Upland won one of the most intriguing games of the night (the only one in which both teams were top 30 in state) against state’s tough luck team of the year Oaks Christian in CIFSS D2 playoffs. The Highlanders are that division’s defending champion. Photo: Twitter.com.
Saturday update added and it’s a big one as No. 10 Serra (San Mateo) gets stunned in San Francisco. For Friday, we had to go pretty deep on this list to find a team that actually played this week as first-round playoff byes or time off for other reasons was the norm. Still, there were a few barn-burners, including No. 17 Grace Brethren holding off Westlake of Westlake Village and No. 23 Rancho Verde winning in overtime against Serra of Gardena.
Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Monday. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on more than 40 years of going to Friday night games with an overview of the state’s top teams and what’s coming up that just can’t be matched. It’s more than 8,000 words of jam-packed info. Each new set of rankings will be for Gold Club members only. The late Friday/Weekend Scoreboards will continue to be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more.
We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To join our Gold Club to get all new state rankings, state record updates and all-state team announcements, CLICK HERE.
(Rankings based on last week’s State Top 50 released last Monday)
(Through reported results of Friday, Nov. 8)
THANKS TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENT DANIEL POULTER FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS POST.
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 10-0
Did not play. The top-seeded team in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs and two-time defending CIF Open Division state champions will start the eight-team bracket next week against No. 8 seed Bishop Amat (La Puente). All of the other CIFSS brackets are 16 teams and began Friday night.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 9-1
Did not play. Head coach Jason Negro’s squad also starts the smaller, more power-packed and condensed CIFSS D1 playoffs next week. The Braves, who are looking to play Mater Dei in a rematch in three weeks, play No. 7 seed Calabasas in their first-round game.
3. De La Salle (Concord) 9-1
Did not play. The reason that the Spartans didn’t play is different than MD or Bosco. In their case, the entire CIF North Coast Section playoff schedule was pushed back one week so that schools in the northern part of that section could complete the regular season. Those are the schools impacted by the Kincade Fire.
4. Mission Viejo 10-0
Did not play. The Diablos are the No. 4 seed for the CIFSS D1 playoffs, which as mentioned earlier, isn’t starting until next week. They will face No. 5 seed and No. 5 state-ranked Servite (Anaheim) next Friday.
5. Servite (Anaheim) 7-3
Did not play. Losses to MD and Bosco with the Bosco game only one-point. Also has win over JSerra and other loss to national power Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). Friars also in 8-team CIFSS D1 bracket. Playing No. 4 Mission Viejo next week.
State No. 6 Folsom didn’t play on Friday, but Bulldog coaches were scouting the Edison-Lincoln all-Stockton matchup of 9-1 teams before an overflow crowd that Edison won 35-21. When Edison gets down close to the goal line, super soph Raleek Brown doesn’t always get the call. The Vikings used 270-pound O.J. Bartley twice on Friday for touchdown runs in their win. Photo: Mark Tennis.
6. Folsom 9-1
Did not play. This is the second year that the Bulldogs are getting a bye in the first week of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 playoffs. All four top seeds have byes. Folsom will play Edison of Stockton next week. Edison won on Friday night 35-21 over Lincoln of Stockton in a matchup of 9-1 teams.
7. Centennial (Corona) 8-2
Did not play. The Huskies are the No. 3 seed for the CIFSS D1 playoffs and don’t play No. 6 JSerra until next week. They might indeed be the third best team in that bracket, but their loss to Cathedral Catholic of San Diego early in the season still counts for our rankings.
8. Helix (La Mesa) 9-1
Did not play. After last week’s win over Steele Canyon and Cathedral Catholic’s upset loss to Lincoln, the Highlanders gained the No. 1 seed for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division (why they weren’t first before made no sense). They are playing No. 4 seed St. Augustine next week in the four-team bracket.
9. Central (Fresno) 10-0
Did not play. Head coach Kyle Biggs’ squad has a bye in the CIF Central Section D1 playoffs. The Grizzlies are going for their fourth straight title. They will meet Ridgeview of Bakersfield in next week’s quarterfinals. Ridgeview won its first-round contest 40-21 over Tulare.
