How the Top 25 Fared on Friday

Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

We all know that high school football polls are designed to create discussion, and at the end of the day, they're just for fun.

Championships aren't won on paper, they're run on the field, in most most states.  Of course, until the California Interscholastic Federation moves to a true statewide playoff system, there will be debate on who's the top team by division in the state.

Yesterday, the team at High School Football America - SoCal unveiled its first preseason poll and already we've been shown that we're not as smart as we think we are.

Servite, our #4 team in the Big Schools Top 20, was shocked 40-23 in its season opener by unranked Bishop Amat.  LA Times preps reporter Eric Sondheimer and his team report in the Varsity Times Insider that the Servite loss ends a 25-game regular season win streak against California teams.

The best game of the night may have been in Sherman Oaks where #14 Serra beat #20 Notre Dame 26-23 in a game that had seven second half lead changes.  Read the game story from Sondheimer, by clicking here.

Tonight on ESPN2, we'll find-out if Santa Margarita can live-up to its national rankings and our #1 ranking.  The Eagles will face Arizona-power Brophy Prep starting at 7pm Pacific on national television.

There will be some changes this week in the Small School Top 5 after two teams, #2 Paraclete and Maranatha, lost their openers.

For now, here's how our Top 25 fared last night.

Big Schools Rankings

#1 - Santa Margarita vs. Brophy Prep (AZ) tonight 7pm on ESPN 2
#2 - Vista Murrieta - off
#3 - Alemany beat Pasadena 45-8
#4 - Servite lost to Bishop Amat 40-23
#5 - Oaks Christian beat Del Oro 40-0
#6 - Corona Centennial - off
#7 - Mission Viejo beat Bakersfield Centennial 35-0
#8 - St. Bonaventure beat Garfield 48-0
#9 - Narbonne - off
#10 - Rancho Cucamonga beat Redlands 40-17
#11 - Tesoro beat Compton 55-14
#12 - Westlake vs. Granite Bay tonight in Battle for Veterans
#13 - Upland beat Muir 36-6
#14 - Serra beat #20 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 26-23
#15 - Long Beach Poly beat Carson 42-26
#16 - Mater Dei - off
#17 - Lompoc beat Arroyo Grande 31-0
#18 - Chaminade beat Venice 37-20
#19 - Redlands East Valley - off
#20 - Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) lost to #14 Serra 26-23

Small Schools Rankings

#1 - Serra Canyon beat Bishop 36-0
#2 - Paraclete lost to Serrano 42-20
#3 - Rio Hondo Prep beat Aracadia 29-7
#4 - Maranatha lost to Antelope Valley 29-15
#5 - Citrus Valley beat Riverside Poly 40-15