MaxPreps 2012 Southern Section Preseason Top 25 Rankings

Here is an in-depth look at the Top 25 teams in the Southern Section this season:

1. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
2011 finish: 13-2
Head coach: Harry Welch
Update: Not only are the Eagles expected to be the top team in Southern California from wire-to-wire this season, they also figure to be the trendy pick as the state's premier program for a majority of the year. Santa Margarita is seemingly without peer. Moreover, don't be surprised if this group is ranked among the nation's best from start to finish. They are No. 4 in MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 and No. 2 in the Freeman Rankings. It begins and ends with Johnny Stanton. In the pocket, he completed more than 62 percent of his passes a season ago and finished with a 127 passer rating. Stanton got the job done on the ground too, rushing for more than 5 yards per carry. It's reasonable to think that the 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior and Nebraska commit will deliver an encore effort.
Nonleague of note: Stanton & Co. will have a target on their backs, to be sure. They won't have to wait long for the first test either. Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) will look to prove itself in the second game of the season. The Broncos are no slouches, mind you. Far from it, in fact. MaxPreps ranks them No. 2 in the state and No. 49 overall in the country.
Projection: A CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division title appears to be a foregone conclusion, provided Stanton stays healthy. An appearance in a CIF State Bowl, beyond that, is a distinct possibility. Don't be the least bit surprised to see the Eagles run the table.

MaxPreps California Fab 5

2. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)
2011 finish: 9-5
Head coach: Coley Candaele
Update: The Broncos finished last season with what was supposed to be an unblemished 14-0 record. That is, of course, until they were forced to forfeit five victories for using an ineligible player. That fact figures to motivate Su'a Cravens and his teammates this year. The 6-1, 205-pound senior is a game-changer, especially on the defensive side of the ball from his safety position. He will see some action on offense, rest assured. Cravens is far too talented to sit on the sidelines for an extended period of time. A well-rounded skill set enabled him to emerge as one of the country's top prospects until a recent commitment to nearby USC put an end to the whole recruiting process.
Nonleague of note: Vista Murrieta opens up the season at home against Thunder Ridge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Ranked No. 11 in the state by MaxPreps, perhaps the Grizzlies should have reconsidered who their first opponent was going to be when picking the Broncos, No. 15 in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 and No. 14 in the Freeman Rankings.
Projection: Cravens is the catalyst, that much is certain. Vista Murrieta is a not a one-man show, though. With the focus on Cravens, senior quarterback Nick Stevens will provide balance and have more than a few opportunities to make an impact for the Broncos. A CIF Southern Section Inland Division title is within reach and a CIF Bowl berth is not out of the question.

3. Rancho Cucamonga
2011 finish: 11-2
Head coach: Nick Baiz
Update: Good luck throwing the ball against Tahaan Goodman and Chris Hawkins. The senior defensive back tandem will likely give opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks fits in the secondary. Hawkins will play his college ball at USC. Goodman, on the other hand, has not committed as of yet. He does hold scholarship offers from a number of the nation's top programs, including Alabama, Michigan and Oklahoma. The Trojans are also in the mix.
Nonleague of note: Showdowns don't get much bigger than the one in early September against Servite. Year in and year out, the Friars are about as competitive as they come. It will be interesting to see if Rancho Cucamonga is capable of holding its own.
Projection: The Cougars will have little, or no, problems in Baseline League action. Once the playoffs roll around, it could be an entirely different story. They reside in the Inland Division, and could be on a collision course with Vista Murrieta.

4. Westlake (Westlake Village) (14-1)
2011 finish: 14-1
Head coach: Jim Benkert
Update: When Justin Moore decided that life on the gridiron was no longer for him a few months ago, the decision to cut short his playing days sent shockwaves throughout Southern California. Mind you, the junior quarterback had just led his teammates to a berth in a CIF Bowl game and was expected to be one of the state‘s top returning players at his position. The Warriors have been scrambling for a replacement ever since, of course. All, however, is not lost. Talented two-way star Dashon Hunt remains in the mix. The UCLA-bound senior is the glue on defense from his defensive back spot and he figures to see additional carries out of the backfield with the absence of Moore.
Nonleague of note: A pair of games against Sac-Joaquin Section foes Granite Bay and Del Oro (Loomis) loom large in the first two weeks of the season. If the Warriors are able to emerge unscathed in those two contests, it could be smooth sailing for the rest of the month.
Projection: A potential stumbling block could be St. Bonaventure (Ventura) in the Marmonte League opener in late September. Aside from that, the road to the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs appears to be particularly favorable for Westlake.

5. Mission Viejo
2011 finish: 13-1
Head coach: Bob Johnson
Update: Receivers lined up on the outside, tight ends crossing over the middle and ballcarriers coming out of the backfield will most likely be sure they are aware of where Max Redfield is lined up this season. No one hits harder than the 6-3, 195-pound senior safety. When his days with Diablos are done, Redfield figures to patrol the secondary for USC in a similar manner.
Nonleague of note: Somewhat surprisingly, the Diablos do not have many difficult encounters on deck. In years past, their schedule was as competitive as anyone around. Redlands East Valley poses the lone threat - and not a monumental one.
Projection: Anything other than a South Coast League title would be a major disappointment for Mission Viejo. It will be interesting to see if a sub-par nonleague slate of games hurts the Diablos once the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs begin.

Watch more videos of Vista Murrieta football