It looks like the fog was rolling in at historic Kezar Stadium in San Francisco on Friday night after state-ranked Valley Christian of San Jose had topped Sacred Heart Cathedral. Photo: @SHCathletics / Twitter.com.
The biggest winner on Friday night was No. 8 Sierra Canyon, which got out to a hot start in win against No. 6 Norco. There were a lot of teams on byes before they start league play, including No. 2 St. John Bosco. No. 1 Mater Dei did get in a tune-up and won easily so it will be the 3-0 Monarchs vs. the 5-0 Braves next week in Bellflower. Bishop Amat of La Puente also prevailed in matchup between No. 1 and No. 2 teams in San Gabriel 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 continue to be free posts and will provide snippets of info, comments and more.
We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To join our Gold Club to get all new state rankings, state record updates and all of the all-state team announcements, CLICK HERE.
(Rankings based on State Top 50 released last Tuesday)
(Through reported results of Friday, Sept. 24)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 3-0
Defeated La Mirada 58-7. As expected, it wasn’t much of a test for the Monarchs, but at least they got a game in at home before playing in next Friday’s monster matchup at No. 2 St. John Bosco. Mater Dei’s first two games weren’t just on the road, they were on the road outside of the state.
2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 5-0
Did not play. Unlike their rivals from Mater Dei, the Braves did get five games in before taking a bye this week and then opening the Trinity League schedule at home next week against the Monarchs. As everyone from both schools knows, it’s winning in the CIF Southern Section playoffs later on that matters the most. It’s just an extra treat that the two most talent-laden squads in the nation get to play each other more than just once in the playoffs.
A twisty-turvy long touchdown catch and run by Dominic Arango-Serna was huge for Sierra Canyon in key win over Norco. Photo: @FootballRecruit / Twitter.com.
3. Servite (Anaheim) 5-0
Servite was expected to blast by Helix (La Mesa) and it did 42-7. Starters pulled at halftime and final score was halftime score. Starting quarterback Noah Fifita 17/26 for 320 passing yards and five total touchdowns between passing and rushing. Side note – Helix’s Quincy Herron was surprised by his mother before kickoff. She had been on the USS America for the past 22 months. Great moment in blowout.
4. Centennial (Corona) 5-0
Defeated Citrus Valley (Redlands) 63-20. It wasn’t known at the start of the week whether the Huskies would be getting a game in this week to give them five before the start of league play, but Citrus Valley and head coach Kurt Bruich came through. It also was a matchup of two coaches who have won CIF state titles (Bruich at 2010 at Redlands East Valley) but head coach Matt Logan and his group were overwhelming as usual.
5. Folsom 5-0
Four-star athlete prospect Rico Flores Jr. took the opening kickoff 97yards and Folsom breezed to a 54-0 victory over Grant (Sacramento) in Sierra Foothill League play.
6. Norco 4-1
LOST to No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 35-21. This result wasn’t an upset since the Cougars had a close call in their previous game (1-point win) vs. Murrieta Valley. There just wasn’t a valid reason at the time to drop them in the rankings when the teams behind them were on a bye or had lost.
7. Mission Viejo 4-1
The Diablos jumped out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter and walked away with a 55-14 victory over Leuzinger (Lawndale).
8. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 3-2
Defeated No. 6 Norco 35-21. Two early TD passes from Daniel Duran to Dominic Arango-Serna, one that went 80 yards, gave the Trailblazers an edge they never relinquished. Stanford commit Kamari Ramsey scored on a 90-yard fumble return.
9. Serra (San Mateo) 3-0
Defeated Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) 38-0 on Saturday. This was the Padres’ West Catholic Athletic League home opener.
10. St. Francis (Mountain View) 3-0
There was no let down for St. Francis in their first outing since handing De La Salle its first loss to a Bay Area foe in 30 years. The Lancers made easy work of St. Ignatius (San Francisco) in a 33-0 rout to open West Catholic Athletic League play.
11. De La Salle (Concord) 3-1
Did not play. After last week’s 49-21 victory over Cathedral Catholic of San Diego, head coach Justin Alumbaugh said this week’s bye wasn’t going to about rest. He knows the next two games are going to be huge: at home on Friday, Oct. 1 vs. St. Frances Academy of Baltimore (Md.) and then Oct. 8 at Folsom.
12. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 4-1
Did not play. Similar to St. John Bosco, the Eagles got in all of their five games to start the season before getting a week off and then starting the gauntlet of the Trinity League. Their next game will be next Friday vs. JSerra.
13. Carlsbad 5-0
Did not play. The Lancers are in their bye week after notching a 13-7 win last week over No. 25 Mission Hills (San Marcos). They have a tough matchup to for their 2nd league game next week vs. Torrey Pines.
It was senior night at Rocklin as outstanding 6-foot-6, 280-pound tackle Brad Baur is shown with his parents before team went out and dominated in matchup vs. Del Oro of Loomis. Photo: Mark Tennis / Cal-Hi Sports.
14. Los Alamitos 4-1
Did not play. Team will be looking to bounce back next week vs. 5-0 Corona del Mar after loss last week to Santa Margarita.
15. Lincoln (San Diego) 4-1
The Hornets had little trouble in a 52-0 bashing of Otay Ranch (Chula Vista).