10. Serra (San Mateo) 9-1
LOST to St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 14-13. The Padres got shut down in the first half and trailed 14-0, then came back and had a two-point conversion try stopped near the end of the game. The loss created a three-way tie for the WCAL title since the Wildcats earlier lost to a Valley Christian of San Jose squad that Serra beat last week.
11. Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 10-0
Defeated Santiago (Corona) 49-0. Coming from the same league as Corona Centennial there’s always a threat when a team like Santiago plays in a lower division. It was no trouble for the Sea Kings as top seed for CIFSS D3 playoffs.
12. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 6-4
Did not play. This team is the No. 6 seed for the eight-team CIFSS D1 playoffs and will play next week at No. 3 Corona Centennial.
13. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 9-1
Did not play. Lancers, who have lost only to JSerra, are the No. 8 seed for the CIFSS D1 playoffs and will have the task of taking on No. 1 Mater Dei next Friday.
14. Calabasas 8-2
Did not play. This would have been our No. 8 seed for the CIFSS D1 playoffs but is going in at No. 7 and will be facing No. 2 St. John Bosco next week.
15. Narbonne (Harbor City) 8-1*
Did not play. The season is over for the Gauchos (removed from the L.A. City Section Open Division last week for player eligibility issues) but they will continue to be state-ranked based on the wins they did get on the field.
16. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 10-1
Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 35-21. In the first-ever game for the Trailblazers against a Trinity League squad, Donovan Williams raced for a pair of long TDs on receptions from Chayden Peery. Sierra Canyon is the top seed for the CIFSS D2 playoffs.
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17. Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 10-1
Defeated Westlake (Westlake Village) 42-38. According to Ventura Star, Josh Henderson rushed for 206 yards and five TDs in the CIFSS D3 first-round playoff contest.
18. Rancho Cucamonga 9-2*
Defeated Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 49-14. Impressive win for the Cougars in CIFSS D2 playoffs follows up their win over Upland in previous game.
19. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 8-2
Did not play. The Dons are the No. 2 seed in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division behind Helix (La Mesa) and will play No. 3 seed Carlsbad (No. 36 in state) in semifinals of four-team bracket next week.
20. Valley Christian (San Jose) 9-1
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 28-0. It was a strong bounceback win for the Warriors after falling to No. 10 Serra last Saturday. Isaiah McElvane rushed for 215 yards on 15 carries and scored three times.
21. La Habra 9-2
Defeated Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 42-3. This was a first-round matchup in the CIFSS D3 playoffs. Clark Phillips had a pick six and Ryan Zanelli tossed four TD passes for the Highlanders.
22. Upland 8-3*
Defeated No. 29 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 27-17. Given the schedule that Oaks Christian has played (including handing Sierra Canyon its only loss) this matchup was one of the best of the night. A late blocked field goal helped lift Upland. CIFSS D2 playoff game.
23. Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 10-1
Defeated Serra (Gardena) 26-20 in overtime in first-round battle of CIFSS D2 playoffs. Team’s only loss to Upland. Jordan Jefferson scored game-winning touchdown.
24. Pittsburg 9-1
Did not play. Pirates have lost only to No. 10 Serra (San Mateo) and seem solid as No. 2 seed for NCS D1 playoffs behind De La Salle. Those pairings will be out this weekend.
25. Liberty (Brentwood) 9-1
Did not play. Last year’s CIF D1-A state champion will enter the NCS D1 playoffs after losing its first game two weeks ago to Pitt.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Alemany (Mission Hills) 8-2*
Defeated Paraclete (Lancaster) 39-34. CIFSS D3 playoffs.
Buchanan (Clovis) 7-3
Did not play. Bye. Central Section D1 No. 2 seed.
Willy Camacho was the hero for Chaminade in its win over a Norco squad that has been in the State Top 50 all season. Photo: @FootballRecruit / Twitter.com.
Camarillo 10-1
Defeated Damien (La Verne). CIFSS D3 playoffs.
