By Sean Ceglinsky
 |
Nebraska recruit Johnny Stanton during preseason camp
for Santa Margarita Eagles |
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The time has come. No more practices.
No more scrimmages. No more studying in the film room. No more lifting in the
weight room. The prep football season is set to kick off for those in Southern
California. The players, and coaches alike for that matter, finally have the
all-important opportunity to see if the diligent work put forth during the
off-season is going to pay off. Or not for some, unfortunately.
The region is loaded with some of the
country's more high-profile recruits, all of whom compete in the CIF Southern
Section and Los Angeles City Section. This neck of the woods is hotbed for
talented prospects, there's no doubt about it, and the collection of
individuals rivals what one might find in destinations such as Texas and Florida.
That said, we here at High School
Football America - SoCal figured it was necessary to take a look at how some of
the premier programs from Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Ventura
County stack up against each other. All points in between too. So without
further adieu, let's get down to business and break things down with our big
schools and small schools polls.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AMERICA TOP 20
1. SANTA
MARGARITA (RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA)
Newsworthy: Behind
senior quarterback and Nebraska commit Johnny Stanton, the Eagles are not only
the unquestioned top team in this poll, but also one of the nation's best
around.
Rewind: Since taking over as
coach a few short years ago, Harry Welch has developed this group into a
program that no one wants to face when the “Friday Night Lights” are bright.
Fast forward: Season
starts Saturday against Brophy College Prep (Phoenix, AZ).
2. VISTA
MURRIETA (MURRIETA)
Noteworthy:
Defensive back Su'a Cravens will play on the offensive side of the ball for the
Broncos. The senior and USC commit is far too talented to simply sit on the
sidelines.
Rewind: Vista Murrieta
emerged as a legitimate threat in the Golden State a season ago and it will be
interesting to see if the Broncos live up to the all-important hype moving
forward.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 31 against ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, CO).
3. ALEMANY
(MISSION HILLS)
Noteworthy: Receiver
Steven Mitchell, a speedy senior who committed to USC, is a threat to take the
ball to the house and score a touchdown every time he touches the ball.
Rewind: Known as one of the
top teams in the San Fernando Valley for quite some time, the Warriors have
been the measuring stick for many schools in the not so distant past.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Pasadena.
4. SERVITE
(ANAHEIM)
Noteworthy:
Competing in the traditionally tough Trinity League, there will be no easy
games. Life will also be particularly difficult once the Pac-5 Division
playoffs roll around.
Rewind: In terms of the best
teams in Orange County, the Friars are typically considered as the cream of the
crop. They go about their business in a workmanlike manner, nevertheless.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Bishop Amat.
5. OAKS
CHRISTIAN (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
Noteworthy: Brandon
Dawkins is entrenched as the starter at quarterback after winning the job last
season. This time around, the Lions are his team. There's no question about it.
Rewind: Bill Redell spent 12
years building the program into a power. He's moved on, however. Jeff Woodruff
has the unenviable task of taking over for the venerable head honcho.
Fast forward: Season
starts Saturday against Del Oro (Loomis).
6. CENTENNIAL
(CORONA)
Noteworthy: It
doesn't happen often, but for once, the Huskies are not considered the favorite
in the Inland Division. Now, let's see how this group reacts to some adversity.
Rewind: Coach Matt Logan had
some options on the offensive side of the ball last season. Problem was, the
players he expected to deliver did not fulfill their promise.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 31 against St. Bonaventure (Ventura).
7. MISSION
VIEJO
Noteworthy: Skill
position players usually warrant the most recognition. Max Redfield is the
exception to the rule. The senior defensive back and USC commit demands
attention.
Rewind: The Diablos made an
exit sooner than expected in last season's Pac-5 Division playoffs. The road to
redemption started immediately thereafter and has not subsided since.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Centennial (Bakersfield).
8. ST.
BONAVENTURE (VENTURA)
Noteworthy: Zachary
Green figures to be the workhouse out of the backfield and failing to reach the
1,500-yard plateau would be somewhat of disappointment for the senior ball
carrier.
Rewind: Well-known in
Ventura County circles for a number of years, the Seraphs worked diligently to
have their named mentioned among the elite. Mission accomplished.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 31 against Centennial (Corona).
9. NARBONNE
(HARBOR CITY)
Noteworthy: It begins,
and ends, with Washington-bound Troy Williams. With the senior quarterback at
the helm, the Gauchos are a formidable opponent. As tough as they come.
Rewind: Narbonne emerged as
the premier program in the City Section last season and took home the title.
Winning back-to-back championships, in fact, is entirely possible.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 30 against Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates).
10. RANCHO CUCAMONGA
Noteworthy: Seniors
Chris Hawkins and Tahaan Goodman patrol the secondary and given the fact both
will be playing in college soon, throwing the ball figures to be difficult.
Rewind: The Cougars have
been ranked among the Inland Empire's top 10 programs in recent years. They
have struggled, however, to break into the list of the top 5 schools.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Redlands.
11. TESORO (RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA)
Noteworthy: It's
time give some credit where credit is due: Coach Brian Barnes has gotten the
players to buy into his system. If anyone is a master-motivator, it just might
be him.
Rewind: The Titans opened
plenty of eyes late last season by making an unexpected run in the Pac-5
Division playoffs. Playing the role of spoiler appeared to come naturally.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Compton.
