Preseason State TOP 50 Ranks (31-50)

Senior DB Drew Cofield (left) had five interceptions last season for St. Bonaventure of Ventura. At right is power-packed RB Kingston Keanaaina from St. Francis of Mountain View. Photos: Scott Kurtz & Get Sports Focus / YouTube.com.

TO SEE PREVIEWS FOR TEAMS RANKED FROM NO. 1 TO NO. 10, CLICK HERE.
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31. WARREN (DOWNEY)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 11-3, 28
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Kamehameha Kapalama (Hawaii)

Change is in the air at Warren as head coach Kevin Pearson resigned last March and interim coach Adam Leonard is taking over. It will sure help that Leonard can work with one of the best QBs in the state plus there is other returning talent in other positions. Warren also will have its annual early season test vs Serra of Gardena to see where things really stand.

Madden Iamaleava is the QB and has committed to UCLA over offers from a lot of other college programs. Madden tossed 43 TD passes as a junior and he had 3,626 yards in leading the team to the CIFSS D3 finals where it lost in a agonizingly close game to St. Bonaventure. He took over from older brother Nico (now at Tennessee) and another taking over for an older brother will be WR Jalen Ross. His older brother, Jordan, was the leading receiver last season. Jalen had 46 catches for 794 yards and seven TDs himself. The Bears also will have one of the state’s top-ranked sophomore RBs with Kelton Strickland. He rushed for 1,290 yards and 11 TDs as a freshman. On defense, some holes up front will need to be filled, but leading interceptor Melik King (he had three) will be back.

Derek Keeley scores for Rocklin during 2023 regular season. Photo: Jordan Georgeson / Gold Country Media.

Based on all of the returning players that the Thunder have, they could be closer to the top 25. For us, though, we decided that they have to start behind Grant of Sacramento (team they lost in the CIF NorCal D2-AA regional final). Being in the same Sierra Foothill League as Folsom, Oak Ridge and others will sort everything out.

If you saw Rocklin play last season, it’s no surprise that the team’s No. 1 recruit for this cycle turned out to be 6-foot-7, 305-pound offensive tackle Garrison Blank. He reminded us for sure of Colton Miller of Roseville (in the NFL for several years with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders) for frame and footwork. Garrison has committed to UCLA. Another OL who can really play is Henry Hatada (6-2, 275). The Rocklin offense also returns junior QB Reeve Slone plus RB Derek Keeley, who rushed for 1,070 yards and 20 TDs. Keeley also should be one of the leaders on defense. He had 97 tackles last season.

33. ST. BONAVENTURE (VENTURA)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 12-4, 27
First Game: Thursday, Aug. 22 vs St. Francis (La Canada)

Some outstanding linemen graduated, but a quality group of returnees is back for a team that came within 20 seconds and one play of beating Folsom in the CIF D1-A state championship. The Seraphs also are looking to win the revamped Marmonte League, which still has Oaks Christian and Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara but adds Simi Valley, Camarillo and Pacifica of Oxnard.

The Glover brothers, Koen and Kaden, will lead the offense. Koen, a senior, rushed for 1,189 yards and 15 TDs last season. Kaden, a junior, stepped up as the quarterback due to an injury to starter Anthony Wolter and passed for 695 yards and seven TDs. Kaden Glover also is a highly regarded tight end. Also back on offense is junior RB Jesse Franco (393 yds, 6 TDs). The defense has even more back. Tackling machine Jeremiah Barrios, a junior, had 134 tackles last season. Junior Matt Perez, meanwhile, led the team in sacks with 15.5. The secondary includes Drew Cofield, who had five interceptions as a junior. The team’s top two-way player may be TE/DE Jaden Few, who had 79 tackles on defense and can play tight end with Kaden Glover at QB.

34. TUSTIN
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-1, No. 50
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs El Toro (Lake Forest)

There’s a new Delta League in the state, which will be in the CIF Southern Section and is not to be confused with the longtime Delta League of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. Tustin not only looks like the favorite in that new league but is a non-Trinity League team out of Orange County that could really step up. Its only loss after a 10-0 regular season last year came to Warren of Downey in the CIFSS D3 playoffs in a close game.

