Marin Catholic players and coaches celebrate after topping Cardinal Newman 59-56 in CIF NCS D3 championship game. Photo: Harold Abend/Prep2Prep.
Coming on the strongest in this week’s post featuring teams in this range of the state rankings is new No. 27 Cajon of San Bernardino and new No. 34 Manteca. The Buffaloes were not even in the State Top 50 at all last week while Cajon has moved up from No. 34. This week, we also are putting in five new teams into these rankings, led by newly crowned CIF Southern Section champions from Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley and Quartz Hill.
For teams ranked No. 1 to No. 25 (Also Gold Club post), CLICK HERE.
Note: All State Top 50 rankings posts for the rest of the season will be for Gold Club members only. Some of our CIF state bowl game coverage will be free, but some will be Gold Club as well. You can still sign up today for just $9.99 for three months, which by the way will carry you through most of the current season. For details, CLICK HERE.
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
(After games of Saturday, Dec. 2)
26. (24) Valencia 12-2*
Defense kept the Vikings close in their 20-19 loss to No. 8 Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship game. They still had a chance after a Lions’ field goal with 2:12 left, but were stopped on downs and then never got the ball back. Mykael Wright capped a tremendous junior season with two TD catches on passes from senior Connor Downs and had an interception on defense. Valencia’s two wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals against state-ranked Norco and Heritage of Menifee will keep the team ranked high through the final rankings, but we’ll have to see whether that will be in the top 25 or in this range.
