Sophomore Kenneth Moore (left) and senior Asante Carter proved to be a 1-2 punch for the St. Mary’s of Stockton offense in its win Friday vs Clovis West of Fresno. Photo: Mark Tennis.
There were several season-opening matchups of teams that were in our preseason State TOP 50 rankings on Friday and the higher ranked team won in every game except one. This trend was led by Mater Dei’s victory over Corona Centennial. There also was Sierra Canyon over JSerra, Orange Lutheran over Serra (Gardena), Carlsbad over Inglewood, Rancho Cucamonga over Murrieta Valley, St. Mary’s (Stockton) over Clovis West, Oaks Christian over Chaminade and San Clemente over Chaparral. The only game in which that didn’t hold was Cathedral Catholic of San Diego defeating Mater Dei Catholic.
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(Rankings based on preseason State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Aug. 19)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 1-0
Defeated Liberty (Henderson NV) 42-22 in home opener. After trailing 10-7 to start the second quarter, the Braves took command behind Caleb Sanchez, who went 21 of 25 for 212 yards and three TDs in his first start. One of Liberty’s TDs also came on a 96-yard kickoff return.
2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 1-0
Defeated No. 3 Centennial (Corona) 28-14 in the first-ever game for the Monarchs with Frank McManus as head coach. The defense (McManus was previously defensive backs coach) was dominant with eight sacks. Jordan Davison had a late touchdown for a 28-14 lead and finished with 119 yards on 19 carries. Elijah Brown threw for a pair of scores.
3. Centennial (Corona) 0-1
LOST to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 28-14 on Friday. A 55-yard interception return for a TD by Tayten Bayer gave the Huskies a shot in the arm and cut the lead to 21-14 in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as head coach Matt Logan’s squad could get.
Cameron Mitchell found the end zone for Sierra Canyon on its only touchdown in win vs JSerra. It was his first game playing for the Trailblazers. He played last season at Pasadena. Photo: Twitter.com.
4. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 1-0
Did not play. The Jackrabbits actually opened up their season last Friday in Hawaii. They defeated Konawaena on the big island, 60-28. They have nationally ranked Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas up next.
5. Serra (San Mateo) 0-0
Did not play. Like the rest of the teams in the CIF Central Coast Section, the Padres do not start their season until next week. They will host No. 14 Folsom next Saturday in a matchup that we will attend.
6. Mission Viejo 1-0
Defeated El Camino (Oceanside) 38-18 on Friday. The Diablos led 21-0 at halftime and scored one of their TDs on fumble return by Luke Karby.
7. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 1-0
Defeated No. 13 JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 9-7 on Friday at home. Before the game, there was a lot of attention on the school’s new jumbotron scoreboard. It certainly didn’t get lit up in a defensive matchup. The difference in the game was a safety in the first quarter. Freshman Richard Wesley had a sack at the 40-yard line to stop the last gasp attempt by the Lions. A big game vs. Oaks Christian looms for next week.
8. Los Alamitos 1-0
Running back Anthony League couldn’t be stopped on Friday evening, as the junior rushed for 314 yards and six touchdowns in the Griffins’ 62-25 blowout victory over Western (Anaheim). Western kept it close early 14-13, but Los Alamitos breezed from there.
9. De La Salle (Concord) 0-0
Did not play. The CIF North Coast Section also gets underway next week similar to the CCS. The Spartans have a very tough first game vs No. 10 Lutheran of Orange. At least the game will be at Owen Owens Field. We will attend, staying over in the Bay Area to see Serra & Folsom the next afternoon.
10. Lutheran (Orange) 1-0
Defeated No. 15 Serra (Gardena) 47-19 on Friday at home. Playing a team the Lancers had to have a huge comeback to win by one point last season, this time it was a dominant performance. Damien of La Verne transfer Steven Chavez rushed for three TDs in his first game and QB T.J. Lateef completed 16 of 33 passes for 192 yards and one TD.
11. Lincoln (San Diego) 1-0
The Hornets played Wai’anae of Hawaii in their first game on Thursday night of this week and had no trouble in a 41-0 victory. They will be looking to avenge their only loss of last week in next week’s second game against Alemany (Mission Hills).
12. Carlsbad 1-0
The first test of the season was passed early for Carlsbad, as the San Diego Section heavy came to Inglewood Friday evening and left with a 30-6 victory at El Camino College. The game was settled in the first half, as the Lancers went into the halftime break with a 23-0 lead and never trailed.
13. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 0-1
LOST to No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 9-7. The only TD for the Lions came on a 32-yard TD pass from Michael Tollefson to Axel Olander.
14. Folsom 1-0
The young new names at Folsom won’t be unknown for long, as the Bulldogs reload and blasted Monterey Trail 35-0 on Friday. It only took Folsom seven minutes to already have a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and the rout was on. New starting quarterback Ryder Lyons looked the part, as the sophomore had two rushing touchdowns and shined early. Jaron Hodson also picked up a fumble in the first quarter and returned it for a score.
15. Serra (Gardena) 0-1
LOST to No. 10 Orange Lutheran 47-19 on Friday. The Cavs were led in defeat by senior Zacharyus Williams, who scored on a fumble recovery, caught a touchdown pass and he had a 80-yard kickoff return score.