Carlsbad 9-1
Did not play. San Diego Section Open Division No. 3 seed.
Chaminade (West Hills) 6-4
Defeated higher-seeded Norco 46-44 in CIFSS D2 playoffs. Willy Camacho had 6 TDs, including game-winning catch with 13 seconds left on pass from Jaylen Henderson.
Culver City 11-0
Defeated Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara) 34-6. CIFSS top seed in D5.
Inderkum (Sacramento) 10-0
Did not play. Sac-Joaquin Section D1 playoff bye. No. 3 seed.
Lawndale 8-3
Defeated Los Alamitos 27-21. CIFSS D3 playoffs. 2018 CIF D2-A state champion.
Liberty (Bakersfield) 9-1
Did not play. Bye. Central Section D1 No. 3 seed.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 8-3
Defeated state No. 32 Lutheran (Orange) 27-24 in overtime in CIFSS D2 playoffs. Mehki Jordan 15-yard run was game-winning score.
McClymonds (Oakland) 8-0
Defeated Oakland Tech 62-0. Plays same team again next in Oakland Section playoffs.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 7-2*
Did not play. Bye. Sac-Joaquin Section D1 No. 2 seed. Playing Turlock next Friday in quarterfinals. Turlock (9-2) defeated Del Oro of Loomis 42-21 on Friday.
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 5-6
LOST to No. 22 Upland 27-17. CIFSS D2 playoffs. Oaks ends with losses to Grace Brethren, Alemany, Helix, Murrieta Valley, Calabasas and Upland and with good wins vs. Sierra Canyon & Chaminade.
Oxnard 10-1
Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 40-13. First win by an Oxnard school over St. Bonaventure since 1989. Xavier Harris led the way with four TDs. CIFSS D5 playoffs.
Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 8-3
LOST to Loyola (Los Angeles) 7-0. Our top team in CIFSS D4 falls right away but had to play Mission League team dropping way down in competitive equity division.
Paramount 10-1
Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest) 60-10. Top seeded team in CIFSS D4 playoffs.
San Clemente 9-2
Defeated Valencia 17-7. CIFSS D2 playoffs.
St. Augustine (San Diego) 8-2
Did not play. Four-team San Diego Section Open Division starts next week with game vs. Helix (La Mesa).
St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 8-2
Defeated No. 10 Serra (San Mateo) 14-13. Early season losses by Wildcats to Sacred Heart Prep and Valley Christian are diminished in importance with this big win.
Steele Canyon (Spring Valley) 9-1
Did not play. Bye. Top seed San Diego Section D1 playoffs meets Oceanside next week.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 8-2
Defeated Fremont (Sunnyvale) 44-0. Last game regular season. CCS Open Division next.
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3 Comments
You could sort of see SI’s win over San Mateo Serra coming. Not at all shocked.
Pitt and Liberty remain over-ranked by at least 10-15 spots. There are tons of evidence of how mediocre the BVAL and EBAL were this year (De La Salle was only a pseudo-member of the EBAL this year), yet no one wants to rank them accordingly. Everyone wants to look at their history instead of their actual results. (Note, it’s not just Cal-Hi that is overrating these teams).
Think your big team to have way up there is Marin Catholic, which has questionable results as well (only 14-0 over Redwood) and is a team we get first-hand reports about from Harold. I think a lot of Bay Area teams are questionable not just the ones you mention. Salinas is the top team in your part of the CCS, but has a bad loss to Clovis. Maybe it’s Clovis and others from outside of the Bay that should be higher.
I do think that the TRAC out of the CS was definitely better than either the BVAL or EBAL (sans DLS). I think SJS D-I ended up being a normal, solid division with a lot of good matchups this weekend.
I think the CCS has good teams through mid-D2, but then there’s a huge drop after that.
As for Marin Catholic, I think every team is entitled to one bad game and that was with Redwood for MC. I don’t consider the McClymonds game a bad one, just think they’re also really good. Every other Wildcat game went as expected.
While MC had one bad game, NCS D-I teams had bunches of them.