Captains from Long Beach Poly and Long Beach Millikan gather for coin flip prior to playing their overtime on Friday in game that Poly won, 26-23. Photo: the562.org.
As No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 2 St. John Bosco returned to playing top teams in California with expected results, there was almost a big upset on Friday in Long Beach. No. 6 Poly, however, won in overtime over Millikan. Big winner on Saturday was No. 5 Serra (San Mateo) and another team from the CCS was added to the bubble after a Saturday win. More big winners on Friday included JSerra (No. 17) knocking off No. 10 Orange Lutheran plus Folsom defeating Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in a NorCal top 10 matchup.
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 45 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. 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. 30)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 6-0
As both the Monarchs and St. John Bosco opened their Trinity League schedules after playing nationally ranked teams to get ready, normalcy was the story of the night. As in the usual, normal routs. For the Monarchs, they played state No. 19 Servite of Anaheim and rolled 49-0. They scored on all seven of their offensive possessions, the defense blanked a team that of course is not bad at all and QB Elijah Brown threw for five TDs.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 5-1
It wasn’t quite as easy for the Braves in their game with state No. 13 Santa Margarita but almost. They went to South Orange County and beat the Eagles, 42-7. Chauncey Sylvester scored three TDs. Cameron Jones also impressed with eight carries for 136 yards and two TDs.
3. Centennial (Corona) 4-2
Defeated state No. 28 Chaparral (Temecula) 58-19 on Thursday. Chaparral couldn’t keep up with the Huskies. The score was 28-19 in the second quarter, went to 42-19 just before halftime and it was cruise control for Centennial after that. Head coach Matt Logan also was celebrated for becoming the winningest coach in Riverside County history. We knew this was coming but honored a request to keep it quiet. The previous record holder was Gary Campbell of Norco at 279.
4. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 6-0
The team went into the halftime break only up 14-7 over Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) in its Mission League opener, but the Trailblazers managed 20 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull away for a 34-10 victory. Wyatt Becker passed for 316 yards and two TDs. Xavier Jordan caught six passes for 135 yards and one score.
5. Serra (San Mateo) 5-0
The Padres hosted and beat No. 40 St. Francis (Mountain View) on Saturday, 45-17, in what probably was a matchup of the top two teams in the West Catholic Athletic League although Riordan of San Francisco is increasingly looking it might be that team as well. It was a running clock in the second half.
New head coach Victor Santa Cruz captured his first Trinity League win for JSerra on Friday vs Orange Lutheran. Photo: Twitter.com.
6. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 5-1
It was almost one of the big upsets of the season so far, but the Jackrabbits topped their rivals from Long Beach Millikan on Friday, 26-23, in overtime. A late TD run by QB Darius Curry pushed Poly in into a 20-20 tie. After the Rams kicked a field goal in OT, a TD run by Joshua “Noodles” Cason was the game-winner for the Jackrabbits.
7. Lincoln (San Diego) 7-0
The Hornets had little issue with on the bubble team Madison (San Diego), as Lincoln cruised to a 30-0 victory on Friday evening. Jerome Roberts finished it as he returned an interception 50 yards for a pick-6 to put the game fully out of reach in the third quarter. Lincoln has next week off before hosting St. Augustine (San Diego).
8. Carlsbad 6-0
Both of the CIF San Diego Section teams are likely to move up at least one spot in the next rankings. In Carlsbad’s 35-14 win over Mission Hills (San Marcos) on Friday, Alabama commit Julian Sayin had a hand in the opening two scores.
9. Clovis North (Fresno) 6-0
Clovis East (Clovis) gave the top team in the Central Section a scare, but the Broncos improved to 6-0 with a 31-21 victory in Tri-River Athletic Conference play. Mario Cosma hit Vincent Cordoba for a 59-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to give the Broncos a 10-point lead. It doesn’t get any easier next week, as Clovis North takes on Clovis, a side that upended Central (Fresno) 38-37 in overtime on Friday.
10. Lutheran (Orange) 3-3
LOST to No. 17 JSerra of SJ Capistrano, 24-14, on Friday. The Lancers have now lost three in a row after opening with wins against Serra (Gardena), De La Salle and Eastside Catholic (Washington). They got junior QB TJ Lateef back from injury and they took the lead in this week’s game at 14-10 in the third quarter. JSerra scored right after that for a 17-14 edge and then had a pick six in the game’s final two minutes.
