by Jeff Fisher and HSFA Staff
This week figures
to be one of the biggest for Southern California football all season as a
number of the premier programs from the region will face each other in
non-league Top 20 showdowns.
There’s plenty at
stake with #1 Santa Margarita
hosting #5 St. Bonaventure; #4 Narbonne taking on #7 Serra (Gardena); and #13 Mater Dei squaring-off with #15 Edison. Not everyone can come out a
winner, so expect there to be a major shakeup in the High School Football America – SoCal rankings next week.
That said, let's
take a look at how some of the top teams from Southern California stack up
against each other in the newest edition of our rankings, which feature three
newcomers in Edison at #15, Bishop Amat at #18 and Crespi at #20
Note: Team's ranking from last week
is parentheses.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AMERICA - SoCal
TOP 20 (Big Schools)
1. (1) SANTA MARGARITA (RANCHO SANTA
MARGARITA)
Newsworthy: The Eagles (4-0) were impressive the
last time they stepped out on the field. A duplicate effort will be needed this
week against a formidable foe.
Rewind: Defeated Carson, 72-0.
Fast-forward: St. Bonaventure (Ventura) on Friday.
2. (2) VISTA MURRIETA (MURRIETA)
Newsworthy: A difficult test looms this week
against one of the top teams from the San Diego area. Odds are, the Broncos
(3-0) take care of business anyway.
Rewind: Defeated Redlands East Valley, 59-14.
Fast-forward: Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) on
Friday.
3. (3) OAKS CHRISTIAN (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
Newsworthy: With Brandon Dawkins directing the
offense, the Eagles (4-0) are playing well. And the sophomore quarterback has
shown no signs of slowing down.
Rewind: Defeated Chaminade (West Hills),
44-30.
Fast-forward: Crenshaw (Los Angeles) on Friday.
4. (4) NARBONNE (HARBOR CITY)
Newsworthy: Last week, senior linebacker Keishawn
Bierria and the Gauchos (3-0) gave up their first touchdown of the season on
the defensive side of the ball.
Rewind: Defeated Lakewood, 61-6.
Fast-forward: Serra (Gardena) on Friday.
5. (5) ST. BONAVENTURE (VENTURA)
Newsworthy: The Seraphs (4-0) are focused on the
task at hand. A win this week would be a statement-maker, to be sure, and
they're capable of pulling off the upset.
Rewind: Defeated Atascadero, 56-23.
Fast-forward: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa
Margarita) on Friday.
6. (7) MISSION VIEJO
Newsworthy: The Diablos (4-0) are in a favorable
position. With multiple teams ahead of them in the poll facing tough tests,
they could make a major move in the rankings.
Rewind: Defeated La Quinta (Westminster),
63-14.
Fast-forward: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo) on Friday.
7. (8) SERRA (GARDENA)
Newsworthy: Showdowns do not get much bigger than
the one this week and the final result will give us a good idea about whether
the Cavaliers (4-0) are for real. Or not.
Rewind: Defeated Banning (Wilmington), 43-0.
Fast-forward: Narbonne (Harbor City) on Friday.
8. (9) CENTENNIAL (CORONA)
Newsworthy: The Huskies (2-1) are playing about as
well as anyone out here in Southern California. Peaking a bit too soon could
develop into a concern, however.
Rewind: Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills),
36-32.
Fast-forward: Carson on Friday.
9. (6) ALEMANY (MISSION HILLS)
Newsworthy:
Steven Mitchell is the difference between winning and losing for the
Warriors (3-1). The senior receiver and USC commit came up short last week.
Rewind: Lost to Centennial (Corona), 36-32.
Fast-forward: Dorsey (Los Angeles) on Friday.
10. (10) UPLAND
Newsworthy: The Scots (4-0) are fighting for the
right to call themselves the cream of the crop from the Inland Empire. A
victory this week would be a stepping stone.
Rewind: Defeated Silverado (Victorville),
34-3.
Fast-forward: Santiago (Corona) on Friday.
11. (12) TESORO (RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA)
Newsworthy: We have been waiting for the Titans
(4-0) to be challenged. Could this, at long last, be the week it happens?
Everyone will find out soon enough.
Rewind: Defeated Colony (Ontario), 56-7.
Fast-forward: Chaparral (Temecula) on Friday.
12. (15) RANCHO CUCAMONGA
Newsworthy: Senior quarterback Adam Friederichsen
has emerged as a leader. The Cougars (3-1), as a result, are a group that no
one wants to face in the near future.
