State TOP 25 Weekend Scoreboard

Sam Goligoski of San Mateo Serra puts the wraps around De La Salle QB Carson Su’esu’e during Friday game between top two ranked teams in Bay Area. Photo: Willie Eashman.

Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Monday night. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on 44 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 usually 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.

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(Rankings based on previous State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Sept. 3)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 3-0
Defeated No. 3 Centennial (Corona) 43-20. Impressive win for Monarchs since they got past the Huskies by just 21-16 last season in their run to state/national titles. Junior QB Elijah Brown remained unbeaten as starter by passing for 298 yards and three TDs. Marcus Brown caught all three TDs. Mater Dei led 29-7 at half.

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 2-0
Defeated No. 14 Bishop Amat (La Puente) 42-7. Head coach Jason Negro told Fred Robledo of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune he was worried a bit about a letdown after the big trip to Texas and all of the practicing in the heat. Regardless, there was no trouble. The Braves led 35-0 at halftime. And now that the MD-Centennial game is all done with, the first MD-Bosco game seems on track to be played at SoFi Stadium.

3. Centennial (Corona) 2-1
LOST to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 43-20. Izzy Carter’s 83-yard TD run on Centennial’s first offensive play tied it at 7-7, but the Monarchs held down the Huskies until late in the game. In most rankings, the loss to MD probably isn’t going to cause a drop for Centennial. In fact, 43-20 vs either MD or Bosco may be the closest anyone in the state winds up against them.

4. Mission Viejo 2-1
LOST to No. 13 Long Beach Poly 35-30. The Diablos were hurt by turnovers and penalties and couldn’t stop Poly’s last drive for a go-ahead score. Michael Salgado-Medina kicked a field goal for a 30-28 lead with 6:39 left. Travis Anderson had two interceptions on defense.

Darius Curry looks to scramble for yardage during Long Beach Poly’s victory at Mission Viejo. Curry is one of several junior standouts for the Jackrabbits. Photo: the562.org.

5. Serra (San Mateo) 2-0
Defeated No. 6 De La Salle (Concord) 24-21. Last week, the grit showed by the Padres came on defense as they had to hold off Folsom, 17-12. This time, it was on offense as junior QB Maealiuaki Smith led two drives that turned a 21-7 deficit starting the fourth quarter into a 21-21 tie with three minutes left. Then after an interception by former DLS player Marley Alapati, Serra ground down the clock and got a game-winning field goal with two seconds left by Dylan Joudieh.

6. De La Salle (Concord) 1-1
LOST to No. 5 Serra (San Mateo) 24-21. Sophomore QB Toa Faavae had a 44-yard TD run and Charles Greer had a 3-yard TD run as the Spartans got some momentum in the third quarter of their game vs. Serra. It ended up, however, as another gut-punch close loss to a NorCal rival after the ones from last season vs St. Francis of Mountain View and Folsom.

7. Los Alamitos 1-2
The Griffins had a Saturday game for the second straight week and they lost again. This time it was 33-28 to Basha of Chandler, Ariz., which is perhaps Arizona’s top team this season. Los Al led 21-0 in the second quarter but couldn’t hold on.

8. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 3-0
Did not play. This week’s game, which was scheduled to have been on Friday at St. Augustine of San Diego, was cancelled on Monday by St. Augustine when it went down to just 26 players due to injuries. You do not play a Trinity League team with just 26 players. It will be an official win for Santa Margarita due to forfeit.

9. Folsom 2-1
Sac-Joaquin Section No. 1 team bounced back from loss to Serra (San Mateo) with a 65-0 thrashing of Edison (Stockton). The Bulldogs had two pick-sixes in the rout.

10. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 1-2
LOST to Chandler (Arizona) 63-7 on Friday in the second of two games at Cathedral Catholic in the Honor Bowl. Chandler is a national type power, but it was a worse loss than the one from the previous week vs Corona Centennial.

