-0. A trip to Orange Coast College for a battle with Orange Lutheran will be the test this Friday.

2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 6 state, 42 national, 9 Xcellent 25

The Braves trounced Norwalk 67-7, yet another bashing of a local squad. It was 46-0 at the half and Quentin Davis finished 16-for-19 with 224 yards. Things will likely be much tougher this week, as they head to Portland and take on Oregon powerhouse Central Catholic for a Friday game.

3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 11 national

The Monarchs are knocking on the door of the Xcellent 25 after they won 35-14 over a very good Tesoro team. They go to La Mirada on Friday.

4. (6) Long Beach Poly, 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 3 state, 17 national

The Jackrabbits picked up another head-turning victory when they gutted out a 20-17 triumph. Quarterback Nolan McDonald rushed in from 20 yards out in the final minute to forge the win. Poly will take the week off before heading to Las Vegas to face Bishop Gorman on Sept. 18.

5. (5) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 1-1
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 5 state, 24 national

The Lancers earned their first win of the season with a 28-10 victory over Servite. Tyler Vaughns caught 10 balls for 104 yards and two scores. They will host Colony (Ontario) on Friday.

6. (4) Narbonne (Harbor City), 0-1
Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 8 state, 62 national

The Gauchos came oh-so-close in their 20-17 loss to Long Beach Poly, with Justin Franks rushing for 82 yards on 11 carries with a score. Next up is a day game Friday at Palos Verdes.

7. (8) Mission Viejo, 3-0
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 13 state, 115 national

The Diablos are still rolling. They smashed their way to a 56-27 win over Oak Hills (Hesperia) and will head to La Habra on Friday.

8. (9) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 15 state, 127 national

The Broncos were out of control on offense in a 71-32 win over Ballard (Seattle), posting 35 points in the first quarter and another 30 in the second. Kyle Williams caught four passes for an amazing 251 yards and three touchdowns. They host Santiago (Corona) on Friday.

9. (7) Serra (Gardena), 1-1
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 16 state, 136 national

The Cavaliers had a tough draw against Centennial and played without Khalil Tate, their quarterback, due to an ejection from Week 1. It all led to a 52-13 loss. A home game against Carson will be the next opportunity to get back on the right track, a week before going to Narbonne.

10. (10) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 9 state, 64 national

The Eagles once again won big on the road, pasting Santiago (Corona) in a 59-14 win. KJ Costello was his usual great self, finishing 18-for-23 with 423 yards and five touchdowns. They host Dorsey (Los Angeles) on Friday.

11. (11) Alemany (Mission Hills), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 17 state, 142 national

The Warriors were dominant again, this time shutting out Colony (Ontario) 42-0. That makes a 103-7 scoring margin thus far. They head to Downey on Friday.

12. (13) Norco, 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 10 state, 85 national

The Cougars are behind Redlands East Valley in the Riverside Press-Enterprise rankings but trail them in the computer rankings and in the LA Times rankings. They posted a very nice 29-26 victory over Rancho Cucamonga, with Tanner Vanscourt rallying in for a 44-yard touchdown in the final minutes to take the lead before the defense held firm. After a bye, they head to Mission Viejo on Sept. 18.

13. (12) Redlands East Valley, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Citrus Belt League, Inland Division
Rankings: 12 state, 106 national

The Wildcats earned a very nice win at Chaminade, 51-42. Khris Vaughn caught eight passes for 81 yards and a score. They go to Ventura to face St. Bonaventure on Friday.

14. (14) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 19 state, 184 national

The Lions won another close one, emerging on top 35-33 over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego). They led big early and had to fight off an onside kick late to secure the win. Michael Pittman caught 12 passes for 251 yards in the win. They go to Venice on Friday.

15. (NR) Orange Lutheran, 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 20 state, 189 national

The Lancers are into the rankings thanks to a big 43-28 victory over Crespi. It made their close game in Week 1 against Dominguez (Compton) seem like less of a concern. It was actually 43-14 entering the fourth quarter, and Dominik Austin was dominant, running 11 times for 198 yards and two scores. Orange Lutheran hosts Centennial (Corona) on Friday.

16. (19) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 14 state, 118 national

The Lions won 42-14 over Chino Hills. They will look to stay undefeated Friday at home against Huntington Beach.

17. (17) Rancho Cucamonga, 1-1
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 21 state, 192 national

The Cougars lost their lead late and fell 29-26 to Norco. Aaron Manning managed 97 rushing yards and a score on just seven carries, and he caught eight passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. They head to Don Lugo (Chino) on Friday.

18. (20) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 2-0
Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 23 state, 207 national

The Grizzlies put a 23-0 beating on Torrey Pines, tightening their grip on the San Diego Section's top spot. They will trek to Long Beach on Friday to face Millikan.

19. (21) Loyola (Los Angeles), 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 24 state, 221 national

The Cubs registered another whitewash, beating Highland (Palmdale) 45-7. Friday is a big game, heading to face St. Augustine (San Diego), the No. 2 team in that section.

20. (18) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 1-1
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 25 state, 233 national

Tesoro wasn't able to keep up with Mater Dei in a 35-14 loss. The Highlanders host Upland Friday, a team that could easily find its way into the rankings as well.

21. (22) Helix (La Mesa), 0-1
Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 7 state, 56 national

The Highlanders took the week off and they will host Eastlake (Chula Vista) on Friday.

22. (16) Crespi (Encino), 1-1
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 35 state, 363 national

The Celts were beat down by Orange Lutheran by a 43-28 score. They're heading to Lawndale on Friday, but then have a brutal stretch after that with five straight ranked teams.

23. Los Alamitos, 1-0
Classification: Southern Section, Sunset League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 56 state, 688 national

The Griffins started their season with a 49-12 victory over Paramount. They held Paramount to 62 rushing yards and showed balance in the stat sheet. They will host Lakewood on Thursday, a week ahead of a battle with La Habra.

24. La Habra, 2-0
Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 27 state, 264 national

The Highlanders posted another huge win, beating South Hills (West Covina) 49-0. Any questions about their schedule will be answered the next two weeks: Friday vs. Mission Viejo and the next week against Los Alamitos.

25. Clovis, 2-0
Classification: Central Section, Tri-River Athletic Conference, Division I
Rankings: 37 state, 383 national

The Cougars stayed atop the Central Section rankings with a big second half and won 41-24 over Lemoore. Coltin Velasquez caught six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown, and Sean Kuenzinger went 19-for-30 with 336 yards and two scores. They head to Atwater on Friday.

Dropped out: 15. Westlake.