Here’s how the scoreboard looked at St. Francis of Mountain View after the final seconds ticked off and the Lancers had secured the first win by a team in the greater S.F. Bay Area over De La Salle of Concord since 1991. Photo: @sfhsathletics / Twitter.com.
As No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 2 St. John Bosco were obliterating two more highly ranked teams from other states on Friday night, there was an earthquake in the Bay Area since No. 4 De La Salle of Concord was upset for the first time in 30 years by a Bay Area team (or from north of Clovis). St. Francis of Mountain View did the honors and did it with a TD pass with just 16.7 seconds left. In a Friday matchup of top 20 teams, Los Alamitos topped Buchanan of Clovis, 34-31, in a game that had seven lead changes. Saturday results now added as well.
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 continue to be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more.
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(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last Tuesday)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Sept. 10)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 2-0
Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) was little match for the Monarchs at the Polynesian Classic in Las Vegas. They cruised to a 49-7 victory. Raleek Brown had an MD career-high four touchdowns on the evening.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 4-0
The Braves jumped out to a 35-0 lead in the third quarter against East St. Louis (Ill.) in blowing out another highly ranked out-of-state opponent, 42-26.
3. Servite (Anaheim) 2-0
Defeated Bishop Amat (La Puente) 58-7 on Thursday. The Friars had taken a 44-0 lead by halftime and by all accounts were looking very comparable to their top two Trinity League rivals on offense, defense and special teams.
4. De La Salle (Concord) 2-1
The streak is over. After 30 year, the Spartans fell to an opponent north of Clovis as St. Francis (Mountain View) pulled off the stunner 31-28. Matthew Dougherty hit Nicolas Andrighetto on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining to power the Lancers to one of the biggest upsets in NorCal history. It will have to be seen how big of an upset it is depending on how both teams do the rest of the season.
5. Centennial (Corona) 3-0
JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) didn’t put up much of a fight as the Huskies bashed their way to a 48-0 victory.
Malachi Nelson threw for two TDs and ran for one to help Los Alamitos grab 34-31 win on the road at Buchanan of Clovis in matchup of two state top 20 teams. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.
6. Folsom 3-0
Did not play. The Bulldogs will open Sierra Foothill League action next Friday at home against Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills).
7. Norco 3-0
Did not play. Head coach Chuck Chastain’s powerful group has a bye and will take on Murrieta Valley of Murrieta next week.
8. Los Alamitos 4-0
Defeated No. 19 Buchanan (Clovis) 34-31. In a game that featured seven lead changes, the Griffins ran out the final 3:46 of the clock to prevent the Bears from getting a final chance. Unofficially, we had Makai Lemon with 11 catches for 195 yards and two TDs. Malachi Nelson’s passing totals would be impacted by a play we’re not clear if it would be an interception or a fumble after the catch on a strip by Buchanan’s Josiah Ayon in first half.
9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 2-1
Did not play. The Trailblazers have a bye after their loss to No. 5 Corona Centennial and will return next week with another huge test: No. 3 Servite.
10. Serra (San Mateo) 2-0
Defeated Half Moon Bay 47-7 in home opener on Saturday. It’s a good bet most of the conversation among Padre fans was about league rival St. Francis posting historic win on Friday vs. De La Salle. Serra definitely should still be ranked ahead of St. Francis next week so that means Padres also will be ahead of De La Salle.
11. Carlsbad 4-0
The Lancers went into the halftime break down 14-7 to El Camino (Oceanside), but the Lancers scored 21 unanswered after the break to grab the 28-14 victory and stay undefeated.
12. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 3-1
This is the team De La Salle will be playing next and it’s likely the Dons will come in higher ranked. They just beat Helix (La Mesa) on Friday, 52-0. According to East County media scribe Ramon Scott it is the biggest loss in Helix’s history, dating to 1952. Helix also had 187-game consecutive streak of not being shut out broken.
