Akili Smith Jr. of San Diego Lincoln (left) is shown from game last week. He had his second 99-yard TD pass on Friday as Hornets extended longest current win streak in the state to 20 games. At right is QB Tyus Miller of Clovis East after he led team on Friday past preseason state top 25 member Clovis West. Photos: Twitter.com & Gabe Camarillo.
No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 2 St. John Bosco both win easily in lead up to their game next Friday in Bellflower. All four top 25 teams from San Diego also all roll with one of them making news for its second 99-yard touchdown of the season. In the north, Folsom rocks Rocklin and Clovis East shows it deserves a big ranking with a big win over Clovis West.
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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FOR LAST WEEK’S FIRST 25 IN TOP 50 STATE RANKINGS, CLICK HERE.
(Rankings based on previous State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Friday, Oct. 6)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 7-0
Defeated No. 9 JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 42-0. It’s now 91-0 in two Trinity League games for the Monarchs. Elijah Brown also now had nine TD passes in two Trinity League games with four more vs the Friars. The defense will be severely tested by St. John Bosco in next Friday’s game in Bellflower. It sure looks like another season in which the two will play first in the regular season to decide the Trinity League and then later on in the CIF Southern Section D1 championship with the winning team then favored to roll in the CIF Open Division state final.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 6-1
Defeated No. 20 Servite (Anaheim) 56-27. The Braves did their part to show no slip-up at all in their game leading into next week’s game vs Mater Dei. Caleb Sanchez passed for 343 yards and five TDs (16 of 18 completed passes). He only played a few minutes of the third quarter. Cameron Jones had 134 yards rushing and two TDs on 11 carrries. He ran the ball well in the two games vs MD last season. Can he do it again?
Here’s an aerial view of Panish Family Stadium at St. John Bosco, which will be the site for next week’s game between Braves & state/national No. 1 Mater Dei. Photo: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport.
3. Centennial (Corona) 5-2
Defeated Roosevelt (Eastvale) 63-14. It was 49-0 at halftime as the Huskies crushed the Mustangs. They will play next at home on Thursday against state-ranked Vista Murrieta. We will head down to see it the day before going to the Mater Dei-St. John Bosco showdown.
4. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 7-0
Defeated Bishop Amat (La Puente) 56-14. It was a much easier show of force by the Trailblazers than when Amat lost in more competitive games earlier this season to Damien, Santa Margarita and St. Mary’s (Stockton). Wyatt Becker threw four more TD passes for Sierra Canyon.
5. Serra (San Mateo) 6-0
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 42-0. No Saturday game this week for the Padres. Their win over Mitty also was another one that showed dominance in the CIF Central Coast Section. The Monarchs, after all, were the team that Serra defeated in last year’s CCS Open Division championship.
6. Lincoln (San Diego) 8-0
Defeated Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 39-14. Akili Smith Jr. completed a 99-yard TD pass to Drey Garner that tied the state record. It’s actually the second time this season that Akili has been part of a 99-yard TD pass.
7. Carlsbad 7-0
Defeated Poway 35-0. The Lancers are not putting up the headlines as much as Lincoln, but they are rolling just the same. Head coach Thadd MacNeal also was named this week as one of the head coaches for the Under Armor All-American Game.
8. Clovis North (Fresno) 7-0
Defeated Clovis 24-7. The Broncos shut down a Clovis team that won last week 38-37 in overtime vs Central of Fresno. A lot of their earlier wins, like the ones against Sanger and Arroyo Grande, also are gaining in strength.
9. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 4-3
LOST to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 42-0. No, it wasn’t the same type of loss that the Lions had against either Sierra Canyon or Clovis North. The earlier win over Orange Lutheran also means that whatever the score vs MD the ranking next week isn’t changing.
10. Lutheran (Orange) 4-3
Defeated No. 18 Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 28-21. The Lancers trailed 7-0, but scored 28 in a row to win a big game for CIFSS D1 playoff possibilities. Steve Chavez broke a 7-7 tie with a 35-yard TD run in the third quarter. A 45-yard TD pass from T.J. Lateef to Chris Flores Jr. followed suit. Players from OLu were seen by OC Register sportswriter Dan Albano hugging SM QB John Gazzaniga after the game in a show of sportsmanship as Gazzaniga started the season with the Lancers before transferring to the Eagles’ program.