Rewind: Defeated A.B. Miller (Fontana), 45-0.
Fast-forward: J.W. North (Riverside) on Friday.
13. (13) MATER DEI (SANTA ANA)
Newsworthy: Trinity League play is right around
the corner for the Monarchs (3-0). Building up some momentum now is imperative
in order to move forward.
Rewind: Defeated Santa Monica, 55-0.
Fast-forward: Edison (Huntington Beach) on Friday.
14. (14) ST. JOHN BOSCO (BELLFLOWER)
Newsworthy: The Braves (4-0) have managed to go
about business quietly so far. Their days of flying underneath the radar are
about to come to an end though.
Rewind: Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles), 45-0.
Fast-forward: Jordan (Sandy, Utah) on Sept. 29.
15. (NR) EDISON (HUNTINGTON BEACH)
Newsworthy: Last week's victory against a
traditional powerhouse program from Southern California certainly looks good on
the resume for the Chargers (3-0).
Rewind: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 6-0.
Fast-forward: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Friday.
16. (18) LOMPOC
Newsworthy: The Braves (4-0) understand what it
takes to win: Hand the ball off to Lavon Coleman. The senior running back and
Washington commit has responded too.
Rewind: Defeated Dos Pueblos (Goleta), 31-14.
Fast-forward: Morro Bay on Friday.
17. (20) NOTRE DAME (SHERMAN OAKS)
Newsworthy: Another team from the San Fernando
Valley, another lopsided victory last week for the Knights (3-1). It's
official: They have hit their stride at the right time.
Rewind: Defeated Birmingham (Lake Balboa), 44-0.
Fast-forward: Golden Valley (Valencia) on Friday.
18. (NR) BISHOP AMAT (LA PUENTE)
Newsworthy: It does not matter who lines up
against the Lancers (3-0-1), by the end of the game, the opponent has not
figured out a way to beat this bunch in the recent past.
Rewind: Defeated Charter Oak (Covina), 30-14.
Fast-forward: St. Paul (Sante Fe Springs) on Friday.
19. (11) SERVITE (ANAHEIM)
Newsworthy: The Friars (1-2) do not have much time
to dwell on their last loss, certainly not with one of the nation's premier
programs heading to town this week.
Rewind: Lost to Edison (Huntington Beach),
6-0.
Fast-forward: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV.) on
Friday.
20. (NR) CRESPI (ENCINO)
Newsworthy: Tyler Foreman has been the anchored
for the Celts (5-0). With the senior defensive back patrolling the secondary,
this team will be tough the rest of the way.
Rewind: Defeated Palisades, 70-8.
Fast-forward: Westlake (Westlake Village) on Friday.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AMERICA TOP 5
(Small Schools)
1. (1) SIERRA CANYON (CHATSWORTH)
Noteworthy: The beat goes on for the Trailblazers
(3-0). We would not be the least bit surprised to see them go wire-to-wire as the
top team in this part of the poll.
Rewind: Defeated Kilpatrick (Malibu), 49-6.
Fast-forward: La Jolla Country Day on Friday.
2. (2) PARACLETE (LANCASTER)
Noteworthy: The Spirits (3-1) looked good with
last week's win over a traditional powerhouse from the CIF Los Angeles City
Section. See if they can keep it up now.
Rewind: Defeated Dorsey (Los Angeles), 26-24.
Fast-forward: Marshall (Pasadena) on Friday.
3. (4) ONTARIO CHRISTIAN (ONTARIO)
Noteworthy: Craig Bruinsma got the job done last
week for the Knights (4-0). The senior quarterback had a pair of touchdown
tosses and just three incomplete passes.
Rewind: Defeated Jurupa Valley, 47-6.
Fast-forward: Valley Christian (Cerritos) on Friday.
4. (NR) RIO HONDO PREP (ARCADIA)
Noteworthy: The Kares (3-1) jump right back into
the rankings with a particularly impressive victory last week. They held a spot
in this poll, mind you, earlier this season.
Rewind: Defeated Boron, 48-6.
Fast-forward: Big Bear (Big Bear City) on Sept. 29.
5. (3) SAN DIMAS
Noteworthy: The
Saints (3-1) should feel little, or no, shame about last week's loss to a
school with a bigger enrollment. Expect a bounce-back effort from them.
Rewind: Lost to Monrovia, 35-23
Fast-forward: Wilson (Hacienda Heights) on Friday.
