MaxPreps Southern California Top 25 High School Football Rankings

Most teams in the Southern California Top 25 got started this past weekend and two of them didn't make it to the second edition: Cathedral Catholic and Tesoro.

What fans should be talking about, though, is the emergence of the two teams replacing them. Liberty (Bakersfield) earned an 18-7 victory over Mission Viejo to go to No. 24 and No. 22 Rancho Verde took down Citrus Hill to reach the rankings as well. The nonleague season is ripe with chances to jump ahead, and those two teams did the deed. Furthermore, a few ranked teams lost to other ranked teams and that elicited drops.

Expect more rumblings this coming week, as the big matchups continue to play out.

Be sure to follow @lelandmaxpreps and @lamaxpreps for information specific to Southern California. Also you can always check out the California Computer Rankings and last year's final SoCal Top 25.

1. (1 last week) St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 2 state, 6 national, 7 Xcellent 25

The Braves had the week off after their trip to Hawaii, and will host Norwalk this week.

2. (4) Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 1 state, 5 national, 16 Xcellent 25

The Monarchs took the state's top spot in the computer rankings by handling Centennial 38-18, and perhaps the biggest question mark was quarterback Jack Lowary. But he proved he's up to the task in his first varsity start, connecting on 16 of 27 passes for 203 yards, according to the Los Angeles Times. Mater Dei led 28-0, so this one wasn't even as close as the final score indicates. Villa Park visits the Monarchs on Friday.

3. (3) Serra (Gardena), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 11 state, 55 national, 17 Xcellent 25

The Cavaliers spotted Lakewood a 6-0 lead, then won 24-6. The score may have been a little closer than many would have expected, but Serra did rack up six sacks on defense, had eight different receivers take part in the team's 12 completed passes and rushed for 260 yards on 38 carries. Life will get a whole lot tougher this weekend as Serra faces Washington power Bellevue in the Honor Bowl at Oceanside High on Saturday night.

4. (6) Bakersfield, 1-0
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 8 state, 37 national

The Drillers beat Oaks Christian at home, 34-21, to exact revenge over last season's opening-week loss. They had this one under control, taking a 17-0 advantage into halftime. Coleman Olivas kicked two field goals, including a 47-yarder, and Bakersfield got two touchdowns each from Lameshio Hill and Marcus Bruce. KeAyr Gragg was 4-for-8 passing. Next up is Edison (Fresno) on Friday, a game many are saying could be the biggest of the year in the Central Section.

5. (5) Alemany (Mission Hills), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 7 state, 32 national

The 44-15 victory over Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga) did come at somewhat of a price, as quarterback Blake Green took a hard hit and had to leave the game according to the LA Times. The Warriors are going on a big-time road trip this week, as they are going to Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) for a Friday night contest.

6. (6) Westlake (Westlake Village), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 15 state, 88 national

The Warriors obliterated Canyon (Canyon Country) 44-17, including a 30-3 halftime advantage. It was an extremely balanced effort, with 251 rushing yards and 264 passing yards. Malik Henry was 21 of 31 with three passing touchdowns as well, and the defense grabbed two interceptions. Next up is a Friday road game at Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.).

7. (7) Chaminade (West Hills), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 10 state, 43 national

Fresh off a state title, the Eagles continued rolling on offense. They obliterated Venice, 70-23, behind four rushing touchdowns from Okalani Taufahema-Langi, and Edward Sias passed for a pair of scores. Eight players recorded carries and six recorded catches in the blowout. A home contest against Hart, a team that Chaminade split with last season, is Friday.

8. (10) Long Beach Poly, 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 6 state, 20 national, 25 Xcellent 25

The Jackrabbits are now in the Xcellent 25 after they smashed Crenshaw, 54-14. Josh Love was 14-for-17 passing with 222 yards and two touchdowns, and the team picked up five touchdowns. Jeremy Calhoun II grabbed four receptions for 99 yards and a score. Now Poly hosts Narbonne Friday.

9. (2) Servite (Anaheim), 0-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 4 state, 14 national

The Friars had a disappointing night against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), as they dominated the statistics in the first half but had trouble with penalties and red zone efficiency. They lost 48-27 in the televised contest, with Andrew Acosta kicking two field goals and Travis Waller going 54 yards for a score. They go to Corona for Friday's game.

10. (12) Upland, 1-0
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 12 state, 63 national

The Highlanders simply did whatever they wanted against Knight (Palmdale), winning a 71-0 laugher. It was 57-0 at halftime. Five of the eight completions for Tyler Hilinski went for touchdowns, and Nathan Tilford ran eight times for 129 yards and two scores. They go to Redondo Union for Friday's game.

11. (13) Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 0-0
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 13 state, 64 national

The Broncos did not play. They open the season Friday at Downey.

12. (16) Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 45 state, 290 national

The Knights got five touchdowns from C.j. Sanders in a 70-34 blowout over Mira Costa. Sanders scored on the first offensive play of the game, according to the Torrance Daily Breeze. Next week features a trip to Birmingham (Lake Balboa) on Friday.

13. (22) Helix (La Mesa), 1-0
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 19 state, 135 national

In one of the most impressive wins last week among ranked teams, the Highlanders took down St. Bonaventure 24-20. Curtis Holmes scored the winning touchdown and the defense held firm in the final seconds when the Seraphs had the ball at the Helix 31 on fourth down. Nathan Stinson ran for 146 yards. Don't think things are any easier: Now Del Oro (Loomis) comes calling in the Honor Bowl.