16. Rancho Cucamonga 1-0
Dakota Mendoza had two interceptions of junior quarterback prospect Bear Bachmeier and Rancho Cucamonga came away with a 29-27 victory over Murrieta Valley on Friday. Rancho Cucamonga held on for dear life at the end, as Murrieta Valley scored on a Bachmeier to Camden Connor 19-yard touchdown pass and pulled within two points with 3:19 remaining in the contest. Murrieta Valley even recovered the ensuing offside kick, but Rancho Cucamonga forced a turnover on downs to end the game.
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17. St. Mary’s (Stockton) 1-0
Defeated No. 18 Clovis West (Fresno) 38-28 on Friday in Stockton. Asante Carter rushed for three touchdowns and was complemented nicely from sophomore speedster Kenneth Moore, who added a 15-yard scoring run and caught eight passes. The Rams took control in the third quarter by scoring on their first drive (13 plays), then after getting a stop of the Golden Eagles, they went 14 plays for a score and a 38-14 lead. Up next will be Central Catholic of Modesto in the annual Holy Bowl rivalry.
18. Clovis West (Fresno) 0-1
LOST at No. 17 St. Mary’s of Stockton 38-28 on Friday. A 50-yard punt return for a touchdown off of a shanked punt by junior Jonavon Darrington with 2:20 left and then a two-point conversion lifted the Golden Eagles into having a chance for a miracle finish. The Rams recovered the onside kick attempt, however, and then ran out the clock. Clovis West’s Tyler Patrick threw a 93-yard TD pass to Marshel Sanders and he had a 68-yard TD to Landon Wright in the first half that kept the Golden Eagles in it. They actually led 10-6 and 14-13 after those plays, but the defense couldn’t stop St. Mary’s on each of its ensuing possessions.
19. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 1-0
Defeated West (Salt Lake City, Utah) on Friday at home by a 28-27 score. The Eagles play Corona Centennial next week.
20. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 1-0
Chaminade (West Hills) was no match for Oaks Christian on Friday, as the Lions blew past the Eagles, 55-28. 2022-23 Freshman Athlete of the Year Deshonne Redeaux had seven rushes for 92 yards and a team high three touchdowns, while Nathan Moreno returned an interception 40 yards for a score. A big non-league showdown with No. 7 Sierra Canyon comes next week.
21. Liberty (Bakersfield) 1-0
It took awhile for the CIF D1-A state champs to wake up, as the Patriots only led 6-0 at the halftime break against Highland (Palmdale). Liberty then scored 21 points in the third quarter to cruise to a 34-7 victory over the Bulldogs.
22. Madison (San Diego) 1-0
Defeated Point Loma (San Diego) 35-14. We will see if the Warhawks hold on to the third spot in the SD Section rankings after what Cathedral Catholic did to Mater Dei Catholic on Friday.
23. San Clemente 1-0
This team jumped out to a 14-3 lead over preseason No. 26 Chaparral (Temecula) on Friday evening and that was enough, as the Tritons held on for the 20-10 victory over the Pumas. Quarterback Dylan Mills was 14-of-18 for 198 passing yards and added 86 yards on the ground. The San Clemente defense held the Chaparral offense to only 65 passing yards and snagged three interceptions on the night.
24. Pittsburg 0-0
Did not play. New head coach Charlie Ramirez will debut with the Pirates next Saturday in the first game on the road against Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco.
25. Warren (Downey) 0-0
No score was reported for a scheduled contest vs Tufana (American Samoa) at home on Friday. We’re assuming it was a cultural exchange scrimmage.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 1-0
Defeated Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) 58-14. MD Catholic has won the last two CIF D2-AA state titles.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 1-0
Defeated Merced 42-12. Stockton St. Mary’s is next for the Raiders.
Players celebrate after one of the many touchdowns scored by Cathedral Catholic of San Diego in its big win vs Mater Dei Catholic. Photo: Rashad Griffin Sr. / @Calicamera.
Chaparral (Temecula) 0-1
San Clemente pulled off a 20-10 victory over the Pumas. Chaparral had a solid chance to turn the contest around in the third quarter down by 11 points, but a fumble was snapped up by Connor Bachhuber and the threat was neutralized.
Clovis North (Fresno) 1-0
Defeated San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno) 62-8. Surprisingly one-sided rout saw both McKay Madsen and Jackson Cinfel rush for more than 100 yards.
Edison (Huntington Beach) 0-1
LOST to Helix (La Mesa) 38-34 Friday at Helix.
Granite Bay 1-0
Defeated Elk Grove 27-13.
Grant (Sacramento) 1-0
Defeated McQueen (Reno) 52-12.
Granite Hills (El Cajon) 1-0
Played first game Saturday vs. Mission Hills (San Marcos) and posted 27-17 victory.
Helix (La Mesa) 1-0
Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach) 38-34.
Inglewood 0-1
With only two returning defensive starters versus the top quarterback in the state (Julian Sayin) ended as you would expect in a 30-6 loss to Carlsbad for the Sentinels.
Oak Hills (Hesperia) 1-0
The Bulldogs scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to rout the Aquinas (San Bernardino) 42-15 to open the season. Running back Karson Cox had the first two touchdowns for the Bulldogs, as the tailback scored from 80 yards and five yards.
St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 1-0
Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills) 40-16 in a Thursday night game as Koen Glover had an impressive debut as the lead running back.
San Ramon Valley (Danville) 0-0
Did not play. The first game for the Wolves will be next Friday at St. Ignatius (San Francisco).
St. Francis (Mountain View) 0-0
The Lancers’ first game next week will be against Helix (La Mesa).
Valencia 1-0
Defeated preseason State No. 37 Bishop Amat (La Puente), 36-28, on Saturday.
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