Only a scant few teams from Southern California got their seasons started last week, and it wasn't enough action to cause movement in the weekly MaxPreps rankings that cover the Central, Southern, Los Angeles and San Diego sections, save for one team. Central High of Fresno suffered a whipping at Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.).
The real shake-ups will be coming from here on out, as most every team on the list gets its season underway this week - some will wait one more.
An additional factor is also considered this week, as the Southern Section released its preseason poll, and that poll is pretty close to what we had here last week.
In case you did not hear the news, MaxPreps has unveiled a new set of metro area sites and Los Angeles is part of the first group.
Click here to visit the MaxPreps Los Angeles site. And
click here to read about future launches nationwide, including San Diego and Fresno.Here is the info looking forward to a holiday weekend full of games.
MaxPreps Top 25 Southern California High School Football Rankings
Centennial (Corona) will take its No. 2 ranking onto the field against Liberty (Henderson, Nev.).
Photo by Rob Carmell
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
We aren't the only ones high on the
Braves, as they are fifth in the
National Composite Rankings. The No. 6 team in the Xcellent 25 will get a favorable matchup at Dominguez (Compton), facing a squad that went 6-6 last season, but it is also a program that has gone 29-18 since 2009 - so it's not a foregone conclusion. Still, expect the Braves' star-studded roster to take care of business Friday night at 7. Bosco is actually ranked No. 2 in the Pac 5 behind Long Beach Poly, according to the CIFSS poll.
2. (2) Centennial (Corona)Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
The Huskies moved up a spot in the Xcellent 25 to ninth and are also ninth in the Composite Rankings. They'll put that on the line against Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) Friday at 7:30. Liberty (0-1) lost in a 48-7 blowout to Salpointe Catholic but is still the No. 2 team in the state according to the MaxPreps Fab 5. Centennial won't have it any easier the next week against St. Bonaventure (Ventura).
3. (3) Serra (Gardena)Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
The
Cavaliers will be battling Desert Ridge (Mesa, Ariz) in one of the
national Top 10 Games of the Week, the most anticipated game in the Brothers in Arms Classic at Cathedral Catholic High in San Diego. Game time is 3:45 p.m. on Saturday for Serra, the No. 6 team in the Composite Rankings. Desert Ridge was a state semifinalist last season in Arizona's Division I bracket and isn't looking to travel to San Diego just to be a sacrificial lamb.
4. (4) Long Beach PolyClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The
Jackrabbits are actually the top pick in the Pac 5 according to the CIFSS poll. We're not sure if we can bump them above St. John Bosco, but regardless, Poly is a stacked team as usual. Crenshaw comes to town Friday at 7 p.m., and Crenshaw is coming off an appearance in the Los Angeles City Section Division I final. Poly is 25th in the Composite Rankings, but the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 and MaxPreps Computer Rankings are the only ones who have included the Jackrabbits.
5. (5) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)Classifications: Southern (Inland), State I
The Broncos won't be starting their season this week, so that's one more week to get all their pieces together. It can only help. They will open on Sept. 6 against Downey, which is the top-ranked team in the Southeast Division according to the CIFSS Poll. Count on the Broncos being at Downey High on Friday night, as Downey will face Mayfair (Lakewood) in a scouting opportunity.
6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The
Monarchs are third in the Pac 5 rankings on the CIFSS poll, and as usual they will be a factor in the Pac 5 playoffs. They're going to host Upland Friday at 7 p.m., and they'll be facing the No. 4 team from the Inland Division according to the CIFSS Poll. Mater Dei has one national Top 25 ranking to its credit: The MaxPreps Computer Rankings gave the Monarchs a No. 11 national ranking.
7. (7) Mission ViejoClassifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The
Diablos will be soaking up the beautiful Hawaiian landscape as they prepare to battle Baldwin (Wailuku, Hawaii) Friday night. Only having four league games means the Diablos get to face a variety of teams of their choosing and that should be a nice benefit. As for this week, Baldwin is 1-1 this season including a 55-0 blowout loss to St. Louis (Honolulu).
Oceanside celebrated a section title last season. Thisseason is shaping up to be a good one as well.
File photo by Steven Silva
8. (8) OceansideClassifications: San Diego (Open/II), State II
The
Pirates' schedule last week showed they played Torrey Pines but that was a scrimmage. So the 0-0 Pirates officially start their season Friday at 7 p.m. against St. Augustine (San Diego) in the Brothers in Arms Classic (Mesa College) before they host Serra (Gardena) the next week. Also of note, last week we said Oceanside had qualified for the semifinals 17 years in a row. We were wrong: They have made 19.
9. (9) Chaminade (West Hills)Classifications: Southern (Western), State II
The
Eagles are No. 2 in the Western Division according to the CIFSS poll and that seems appropriate, as No. 1 Serra is a tough team to get ahead of. Chaminade hosts Venice Friday at 7 p.m., and is the
No. 10 team in our National Medium Schools Rankings. It will be a game of the run-happy Chaminade offense against a passing-happy Venice offense.
10. (10) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The
Lions will welcome Bakersfield on Friday at 7 p.m., and that is never an easy task. The Drillers are a tough team out of the Central Section and will give the Lions a good test. Then they have Upland the next week, so life won't get any easier.
