MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 high school football rankings

Video: Stat stars, November 18

The first round of the playoffs in the Southern and Los Angeles City sections was devoid of significant upsets, making the rankings pretty much the same as last week.

Don't expect the same in the next edition, as ranked teams butt heads in some battles and other ranked squads face significant tests.

Upland moved back into the rankings at No. 25 after San Juan Hills lost to Valencia in its playoff opener. The Highlanders face Vista Murrieta on Friday, though, so their stay could be short-lived.

Read through to find out about everybody's most recent game and their next opponent, and click here to see all the MaxPreps California playoff brackets.


1. (1 last week) Centennial (Corona), 11-0
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 1 state, 1 national, 3 Xcellent 25

The Huskies are now the nation's top team in the computer rankings after a 70-29 blasting of then-No. 15 Chaminade. JJ Taylor ran for a jaw-dropping seven touchdowns in the blowout. They go to Orange Lutheran Friday for a rematch of a game earlier this season.

2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 11-0
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 2 state, 2 national, 2 Xcellent 25

The Braves fell behind Centennial in the computer rankings, but we all know this is a situation of 1 and 1A. The Braves stomped Corona, 72-7, behind 305 rushing yards and six touchdowns as a team. They face Loyola on Friday.

3. (3) Mission Viejo, 11-0
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 6 state, 22 national

The Diablos opened the postseason with a 49-14 triumph over Hart. It was was 42-0 at halftime. Murrieta Valley comes up next, and six of the eight remaining teams in the West Valley Division have been ranked at one point.

4. (4) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 4 state, 12 national

The Lancers took down No. 14 Norco by a 72-36 count, getting five touchdown passes from Damian Garcia
 - four of them to Torreahno Sweet. They face undefeated Oaks Christian on Friday.

5. (5) Long Beach Poly, 5-5 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Moore League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 23 state, 239 national

The Jackrabbits stay here this week but will fall in coming weeks. They missed the playoffs due to three forfeit losses.

6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 5 state, 13 national

The Monarchs earned a 66-14 win over Lakewood to start off the Pac-5 playoffs. Brandon LaMarche ran for four touchdowns and caught a pass for another. Now things get tougher, as they face Serra on Friday.

7. (7) Narbonne (Harbor City), 9-2
Classification: Los Angeles City Section, Marine League, Division I
Rankings: 49 state, 513 national

The Gauchos stomped Eagle Rock in the opening round, 54-0. They completed 13 passes and five of them went for touchdowns in the shutout. Next up is San Pedro, the same team they shut out 38-0 just two weeks ago.

8. (8) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 11-0
Classification: Southern Section, Marmonte League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 9 state, 69 national

The Lions had no trouble in a 56-8 win over Jordan (Long Beach), as Matt Corral went 9-for-11 with 204 yards and five touchdowns. They face a huge test against Bishop Amat on Friday.

9. (9) Serra (Gardena), 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 7 state, 61 national

The Cavaliers took a 38-20 win against Westlake after trailing 14-7 after the first quarter. Khalil Tate threw three touchdown passes and ran for another one with 175 yards. They face Mater Dei on Friday.

10. (10) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 10-1
Classification: Southern Section, Southwestern League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 19 state, 147 national

The Broncos won 31-23 over El Toro in a game that got a little closer than they wanted at the end, perhaps. Now they will battle Upland.

11. (11) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 10-0
Classification: San Diego Section, Avocado East League, Open Division
Rankings: 27 state, 281 national

The Grizzlies are the No. 3 seed in the Open Division playoffs and will face La Costa Canyon on Friday.

12. (12) Helix (La Mesa), 8-1
Classification: San Diego Section, Grossmont Hills League, Open Division
Rankings: 11 state, 75 national

The Highlanders are the top seed in the Open Division and host Madison on Friday.

13. (13) Camarillo, 11-0
Classification: Southern Section, Camino League, Northern Division
Rankings: 15 state, 127 national

The Scorpions won 43-7 over Highland (Palmdale), and Aaron Lamb did the damage with 12 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns. They go to St. Joseph (Santa Maria) on Friday.

14. (14) Norco, 8-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Big VIII League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 29 state, 317 national

The Cougars' season ended with a 72-36 loss to Bishop Amat. Victor Viramontes ran 25 times for 202 yards and two scores and also threw for two touchdowns.

15. (15) Chaminade (West Hills), 7-4 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 17 state, 134 national

The Eagles are done after a 70-29 loss to Centennial. They had some great wins, and a couple regrettable losses that prevented them from getting a better seed - and a higher ranking.

16. (16) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, South Coast League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 16 state, 128 national

The Titans had no trouble in a 49-3 victory over Great Oak, with the defense recovering three fumbles and grabbing an interception. They will face off with Rancho Cucamonga on Friday.

17. (17) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 7-3 *Season over
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 20 state, 192 national

The Lions did not make the playoffs.

18. (18) Orange Lutheran, 6-5
Classification: Southern Section, Trinity League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 14 state, 125 national

The Lancers won 54-44 over St. Bonaventure, rolling up a jaw-dropping 576 rushing yards. They had four rushers all go over the 100-yard mark. They will battle Centennial on Friday.

19. (19) La Habra, 10-1
Classification: Southern Section, Freeway League, Southwest Division
Rankings: 18 state, 139 national

The Highlanders posted their third shutout in a row (fourth of the year) with a 49-0 triumph over Kennedy (La Palma). Next up is Laguna Hills.

20. (22) Loyola (Los Angeles), 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, Mission League, Pac-5 Division
Rankings: 10 state, 74 national

The Cubs won 48-16 over Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach), with quarterback Sean O'malley rushing for two scores and throwing for two more. They battle St. John Bosco next.

21. (20) St. Augustine (San Diego), 8-2
Classification: San Diego Section, Eastern League, Open Division
Rankings: 22 state, 231 national

The Saints earned the No. 2 seed in the Open Division and host Eastlake on Friday.

22. (23) Chino Hills, 9-2
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 39 state, 416 national

The Huskies eliminated Los Alamitos, 38-30, behind three forced turnovers from the defense. They yielded 82 rushing yards on 23 attempts. A matchup with upset-minded Valencia is next.

23. (24) Arroyo Grande, 10-1
Classification: Southern Section, Pac-5 League, Northern Division
Rankings: 41 state, 425 national

The Eagles pulled away in the second half to beat Royal, 45-21. They ran for 567 yards, with Alexander Cecchi scoring four times to go with 193 yards and Bradley Mickey scoring twice to go with 223 yards. They face Antelope Valley on Friday.

24. (25) Calabasas, 10-1
Classification: Southern Section, Canyon League, Western Division
Rankings: 53 state, 580 national

The Coyotes trounced Rio Mesa by a 56-17 count behind four touchdown passes to four different receivers by Tristan Gebbia. They face Lawndale on Friday, which is 10-1 on the field but suffered forfeit losses.

25. (NR) Upland, 8-3
Classification: Southern Section, Baseline League, West Valley Division
Rankings: 50 state, 527 national

The Highlanders are back, as they eliminated Saugus 45-10 in their playoff opener. They will face Vista Murrieta on Friday.

Dropped out: San Juan Hills