Head coach Tony Lopez already figured to have a strong group with the return of RB Eimesse Essis. As a junior, he piled up 1,592 yards rushing with 14 TDs. The big addition is transfer QB Michael Tollefson from JSerra. He was second team All-Trinity League there. He’s also an Arizona State commit. RB Khalil Terry is another offensive player to watch. On defense, the Tillers have a great cast of upcoming talent. The list includes sophomore LB Taven Epps (just ranked as one of the top 75 Class of 2027 players in the nation) along with sophomore DL Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 310), who has SEC and Big 10 offers. Senior Tim Ioane also should be among the best LBs in Orange County.

35. OAK HILLS (HESPERIA)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-2, No. 33
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Aquinas (San Bernardino)

The High Desert region isn’t really part of any other region in Southern California. The communities of Hesperia/Victorville/Apple Valley over the Cajon Pass is home to some good football and in recent years that’s been Oak Hills. The Bulldogs have to get a new quarterback and some linemen need to step up, but they have a lot of other returning strength to get excited about.

Leading the way for Oak Hills will be three-year starting RB Karson Cox. He broke loose for 1,379 yards rushing last season and he had 19 TDS. Cox also has committed to UCLA. The other aspect of the Bulldogs that looks especially good is on the back end of the defense. John Swain IV is back after collecting four interceptions last season. Junior Jeffery Johnson is going to start for his third straight season and Jordyn Simmons also came up with a pair of picks. LB Jacob Macias (second leading tackler last season) is another defensive player to watch.

36. HELIX (LA MESA)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-2, No. 19
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs El Camino (Oceanside)

The Highlanders are coming off of a CIF San Diego Section Open Division season in which their two losses were both in overtime, one to league rival Granite Hills and the other to Lincoln. They are playing one of the top preseason ranked teams in the Bay Area at home in week two, St. Francis of Mountain View, and since they posted a win over the Lancers last season up north we are starting them out one spot higher.

Head coach Robbie Owens does have some rebuilding to do as the leading QB, RB and WR have all departed via graduation. A big help will be the arrival of RB Isaiah “Pablo” Jackson from Granite Hills. He was a standout there the last two seasons and should be as productive a player as RB Kevin Allen III was for Helix in 2023. The Highlanders have several linemen who could make a difference, one of which is senior OT Kenyon Dotson (6-4, 315).

37. ST. FRANCIS (MOUNTAIN VIEW)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 7-4, No. 56
First Game: Friday, Aug. 30 at Helix (La Mesa)

The best Lancers’ teams in recent years has been when head coach Greg Calcagno can line up a hard-charging running back behind a very physical offensive line with a QB who can mix it up with accurate passing. This year’s team checks all of those boxes and should make St. Francis a major contender along with Serra and Riordan of the West Catholic Athletic League to be CCS Open champions.

Senior Kingston Keanaaina surged for 1,530 yards rushing and scored 19 TDs for the team last season. He has committed to BYU. That o-line will have Sione Netane (6-5, 330) and Atamai Matau (6-4, 325). Netane has committed to Colorado State. Matau has offers from Cal and Air Force. All-State sophomore Jackson Cahoon also is back to lead the defense at linebacker. The leading receiver, Perrion Williams, who had 44 catches for 655 yards, is returning as well. That QB we referenced is Andrew Knapp, who had 1,388 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. He also is a cancer survivor.

Alonzo Esparza of Los Alamitos is going to have to rid of anything colored in red when he heads up to college at Cal. Photo: X.com.

Head coach Ray Fenton’s team may be picked fourth out of the four teams in the new CIFSS Alpha League behind Mission Viejo, San Clemente and Edison (Huntington Beach), but there’s not much difference it would appear for the three teams behind Mission. If the pieces fall into place, Los Al could easily rise many spots higher.

The leading returnee is QB Alonzo Esparza, who stepped in as a transfer last season and displayed the type of skills that earned him D1 scholarship offers. Esparza has committed to Cal. The problem is that several others expected back have transferred out (including RB Anthony League). Junior Jerod Terry should pick up the slack at RB. Others counted on by Fenton should include junior TE Beckham Hofland, WR/DB Tron Baker (also a junior) and LB Jackson Raguse.

39. CENTRAL (FRESNO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-4, No. 41
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Garza (Fresno)

Unlike Clovis East, there isn’t a returning QB for the Grizzlies who is back who lit it up last season. They do have an outstanding collection of athletes at RB, WR, DB and LB, however, who make them a team to beat in the CIF Central Section.

