Five of California's Top 25 went down to defeat last week, yet it was still a good week for the Golden State's elite.
All the loses were either to other ranked squads or out-of-state powers, including previous No. 6 Narbonne, which went down hard to defending Utah state champion Lone Peak (Highland) by three touchdowns.
The biggest climber in this week's rankings was Grace Brethren (Simi Valley), which moved up eight spots to No. 12 following a decisive 54-28 win at previous No. 8 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village).
Josh Henderson rambled for 134 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Grace Brethren attack and now has 240 yards and seven scores on the young season.
Video: Cathedral Catholic upends Saguaro
Big defensive stand in final minute lifts the Dons to victory over Arizona's top team.
Oaks Christian took the biggest drop, falling to 16th, but the Lions (1-1) can jump up immediate with a home victory against No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) on Friday.
Though Narbonne and No. 13 JSerra Catholic lost to out-of-state powers, three other California ranked squads came away victorious versus non-Golden Staters.
Two of those came at the Honor Bowl where No. 6 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) used a late defensive stand to knock off Arizona's No. 1 team Saguaro (Scottsdale) and No. 20 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) needed a 33-yard field goal by
Anthony Prieto on the game's final play to defeat another Arizona power, Desert Vista (Phoenix).
The most impressive California victory over an out-of-state opponent was No. 2 St. John Bosco which scored four touchdowns in a span of 4:01 of the first quarter to rout New Jersey and national power Don Bosco Prep, 56-21. The nation's top-rated senior quarterback
DJ Uiagalelei showed why he is, throwing for four touchdowns and running for a fifth, all in the first half.
Alemany and Rancho Verde enter the California Top 25 this week and Lawndale and Orange Lutheran dropped out.
The Oaks Christian-Sierra Canyon contest is just one of five games this week featuring two Top 25 teams, the best of which is No. 3 Centennial (Corona) at No. 6 Cathedral Catholic.
Josh Henderson, Grace Brethren
File photo by Louis Lopez
Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Villa Park (Calif.) 63-7
Next game: Sept. 6 at Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
2. (2) St. John Bosco (Bellflower)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) 56-21
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) at Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas)
3. (3) Centennial (Corona)Record: 1-1
Last week: Beat Orange Lutheran (Orange) 55-14
Next game: Sept. 6 at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Record: 1-1
Last week: Beat Central Catholic (Modesto) 49-14
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Saint Francis (Mountain View)
5. (5) FolsomRecord: 1-0
Last week: Beat Jesuit (Carmichael) 52-12
Next game: Sept. 6 at Antelope
6. (11) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 18-10
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. No. 20 Centennial (Corona)
7. (7) Mission Viejo Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) 21-10
Next game: Sept. 6 at No. 14 La Habra
8. (10) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Lawndale 37-12
Next game: Sept. 6 at No. 16 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)
9. (12) Serra (Gardena)Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Garfield (Los Angeles) 41-14
Next game: Sept. 6 at No. 11 Calabasas
Record: 1-1
Last week: Lost to Lone Peak (Utah) 41-21
Next game: Sept. 6 at St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)
Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Rancho Cucamonga 45-26
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. No. 9 Serra (Gardena)
Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 54-28
Next game: Sept. 6 at Muir (Pasadena)
13. (9) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)Record: 1-1
Last week: Lost to St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) 24-13
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Bishop Amat (La Puente)
14. (14) La HabraRecord: 2-0
Last week: Beat Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 56-7
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. No. 7 Mission Viejo
Record: 1-1
Last week: Beat Crenshaw (Los Angeles) 48-0
Next week: Sept. 6 at No. 25 Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley)
Record: 1-1
Last week: Lost to Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 54-28
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
17. (17) Corona del Mar (Newport Beach)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Saint Francis (Mountain View) 42-14
Next game: Sept. 6 at Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates)
18. (16) Liberty (Brentwood)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Oakdale 19-14
Next game: Sept. 7 vs. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) at James Logan (Honor Bowl)
19. (18) Central (Fresno)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Grant (Sacramento) 38-7
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Whitney (Rocklin)
Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat Desert Vista (Phoenix) 37-35
Next game: Sept. 6 at Moorpark
21. (24) Servite (Anaheim)Record: 1-0
Last week: Beat JW North (Riverside) 48-7
Next game: Sept. 7 at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Record: 1-0
Last week: Idle
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Rancho Cucamonga
23. (25) Buchanan (Clovis)Record: 1-1
Last week: Beat Bullard (Fresno) 28-14
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. Edison (Fresno)
Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Higley (Gilbert, Ariz.) 55-16
Next game: Sept. 6 at Dorsey (Los Angeles)
25. (NR) Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley)Record: 2-0
Last week: Beat Santiago (Corona) 45-7
Next game: Sept. 6 vs. No. 15 Upland
Dropped out: No. 22 Lawndale, No. 23 Orange Lutheran.