11. De La Salle (Concord) 4-2
Does not play this week. The Spartans are on their bye week after a 21-0 shutout from last Friday over McClymonds of Oakland. They will take a four-game win streak into their game next Friday at No. 19 San Ramon Valley. The school’s state record 108-game league win streak since 1989 will be on the line.
12. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 6-1
Defeated Wilson (Long Beach) 46-0. Darius Curry threw for four touchdowns and Cameron Gherardi had two interceptions on defense to lead the Jackrabbits.
13. Rancho Cucamonga 7-0
Defeated Etiwanda 35-7. It was a shut down outing by the Cougars’ defense going up against Washington-committed QB Dermaricus Davis and the Eagles, who fell to 6-2 after getting to 6-0 two weeks ago.
John Pau Mendoza is the running back from San Ramon Valley who tore knee ligaments two weeks ago in game vs Liberty of Bakersfield and will be lost for the season. He stood out in SRV’s win in September vs McClymonds. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.
14. Mission Viejo 5-2
Does not play this week. The Diablos are on their bye week after a 34-0 triumph last week over Kamehameha of Hawaii. They have losses to higher ranked LB Poly and St. John’s (Washington DC). Up next will be San Clemente in a South Coast League showdown.
15. Folsom 5-2
Defeated Rocklin 34-21. One week after the Bulldogs took down previously unbeaten Oak Ridge, they topped previously unbeaten Rocklin. Soph QB Ryder Lyons passed for three TDs and rushed for two.
16. Helix (La Mesa) 7-0
Defeated Grossmont (El Cajon) 57-8. The Highlanders blasted their arch-rival Foothillers one week after Grossmont QB Hudson Herber had 563 yards passing in a win vs Steele Canyon.
17. Serra (Gardena) 5-2
Defeated Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 45-35. The Cavaliers put on a show on the night they retired the jersy of former State Athlete of the Year Marqise Lee. Their losses are to higher ranked Orange Lutheran and Long Beach Poly.
18. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 4-3
LOST to Orange Lutheran 28-21. The Eagles pulled within one score with less than three minutes remaining, but the Lancers held on for the win. QB John Gazzaniga and OL Jacob Maiava rushed for two of Santa Margarita’s touchdowns.
19. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 6-0
Defeated Clayton Valley (Concord) 35-7. Coming off of a bye, the Wolves impressed in another win over a top-level program. Luke Baker passed for four touchdowns with junior Marco Jones catching two of them. Jones also made big plays at linebacker on defense.
20. Servite (Anaheim) 4-3
LOST to No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 56-27. The highlight of the night for the Friars was an 80-yard double pass touchdown in which the score came on a 80-yard pass from receiver Quinn Rosenkranz to Ethan Naudin. Servite has now completed playing both super powers Mater Dei & Bosco.
21. Liberty (Bakersfield) 6-1
Defeated Stockdale (Bakersfield), 56-6, on Thursday night. Brock Wattenbarger had a 75-yard kickoff return TD and Jamel Davis had a 43-yard fumble return TD to help the Patriots get out to a 41-0 halftime lead.
22. Pittsburg 6-0
Defeated Deer Valley (Antioch) 58-0. It doesn’t look like the Pirates will face much opposition in the Bay Valley Athletic League. Jamar Searcy rushed for 140 yards on five carries and he had an interception on defense.
23. St. Mary’s (Stockton) 6-1
Defeated West (Tracy) 55-7. The Rams continue to be in cruise control in their league. It’s good to see the Wolf Pack had won four games already this season coming into the night as that program has really been struggling in recent years. They will be in a different league next season.
24. Granite Hills (El Cajon) 7-0
Defeated West Hills (Santee) 52-0. The Eagles and Helix remained locked full steam ahead looking forward to their league championship showdown in a few weeks.