11. (11) Edison (Huntington Beach)Classifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
The
Chargers are the No. 21 team nationally in the medium school rankings and the class of the Southwest Division according to the CIFSS Poll. They will travel to Centennial (Compton) Friday at 5 p.m. (the game time was changed) and Centennial is a tough team to figure out. The Apaches were five points short of playing for a section title last season, yet finished just 5-8 overall.
12. (12) St. Bonaventure (Ventura)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The edge most certainly goes to St. Bonaventure on Friday at 7:30 p.m., as their LA City Section opponent (Garfield) is an average team. How average? A 29-29 record over five seasons is pretty good evidence. This game will be played at Ventura High. The Seraphs have a brutal matchup with Centennial (Corona) coming up the week after, so this could be a great game to get things on track.
13. (13) Alemany (Mission Hills)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The
Warriors are ranked 14th in the state in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, so they certainly have respect there. In these rankings, they are 13th this week and will go to Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) for a 7 p.m. game on Friday. Los Osos is 16-16 over the past three seasons and finished 5-6 last season.
14. (14) Narbonne (Harbor City)Classifications: Los Angeles (I), State I
As these rankings are being typed up, the Gauchos are playing at Palos Verdes, which is the No. 3 team in the Northern Division according to the CIFSS poll. Playing an afternoon game is a strange concept for most teams that aren't used to it, so perhaps Narbonne will have to adjust.
15. (15) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
The Knights aren't in the Top 10 for the Pac 5, according to the CIFSS poll, but then in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, they are No. 17 in the entire state. So something will have to give. The process of finding out how good this team is begins at home Friday against Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) at 7 p.m., and will continue with the Honor Bowl the next week and then a trip to Serra.
16. (16) Mission Hills (San Marcos)Classifications: San Diego (Open/II), State II
The Grizzlies are also in the Brothers in Arms Classic, and they have the not-so-enviable 11 a.m. game on Saturday. Desert Vista of Phoenix will be the opponent, and Desert Vista is ranked No. 7 in Arizona, so it should be a great contest. A marine layer covering Cathedral Catholic's field would certainly help a lot as well against the boys from the desert.
17. (17) UplandClassifications: Southern (Inland), State I
The
Highlanders are headed to Mater Dei to see if their improved roster is improved enough to beat storied programs like Mater Dei. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Santa Ana. This team, ranked fourth in the Inland Division in the CIFSS poll, has made a commitment to scheduling tougher teams, now it's time to see if it was a swell idea.
18. (18) Hart (Newhall)Classifications: Southern (Northern), State II
The Indians are the top-ranked squad in the CIFSS poll for the Northern Division after an 8-4 campaign last year. Expect big passing numbers from Hart, and the quest for a title begins Friday for this squad against Santiago (Corona), which was 5-5 last season and is ranked No. 4 in the Inland Division according to the CIFSS poll.
19. (19) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Traveling to Bishop Amat for the Friday 7 p.m. game will give the Eagles their first chance to erase last season and fight to get Harry Welch back to a CIF State Bowl Game one more time. Bishop Amat is ranked just below Santa Margarita in the CIFSS poll, as it comes in No. 8 compared to sixth for the Eagles.
20. (20) Clovis North (Fresno)Classifications: Central (I), State I
The
Broncos will await Atascadero for a Friday night game at 7 p.m. They'd better make sure to avoid injuries and to perfect their positioning because St. John Bosco awaits next week. But they need to be careful, because Atascadero put together a gritty effort last season in the playoffs and despite a 4-6 record, won two playoff games to reach the Northern Division semifinals.
21. (21) BakersfieldClassifications: Central (I), State I
The
Drillers are headed to Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) for a Friday night game. They'll be fighting for their section, as Central (Fresno) dropped out, so there is a little more to play for.
22. (22) Villa ParkClassifications: Southern (Southwest), State II
Villa Park is actually ranked behind La Habra in the CIFSS poll but when it comes to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, it's not very close, as Villa Park is 28th in the state and La Habra is 85th. The Spartans are off this week, but get to go scout their Week 1 opponent, Valencia (Placentia), in a game against Brea Olinda.
23. (23) NorcoClassifications: Southern (Inland), State I
The Cougars are ranked ahead of Upland in the CIFSS poll. They certainly are a wild card of types, as there is potential to contend for a title game spot in the Inland Division. Norco will host Rancho Cucamonga next week to open its season, so that means the Cougars get to watch Rancho Cucamonga play at Redlands this week.
24. (25) Venice (Los Angeles)Classifications: Los Angeles (I), State I
Moving up is just that easy! Well, not really. But thanks to Central (Fresno) losing, the
Gondoliers are now 24th. But in order to stay there, they are likely going to have to beat a very good Chaminade squad on Saturday. Things will get easier once league play starts, but that is a long way away.
25. (NR) Helix (La Mesa)Classifications: San Diego (Open/II), State II
The Highlanders are in the rankings thanks to Central's loss. They were 10-1 last season (9-2 on the field) and the year before they won the state title over Del Oro (Loomis). This year's squad will get a very interesting test Saturday in the Brothers in Arms Classic, facing Punahou (Honolulu) Saturday at 8 p.m. Punahou has a No. 14 national ranking in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings, and is 1-0 with a 24-14 win over Mililani.
Dropped out:No. 24 Central (Fresno) lost 31-7 to Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo)
