Four of nation's top 15 high school football teams to battle in California's Southern Section semifinals

Video: Breaking down Southern Section semifinals
What to watch for Friday as national heavyweights collide in Southern California.

In high school football history, it's hard to imagine — and more difficult to verify — a playoff bracket featuring four of the country's top 15 teams in its semifinals.

No imagination is necessary, however, in California where the Southern Section's fantastic four was cemented last week.

National No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) plays at No. 15 Mission Viejo and No. 5 Centennial (Corona) plays No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) at Cerritos College in Friday's Division 1 semifinals.

The winners play Dec. 2 for the right to represent Southern California in the CIF State Bowl Open Division championship Dec. 16 at Sacramento State University.

The teams are a combined 44-3 this season and 240-31 over the last five years. These aren't up-and-coming programs. They are perennial national powers led by legendary coaches, fueled by gobs of FBS talent and supported by huge fan bases with impressive alumni.

"It's an amazing final four," Centennial head coach Matt Logan said. "It shows just how truly tough this division is."

"There's a lot of quality kids in this area and we all have some. It's been quite a run for all these teams," Mission Viejo head coach Bob Johnson said.

"Look at some of the national teams we've all beat or even played — Bishop Gorman, St. John's, IMG Academy, Bergen Catholic — all nationally-recognized teams," said Bosco coach Jason Negro. "I think these four teams have definitely prepared and planned for this moment. It's pretty special." Mater Dei vs. Mission Viejo

The Mater Dei-Mission Viejo contest pits Orange County rivals with Mt. Rushmore-esque California coaches in the 72-year-old Johnson (342-94-1 career record) and 68-year-old Bruce Rollinson (284-32).

Johnson, the third-winningest coach in state history, announced at midseason that this would be his final campaign, giving his team even more incentive.

His Diablos (12-0) clawed and scratched to pull out playoff wins against Servite (38-36) and Orange Lutheran (48-35), a pair of Trinity League teams Mater Dei beat by respective scores of 51-7 and 51-21 over the last month.

Junior tailback Akili Arnold put his team on his back last week with 311 yards rushing and five touchdowns, giving him 1,483 yards and 14 TDs on the season. Mission Viejo also features top junior quarterback Joey Yellen (2,439 yards, 29 touchdowns), UCLA-bound cornerback-receiver Olaijah Griffin (33 catches, 874 yards, 12 TDs), Washington-bound receiver Austin Osborne (47-889-9) and Arizona State commit Jarrett Patterson, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound tackle.

Asked if he thought his team showed extra determination because of his retirement, Johnson said: "I think no matter what, our team is going to battle. They're fired up every week."

The Diablos need to be particularly inspired this week to take out Mater Dei, which has its own inspiration. The Monarchs, a two-time national champion in the 1990s under Rollinson, have never made it to the state tournament. They've also lost six of the last nine meetings with Mission Viejo over the last two decades, and three of five since 2004.

"None of those games matter on Friday night," Johnson said.

Mater Dei (12-0) has all the pieces, led by the country's top-rated junior quarterback and USC commit JT Daniels (3,392 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, 4 interceptions). He has probably the best quartet of receivers in the country, led by Amon-Ra St. Brown (52-973-18). He's protected by one of the country's top offensive lines, anchored by Alabama commit Tommy Brown (6-7, 340).

Johnson, whose son Rob was an NFL quarterback, isn't easily impressed by players at that position (he also coached Mark Sanchez), but raved about Daniels.

"He's just terrific," Johnson said. "He can really sling it. He's really talented. But he's got some really talented receivers, too. And big guys up front. That's why they're No. 1 in the country."

St. John Bosco vs. Centennial

Mater Dei's closest game of the season was a 31-21 win over St. John Bosco, which lost to the Monarchs during the regular season last year, only to beat them in the section finals en route to a state title.

Bosco (10-2) has history with Centennial as well, having split four meetings over the last four seasons. The Braves went on to win state titles (2013 and 2016) after beating Centennial.

Last year's game was a classic, a 49-47 Bosco win in the section semifinals when quarterback Re-Al Mitchell accounted for 403 yards and four touchdowns. The Iowa State-bound Mitchell is still on the squad, but an undisclosed injury vaulted highly touted sophomore DJ Uiagalelei into the starter's role at midseason and the 6-4, 240-pound specimen has more than delivered, throwing for 2,460 yards, 26 touchdowns and two interceptions. Over his last five starts, he's averaged 346 yards and 3.5 touchdowns per game.

"He's done everything we've asked and more so," Negro said. "He's playing awfully well."

Centennial (10-1) has an equally talented but more experienced quarterback in Tanner McKee, but his status for Friday's game is questionable.

The 6-6, 220-pound senior, ranked the fifth best overall recruit in the state, left last week's 77-34 win over Murrieta Valley with concussion-like symptoms. Tests Monday revealed no concussion, but Logan said Tuesday that McKee was day-to-day and will be a "game-time decision." Doctors will make the final call.

"Events right after the contact are what is causing concern," Logan said.

There's never much of a concern about Centennial's prolific offense, which adjusted last week to rush for a staggering 603 yards, including 220 and five touchdowns by junior running back Thomas Kinslow and 128 yards and two scores by backup quarterback Arturo Herrera.

McKee, who has accounted for 2,822 yards and 28 touchdowns on the year, had rushed for 77 yards and two scores before being taken out. He's piled up 7,673 yards and 87 yards in his career. Chris Venable (28 catches, 684 yards, 10 TDs) is his top receiving threat. Three juniors share the running load.

"(Logan) does as good a job coaching as anyone in the country at utilizing his talent," Negro said. "It's torture preparing for (Centennial). But it's also a great challenge."

"We're going to have to have great success running the football," said Logan, who is 234-49 in 21 seasons at Centennial. "And win the turnover battle."

Winning any battle against the Bosco defense won't be easy. The Braves, featuring Jaiden Woodbey, Stephan Blaylock, Level Price, Chris Steele and Eli DeRoon, may have the best secondary in the country.

"Nothing is coming easy," Logan said. "For any of us."