14. (18) JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 9 state, 38 national

The Lions started a bit slow on offense, then exploded in the fourth quarter of a 40-0 win over Cabrillo (Long Beach). They tallied an amazing 33 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close game. Edward Vander tallied three touchdowns for JSerra and Daniel (dj) Bailey added a pair of scores. JSerra takes on Chino Hills Friday, a team that knocked off Hart last week.

15. (19) Clovis North (Fresno), 1-0
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 22 state, 145 national

The Broncos earned their first win in Tim Simons' tenure with a 19-16 triumph over Reed (Sparks, Nev.). Clovis North took a 13-3 lead to halftime at the Honor Bowl in Loomis (Del Oro High), and survived two late Reed scores, according to the Sparks Tribune. It's going to be extremely tough on Friday, as they venture to Northern California Open Division Regional finalist Folsom on Friday.

16. (23) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 18 state, 132 national

The Eagles won 26-21 over Bishop Amat in a thriller, a game that included two late drives by Amat that were thwarted by the Eagles defense. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, K.j. Costello was 26-for-38 passing with 240 yards and a pair of scores. Santa Margarita hosts Santiago (Corona) on Friday.

17. (11) Centennial (Corona), 0-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 14 state, 67 national

The Huskies actually moved up in the computer rankings despite losing 38-18 to Mater Dei. The rushing game netted 85 yards on 24 carries and two quarterbacks combined to go 13 of 30 with 199 yards - not exactly numbers most associate with Centennial. Javon Mckinley caught six passes for 104 yards. Centennial will face Orange Lutheran on Saturday.

18. (25) Oceanside, 1-0
Classifications: San Diego (I), State I
Ranks: 17 state, 120 national

The Pirates jumped to a solid halftime lead and beat St. Augustine 34-28. Quarterback was a spot where the Pirates had a little shakiness but Matthew Romero did the job well, tossing three touchdowns as part of a no-interception, 16-for-31 performance. Johnny Arzola caught eight of those passes for 132 yards and a score, and also ran six times for 60 yards. Oceanside can move up higher if it beats Mission Viejo this weekend, and would definitely knock the Diablos out.

19. (24) Orange Lutheran, 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 26 state, 156 national

The Lancers had little trouble with Dominguez (Compton), taking a 33-7 victory last week.  Lj Northington was efficient with 9-for-11 passing (two touchdowns) and 11 different players totaled 163 rushing yards with no player posting more than 46. Things will get much tougher with the matchup against Centennial in the Honor Bowl on Saturday.

20. (15) St. Bonaventure (Ventura), 0-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 20 state, 140 national

The Seraphs lost 24-20 to Helix (La Mesa), and had a shot in the final minute but a fourth-down pass went incomplete.    A trip to Cabrillo (Long Beach) has them as the favorite this week.

21. (17) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 0-1
Classifications: Southern (Pac 5), State I
Ranks: 16 state, 111 national

A trip to play Bakersfield is never easy, and the Lions found that out in a 34-21 loss to the Drillers. They spotted Bakersfield a 17-0 halftime lead, so things obviously were difficult to overcome. Still, they showed fight to make it 20-14 before the Drillers closed it out. Oaks Christian, which didn't fall out of the rankings, will face Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), which did fall out. Should be an interesting matchup.

22. (NR) Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 1-0
Classifications: Southern (Inland), State II
Ranks: 25 state, 154 national

The Mustangs got by a Citrus Hill squad that has lost just twice in the last three seasons, 37-34. Alberto Coria kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute after Citrus Hill tied it up with about two minutes left. Sheriron Jones hit Cedric Peterson for the first score of the fourth quarter to help in the effort. Rancho Verde faces Murrieta Mesa on Friday.

23. (14) Hart (Newhall), 0-1
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 35 state, 224 national

The Indians had a disappointing start to their season, falling 63-48 to Chino Hills and losing Trent Irwin to a shoulder injury. They yielded the final three scores of the game to lose, and it took the joy out of a school record set by quarterback Brady White: 537 yards. The offensive prowess isn't in doubt but the defense exhibited concerning tackling problems. A game against Chaminade this week certainly won't be easy.

24. (NR) Liberty (Bakersfield), 1-0
Classifications: Central (I), State I
Ranks: 28 state, 166 national

The Patriots have a message for Central Section teams looking for statewide respect: Go take on a top-notch Southern Section program on the road and earn an 18-7 victory. It was a defensive battle, with a 6-0 Liberty lead after the third quarter, and despite more scoring in the fourth quarter, the visitors emerged victorious. Anthony Mariscal rushed for a touchdown to grab a 12-7 lead and then, according to the Bakersfield Californian, Kurtis Brown forced a fumble on a run play and Stavros Katsantonis went 85 yards for the score.

25. (9) Mission Viejo, 0-1
Classifications: Southern (West Valley), State I
Ranks: 31 state, 189 national

The Diablos, as seen above, had a 7-6 lead in the fourth quarter but lost 18-7 to Liberty at home. Brock Johnson hit Connor Hill from 14 yards away for the team's only score. Mission Viejo is in serious danger of falling out of the rankings, considering the next contest is against Oceanside.