MaxPreps California Top 25 high school football rankings: Mater Dei holds tight at No. 1

Monarchs handle Braves in convincing fashion, previous ninth-ranked Grace Brethren falls to No. 12 Sierra Canyon and No. 23 San Clemente drops out after lopsided loss to fifth-ranked Mission Viejo.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Mitch Stephens
By
Oct 28, 2019, 3:08pm
Video: National Top 25 football rankings
Highlights of Mater Dei's big showdown win over St. John Bosco.

If there were any doubts, the Mater Dei (Santa Ana) football team answered all of them on Friday night to cement its hold on the top spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 California rankings.

The Monarchs, the nation's No. 1 team, beat the nation's No. 2 squad St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in convincing fashion 38-24 at Bosco's beautiful Panish Stadium Stadium.

Bryce Young, as he's done all season, carried Mater Dei, accounting for 334 yards and all five of his team's touchdowns, three passing and two rushing. All three TD passes were to Kody Epps (11 catches, 175 yards) and junior running back Marceese Yetts added 96 yards rushing on 13 carries.

Mater Dei piled up 462 yards overall to 445 for Bosco, which got big games from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (17 of 30, 320 yards, two touchdowns) and receivers Logan Loya (seven catches, 129 yards, TD), Jode McDuffie (5-116) and Kris Hutson (52-yard TD). But the Braves never led and never closed to within two touchdowns the second half.

The two teams figure to rematch in about a month for the Southern Section Division 1 title.

In other big California games from the Top 25, previous No. 12 Sierra Canyon upset No. 9 Grace Brethren 13-7, limiting the high-powered Lancers to just 286 yards and a single touchdown. Trailblazers' quarterback Chayden Peery completed 23-of-36 passes for 338 yards and a touchdown to DJ Harvey (6 catches, 128 yards). Jason Jones rushed for a touchdown.

The other big game featuring two ranked teams was a blowout, as fifth-ranked Mission Viejo defeated No. 23 San Clemente 38-6. David Meyer, had 14 tackles to lead the defense, which recorded six sacks and forced four turnovers. Jacquez Robertson rushed for two touchdowns.

The top game this week will be to see if Grace Brethren can bounce back. It faces Camarillo, which entered the rankings at No. 25 this week. 
DJ Harvey, Sierra Canyon
DJ Harvey, Sierra Canyon
File photo by Larry Gasinski
Top 25 California high school football rankings

1. (Last week 1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 38-24
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) at Santa Ana Bowl

Record: 8-1
Last week: Lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 38-24
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)

3. (3) De La Salle (Concord)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Idle
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord)

4. (4). Centennial (Corona)
Record: 7-2
Last week: Beat King (Riverside) 42-0
Next game: Nov. 1 at Roosevelt (Eastvale)

5. (5) Mission Viejo
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat San Clemente 38-6
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Tesora Rancho (Santa Margarita)

6. (6) Narbonne (Harbor City)
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat Carson 52-3
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Banning (Wilmington)

7. (7) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Idle
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Lincoln (San Diego)

8. (8) Folsom
Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Grant (Sacramento) 62-17
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Del Oro (Loomis)

9. (10) Corona del Mar (Newport Beach)
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 56-17
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Los Alamitos at Newport Harbor

10. (11) Servite (Anaheim)
Record: 6-3
Last week: Beat Santa Margarita 27-0
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College

11. (12) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 13-7
Next game: Nov. 1 Paraclete (Lancaster) at Antelope Valley College

12. (9) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Lost to Sierra Canyon 13-7
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Camarillo at Moorpark College

13. (13) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
Record: 6-3
Last week: Beat Orange Lutheran 19-0
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Santa Ana Bowl

14. (14) Calabasas
Record: 7-2
Last week: Beat Oaks Christian 30-27
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. St. Bonaventure (Ventura)

15. (15) La Habra
Record: 7-2
Last week: Beat Troy (Fullerton) 50-3
Next game: Nov. 1 at Sonora (La Habra)

16. (16) Central (Fresno)
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat Clovis West 55-21
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Clovis East

17. (17) Helix (La Mesa)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Granite Hills (El Cajon) 49-27
Next game: Nov. 1 Steele Canyon (Spring Valley

18. (18) Bishop Amat (La Puente)
Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Loyola (Los Angeles)

19. (20) Valley Christian (San Jose)
Record: 8-0
Last week: Beat Bellarmine (San Jose) 28-0
Next game: Nov. 2 at Serra (San Mateo)

20. (21) Serra (San Mateo)
Record: 8-0
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 35-7
Next game: Nov. 2 vs. Valley Christian (San Jose)

21. (22) Pittsburg
Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Heritage (Brentwood) 29-8
Next game: Nov. 2 vs. Antioch

Record: 8-1
Last week: Beat Palomar Valley 56-7
Next game: Oct. 31 vs. Heritage (Romoland)

23. (25) Norco
Record: 7-2
Last week: Beat Roosevelt (Eastvale) 56-7
Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Corona

24. (19) Alemany (Mission Hills)
Record: 6-2
Last week: Lost to Serra (Gardena) 32-25
Next game: Nov. 1 at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)

25. (NR) Camarillo
Record: 9-0
Last week: Beat Thousand Oakls 47-6
Next week: Nov. 1 vs. Grace Brethren at Moorpark College

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