E.J. Gable, D.J. Harvey and J.D. Sumlin all made big plays for Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth in impressive 31-7 win at Bakersfield on Friday, which came into the night with just a 17-7 loss to Anaheim Servite on its slate. Combined with state No. 16 Westlake losing to a Grace Brethren team that the Trailblazers beat in their previous game and you can see why it was such a good night for them. Photo: Mark Tennis.
No. 1 Mater Dei wins its showdown with Florida’s IMG Academy, which sets up likely rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 national and state showdown on Oct. 12 with St. John Bosco. No. 3 De La Salle holds on, meanwhile, to win road game in Clovis. There were some shockers, though, as No. 10 Cajon falls to Heritage of Menifee and No. 16 Westlake of Westlake Village loses to Grace Brethren of Simi Valley.
Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Monday. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on more than 40 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. It’s more than 8,000 words of jam-packed info. Each new set of rankings will be for Gold Club members only. The late Friday/Weekend Scoreboards will be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more.
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last week)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Sept. 22)
(Contributing: Daniel Poulter)
*Indicates forfeit result not included.
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 5-0*
Defeated IMG Academy of Florida 28-24. Before 10,000 at the Santa Ana Bowl, a trick play that saw junior offensive lineman Myles Murao score on a touchdown pass and great play from junior QB Bryce Young in the fourth quarter lifted the Monarchs. On the game-winning drive, Young went 6-for-6 on passes and scored on a 6-yard run with just over three minutes left. The defense then got a stop to ice the win.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 5-0
Bye. Did not play. The Braves start up in the Trinity League next Friday vs. state-ranked JSerra (San Juan Capistrano).
Mater Dei junior QB Bryce Young celebrates with teammate Cam Gardner after scoring go-ahead TD in fourth quarter of showdown game Friday against national powerhouse IMG Academy of Florida. Photo: FoxSports.com.
3. De La Salle (Concord) 6-0
Defeated No. 20 Buchanan (Clovis) 31-24. The Spartans ran out the last five minutes of the game after the Bears had kicked a field goal to make it a one-score contest. James Coby got the night going well with a 96-yard kickoff return TD. Sophomore QB Dorian Hale missed most of the second half with an injury. Head coach Justin Alumbaugh told the SJ Mercury-News he “was dinged up.”
4. Centennial (Corona) 5-0
Did not play. Bye. The Huskies start league play Thursday of next week vs. Santiago (Corona).
5. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 5-0
Defeated Bakersfield Christian 83-0. It was 63-0 at halftime and we don’t know how many plays the ESPN cameras showed of big-time national recruit Kayvon Thibodeaux. We found out Saturday (and ESPN viewers knew at the time) that Kayvon actually left the game at halftime so he could get to the airport for a flight that got him to recruiting trip to Alabama.
6. Folsom 4-1
Did not play. Bye. Head coach Kris Richardson’s squad resumes Sierra Foothill League action next Friday vs. Rocklin.
7. Lutheran (Orange) 3-2
LOST 37-35 to No. 8 Mission Viejo at Orange Coast College. A 30-yard field goal as time expired missed. The Lancers led at one point 28-17 after a 100-yard interception return TD by Jackson Cloyd.
8. Mission Viejo 6-0
Defeated No. 7 Orange Lutheran 37-35. Akili Arnold turned the game around for the Diablos with a 94-yard kickoff return TD and then a few minutes later he had a 72-yard punt return that set up a go-ahead TD.
9. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) 5-0
Did not play. Bye. The Lions begin Trinity League play next Friday against state No. 2 (and national No. 1 by some) St. John Bosco.
10. Cajon (San Bernardino) 4-1
LOST 41-36 to Heritage (Menifee). This was a stunner not so much because of Heritage having a 35-16 loss to Orange Lutheran but the one of 12-6 to Redlands East Valley.
11. Central (Fresno) 5-0
Did not play. Bye. QB Trent Tompkins will unlimber his arm next week in a showdown at home against state-ranked Buchanan.
12. Bishop Amat (La Puente) 3-2*
Did not play. Bye. Head coach Steve Hagerty’s squad is starting its Mission League schedule next week vs. Chaminade (Mission Hills).
13. Liberty (Brentwood) 6-0
Defeated Deer Valley (Antioch) 61-12. Don’t forget about Jay Butterfield of the Lions (at 6-foot-6) also being part of state’s phenomenal junior class of QBs.
14. Torrey Pines (San Diego) 5-0
Did not play. Bye. The Falcons get back to work next Friday against Carlsbad in Avocado League opener.
15. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 5-0
Did not play. Bye. Head coach Sean Sovacool hopes his team doesn’t cool off when it plays next on Sept. 28 vs. San Marcos.
Last Saturday, Grace Brethren sophomore QB Mikey Zele had a fun night on the UCLA sidelines. He had a better Friday night this week in helping his team upset state No. 16 Westlake of Westlake Village. Photo: Twitter.com.
