MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

The playoffs have finally arrived and that means that 24 of the 25 teams in the rankings are moving along to more football. JSerra Catholic will not go despite a 7-3 record, as it was passed up for an at-large bid in the Pac 5 Division.

Big moves were made by Foothill League teams Valencia and Canyon in the Southern Section, as each beat Hart in the final two weeks of the season. Also, a big Central Section game saw Bullard of Fresno beat Edison, and that knocks the No. 6 team all the way out. Bakersfield is now the king of the section, though Edison and Central of Fresno have shots to redeem themselves, same with Clovis North.

San Diego Section games went as expected, but Open Division play will give us great matchups early on.

Click here to see playoff brackets from across the state.

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 latest MaxWire Los Angeles videos for updates on the region.


1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 10-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 4 national, 5 Xcellent 25

The Braves only held a 14-7 lead over Servite at halftime on Friday, then kicked into gear in the second half to register a 42-21 triumph. It's their second-straight Trinity League title. Jaleel Wadood scored twice, including on a 95-yard kickoff return, and the Braves never trailed.
Next up: Agoura, Friday

2. (2) Serra (Gardena), 10-0
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 2 state, 7 national, 9 Xcellent 25

The Cavaliers romped to a 56-10 triumph over St. Paul, including a 42-3 advantage at halftime. Isaac Cox scored a pair of touchdowns and Adoree' Jackson returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in the first quarter.
Next up: Pacifica (Oxnard), Friday

3. (3) Mission Viejo, 10-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 3 state, 11 national

The Diablos dropped yet another blowout upon a league opponent, winning 60-25 against El Toro in a game that wasn't even as close as the score says. It was 54-6 at the half. Three different Diablos threw touchdown passes, and three different players rushed for touchdowns in the first half. Ian Fieber found Sean Modster twice for touchdowns as well.
Next up: Crespi (Encino), Friday

4. (4) Long Beach Poly, 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 130 national

The Jackrabbits blasted Woodrow Wilson 57-0, making it a league season in which only one opponent scored. Iman Marshall took the opening kickoff for a 97-yard touchdown, Jeremy Calhoun rushed for three scores, James Brooks rushed for two more and Josh Love found John Smith for a touchdown pass for the Jackrabbits.
Next up: No. 20 Orange Lutheran (Orange), Friday

5. (5) Centennial (Corona), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 95 national

The Huskies won 74-0 over an obviously overmatched Corona squad. Five different players threw a pass for the Huskies, 10 players had carries and 11 caught passes. The bench was definitely cleared, though not before Tre Watson gobbled up 116 yards on nine carries.
Next up: Etiwanda, Friday

6. (7) Chaminade (West Hills), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
Ranks: 7 state, 31 national

The Eagles grabbed the No. 2 spot in the Mission League by trouncing St. Francis 56-35. Donovan Lee rushed for an incredible seven touchdowns on the night, and added 311 yards of total offense to spark his team in a game that gave the winner the No. 2 seed from the league.
Next up: Morningside (Inglewood), Friday

7. (10) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 28 national

The Monarchs blanked Orange Lutheran 15-0 to get back on the winning side of things. It was a very important win, and the shutout obviously shows that the team can still lean on its awesome defense to win games. Two field goals, a safety and a touchdown equaled the winning margin for the Monarchs, who finish the regular season as the No. 2 team in the Trinity League.
Next up: No. 17 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), Friday

8. (11) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 35 national

The Broncos won 41-5 over Chaparral in a game to decide the Southwestern League title. The defense was awesome, scoring three touchdowns, including two by Kwesi Mashack on interception returns. They outscored league opponents 196-54 this season.
Next up: Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), Friday

9. (13) Alemany (Mission Hills), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 8 state, 34 national

The Warriors won the Serra League title with a 34-7 victory over Crespi. Not bad for a team that faced rumors of not making the playoffs after a pair of losses earlier this season. Dominic Davis ran for 130 yards and scored on a 58-yard interception return. Brandon Pierce caught two touchdowns and Carlos Garrido knocked a pair of field goals.
Next up: Lakewood, Friday

10. (14) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 7-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 55 national

The Knights had a bye and will be the No. 2 team from the Serra League.
Next up: St. Bonaventure (Ventura), Friday

11. (16) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 9-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 45 state, 375 national

The Grizzlies won 42-14 over San Marcos in the Discovery Bowl and that makes nine out of 10 in the series. Connor Wynn completed 13 of 15 passes for 180 yards and two scores in the first half, according to UT San Diego.
Next up: Steele Canyon (Spring Valley), Friday

12. (17) Bakersfield, 8-2
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 24 state, 202 national

The Drillers had no trouble with Stockdale in a 37-6 victory. They won the Southwest Yosemite League title behind Asauni Rufus and his three rushing touchdowns to go with five completions for 178 yards. Johnathon Malone also scored for the Drillers, whose losses were to Poly and Oaks Christian.
Next up: Bye

13. (18) Oceanside, 8-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 41 national

The Pirates won 37-13 over crosstown rival El Camino to move their winning streak to five games. Thai Cottrell ran 24 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way, and Matthew Romero tossed a pair of touchdown passes.
Next up: Torrey Pines (San Diego), Friday