13. Alemany (Mission Hills) 1-2
After facing two of the top teams in the country, Alemany picked up a 56-21 victory over 0-4 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village). USC commit Kevin Green had six catches for 105 yards and two scores. Quarterback Dylan Gebbia had five TD passes.
14. Mission Viejo 2-1
Did not play. This team’s demanding schedule will resume next week at Alemany (Mission Hills). Diablos have wins vs. Apple Valley and Long Beach Poly with a loss to Servite.
15. Lincoln (San Diego) 2-1
Did not play. The Hornets were not supposed to have a bye, but their game against Mira Mesa of San Diego this week was cancelled due to the death last week of Mira Mesa head coach Chris Thompson. He had bone cancer, but was hospitalized reportedly due to COVID.
Khai Taylor came up with three interceptions for Pittsburg during team’s win on Friday over Valley Christian of San Jose. Photo: Twitter.com.
16. Clovis 4-0
Defeated Whitney (Rocklin) 27-7. Tristan Risley broke a 35-year-old school record for career rushing yards and told Fresno TV that as a kid he always dreamed of being a star player wearing the blue-and-gold at Lamonica Stadium.
17. Pittsburg 1-1
Head coach Vic Galli’s squad bounces back from its defeat at No. 6 Folsom with a 42-20 victory over No. 24 Valley Christian (San Jose). Khai Taylor grabbed three interceptions while being the main cornerback on four-star prospect Jurrion Dickey.
18. San Clemente 3-1
LOST 7-3 to No. 41 Corona del Mar (Newport Beach). This time, the Tritons were not able to rally late and win in the fourth quarter of a low-scoring game.
19. Buchanan (Clovis) 3-1
LOST to No. 8 Los Alamitos 34-31. A 23-yard TD pass from Jayden Mandel to Travis Sirwet with 3:48 left pulled the Bears to within 34-31 of the Griffins, but they didn’t get the ball back. A third down incomplete pass with 2:32 left would have forced a Los Al punt, but it was ruled as a blow to the head that instead gave the Griffins a first down.
20. Lutheran (Orange) 4-0
OLu needed a late rally and overtime to outlast No. 31 Damien (La Verne) 38-31. Logan Gonzalez was 20-for-34 with 327 passing yards and four scores.
21. Rocklin 3-0
The Thunder ran over Capital Christian (Sacramento) 43-14. Rocklin quarterback Kenny Lueth had 304-yards and five total scores between the air and the ground.
22. Central (Fresno) 3-0
Defeated Edison (Stockton) 17-10. The Grizzlies got past a Vikings’ team that was 3-0 and may yet still prove to be one of the top four teams in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section this season.
23. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 3-1
The Broncos blanked Upland 48-0, a shocking margin to some in the Inland Empire. Vista Murrieta’s only loss is to No. 7 Norco.
24. Valley Christian (San Jose) 2-1
Four-star prospect Jurrion Dickey picked up 179 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough for the Warriors to push past No. 17 Pittsburg. The Pirates grabbed a 42-20 victory.
25. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 3-1
Defeated Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth, Texas) 31-13 on Saturday in “Trinity League Football Showcase” hosted by St. John Bosco. Niko Lopez ran for a pair of scores. The Eagles were ahead 31-0 after three quarters.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Central Catholic (Modesto) 3-0
Defeated San Ramon Valley (Danville) 21-14 on Thursday. Raiders topped team that was No. 30 in our state rankings and will be moving up from No. 46 in last week’s rankings.
Chaminade (West Hills) 3-1
Defeated Crespi (Encino) 42-14. Loss to Cathedral Catholic. Other two wins Oaks Christian & Birmingham (Lake Balboa).
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 4-0
Defeated No. 18 San Clemente 7-3. The Sea Kings were No. 41 in last rankings. David Rasor completed a one-yard pass in the first quarter to John Tipton for the game’s only score.
