New State Top 25 Rankings (Part 2)

Bellarmine QB K.J. Carta-Samuels is a junior but has already committed to Vanderbilt.
Photo by Willie Eashman.

13. (13) UPLAND 5-0
Why This Ranking: A loss made room for the Highlanders to move up one spot in this week’s rankings, but we moved up St. John Bosco instead. Bosco posted a major win over a top Utah team, thus leaving Upland unchanged.
Weekend Result: Did not play. The team’s most recent win was 45-41 over Santiago of Corona.
Up Next: Baseline League play kicks off on the road for Upland in Rancho Cucamonga. In the past two seasons, the team has lost only one league game. The Cougars (4-1) will be a test. They were considered the team to beat in the league at the start of the season and have done well except for a one-point loss to Servite of Anahiem.

14. (11) MATER DEI (SANTA ANA) 4-1
Why This Ranking: The Monarchs drop three spots following their gut-wrenching 18-17 loss to No. 4 Narbonne. With St. John Bosco and Upland still unbeaten on-the-field and given the fact the game with Narbonne came down to the last drive, and compared to Serra’s score against the same team (22-9), it only natural for Mater Dei to fall here.
Weekend Result: After Thomas Duarte’s clutch reception on fourth down and five near midfield, the Monarchs’ offense stalled and was unable to get in field goal range for the potential game-winning kick. On a fourth and seven attempt from the Gauchos’ 33-yard line, Ryan McMahon’s pass was deflected by Narbonne’s Sidney Watkins to turn the ball over on downs.
Up Next: Mater Dei has to put the loss behind itself quickly as the Monarchs jump into Trinity League play this week. Coach Bruce Rollinson is quite pleased with his defense and the fact his team doesn’t have major injuries heading into its matchup with 5-0 JSerra of San Juan Capistrano.

15. (15) SERRA (GARDENA) 4-1
Why This Ranking: The Cavs stay put in the rankings after their idle week. They stay behind behind Mater Dei since the Monarchs played No. 4 Narbonne a bit closer than they did.
Weekend Result: Did not play. The Mission League is going to be tough once again. There are currently four Mission League teams unbeaten or 4-1 and St. Paul played a murderous non-league slate and should be a tough out, too.
Up Next: The Cavs will open up league play on the road against 4-1 Chaminade of West Hills, which just beat previous No. 16 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and just missed making the State Top 25 this week.

16. (19) CHAPARRAL (TEMECULA) 4-1
Why This Ranking: As expected, the Pumas bounced back from their 17-14 loss to No. 7 Tesoro with an easy win over Santa Fe of Santa Fe Springs. Losses by two teams ahead of them also made room for them to move up.
Weekend Result: In their final game before league play, the Pumas got their second shutout of the season in defeating the Chiefs 46-0. Justin Harris rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries with his final carry going for 72 yards. Their defense also dominated as they allowed just 66 total yards while recording two safeties.
Up Next: Southwestern League play gets underway as they go on the road to take on Murrieta Mesa of Murrieta. Last season they finished in second place behind Vista Murrieta. They will go on the road to face Vista Murrieta in their final game of the regular season.

17. (22) OCEANSIDE 4-1
Why This Ranking: For the second straight week, the Pirates took on a tough non-league opponent from the CIF San Diego Section, and although it wasn’t a blowout, it was against a Mission Hills of San Marcos team that came into the game with its only setback a season opening 14-point loss at No. 6 Mission Viejo. Because of that and two teams above them losing, coupled with the fact Oceanside’s only loss is 40-30 in Temecula at No. 16 Chaparral when coach John Carroll was missing some key starters, San Diego’s top team gets to go up five spots.
Weekend Result: The defense came up big, allowing just 46 yards rushing and 113 yards passing, but the Pirates still only led 19-17 early in the fourth quarter after Mission Hills returned a fumble for a touchdown. That’s when Israel “Tofi” Paopao tossed a 68-yard scoring strike to Thai Cottrell just 30 seconds after the fumble, and the defense ate up the final 9:30 in a 26-17 victory.
Up Next: The Pirates open Avocado West League play at home against a 3-2 Carlsbad team with losses to San Diego St. Augustine and Ramona, but coming in off a 24-0 blanking of Fallbrook. Look for a larger margin of victory than the past two weeks.

18. (18) FRANKLIN (ELK GROVE) 5-0
Why This Ranking: After a six spot bump last week, the Wildcats hold steady this week. They also are continuing as the No. 2 team in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section behind Elk Grove.
Weekend Result: Did not play. Franklin won two weeks ago 28-7 over Jesuit of Carmichael. Running backs Christian Fonbuena and Steven Rogers have been splitting the carries and both are headed for 1,000-yard seasons.
Up Next: Delta Valley League play will get going with the Wildcats going on the road to take on Grant of Sacramento. A potential matchup of undefeated state top 20-ranked teams is ahead in two weeks as No. 8 Elk Grove is also in their league.

19. (NR) CRESPI (ENCINO) 6-0
Why This Ranking: Although the Celts didn’t play last week, several teams they’ve beaten so far this year did play, including Salpointe of Tucson, Ariz., which is now 6-1 and climbing in the Arizona rankings with its only loss to Crespi. The team’s 43-17 win over Westlake of Westlake Village from two weeks ago also is looking good after Westlake lost by a much closer 31-23 to No. 9 St. Bonaventure.
Weekend Result: Coach Jon Mack’s team no doubt took the extra time in its bye week to concentrate on the upcoming Serra League schedule. In the first six games, standouts have included senior quarterback Cody Cordell (240 yds, 3 TDs passing vs. Salpointe) and sophomore running back Okalani Langi (3 TDs rushing vs. Westlake).
Up Next: Crespi hosts Loyola of Los Angeles in Friday’s league opener. Loyola is officially unbeaten as well, but lost on-the-field to St. John Bosco 45-0 on Sept. 14.

