View on YouTubeIt's semifinals time, and the rankings have brought in a pair of teams. Vista Murrieta (previously ranked) and Great Oak are now part of the Top 25, and they each will face big tests this week in their playoff contests.
We are still waiting to see which team wins the Central Section title in Division I, as the winner stands a good chance of getting in. But until then, we are still seeing some Southern Section teams that didn't make the playoffs in the rankings.
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MaxPreps Top 25 Southern California Football Rankings
Photos by MaxPreps photographers / Graphic by Social Recluse Graphx
1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 11-1Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 5 national, 6 Xcellent 25
The
Braves once again faced little resistance, eliminating Norco 48-7.
Joey Chenoweth caught six passes for 111 yards and a score while
Clifford Simms rushed for three touchdown. Friday's battle with Long Beach Poly is a hot ticket in the area.
2. (2) Centennial (Corona), 10-2
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 3 state, 8 national
The
Huskies got revenge on Mater Dei, avenging an early-season setback with a 27-24 triumph. The Huskies were down 11 entering the fourth quarter but pulled out the win. J.J. Taylor was out due to an appendix issue, and
Sammonte Bonner stepped in with 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. This team has made it to the semifinals the hard way, and it continues with a matchup against Bishop Amat.
3. (5) Long Beach Poly, 11-1Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 5 state, 18 national
The
Jackrabbits were too much for Crespi in a 44-27 win after trailing at halftime.
Josh Love tossed four touchdowns and
Jeremy Calhoun ran 10 times for 114 yards while
Johnnie Rucker caught two of his three passes for touchdowns. They face St. John Bosco on Friday.
4. (6) Oceanside, 11-0Torreahno Sweet, Bishop Amat
Photo by Juan Ruvalcaba
Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 10
state, 50 national
The
Pirates had little trouble beating Carlsbad for the second time this season, this time by a 38-0 score. That's 13 points allowed in the last three games.
PJ Poumele returned a fumble for a touchdown and
Roman Roberson did the same with an interception. They face Mission Hills on Friday.
5. (8) Bishop Amat (La Puente), 9-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 14 national
The
Lancers ended JSerra Catholic's dream season with a 24-17 win.
Ryder Ruiz was 21-for-29 with 223 yards and two scores, while
Torreahno Sweet rushed for a touchdown as well. They go to Centennial this week.
6. (3) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 10-2Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 9
state, 38 national
The
Lions saw their season end in a 24-17 loss to Bishop Amat. Their second-place finish in the Trinity League was a massive leap and have established themselves as a regional power - perhaps one worthy of national consideration going forward.
7. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 9-3
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 21 national
The
Monarchs lost 27-24 to Centennial, ending their season after blowing a 24-13 lead.
Adrian Contreras ran 23 times for 126 yards and a touchdown, while the defense coaxed three turnovers.
8. (10) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 10-1Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 75 national
The
Dons felled Torrey Pines 27-0, a much easier win than their previous meeting. That's 10 wins in a row for the Dons, whose only loss is to NorCal power Folsom in the opening week. They will battle Helix this week.
9. (9) Serra (Gardena), 8-3 *Season overClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 72 national
The Cavaliers lost in the opening round. With Crespi's loss, we honor the head-to-head and leave them
10. (7) Crespi (Encino), 9-2Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6
state, 20 national
The
Celts lost a halftime lead and fell to Long Beach Poly, 44-27. The defense yielded 528 yards to the Jackrabbits.
11. (11) Upland, 10-2
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 14
state, 91 national
The
Highlanders earned a 52-21 victory over Hart. Their gameplan was to rush and they did it well, passing only seven times and rushing for 259 yards as a team.
Josh Woods rushed 13 times for 119 yards and two scores and
Nathan Tilford rushed 20 times for 111 yards and three touchdowns. They face Vista Murrieta this week.
12. (12) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 6-5 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 170 national
The
Eagles lost in the opening round.
13. (13) Servite (Anaheim), 4-7 *Season overClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 23 state, 199 national
The
Friars lost in the opening round.
14. (14) Westlake (Westlake Village), 8-3 *Season overClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 17 state, 145 national
The
Warriors lost in the opening round.
15. (15) El Capitan (Lakeside), 11-0Classifications: San Diego (II), State III
Ranks: 18 state, 149 national
The Vaqueros had no trouble in a 48-6 win over Mt. Carmel.
Dj Smith ran 13 times for 133 yards and three scores, and
Brad Cagle ran six times for 60 yards and a touchdown. They face Brawley next.
Isaiah Miller, Mission Viejo
Photo by Kirt Winter
16. (16) Alemany (Mission Hills), 7-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 87 national
The
Warriors didn't make the playoffs.
17. (17) Mission Viejo, 10-2Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 132 national
The
Diablos continued their solid play lately with a 38-35 victory over Rancho Cucamonga. A late touchdown pass was the winning margin for Mission Viejo. Great Oak is up next.
18. (19) Helix (La Mesa), 9-2Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 171 national
The
Highlanders trounced Ramona for the second time this season, opening the playoffs with a 58-35 triumph. They face Cathedral Catholic in a rematch next.
19. (NR) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 10-2Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State II
Ranks: 16
state, 138 national
The Broncos are back. We had them here early on but it has taken a while to return. Their 28-27 victory over Tesoro shows that they're certainly deserving, and the fact that they did it after a 24-0 halftime deficit is even more proof.
Dwayne Johnson returned a punt for a score and
Jalen Russell did the same with a fumble. They face Upland this week.
20. (18) Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 9-3Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State II
Ranks: 26
state, 235 national
The
Titans fell 28-27 to Vista Murrieta on a late touchdown pass and saw their season end.
21. (22) Mission Hills (San Marcos), 9-2Classifications: San Diego (Open), State I
Ranks: 30 state, 265 national
The
Grizzlies won 38-27 over Eastlake, picking off three interceptions in the process. They will face Oceanside this week.
22. (23) San Clemente, 11-1Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 27
state, 258 national
The Tritons blasted Foothill 56-6, with
Sam Darnold completing five of his 15 connections for touchdowns.
Cole Fotheringham caught eight passes for 115 yards and two scores. They face Capistrano Valley this week.
23. (NR) Great Oak (Temecula), 10-2Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Ranks: 24
state, 223 national
The Wolfpack has earned their spot here with playoff wins over Chino Hills and El Toro (last week, 27-24). The defense held El Toro to 30 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Great Oak will play Mission Viejo on Friday.
24. (24) Chino Hills, 8-3 *Season over
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 34
state, 316 national
The
Huskies lost in the first round.
25. (25) Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks), 6-4 *Season overClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 25 state, 230 national
The
Knights did not make the playoffs.
Dropped out: 20. St. Francis, 21. Corona del Mar