14. (NR) Valencia, 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State I
Ranks: 39 state, 325 national

The Vikings claimed the Foothill League title with a 56-0 pasting of Golden Valley. What gets them so high on the list is the undefeated league record, and that means they beat teams (Canyon and Hart) that felled Southern Section heavyweights. And they beat those teams in back-to-back weeks, showing they are heating up at the right time of year.
Next up: Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), Friday

15. (NR) Canyon (Canyon Country), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State I
Ranks: 33 state, 253 national

The Cowboys won 45-38 over Hart to close out the season and grab the No. 2 spot in the Foothill League. They got three touchdown passes from Cade Apsay, Isreal Cabrera took an interception back 99 yards for a score and Liam Cabrera recorded two interceptions in the final four minutes of the game. Earlier this season they knocked off Westlake, which played a big role in Valencia and Canyon getting ranked so high.
Next up: West (Torrance), Friday

16. (NR) Westlake (Westlake Village), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 22 state, 150 national

The Warriors pulled off one of the season's biggest clutch plays in an improbable 39-36 win over Oaks Christian. Down by four points with 22 seconds left, Chase Jasmin blasted through the middle to block the punt and Lexi Isham scooped up the ball for a 32-yard touchdown. That makes it six wins in a row for Westlake, which got interceptions from Nick Rodriguez, Isham and Justin Fabiculanan.
Next up: Servite (Anaheim), Friday

17. (8) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 65 national

The Lions scuffled on the aforementioned punt play against Westlake and also turned the ball over with three interceptions, a fumble and four turnovers on downs, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Lions trailed 20-7 at halftime but Brandon Dawkins rallied the troops back to a 28-20 advantage. He rushed for 126 yards and passed for 295 yards.
Next up: No. 7 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Friday

18. (9) Rancho Cucamonga, 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 136 national

The Cougars fell behind early against Upland and never got it going in a 24-6 loss to Upland, a team loaded with talent that had trouble gelling in the early parts of the season. Angel Matute found Jerry Chaney for a 13-yard scoring pass in the waning minutes of the first half for Rancho Cucamonga's only points. The loss cost the Cougars the Baseline League title.
Next up: Redlands East Valley (Redlands), Friday

19. (19) Eastlake (Chula Vista), 9-1
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 23 state, 189 natinal 

The Titans won 35-7 over Otay Ranch, and maybe the big news is that they allowed points. That hasn't happened much lately. It's been a stellar season after the team had a rough start against a very good Hamilton team from Arizona.
Next up: Poway, Friday

20. (15) Orange Lutheran, 7-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 78 national 

The Lancers were shut out by Mater Dei, 15-0. That vaunted running game had plenty of trouble with the physical and staunch Monarchs defense - hardly the first team to have issues with it. They own a win over JSerra to help them stay ahead of the Lions in the rankings.
Next up: No. 4 Long Beach Poly (Long Beach), Friday

21. (20) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 7-3, season complete
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 113 national 

The Lions registered a 26-7 triumph over Santa Margarita to complete a respectable finish in the Trinity League. A defensive touchdown in the first quarter helped build a lead that the Lions would not relinquish. But Saturday equaled the end of their season, as JSerra was denied an at-large bid to the Pac 5 playoffs in favor of a 4-6 Crespi team.

22. (22) San Pasqual (Escondido), 9-1
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 37 state, 291 national

The Golden Eagles are another 9-1 San Diego Section squad after winning 34-7 against Escondido. They finished very strong, scoring on five of their final seven possessions. Sebastian Tengan found Jajuan Thomas for two touchdown passes and Grant Huffman, Peter Ricardez and Daniel Wilson each scored on the ground as well.
Next up: Bye

23. (23) Helix (La Mesa), 8-2
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 144 national

The Highlanders beat Steele canyon 14-13, benefiting from a 53-yard touchdown run from Michael Austin early in the fourth quarter. Marcus Norris converted the PAT for the winning point. Nathan Stinson took a kickoff 79 yards for a score in the first half as well. Coach Troy Starr won his 200th career game, according to UT San Diego.
Next up: La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), Friday

24. (12) Hart (Newhall), 8-2
Classifications: Southern (Northern), State II
Ranks: 44 state, 369 national

The Indians suffered their second loss in two weeks, falling to Canyon 45-38. Hart was down 38-10 before embarking on a furious rally to tie the game at 38, but the offense couldn't get over the hump. Brady White threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns. All the sudden an 8-0 start and a high ranking has turned into a No. 3 finish in the Foothill League.
Next up: Paso Robles, Friday

25. (24) La Habra, 9-1
Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 34 state, 271 national 

The Highlanders won the Freeway League title with a hard-fought 21-14 victory over Buena Park. The defense yielded 334 passing yards but stepped up when necessary, including when Buena Park was driving late in an attempt to tie the contest. That makes seven league titles in a row for La Habra, which has only lost to Mission Viejo this season.
Next up: Canyon (Anaheim), Friday

Dropped out:
No. 6 Edison (Fresno) lost 24-14 to Bullard (Fresno).
No. 21 Servite (Anaheim) lost 42-21 to St. John Bosco (Bellflower).
No. 25 St. Francis (La Canada) lost 56-35 to Chaminade (West Hills).