Damien (La Verne) 1-2
The Spartans nearly knocked off No. 20 Orange Lutheran and probably should have, but fell 38-31 in overtime. Quarterback Dylan Gutierrez was 23-for-35 for 348 passing yards and had four touchdowns in defeat.
Del Oro (Loomis) 4-0
Defeated River Valley (Yuba City) 41-7. A Saturday result that helps the Golden Eagles was state No. 35 Liberty (Bakersfield) falling 14-13 to Clayton Valley (Concord) at the Honor Bowl in Brentwood. Del Oro handed 2-1 Clayton Valley a 26-20 loss two weeks ago.
Inglewood 3-0
The Sentinels pulled out of its game against St. Francis (La Canada) due to COVID.
Loyola (Los Angeles) 3-1
Defeated Cathedral (Los Angeles) 34-6. The Cubs scored 27 unanswered points after the first quarter to push past the Phantoms.
Mission Hills (San Marcos) 3-1
It was a bounce back win this week for the Grizzlies after a loss to Lincoln (SD) as they shutout La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 41-0.
Serra (Gardena) 1-2
Team with losses to Orange Lutheran and American Fork (Utah) but with a win over Long Beach Poly lost on Friday, 14-0, to 4-0 Warren of Downey. The injuries continued to mount.
St. Francis (Mountain View) 2-0
Defeated No. 4 De La Salle (Concord) 31-28. So what will this do to the rankings? The Lancers, who won first game 55-0 vs. Oak Grove of San Jose, will have to come up in front of the team they just beat, but won’t be ahead of Folsom and Serra (San Mateo). Ahead of Pitt? Probably.
Warren (Downey) 4-0
Defeated Serra (Gardena) 14-0. It wasn’t the QB shootout many hoped for as Texas-bound Maalik Murphy of Serra was knocked out of the game in the second quarter. Junior Nico Iamaleava threw for two TDs for the Bears.
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:
6 Comments
Can you imagine if DLS beats Folsom, but Folson goes on to win SJS, and VC regroups to beat out Serra & St. Francis for CCS title? What a mess that would be to decide who goes to the open (to likely get hammered by MD or Bosco (or perhaps Servite)!
Lots of scenarios, including DLS losing two times to non-NorCal teams but still beating Folsom. Just have to wait for a few more games to happen. CCS Open winner if it’s from WCAL has the edge over DLS is all we really know for sure. It’s almost like being the 7 or 8 seed in the CIFSS D1 playoffs. No one wants that and does a NorCal team really want to be in the Open Division. Winning state can happen in D1-AA or D1-A. It ain’t happenin’ in the Open.
True. The DLS team I watched on Saturday would definitely be vulnerable to Pittsburg, but would only play them in the playoff, in which case they would not win NCS anyway. Don’t know if SRV and CV can beat them despite the vulnerabilities. Even as a DLS guy I think it would be cool to see Folsom finally get a shot in the open, although they’d be in a tough situation with whoever comes out of the CIFSS D1, to say the least. But at least they’d probably have the best shot to put up some points IMO.
Totally, would be good to see Folsom at least in that game for a change of pace. This is also why would be cool to see a Private Open and Public Open game where even though Folsom would probably still have their hands full, them vs. Centennial would be a great public school state championship.
Mark, just for fun, if your number #5 vs. #6 (Folsom v. Cent.) were to go at it at this point what do you think would be outcome?
With MD & Bosco ready to join Pac 12, trying to stir up a new N v. S fun scenario, LOL!
Haven’t yet seen Folsom so not sure. Been waiting for Folsom & Centennial to play for 15 plus years. No two schools from an offensive standpoint have impacted the state record book more than those two. Just know that Centennial’s defense could be best it has ever had & probably team in general closer to MD-Bosco level since 2015. They can’t overlook Norco, though, from same league. The teams Norco has beaten easily (Vista Murrieta, Rancho Cucamonga, Santa Margarita) have all now won big games afterward.