Junior Brandon Smith, who just got an offer from Fresno State to go along with many others, had 88 tackles on defense as a DB last season and he had 790 yards rushing (nine TDs). The offense also returns RB David Bell (717 yds rushing) and WR Daylon Scott (57 catches, 819 yds, 6 TDs). The defense features 2023 tackling leader Aidan Chavez (132 tackles) at LB and Marcus Nolen (68 tackles, 4.5 sacks) at LB/DE. Nolen also is one of the top baseball catchers in the section.

40. ST. MARY’S (STOCKTON)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 11-2, No. 37
First Game: Saturday, Aug. 24 at Bishop Manogue (Reno, Nev.)

What stands out the most about this version of the Rams is their speed on the edges. A QB will need to emerge and if that happens the team will be looking to get back to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D2 championship (lost in the final last year to Rocklin). Playing in a stronger league, which now includes Edison of Stockton, also may help get the Rams more ready for the teams they’ll face in the playoffs.

Kenneth Moore III is the top returning player. A junior ranked among the top 50 in the Class of 2026 in the state, Moore used his track sprinting speed to catch 56 passes for nearly 1,000 yards and seven TDs as a sophomore. He can also return kicks. Sophomore teammate Osani Gayles is an even higher ranked Class of 2027 recruit. He’ll play WR and RB on offense. The defense has a speedster in Ahmyri McGee-Hall as well who had 39 tackles last season and has D1 offers. Two of the team’s top returnees up front are Manaalii Davidson (6-2, 250) on defense and Evan Gaea (6-3, 320) on offense.

Venilaite Wolfgramm has been true leader for the defense at Inglewood. Photo: X.com.

Another of the intriguing new league lineups in the CIFSS is the Bay League where the Sentinels are moving from their old Ocean League. And yes, this does mean they will no longer be playing longtime city rival Morningside (remember the 104-0 game from two years ago). And besides, Morningside is slated to close soon. The Wood will now be in a much tougher group with Culver City, Lawndale, Leuzinger, Mira Costa and Palos Verdes. We are going with the Sentinels over PV to start the season due to a key transfer and other top returnees.

The transfer at Inglewood is QB Kingston Tisdell coming in from CIF L.A. City Section Open Division champion Birmingham (Lake Balboa). Tisdell was known there for not throwing interceptions and he also led the Patriots to a come-from-behind win over Del Norte of San Diego in the CIF SoCal D3-A regional final. He’s also committed to Weber State and fits in well with what already was coming back at Inglewood. That cast includes Victor Santino, one of the top junior RBs in California who rushed for 1,028 yards and 10 TDs last season. The defense has even more back with LB Venilaite Wolfgramm (10 D1 offers), DL Lucien Holland (Boise State commit) and soph DL Elija Harmon. We don’t do all-state frosh, but Elija (6-3, 280) was one of the very best regardless of position and has numerous D1 offers.

42. FRONTIER (BAKERSFIELD)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-1, No. 43
First Game: Saturday, Aug. 24 at Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)

Last season’s breakthrough of the Titans moving in front of recent Bakersfield powerhouse Liberty High (the CIF D1-A state champions from 2022) should solidify itself in the CIF Central Section. Head coach Chris Bandy’s team not only has some emerging young D1 recruits but has some local transfers, too, partly from a coaching change that took place at Garces. Liberty also will have a new head coach as Bryan Nixon has moved on into administration.

All-State sophomore WR Kobie Watson leads the returnees. He caught 38 passes last season for 626 yards and eight TDs. Malcolm Watkins also is back to catch passes as he had 35 grabs for 639 yards and eight TDs as a sophomore. If the new QB for graduated star Malachi Statler does well, the Titans could be even better as a team. Carson Campbell (6-3, 305) is another of the younger players to watch. He was regarded as one of the top freshmen on our all-state watch list that was done in January. The team’s interception leader with four, Ngongbeh Ginyui, also is returning. Now to the transfers. One of the top OLs in the section, Graysen Lee (6-6, 270), has come over from Centennial of Bakersfield. And then there’s the two from Garces we know and both are LBs, R.J. Green and Logan Slaton. Both of them have D1 college interest.

43. PALOS VERDES (PV ESTATES)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-1, No. 31
First Game: Saturday, Aug. 24 at Iolani (Hawaii)

It was an historically great 2023 season for the Sea Kings, who went 10-0 in the regular season for the first time. It may have been even more historic if they were in a lower CIFSS division than D2 but they had to play Mission Viejo right out of the gates and lost to the eventual CIF D1-AA state champs. PV loses a lot of top-notch seniors off that team, but the freshman QB who directed is back and that should help the Sea Kings battle Inglewood and others for the revamped Bay League title.

