MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: Football For Life - Episode 6

San Diego-area football fans will undoubtedly be happy to see St. Augustine in the rankings this week, as the Saints jump in at 24th. They have close losses to two ranked teams and have been third in the San Diego Section by the Union-Tribune for a long time.

Upland also makes an entrance in exchange for Rancho Cucamonga, but Chino Hills is not far behind.

League titles can already be decided this coming week. Meanwhile, some big matchups will happen in the South Coast, Mission and Trinity leagues.


1. (1 last week) Centennial (Corona), 7-0 (2-0 Big VIII)
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 3 national, 3 Xcellent 25

The Huskies won 59-7 over Roosevelt (Eastvale) behind four touchdowns from JJ Taylor and a pair of scoring catches from Javon Mckinley. They host Santiago (Corona) on Friday.

2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 7-0 (2-0 Trinity)
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 2 national, 2 Xcellent 25

The Braves elicited a running clock in a 42-21 win over Mater Dei. Sean McGrew ran 15 times for 218 yards and a pair of scores, but more importantly, the rush defense held the Monarchs in check with 58 yards on 21 carries. They host JSerra Catholic on Friday.

3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 6-1 (1-1 Trinity)
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 4 state, 13 national

The Monarchs are no longer in the Xcellent 25 after their blowout loss. Still, you can't knock them for losing to St. John Bosco. Osiris St. Brown caught a pair of scores in the loss. A battle with Servite at Angels Stadium is scheduled for Friday.

4. (5) Serra (Gardena), 7-1 (4-0 Mission)
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 7 state, 39 national

The Cavaliers won 33-7 over Crespi to stay undefeated in league play, behind three touchdowns by Khalil Tate. They host Alemany on Oct. 30 after this week's bye.

5. (6) Mission Viejo, 8-0 (2-0 South Coast)
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 5 state, 30 national

The Diablos posted a huge victory by taking down Tesoro 39-33 after trailing by 13 at halftime. They go to San Juan Hills on Friday.

6. (4) Long Beach Poly, 5-2 (3-0 Moore)
Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 12 state, 78 national

The Jackrabbits weren't expected to beat De La Salle, but they certainly were expected to keep it a little closer than 52-6. While their two losses are to national powers, we bump the Jackrabbits down a couple spots.

7. (7) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 6-2 (3-1 Mission)
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 6 state, 32 national

The Lancers knocked Alemany from the rankings with a 49-24 drubbing of them. It was 42-3 at the half, and Torreahno Sweet ran for three scores. They go to Chaminade on Friday.

8. (8) Orange Lutheran, 4-3 (1-1 Trinity)
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 14 state, 97 national

The Lancers needed a last-second touchdown from Markell Quinn to escape with a 37-36 victory over Servite. LJ Northington ran for 122 yards. Next up is a home game versus Santa Margarita.

9. (9) Narbonne (Harbor City), 5-2 (2-0 Marine)
Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 24 state, 187 national

The Gauchos blasted Gardena, 64-6, using 409 passing yards to register the victory. They host Carson on Friday.

10. (10) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 7-0
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 15 state, 101 national

The Lions took the week off. They host St. Bonaventure on Friday.

11. (11) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 6-1 (2-0 Southwestern)
Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 17 state, 117 national

The Broncos earned a 35-7 win over Murrieta Valley to stay atop the league, using a balanced rushing attack that gained 355 yards. They host Murrieta Mesa on Friday.

12. (12) Norco, 6-1 (2-0 Big VIII)
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 31 state, 248 national

The Cougars stayed in the league title race with a 30-19 victory over Corona, a game that was tied at the half. Victor Viramontes ran 13 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. They go to King (Riverside) on Friday.

13. (13) Westlake (Westlake Village), 6-1
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 38 state, 331 national

The Warriors went to Newbury Park and came out with a 35-24 victory. Senior quarterback Grant Bunker starred, running 23 times for 116 yards and a score in addition to throwing for 145 yards. They host Moorpark on Friday.

14. (14) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 5-2 (1-1 Trinity)
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 20 state, 144 national

The Eagles evened their conference record with a 28-21 win over JSerra Catholic. The game was tied entering the final quarter but the Eagles got the winning score. Richard Wagner filled in for KJ Costello and threw three touchdown passes. They go to Orange Lutheran on Friday.

15. (16) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 7-0 (1-0 Avocado East)
Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 33 state, 273 national

The Grizzlies' defense has been nothing short of spectacular this season, and it led the way again in a 47-7 victory at Rancho Buena Vista. That's 50 points all year, and Crenshaw scored more than half of those. They travel to Del Norte on Friday.

16. (17) Helix (La Mesa), 5-1 (2-0 Grossmont Hills)
Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Division I (can change)
Rankings: 13 state, 80 national

The Highlanders rolled to a 59-14 blowout of Mount Miguel behind four touchdown passes from sophomore Carson Baker. They go to Valhalla (El Cajon) on Friday.

17. (18) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 5-2 (1-1 South Coast)
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 21 state, 147 national

The Titans lost to Mission Viejo, 39-33, and there's no shame in that. They certainly lament blowing a 23-10 halftime lead. They have a Friday night contest at winless Dana Hills.

18. (19) San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano), 7-0 (1-0 South Coast)
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 24 state, 161 national

The Stallions opened their league schedule with a 40-36 at El Toro. Patrick O'brien was an efficient 23-for-28 passing, and he ran 18 times for 118 yards. They host Mission Viejo Friday in what will be a telling game.

19. (21) Camarillo, 7-0
Classification: Southern Section, Camino League, Northern Division
Rankings: 10 state, 56 national

The Scorpions showed a lot in a 40-39 victory over a talented Calabasas team that entered the game undefeated. Eight different players caught passes and the rush defense held Calabasas to 21 yards. They host Newbury Park on Friday.

20. (20) Loyola (Los Angeles), 6-1 (2-1 Mission)
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 11 state, 72 national

The Cubs took the week off, and head to Alemany on Friday.

21. (21) La Habra, 6-1 (2-0 Freeway)
Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 16 state, 104 national

The Highlanders put a 48-14 whipping on Buena Park, holding them to 99 yards rushing. La Habra goes to Fullerton on Friday.

22. (23) Redlands East Valley, 6-1 (4-0 Citrus Belt)
Classification: Southern Section, Citrus Belt League, Inland Division
Rankings: 19 state, 125 national

The Wildcats had no trouble in a 55-6 win over Eisenhower (Rialto), with Joey Harman scoring on three of his four runs (119 yards). They host Cajon on Friday.

23. (24) Chaminade (West Hills), 5-2 (2-1 Mission)
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 26 state, 176 national

The Eagles gutted out a 27-22 win over Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), as sophomore Michael Wilson caught eight passes for 101 yards. They host Bishop Amat on Friday.

24. (NR) St. Augustine (San Diego), 5-2
Classification: San Diego Section, Eastern League, Division I (Can change)
Rankings: 30 state, 224 national

The Saints were three points short of beating Loyola and two points short of felling Vista Murrieta. And a win this Friday at Cathedral Catholic would add a lot more credibility to what is already a solid pick.

25. (NR) Upland, 5-2 (2-0 Baseline)
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 73 state, 811 national

The Highlanders enter the rankings conditionally. They must beat Chino Hills on Friday, because Chino Hills opened this spot up with a win over previously ranked Rancho Cucamonga. Upland has losses to Tesoro and Mater Dei, and wins over Damien and Venice.