16. Lutheran (Orange) 5-0
Did not play. With wins over state-ranked Serra (Gardena), Edison (Huntington Beach) and Damien (La Verne), the Lancers are cooling their jets this week, and taking some extra time for next Thursday’s game vs. No. 3 Servite.
17. Pittsburg 2-1
Did not play. Head coach Vic Galli’s squad, which has wins vs. Valley Christian of San Jose & Wilcox of Santa Clara with a loss to No. 5 Folsom, plays next on Oct. 1 at McClymonds (Oakland).
18. Rocklin 5-0
Defeated Del Oro (Loomis) 38-3. The visiting Golden Eagles (who have a win over Clayton Valley of Concord) scored first on a field goal. The big play of the first half was an 83-yard TD pass from Kenny Lueth to Nathan Kent. A lot of the air was taken out of the Rocklin sidelines, though, as Lueth suffered an apparent knee injury a few seconds before halftime. He was on crutches in the second half. He’s had such a great start to this season.
19. Central (Fresno) 4-0
Did not play. Newly moved to No. 1 in the CIF Central Section, the Grizzlies have a bye this week. They start Tri-River Athletic Conference action next week against Clovis, which was No. 1 in the section previously.
20. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 3-2
After falling to No. 11 De La Salle (Concord) last week, the Dons took out some anger with a 48-21 beating of Steele Canyon (Spring Valley).
21. Alemany (Mission Hills) 2-3
This team needed a solid win after having one of the toughest preseason slates around and finished off Lawndale 28-0.
22. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) 4-1
Defeated Villa Park 45-27 on Saturday. The Broncos beat a team that was 4-0. Their only loss was to Norco in the first game.
23. Buchanan (Clovis) 4-1
The Bears scored on all but one of their first half drives and raced out to a 38-0 halftime lead over Edison (Fresno). The Bears finished the game with a victorious score of 45-14.
24. Edison (Huntington Beach) 3-2
Did not play. This team is on a bye this week after impressive 42-0 win vs. San Clemente. The losses are to No. 3 Servite (not close, but doesn’t matter) and No. 16 Orange Lutheran (on a last-second field goal).
25. Mission Hills (San Marcos) 3-2
Did not play. Both losses are to higher ranked foes (Carlsbad & San Diego Lincoln) with a good win vs. Chaparral (Temecula). The Grizzlies are idle this week.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) 4-0
Brody Stratz returned a pick-six on the first play from scrimmage and Bellarmine breezed past Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco) 38-6 to open West Catholic Athletic League play.
Bishop Amat (La Puente) 3-2
Defeated Damien (La Verne) 53-28. Tobin O’Dell threw for four TDs as the Lancers showed they are still kings of the San Gabriel Valley. Their two losses are to No. 2 St. John Bosco and No. 3 Servite.
One of the top players for Bishop Amat, Delano Franklin, is shown from a game earlier this season. Photo: Twitter.com.
Bishop Diego (Santa Barbara) 5-0
The Cardinals faced Galena (Reno, Nevada) this week in a Saturday game and won 53-0. Michael Luckhurst kicked a 50-yard field goal and threw three TD passes.
Chaminade (West Hills) 3-1
Did not play. After game cancellation from last week, Eagles are on a bye this week.
Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 5-0
Did not play. The Sea Kings also are on a bye this week. The next game is next Thursday vs. Los Alamitos.
Damien (La Verne) 2-3
LOST to Bishop Amat (La Puente) 53-28. Steven Chavez led the Spartans with three rushing TDs.
Etiwanda 5-0
Did not play. The Eagles are on a bye week. Their next game will be at Damien.
Inglewood 4-0
Defeated Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 44-7. The Sentinels didn’t show much rust despite not playing since Sept. 10. Taariq Al-Uqdah helped break it open with an interception return TD.
Jesuit (Carmichael) 4-1
Defeated Inderkum (Sacramento) 45-0 on Saturday. Only loss to Folsom. No. 3 in Sac Bee Metro rankings.
JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 3-2
Defeated Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) 44-0. Losses to Corona Centennial & Sierra Canyon. Also win vs. Rancho Cucamonga.
Loyola (Los Angeles) 5-1
The Cubs hung on for a 34-31 victory over Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach). They were up by 10 points in third quarter.
McClymonds (Oakland) 3-1
The Warriors led 27-14 with less than nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) stormed back and forced overtime. The Warriors were stopped on the first possession of overtime and Juan Pulido connected on a 23-yard field goal for the upset for Menlo-Atherton.
Serra (Gardena) 2-3
Did not play. Team with a win over Long Beach Poly is another one with a bye this week. The next game will be Friday, Oct. 1 vs. Alemany.
St. Bonaventure (Ventura) t-0
The Seraphs took care of Crespi (Encino) 65-13.
Valley Christian (San Jose) 3-1
Head coach Mike Machado’s team needed a 63-yard touchdown pass to Jurrion Dickey with less than two minutes remaining to power past 27-21 Sacred Heart Cathedral (SF).
Warren (Downey) 4-0
Did not play. Warren vs Culver City was cancelled last week and this week is the Bears’ bye.1.
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
Carlsbad isn’t starting league play with Torrey. They already started it with Mission Hills. All 3 teams are part of the Avocado League in Northern San Diego County. The confusion may have stemmed from Mission and Carlsbad not playing last year due to an egregious scheduling omission during the covid-shortened season (both teams were undefeated and never got the chance to settle it on the field).