11. De La Salle (Concord) 4-2
After starting the season 0-2, the Spartans improved to 4-2 with a 21-0 shutout of McClymonds of Oakland on Friday. De La Salle now has the week off to prepare for No. 20 San Ramon Valley (Danville), an undefeated team that defeated McClymonds 35-7 earlier this season.
12. Rancho Cucamonga 6-0
Does not play this week. The Cougars are off while the rest of the Baseline League is starting up. They play next week against state-ranked Etiwanda, which won’t be state-ranked or unbeaten after it was upset on Friday by Chino Hills.
13. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 4-2
LOST to No. 2 St. John Bosco, 42-7, on Friday. It wasn’t as close as when the Eagles lost their first game, which was to No. 3 Corona Centennial.
14. Mission Viejo 4-2
Head coach Chad Johnson’s squad blanked Kamehameha of Hawaii, 34-0, on Friday. Michael Salgado-Medina had a 51-yard field goal for the Diablos, who have losses to Long Beach Poly and St. John’s (Washington DC).
Folsom head coach Paul Doherty and Oak Ridge head coach Casey Taylor meet prior to their teams playing each other on Friday in Folsom. The host Bulldogs wound up on top, 42-14, in the matchup of top 25 teams. Photo: Harold Abend.
15. Folsom 4-2
The Bulldogs rebound after falling to No. 11 De La Salle (Concord) the week before with a 42-21 victory over Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) on Friday in what was a No. 1 vs No. 2 battle for the Sac-Joaquin Section. The game was closer than the final score suggests, as it was tied 14-14 heading into the final frame. Super sophomore quarterback Ryder Lyons had four touchdown passes for the Bulldogs. Brian Ray had five catches for 138 yards and two TDs and he had 18 rushes for 85 yards.
16. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 4-2
Defeated No. 10 Orange Lutheran, 24-14, on Friday. The game was clinched by the Lions on a 15-yard interception return TD by Rocco Panicola with 1:07 left. Junior QB Michael Tollefson had the team’s other two TDs on short runs.
17. Helix (La Mesa) 6-0
This team had little issue improving to 6-0 on the year, as the Highlanders blew past West Hills (Santee) 41-7 on Thursday evening in Santee. Kevin Allen III had two first half rushing touchdowns in the rout.
18. Serra (Gardena) 4-2
Started its Mission League schedule Friday at No. 37 Chaminade of West Hills with a 34-7 triumph. Cincere Rhaney powered his way to 190 yards rushing and two TDs and junior QB Jimmy Butler had two TD passes.
19. Servite (Anaheim) 4-2
LOST to No. 1 Mater Dei of Santa Ana, 49-0, on Friday. How much the Friars have improved this season will be shown in their games in the Trinity League and will not be the ones against the Monarchs plus St. John Bosco.
20. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 5-0
Does not play this week. The Wolves are on their bye this week following impressive wins the past two weeks vs McClymonds of Oakland and Liberty of Brentwood. Next week’s foe after the bye will be Clayton Valley of Concord.
21. Liberty (Bakersfield) 5-1
The defense intercepted Garces (Bakersfield) quarterback Gunter Golla two times on Thursday evening and the Patriots cruised to a 41-13 victory over the Rams. Garces kept it close early, but a 65-yard pick-6 by Liberty’s Jamel Davis was too much to overcome. Brock Wattenbarger also added an 80-yard kickoff return.
Jamel Davis had a long touchdown on an interception return for Liberty of Bakersfield in Thursday win vs Garces. Photo: Hudl.com.
22. Pittsburg 5-0
In a quality Bay Area matchup, Pittsburg improved to 5-0 after holding off Los Gatos 37-27. Pittsburg jumped out to an early 16-0 first quarter lead, but two quick second quarter strikes pulled the Wildcats within two. Four-star prospect Jadyn Hudson had the game defining play, as the safety snagged an interception and returned it 37 yards for a pick-6 for a 37-21 lead with six minutes remaining.
23. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 5-1
Another season and another loss to the Folsom Bulldogs for Oak Ridge. The Trojans went into the fourth quarter all tied at 14, but a 28 point outburst in the final frame was too much for Oak Ridge to overcome in the 42-21 defeat to the Bulldogs. This is the 15th consecutive time the Trojans have fallen to Folsom, with the Bulldogs starting the streak in 2006.