20. (20) CENTRAL (FRESNO) 5-0
Why this ranking: Since the Grizzlies had the week off, the No. 2 team from the CIF Central Section wasn’t involved in the minimal shuffling that took place in the bottom 10 of this week’s rankings, and hold fast in the No. 20 spot.
Weekend Result: Did not play.
Up Next: Tri-River Conference play begins this week with a visit from a 2-3 Buchanan (Clovis) team that has given up 170 points in three straight losses after winning its first two games. With Central having scored at least 40 points in its last two games, look for the Grizzlies to put up some big numbers on the scoreboard.

21. (21) LOMPOC 5-0
Why This Ranking: The Braves stay put in the rankings after their idle week.
Weekend Result: Did not play. With Salesian of Richmond getting blasted by El Cerrito 42-6 to snap a 26-game winning streak, Lompoc now owns the state’s longest win streak at 25 games.
Up Next: Lompoc will look to extend its winning streak against 5-1 Templeton in a game that will go a long way in determining the Los Padres League title. As stated last week, it would be a huge upset if Lompoc were to drop a regular-season game.

22. (23) EL TORO (LAKE FOREST) 6-0
Why This Ranking: The pass-happy Chargers move up a notch after cracking the State Top 25 last week with a school record 77 points. The No. 3 team to be ranked from the South Coast League continues to post some huge numbers and did it once again in a blowout win over visiting Garden Grove. To stay in the rankings, though, coach Rob Firth will have to have his boys continue to light up the scoreboard against tougher competition.
Weekend Result: It wasn’t 77 points but it was the fifth time the Chargers went over 40 points in a 49-6 win over Garden Grove. With Firth only playing the starters two quarters, quarterback Connor Manning didn’t have anywhere near the 613 yards passing and seven TDs he had two weeks ago, but he did throw for 317 yards and three scores. Jacob Furnari also had 105 yards rushing and two TDs in the two quarters of work.
Up Next: League play begins on Thursday with a visiting San Clemente team that was 4-0 before losing two straight to Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) and Edison of Huntington Beach. This is a game where El Toro can’t afford to look past San Clemente to its date in two weeks with Tesoro.

23. (24) BELLARMINE (SAN JOSE) 3-1
Why This Ranking: The No. 2 team from the Bay Area inches upward after sending upstart West Catholic Athletic League foe Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) to its first defeat. We’re going to continue to keep the Bells in the Bay Area’s second spot until someone else from those parts other than De La Salle beats them. Over the past two years, coach Mike Janda’s boys are 15-3 with two losses to Sparta and a loss to Santa Margarita in last year’s CIF D1 Bowl Game.
Weekend Result: It was a 28-10 victory over Riordan in a contest that was closer than the score indicates after the Crusaders had missed red zone opportunities and gave up big gains on long third and fourth down situations. Joey Sanfilippo ran for 115 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries and K.J. Carta-Samuels ran for two scores. The defense only gave up three points on two Riordan possessions inside the 10-yard line.
Up Next: Had this week’s opponent, Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, pulled off a win over 4-0 Serra of San Mateo, this game would have had even bigger implications. Now, the Bells enter what is probably the toughest two weeks of their WCAL schedule with Mitty and Serra back-to-back and both on the road.

24. (25) OAK RIDGE (EL DORADO HILLS) 5-0
Why This Ranking: The Trojans were moved into the State Top 25 last week after defeating defending CIF Sac Joaquin Section Division II champion Vacaville as well as owning wins over Grant of Sacramento and Rocklin. They moved up one position this week due to two teams dropping out with losses.
Weekend Result: Did not play.
Up Next: The Delta River League schedule will kick off with a key game as Oak Ridge hosts undefeated Folsom. Last season, the Trojans went to Folsom and were defeated 35-31. A similar shootout is expected again.

25. (NR) FOLSOM 5-0
Why This Ranking: It would be easy to say the only reason for moving the Bulldogs into this position is that they are playing No. 24 Oak Ridge on Friday. One of their wins, though, the one against Deer Valley of Antioch, got strengthened when Deer Valley won last week over Vacaville. Folsom also was the CIF Division II state bowl champ in 2010 and went 11-2 last year.
Weekend Result: The Bulldogs did not play after a 5-0 start. Another win was against 2011 CIF North Coast Section Division I finalist San Ramon Valley. Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning tied the state record with 10 TD passes in his first game. He has 2,010 yards and 19 scores heading into this week.
Up Next: This Friday’s game at No. 24 Oak Ridge is the game of the week in the Sac-Joaquin Section no matter what the local TV station voting polls come up with. The winner will have a leg up on winning the Delta River League title although both teams still will have to play Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove.

Teams That Dropped Out:
Previous No. 16 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks); No. 17 James Logan (Union City).

Teams On The Bubble:

Bishop Amat (La Puente) 5-0-1
California (San Ramon) 5-0
Chaminade (West Hills) 4-1
Chino Hills 3-1-1
Citrus Hill (Perris) 5-0
Clovis North (Clovis) 5-0
Crenshaw (Los Angeles) 4-1
Deer Valley (Antioch) 4-1
Edison (Huntington Beach) 4-1
Hart (Newhall) 4-1
Helix (La Mesa) 3-1
JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 5-0
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 4-1
Luther Burbank (Sacramento) 5-0
Lutheran (Orange) 5-0
Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 5-1
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 5-1
Placer (Auburn) 5-0
Rancho Cucamonga 4-1
Serra (San Mateo) 4-0
Serrano (Phelan) 5-0
St. Mary’s (Stockton) 3-2
Westlake (Westlake Village) 3-3

Comments or questions? Email markjtennis@gmail.com.