12. WESTLAKE (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
Noteworthy: Senior
quarterback Justin Moore decided football was no longer a desire and
transferred. His decision left plenty of questions marks. The cupboard is far
from bare though.
Rewind: The Warriors won the
Northern Division title last season. A CIF Bowl game followed and they,
unfortunately, lost a rather lopsided affair to De Le Salle (Concord).
Fast forward: Season
starts Saturday against Granite Bay.
13. UPLAND
Noteworthy: Joe
Mathis is a seemingly unstoppable force. As a result, the senior defensive
lineman is being recruited by a number of NCAA Division I powerhouse programs.
Rewind: Upland has made a
steady climb in the Inland Division rankings in recent years. Getting over the
hump and making a prolonged postseason run has been a different story.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Muir (Pasadena).
14. SERRA (GARDENA)
Noteworthy: Adoree' Jackson has shown
glimpses of his immense potential. With all eyes on him, the junior defensive
back appears more than poised to deliver a breakout effort
Rewind: The Cavaliers have sent a
number of high-profile players to the next level, including Robert Woods, Marqise
Lee and George Farmer. Each individual attends USC.
Fast forward: Season starts Friday
against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).
15. LONG BEACH POLY (LONG BEACH)
Noteworthy: Coach
Raul Lara doesn't rebuild, he reloads. Signs point to him having another bumper
crop of prospects, so it would not be wise to count out the Jackrabbits.
Rewind: Expectations were
sky high a season ago. That is, of course, until Long Beach Poly failed to
realize its limitless potential and stumbled in the Pac-5 Division playoffs
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Carson.
16. MATER DEI (SANTA ANA)
Noteworthy: Kyle Penniston
is an interesting prospect. The sophomore tight end has received plenty of
recruiting interest and has a scholarship offer on the table from Florida State.
Rewind: Last season, for the
first time in a long time, the Monarchs finished with a sub .500 record.
Memories of that 4-6 overall finish certainly can not be erased overnight.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 31 against St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs).
17. LOMPOC
Noteworthy: Lavon
Coleman rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 28 scores last year. The senior
and Washington commit could finish with similar stats this time around.
Rewind: The Braves finished
with an unblemished record (14-0) a season ago. Amid controversy, they were not
invited to a CIF Bowl game. The snub serves as motivation.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Arroyo Grande.
18. CHAMINADE (WEST HILLS)
Noteworthy: Terrell
Newby will have the ball in his hands early, and often. The senior running
back, mind you, is capable of shoulder the burden on the offensive side of the
ball.
Rewind: The Eagles had a
largely inexperienced group of players in key positions last season. Those same
individuals, however, honed their respective skills this past summer.
Fast forward: Starts
season Friday against Venice.
19. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (REDLANDS)
Noteworthy: Craig
Lee will be a marked man. The senior running back and UCLA is comfortable in
the spotlight and figures to take care of business despite the added attention.
Rewind: The Wildcats did not
have as much postseason success as they would have liked last season in one of
the most competitive environments around, the Inland Division.
Fast forward: Season
starts Aug. 31 against Dominguez (Compton).
20. NOTRE DAME (SHERMAN OAKS)
Noteworthy: Khalfani
Muhammad has breakaway speed. He possesses great vision too. Combine both and
you begin to understand why the senior running back is so dangerous.
Rewind: The Knights missed
out on postseason play last year by losing a coin toss. Go figure. The bad-luck
moment still lingers in the minds of most everyone associated with the program.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Serra (Gardena).
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AMERICA SMALL
SCHOOLS TOP 5
1. SIERRA
CANYON (CHATSWORTH)
Noteworthy: John Ellinghouse
has done an outstanding job at every stop in his coaching career. His track
record speaks for itself and the Trailblazers were lucky to land him.
Rewind: Sierra Canyon did
the unthinkable a season ago and completed a remarkable postseason run with a
34-13 victory over Le Grand in the CIF Division IV Bowl game.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Bishop.
2. PARACLETE
(LANCASTER)
Noteworthy: Good
luck finding this program on the football map. Unbeknownst to many, the Spirits
call the Antelope Valley home. It's a tough to place to play, for the record.
Rewind: The Mid-Valley
Division has been Paraclete's proverbial stomping grounds, particularly in the
postseason. One problem: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) always stands in the way.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Serrano (Phelan).
3. RIO
HONDO PREP (ARCADIA)
Noteworthy: In terms
of nonleague play, the Kares don't have the most daunting task in front of
them. One has to wonder if the soft schedule will hurt them in the long run.
Rewind: The Northeast
Division has offered competition in the past. Rio Hondo Prep, however, always
seems to peak at the right time and make name for itself come playoff time.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Arcadia.
4. MARANATHA
(PASADENA)
Noteworthy: Andrew Elffers
plays at small school, yes. Nevertheless, the senior quarterback is always a
big man on campus with a handful of scholarship offers to boot.
Rewind: The Minutemen
compete in the Northwest Division and face larger schools on a weekly basis.
The pressure to be at your best has not hindered them in the past.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against Antelope Valley.
5. CITRUS
VALLEY (REDLANDS)
Noteworthy: Coach Pete
Smolin doesn't worry about the area's top talent going to bigger local schools.
He works with he has and does an above average job for the Blackhawks.
Rewind: If Citrus Valley
doesn't win the East Valley Division championship this time around, there is
something seriously wrong. The title is well within reach for this group.
Fast forward: Season
starts Friday against San Gorgonio (San Bernardino).