24. St. Mary’s (Stockton) 5-1
The Rams dominate in their league and that began Friday at home vs Lodi with a 55-0 victory in their first Tri-County Athletic League contest of the season. Their loss is to No. 11 De La Salle.
25. Granite Hills (El Cajon) 6-0
Head coach Kellan Cobbs’ squad jumped on Santana of Santee early and often, as the Eagles used 28 first quarter points to breeze to a 42-6 victory over the Sultans on Friday evening in Santee.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 4-1
On Saturday, the Crusaders defeated previous 4-0 Valley Christian of San Jose, 42-17. Sophomore QB Michael Mitchell Jr. set a West Catholic Athletic League record with six TD passes. Riordan’s only loss is to state No. 34 St. Bonaventure of Ventura.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 4-2
Clemson baseball commit Tyler Wentworth was 12-for-16 for 171 yards and four touchdown passes in a comfortable 47-7 blowout victory for Central Catholic over East Union (Manteca) on Friday.
Chaminade (West Hills) 3-3
LOST to Serra (Gardena), 34-7, on Friday. All of the team’s losses are to higher-ranked opponents.
Chaparral (Temecula) 4-2
LOST on Thursday in Big West Conference Upper Division contest, 58-19, to state No. 3 Corona Centennial.
Damien (La Verne) 6-0
Defeated Upland, 24-21, in Baseline League opener. Upland was No. 39 and Damien No. 42 in our state top 50 entering the game. In other words, another step up for the Spartans.
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Grant (Sacramento) 5-1
Does not play this week. The Pacers are on a bye. They play next against River City of West Sacramento. We’ll write about the sudden passing of former big-time nose guard Vei Moala on Sunday.
Los Alamitos 4-2
In a Thursday game vs Fountain Valley, the Griffins posted a 49-10 victory. They had lost their two previous games by close margins to Servite and Mission Viejo.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 5-1
The Nighthawks fell behind 13-7 after the first quarter against Roosevelt of Eastvale, but bounced back with 42 points over the next two quarters to rout the Mustangs 56-27 on Friday evening in Murrieta.
Oak Hills (Hesperia) 5-1
It was a slow start for the Bulldogs on Thursday vs Hesperia with a 3-0 deficit after the first quarter, but they ended up with a 49-3 romp against the Scorpions.
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 4-2
There was no trouble for the Lions this week, as Oaks Christian mauled Calabasas 56-8 on Friday evening. McKenzie Parks had two rushing touchdowns.
Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 6-0
Won Friday at previously 5-0 Santa Monica, 27-0. Frosh QB Ryan Rakowski passed for four TDs.
Pacifica (Oxnard) 7-0
Josh Joyner took a kickoff 85 yards for a score early in the third quarter to help propel Pacifica to a 28-14 victory over Ventura. QB Dominic Duran also completed three touchdown passes to Isaiah Dillon.
Rocklin 6-0
For the eighth straight time, the Thunder came away with a Quarry Bowl victory over crosstown rivals Whitney (Rocklin) in a 42-3 blowout on Friday evening. Derek Keeley had five rushing touchdowns in the blowout. The Thunder will host No. 15 Folsom next week in another big Sac-Joaquin Section matchup.
San Clemente 5-1
Does not play this week. The Tritons are on a bye after their 39-38 loss last week to Murrieta Valley. The next game will be against Ayala of Chino Hills.
St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 4-2
The Seraphs forced two first quarter safeties to take a 4-0 lead after the first quarter on Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara. Quarterback Kaden Glover then connected with David Montes on a 40-yard pass to give the Seraphs a 18-0 advantage at the halftime break. St. Bonaventure wound up with to a 32-7 victory over the Cardinals.
St. Francis (Mountain View) 2-2
The Lancers, who knocked off Archbishop Mitty in their WCAL opener last week, lost to No. 5 Serra on Saturday in San Mateo, 45-17.
Valencia 5-1
Rolled on Friday at Golden Valley of Santa Clarita, 40-7. Only loss by two points to Rancho Cucamonga.
Villa Park 6-0
The Spartans had a Thursday game this week and cruised past El Dorado of Placencia, 35-7. They should be favored next week vs Esperanza.
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