LOST to Grace Brethren (Simi Valley) 24-6. Coming off of a 34-0 win over Moorpark, the margin of defeat made this upset even more surprising. The Lancers had lost in their previous game 20-17 to Sierra Canyon.
17. St. Francis (Mountain View) 3-1
Defeated St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 31-6. The Lancers, who have lost only to No. 3 De La Salle, came off of their bye week and easily beat the visiting Wildcats.
18. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 4-1
Defeated Olympian (Chula Vista) 36-6. Make it four in a row for the Dons, who lost their first game to No. 15 La Costa Canyon.
19. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 2-3
Did not play. Bye. The Eagles go up against state No. 7 Orange Lutheran next week in their Trinity League opener.
20. Buchanan (Clovis) 4-1
LOST to No. 3 De La Salle 31-24 at home. Look for the Bears to move up at least three spots in the next state rankings despite this loss. They will be playing No. 11 Central of Fresno next week in their league opener in a matchup Cal-Hi Sports will attend.
21. Pittsburg 4-2
Defeated Heritage (Brentwood) 66-14. Heritage and Deer Valley, the team that No. 13 Liberty rolled over on Friday, are the two weaker teams of the Bay Valley Athletic League. The Pirates know they could be knocked off by any of the others.
22. Del Oro (Loomis) 6-0
Defeated Whitney (Rocklin) 47-0. Head coach Jeff Walters’ crew has won its first two Sierra Foothill League contests by a combined 89-7.
23. Upland 4-1
Defeated El Diamante (Visalia) 49-0. As expected, head coach Tim Salter’s squad bounced back from a loss to Mission Viejo with an easy win. Since Mission just beat Orange Lutheran, that loss now doesn’t look quite as bad.
24. Villa Park 4-1
Playing El Toro (Lake Forest) 56-6. Junior WR-DB Zion Alofesio got the Spartans going with an early pick six and a TD catch. Villa Park is looking more and more like a prime contender for the CIFSS D4 championship.
25. Servite (Anaheim) 3-1
Did not play. Bye. The first Trinity League game for the Friars will be next Friday against No. 1 Mater Dei.
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TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
(Taken from the next group of teams we had in our State Top 50)
(Listed alphabetically)
Antioch 5-1
LOST 14-7 to Freedom (Oakley).
Bakersfield 3-2
LOST to Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 31-7.
Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 3-2*
LOST to St. Mary’s (Stockton) 44-20.
Calabasas 4-1
Defeated Valencia 21-20 (OT).
California (San Ramon) 4-1
Defeated Granada (Livermore) 24-21.
Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo) 6-0
Defeated Cypress 35-0.
Central Catholic (Modesto) 5-1
Defeated Sierra (Manteca) 55-7.
Chaminade (West Hills) 2-3
Bye. Did not play.
Clayton Valley (Concord) 4-1
Defeated Canyon Springs (N. Las Vegas) 28-0.
Corona del Mar (Newport Harbor) 4-1
Bye. Did not play.
Eastlake (Chula Vista) 5-1
Defeated El Camino (Oceanside) 46-31.
Helix (La Mesa) 2-3
Bye. Did not play.
Heritage (Menifee) 3-2
Defeated No. 10 Cajon (San Bernardino) 41-36.
Lawndale 3-2
LOST to No. 30 Narbonne (Harbor City) 27-14.
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 4-2
Defeated Wilson (Long Beach) 42-6. Elijah Juarez 239 yards on 17 carries 2 TD.
Los Alamitos 4-1
Defeated Tesoro (Las Flores) 35-16.
Monterey Trail (Elk Grove) 5-0
Defeated Paraclete (Lancaster) 41-27.
Narbonne (Harbor City) 3-3
Defeated No. 43 Lawndale 27-14.
Norco 4-1
Bye. Did not play.
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 4-1
Defeated Rocklin 38-14.
Palma (Salinas) 3-1
LOST 24-14 to Salinas.
Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley) 5-0
Defeated Hawkins (Los Angeles) 69-0.
Serra (Gardena) 3-2
Defeated Cathedral (Los Angeles) 21-19. Tyray Odell’s strip sack steals game for Serra.
Serra (San Mateo) 2-2
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 42-6.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 4-2
Defeated Bakersfield 31-7.
St. Mary’s (Stockton) 1-4
Defeated Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) 44-20.
Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 3-2
Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles) 8-0. First 10 drives were punts for Loyola.
Wilcox (Santa Clara) 5-0
Defeated Fremont (Sunnyvale) 59-7.
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:
One Comment
Man, So Cal is deep. Teams like Mission Viejo, Oaks Christian, JSerra and Corona Centennial are all top tier yet none is really close to Bosco or Mater Dei. Pac5 bracket is stacked this year and will leave the D1 representative drastically short against a team like Folsom. D1 rep will be a bottom 10 team rather than a top 2 team. Rule change needed allowing Pac5 to have 2 teams in state bowls if deserving.