11. Lutheran (Orange) 2-1
LOST to Edison (Huntington Beach) 34-13. Noah Rodriguez rushed for a score in the first half while Longevity Khanrad caught a TD pass from TJ Lateef in the second half. Unfortunately, that was all the Lancers could get vs a Chargers’ team that was No. 33 in last week’s State TOP 50.

12. Pittsburg 2-0
Defeated Liberty of Henderson (Nev.) 30-2 on Saturday at the Honor Bowl in San Diego. Liberty is a team that was 10-2 last season and lost 35-14 to Bishop Gorman in the state playoffs. Liberty also beat Gorman in the 2019 state playoffs. Plus, it’s a team that lost by just 20-19 in its second game to a Lone Peak of Utah squad that routed Alemany back on Aug. 18, 49-20. In other words, good win for the Pirates.

13. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 3-0
Defeated No. 4 Mission Viejo 35-30. It’s perhaps the biggest win since Stephen Barbee became the Jackrabbits’ head coach. Not only were the Diablos No. 4 but also they beat Poly 41-14 last season. Devin Samples scored the game-winning TD on an 8-yard run with just 22 seconds left.

14. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 2-1
LOST to No. 2 St John Bosco (Bellflower) 42-7. A Richie Munoz TD pass toward the end of the game avoided the shutout. The Lancers were in the No. 8 position in the CIFSS in computer rankings, which is not where anyone wants to be for the playoffs (No. 8 plays No. 1 which almost certainly will be Bosco or Mater Dei).

15. Chaminade (West Hills) 3-0
The Eagles jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead on Birmingham (Van Nuys) and cruise for the 35-0 victory.

16. Carlsbad 1-1
It was a bad night for the San Diego Section. The Lancers never led in a 35-18 defeat to No. 22 Inglewood Friday at home.

17. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 2-1
The Lions needed everything they had to hold off Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 28-21 at home Friday evening. Pierce Tanghal had the eventual game winning touchdown catch from Zander Singh.

18. Serra (Gardena) 1-2
The Cavs picked up their first win of the season with a 33-6 victory over Cathedral (LA). Previous loss to Long Beach Poly also was strengthened with the Jackrabbits defeating Mission Viejo.

19. Liberty (Bakersfield) 2-0
Did not play. Head coach Bryan Nixon’s squad has a bye on the schedule this week. It will give him and his staff extra time to get ready to play Buchanan of Clovis at home the next week. Buchanan also is a major contender in the CIF Central Section this season.

20. Warren (Downey) 3-0
Head coach Kevin Pearson’s squad blanked Grossmont (El Cajon) 56-0. The Bears will get a test next Friday at No. 18 Serra (Gardena).

T.J. Ewing coached Monterey Trail of Elk Grove to the 2019 CIFSJS D1 title game. Photo: egcitizen.com.

22. Inglewood 3-0
The Sentinels will be coming up in next week’s rankings after downing No. 16 Carlsbad, 35-18, which also has been in the top three in the San Diego Section.

23. Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) 0-3
LOST to Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.) 35-6. Right before Cathedral Catholic was dominated by an Arizona team at the Honor Bowl, the same thing happened for the Crusaders. The big losses plus Carlsbad losing to Inglewood throws the San Diego Section Open Division into chaos. Neither Helix or Madison has played anyone yet close to the teams that the other three teams have all lost to.

24. Simi Valley 3-0
It wasn’t much of a rivalry game as the Pioneers jumped out to a 49-0 lead and blew past Royal (Simi Valley) 49-12. Simi Valley plays next on Thursday at Saugus.

25. Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 1-1
The Nighthawks were in one of the wildest games of the evening, as Apple Valley’s Dustin Reynolds intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 45 yards to clinch a 57-51 victory over Murrieta Valley. The touchdown put Apple Valley up 57-45 with less than two minutes remaining.

Head coach Patrick Walsh of the Serra (San Mateo) football team posed with his family after the Padres defeated De La Salle for the first time in Walsh’s years at Serra. He is a member of the De La Salle Athletic Hall of Fame. Photo: Mark Tennis.

TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE

Alemany (Mission Hills) 1-1
Did not play. After knocking off San Diego Lincoln last week, the Warriors had a bye this week.

Apple Valley 2-1
The 57-51 win over Murrieta Valley this week came after a 13-12 loss last week to Rancho Cucamonga.

Buchanan (Clovis) 3-0
The Bears pulled away late for a 35-21 victory over Foothill (Palo Cedro) on Friday.

Central Catholic (Modesto) 1-2
LOST to St. Mary’s (Stockton) 47-7. A close loss last week at St. Francis (Mountain View) was followed by this shocker at home. First thought after seeing score: Oh my goodness, the Raiders are playing at St. John Bosco soon.

Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 3-0
Defeated Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 14-7. Junior QB Kaleb Annett had to play for senior David Rasor (ankle) and picked up the win as a starter.

Edison (Huntington Beach) 3-0
Defeated No. 11 Orange Lutheran 34-13. The margin of victory by the Chargers was surprising as OLu and them have played several close, nail-biters in recent seasons. Carter Hogue ran for two TDs and had an interception on defense to lead the way.

Granite Bay 3-0
Won on Thursday, 45-36, over Vista del Lago (Folsom). Soph RB Carter Jackson rushed for 308 yds & four TDs, according to Folsom Telegraph.

Helix (La Mesa) 3-0
Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.) came within three points of Helix, but the side from Arizona fell to the team from the San Diego Section 24-21.

Lincoln (San Diego) 2-1
Defeated St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 27-24. Like the Seraphs, the Hornets also were a State TOP 50 team entering the contest.

Madison (San Diego) 3-0
Defeated Desert Vista of Phoenix, Ariz., 35-0, on Saturday at the Honor Bowl in San Diego. The Warhawks (along with Helix) could get some No. 1 votes in San Diego this week, but we’d still vote for Cathedral Catholic.

Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) 2-0
The Bears were only up 19-14 at the halftime break against a quality Elk Grove at home Friday. The Bears pulled away in the second half for a 40-20 victory over the Thundering Herd.

Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 1-2
Defeated No. 21 St. Francis (Mountain View) 28-7. Head coach T.J. Ewing’s club notched a huge win after losing in the first two games to Folsom and De La Salle.

Norco 1-1
Defeated Rancho Cucamonga 26-14. The Cougars lost their first game last week to No. 8 Santa Margarita.

Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 2-1
The Lions also were in the Honor Bowl in San Diego and won in the best game of the weekend there with a 34-28 victory vs Regis Jesuit of Denver, Colo. Justice Williams scored what proved to be the game-winning TD with 5:12 left.

Rancho Cucamonga 2-1
Norco had a 14-7 lead after the first quarter and held on for the 26-14 upset of Rancho Cucamonga on Friday.

Salinas 2-0
The Cowboys continue to take out quality Bay Area programs, as Valley Christian fell 55-28 on Friday. Cal commit Nyziah Hunter had 10 catches for 106 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) 2-1
LOST to Queen Creek (Ariz) 10-7 on Saturday at Moorpark College. It was a great weekend for Arizona teams playing California, but it’s not like its best teams would do any better against Mater Dei or St. John Bosco.

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 1-2
Defeated Green Valley (Henderson, Nev.) 35-16. Trailblazers won their first game after losses to higher-ranked JSerra and Oaks Christian.

St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 1-2
LOST to Lincoln (SD) 27-24. The Seraphs’ other loss was to Inglewood.

St. Mary’s (Stockton) 2-0
Defeated Central Catholic (Modesto) 47-7. Brooks Wheatley had an 80-yard kickoff return while Samson Hunkin had three TD passes and a TD run. The race to see which team may be Folsom’s toughest foe in the Sac-Joaquin Section just got a lot more interesting.

West Ranch (Valencia) 3-0
Defeated Antelope Valley (Lancaster) 56-7 in a Thursday contest. QB Ryan Staub had four TD passes in just one half of action.

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