25. Los Alamitos 5-2
Defeated Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 62-14. Isaiah Rubin had a pick six on the second play of the game and the Griffins rolled from there in the Sunset League contest.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 5-1
Defeated Bellarmine (San Jose) 55-41. Looks like another offensive explosion for sophomore QB Michael Mitchell Jr and the Crusaders’ offense.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 5-2
Defeated Kimball (Tracy) 40-12. The teams in the Valley Oak League that figure to give the Raiders some difficulty, Manteca and Oakdale, are still coming up.
Chaparral (Temecula) 4-3
LOST to Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 31-24. The Pumas fell behind 17-7 after the first drive of the third quarter by the Broncos and could never go back in front.
Aiden Rubin is the senior RB from San Clemente who rushed for school record 273 yards in win on Friday vs Ayala (Chino Hills). Photo: James Escarcega / Whittier SGV Prep Sports Report.
Defeated Clovis West (Fresno) 44-22. Big win for the Timberwolves after their 31-21 loss to No. 8 Clovis North last week. Clovis West came in a 5-1 with a loss to St. Mary’s of Stockton and won the Tri-River Athletic Conference title last season.
Damien (La Verne) 7-0
Defeated Chino Hills 34-7. It was a solid win for the Spartans since Chino Hills notched an upset win in its previous game vs Etiwanda.
Grant (Sacramento) 6-1
Defeated River City (West Sacramento) 65-14. Wayshawn Parker returned to the lineup for the Pacers to score five touchdowns.
Los Alamitos 5-2
Defeated Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 62-14. Isaiah Rubin grabbed an interception on the second play of the game and ran it back for a score to get the Griffins going in the early minutes.
Murrieta Valley (Murrieta) 6-1
Defeated Norco 48-19. The Nighthawks have now won six in a row since losing by two points to Rancho Cucamonga.
Oak Hills (Hesperia) 6-1
Defeated Serrano (Phelan) 35-7. Next week’s game for the Bulldogs will be against Apple Valley, but some of the shine for that one was lost due to Apple Valley getting upset on Thursday by Hesperia.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 6-1
Defeated Del Oro (Loomis) 42-35. This was the 200th win for head coach Casey Taylor, who is an alum of Oak Ridge but won 149 of his games at Del Oro, including one CIF state title and two CIF state runner-up finishes.
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 5-2
Defeated Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara) 49-13. Nate Bennett passed for three TDs and McKenzie Parks rushed for two scores to lead the Lions.
Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 7-0
Defeated Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) 9-7. Don’t let the score fool you. Mira Costa may have been 0-6 and is now 0-7, but has played close games against other highly ranked opponents, including Damien of La Verne and Villa Park.
Pacifica (Oxnard) 8-0
Defeated Channel Islands (Oxnard) 59-0. It was actually the first Oxnard school that the Tritons have faced. They will wrap the regular season going up against the other two (Rio Mesa & Oxnard).
Rocklin 6-1
LOST to No. 15 Folsom 34-21. The top dogs in the Sac-Joaquin Section will stay there after handing Rocklin its first loss. The Thunder were down only 14-7 at halftime after a 7-yd TD run by Slone Reeve.
San Clemente 6-1
Defeated Ayala (Chino Hills) 42-13. Aiden Rubin set a school record for the Tritons with 25 carries for 273 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 5-2
Defeated Westlake (Westlake Village) 21-0. The Seraphs remained unbeaten in the Marmonte League with a solid blanking of the Warriors.
Valencia 6-1
Defeated West Ranch (Valencia) 42-14. When the score was 35-14, Eric Sondheimer of the L.A. Times tweeted out that the Vikings were winning despite being called for 21 penalties. It was supposed to be a matchup of the top two teams from the Foothill League.
Villa Park 7-0
Defeated Esperanza (Anaheim) 49-12. The Spartans are one of those four-team leagues and haven’t played a league game yet. That will start next week at home against Foothill (Tustin).
Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 6-1
Defeated Chaparral (Temecula) 31-24. Only loss to Rancho Cucamonga. Playing Corona Centennial on Thursday in a game we will attend.
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