Ryan Rakowski was that frosh QB and is regarded as one of the top Class of 2027 QBs in the state who put his name in our state records by going 11-for-11 for 233 yards and four TDs in a win vs Santa Monica. Among other key players should be OL Patrick Klink (6-1, 290), DB Joey Koyama and sophomore LB Joshua Williams, who also was a pass rushing phenom during summer camps.

44. CAJON (SAN BERNARDINO)
2023 RECORD & FINAL TOP 75 RANK: 8-4, No. 61
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Norco

The alma mater of Heisman Trophy winner and Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels should be strong this season with a lot of returning starters off of a squad that knocked off unbeaten Pacifica of Oxnard in the CIFSS D3 playoffs before losing to eventual champion St. Bonaventure.

Head coach Nick Rogers, who coached Daniels at Cajon, is still on the job and is now working with returning standout QB Evan Powell. He led the Cowboys with 2,307 yards passing and 15 TDs last season and he had 406 yards plus seven TDs on the ground. Brandon Rivers also is back with 339 yards rushing and five TDs, but the even bigger news is that all four receivers who had 30 catches or more last season are all returning as well. Jered Rennick, who has offers from UConn and UC Davis, had 54 grabs for 774 yards and four TDs. The offensive line leader, Isaac Adams (6-3, 280), also is back and so is leading tackler Taylor Johnson. As a sophomore in 2023, Johnson had 70 tackles, including 10 for loss.

45. PACIFICA (OXNARD)
2023 RECORD & FINAL TOP 75 RANK: 10-1, NO. 62
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at West Ranch (Valencia)

Another team we definitely were going to include in the preseason top 50 is the Tritons. They could have been higher than No. 45, but going in right behind Cajon (team they lost to in the CIFSS playoffs last year) but a couple spots in front of Ventura County rival Newbury Park made the most sense.

QB Dominic Duran is the place to start with head coach Mike Moon’s squad. Duran lacks the size that the big colleges covet, but has been a great high school player. He passed for 2,226 yards and 28 TDs last season (only four interceptions) and added six TD runs. Leading WR Isaiah Dillon also is back and was recently honored as one of our top five Grid-Hoop athletes in California. As a junior, the Fresno State commit had 52 receptions for 1,094 yards and 18 TDs. LB Budder Aina also is among the returnees. He was the leading tackler in 2023 with 123. Sophomore Isaiah Phelps had 94 tackles despite being a freshman. San Jose State commit Jesse Taylor Jr. also is back as a DB. Pacifica had two outstanding sophomores on its team two years ago that were both hurt and missed last season with injuries. Based on watching their workouts, both DB Savion Taylor and LB Nick Lavizzo are ready to go for their senior seasons.

46. INDERKUM (SACRAMENTO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 11-2, 40
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Monterey Trail (Elk Grove)

Ricky Cole returns as the QB1 for the Tigers and that alone makes them one of the top five or six teams to start in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. The schedule that head coach Reggie Harris has helped set up also is much more difficult, including game at Marin Catholic of Kentfield and game against close by rival Grant (Sacramento).

Cole actually put his name into our updated state records by passing for 49 touchdowns as a junior. He also had 2,562 yards with 666 yards rushing and 12 TDs. The team’s leading receiver, Iono Choteau, also is back after getting 34 catches for 767 yards and 16 TDs. The other top returnee is RB/DB Kyle Gurganious. He had 649 yards rushing and 10 TDs on offense plus 66 tackles on defense last season.

47. NEWBURY PARK
2023 RECORD & FINAL TOP 75 RANK: 10-4, NR
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Millikan (Long Beach)

This team’s place in the preseason pecking order was based on where it looked like it would be compared to other Ventura County area teams. We thought behind Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure and Pacifica of Oxnard based on all of the players those teams have back plus the Panthers were D4 in the CIFSS last season while the others were in higher divisions. Then we saw that the first game would be against a Long Beach Millikan team that is foreseen to be a legitimate threat to Long Beach Poly in the Moore League. The winning team in that one afterward is going to be up there so why not put both in and right next to each other?

Newbury Park is home, of course, to the state’s most prolific QB-WR combo. Junior QB Brady Smigiel remained on track to throw for 15,000 career yards or more last season with 4,222 yards and a state-leading 52 TDs. Senior Shane Rosenthal didn’t just catch 122 balls for 1,941 yards and 21 TDs, but also had a state-leading 11 interceptions on defense. Brady’s dad, head coach Joe Smigiel, also will have memories the rest of his life of Brady throwing passes to twin brother, Beau. He had 30 catches last season for 379 yards and eight TDs.

QB J.P. Miovski passed for more than 2,700 yards last season and has committed to San Diego State. Photo: Hudl.com.

As impressive as Brady Smigiel and Shane Rosenthal are at Newbury Park, it should be very difficult for the Panthers to get past the Rams in that first game. Millikan, in fact, may have enough firepower to even finally get past Long Beach Poly in the Moore League. It went to overtime when the two played last year, but the Rams will need to play better in other games.

Millikan does lose some top players to college, especially WR Ryan Pellum and DB Loyall Mouzon, but there are three big transfers coming in from Los Alamitos plus QB J.P. Mialovski, a San Diego State commit who passed for 2,764 yards and 30 TDs, also is back. RB Anthony League (Cal commit) rushed for nearly 1,000 yards but missed games at Los Al with an injury. LB Sirr Bible (San Jose State commit) and DL Kapono Mau (a 300-pound three-year starter) also have arrived via Los Al. The Rams additionally have true power up front on offense with linemen Maki Stewart (6-6, 290 with offers from USC, Texas A&M and more) and Jessie Wishon (6-3, 270 with six D1 offers).

49. UPLAND
2023 RECORD & FINAL TOP 75 RANK: 8-3, 45
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs La Habra

There was a goal to get a second Baseline League team into the top 50 after Rancho Cucamonga and it was a close call between the Highlanders and Damien (La Verne). Despite Damien getting the nod to be No. 1 by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, a late coaching change there plus the fact that Upland has seven starters back on offense with eight on defense was the difference.

The Highlanders also have a preseason All-American candidate on their roster in senior Trestin Castro. He’s not just a super prospect committed to USC. He’s also been super productive as a high school player with seven interceptions as a sophomore and four more from last season. Castro also caught 25 passes for nearly 500 yards and seven TDs last season. Maika “AJ” Matelau also is back to provide blocking. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder has offers from BYU, Arizona State, Nebraska and more. LB Donovan Brown (6-2, 210) and OL/DL Roman Ponce (6-1, 235) are two other veterans that should shine.

50. SAN JUAN HILLS (SJ CAPISTRANO)
2023 RECORD & FINAL TOP 75 RANK: 11-2, NO. 53
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Oceanside

If you’re looking for a team with an absolute leader on both sides of the ball, then look no further than the Stallions. They have that at QB and LB plus some other quality returnees. They also would be the team we’re starting in the top 50 from the new Bravo League in Orange County. San Juan Hills is going to face a gauntlet involving Corona del Mar, Yorba Linda, Newport Harbor, Villa Park, Tesoro and Villa Park. If any one of those teams wins the league title, it won’t be a surprise and the winning team at that point is going to be highly ranked.

The Stallions will have LB Weston Port starting for the fourth season. He led them with 128 tackles last season, added three interceptions and has committed to UCLA. Dual-threat QB Timmy Herr also returns. He had magic moments as the soph QB last season and ended with 2,434 yards passing (21 TDs) plus 619 yards rushing (18 TDs). LB/DB Grant Kittredge (83 tackles), DE/LB Tanner Rohan (67 tackles, 8.5 sacks) and DL Gavin Blum (8.0 sacks) are among others that head coach Robert Frith will be counting on.

25 MORE TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
(All listed with last year’s record)

Bishop Amat (La Puente) 4-7
Bonita (La Verne) 9-3
Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) 11-2
Campolindo (Moraga) 7-3-1
Central Catholic (Modesto) 9-3
Chaminade (West Hills) 7-6
Chaparral (Temecula) 7-4
Clovis 8-4
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 8-6
Damien (La Verne) 8-3
Granite Bay 6-6
La Serna (Whittier) 13-3
Liberty (Bakersfield) 9-3
Los Gatos 12-3
Loyola (Los Angeles) 6-6
Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 14-1
Mission Hills (San Marcos) 8-4
Narbonne (Harbor City) 4-7
Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 5-6
San Marcos 9-3
St. Francis (La Canada) 8-3
St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 8-5
Valencia 9-2
Villa Park 10-2
Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 6-5

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports