The rooting section of students at Bellarmine Prep of San Jose has always been one of the most fun to listen to in Northern California. This year’s team has huge game this week in San Francisco.
13. (13) UPLAND 8-0
Why This Ranking: We had to make room for another team last week, which caused the Highlanders to drop one spot in the rankings despite winning. There wasn’t a need for that this week as they stay put after defeating Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga.
Weekend Result: Leading 20-0 after three quarters of play, the Upland defense made the score even larger as it intercepted two passes for touchdowns and returned a fumble for six points in a 47-7 road win over the Grizzlies. With the win, Upland took sole possession of first place in Baseline League play. Nate Romine passed for 152 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 117 yards and a score. Senior DB Delvin Batiste scored two of their defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Up Next: For the last time during the regular season, the Highlanders will head on the road as they will take on an Alta Loma squad that is 0-3 in the Baseline League.
14. (18) FOLSOM 8-0
Why This Ranking: With Elk Grove losing to Franklin of Elk Grove, the Bulldogs move into our No. 2 spot for the Sac-Joaquin Section and also get a four-spot bump in this week’s rankings. Given the scores so far, Folsom would even seem to have a legitimate case to be No. 1 in the section ahead of Franklin. Unlike Elk Grove and Franklin, however, Folsom and Franklin won’t play this season and will be in different SJS playoff divisions as well.
Weekend Result: Sophomore Jake Browning completed 24 of his 41 pass attempts for 314 yards and five touchdowns as the Bulldogs scored 36 points in the middle two quarters of play on the way to a 49-13 win over Sheldon of Sacramento. Trace Noble caught four passes for 66 yards and three touchdowns while junior Harry Lipnosky rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. As a team, Folsom rushed for 268 yards on 35 carries.
Up Next: Heading up Highway 50 to Shingle Springs for their final Delta River League road game, the Bulldogs will take on Ponderosa. An expected win would likely set up the regular season finale at home against Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove for the league championship.
15. (15) TESORO (RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA) 6-2
Why This Ranking: Despite putting some good numbers of their own on the scoreboard, the Titans fell to No. 4 Mission Viejo. They also have a loss to No. 12 El Toro but boast a win over No. 16 Chaparral that allows them to hold tight in this week’s rankings. Despite the two recent losses, the Titans may very well still be a factor in the CIFSS Pac-Five playoffs.
Weekend Result: The Titans led 7-0 early on, 21-14 at the half, and 24-21 with 5:23 left in the third quarter, but when the visiting Diablos turned up the heat after that, head coach Brian Barnes and his boys just didn’t have the answers, plus the offense had some miscues that led to Mission Viejo scores in a 55-32 defeat.
Up Next: It’s never easy in the South Coast League for the only team with a 1-2 league record in the top 15 ranked squads. This week, it will be visiting San Clemente in a game that should provide some relief to the Titans’ faithful.
16. (16) CHAPARRAL (TEMECULA) 7-1
Why This Ranking: The number of teams ahead of the Pumas that lost and the number of teams ranked lower that won and needed to move up were equal so the Pumas stayed put for the first time in several weeks. The team is still lower than Charter Oak of Covina in the CIFSS Inland Division ranking, but we are giving them more credit for beating Oceanside, the No. 1 ranked team in the San Diego Section.
Weekend Result: Kellen Mataafa had an early 80-yard touchdown pass to Chris Stratton and the Pumas would never trail on their way to a 21-14 road win over Great Oak of Temecula. Justin Harris broke a 7-7 tie with two rushing touchdowns in the second half and finished with 22 carries for 161 yards and the two scores.
Up Next: Currently tied for first place in Southwestern League play, Chaparral will host Murrieta Valley of Murrieta in this week’s game. Murrieta Valley just lost its first game of the season, but it was No. 3 Vista Murrieta. With a win, the Pumas will then play at Vista Murrieta with the league championship on the line.
17. (17) OCEANSIDE 7-1
Why This Ranking: There was nowhere to go for the Pirates this week despite scoring 40 or more points for the fifth time this season in a blowout win over visiting Ramona. The reason is that head coach John Carroll and the boys have to stay behind the Chaparral team that beat them and also has a loss to a Tesoro team that just lost to Mission Viejo.
Weekend Result: On paper, it looked like it could be a contest since Ramona had lost but scored 21 points against a Poway team that Oceanside beat 23-13 on the road. But paper doesn’t count when a loaded Pirates team decides to play and leads 21-0 after one quarter and 35-6 at the half, in what ended up a 49-6 victory. Senior running back William Gulley rushed for three touchdowns and quarterback Israel “Tofi” Paopao passed for 210 yards and two TDs in just under three quarters of work.
Up Next: In what could be the sternest test the Pirates face in Avocado West League action, they play just down the I-5 in Carlsbad this week against 7-1 La Costa Canyon. The key here is La Costa Canyon’s loss is to a San Clemente team that is at best mediocre in the CIFSS this season. It might not be a running clock like it’s been the last three weeks but look for a solid Oceanside win.
18. (8) ELK GROVE 7-1
Why This Ranking: Losing to previous No. 14 Franklin of Elk Grove wasn’t enough to completely drop the Thundering Herd out of the rankings, but they did fall behind Folsom. They also still remain one of the favorites in the upcoming CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs.
Weekend Result: Standout running back Robert Frazier was limited to just 83 rushing yards as the undefeated season came to an end with a 17-7 loss at home against the Wildcats. Wadus Parker did rush for a score but the passing attack was held to just one completion for three yards. Backup quarterback Guy Hall had to start due to a disciplinary action against starter Tommy Arnold.
Up Next: For senior night, coach Chris Nixon’s club will host Monterey Trail of Elk Grove in a game that should see the Thundering Herd get back to their winning ways.
19. (19) LOMPOC 8-0
Why This Ranking: The Braves won’t be making any big jumps in the ratings until they run into some stiff competition in the CIFSS Western Division playoffs. By defeating Santa Ynez 56-7 last week and outscoring its league foes 196-24, however, the Braves also are displaying they don’t play down to the level of competition.
Weekend Result: Lompoc and Santa Ynez traded touchdowns on the first two possessions of the game and all that did was fire up the Braves. They went on to score four more touchdowns in the first quarter and eight overall in the first half of their 49-point victory. Lompoc had 335 yards rushing on only 19 carries before intermission.
Up Next: Lompoc will look to extend the state¹s longest winning streak (28 and counting) against 1-7 Nipomo on the road.
20. (20) EDISON (HUNTINGTON BEACH) 7-1
Why This Ranking: Since Mater Dei (the team that has handed Edison its only loss) now has two losses on the season, there was consideration for dropping the Chargers one position in this week’s rankings. Given that the team won 78-0, however, that makes it much harder to pull the trigger on that move.
Weekend Result: It was 62-0 at halftime during Edison’s 78-0 victory over Marina of Huntington Beach. Aleksander Torgersen unlimbered his throwing arm to go 12 of 22 for 275 yards and five touchdowns. He had thrown for just five TDs in his previous seven games. The defense was paced by Derek Baljieu, who charged in for three sacks, caused two fumbles (one run back for a score) and recovered a fumble. Beljieu also scored on a 7-yard run.
Up Next: It will be the continuation of one of the top rivalries in Orange County history when the Chargers play at Fountain Valley in this week’s game.
21. (21) BELLARMINE (SAN JOSE) 6-1
Why This Ranking: Like the Trinity and even the Sunset League in Southern California, there aren’t a lot of gimme games in the West Catholic Athletic League and the win at San Jose City College over St. Francis of Mountain View might have been the eighth-straight by the Bells over the Lancers but it wasn’t easy. The margin of loss to De La Salle still remains the biggest factor in the No. 2 team from the Bay Area not being able to move up much in the rankings, although that could change next week.
Weekend Result: It was the Bells’ running game that got it done on a night that saw quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels not putting up the biggest numbers. The star was Joey Sanfilippo. The senior running back rushed 11 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a hard-fought 16-7 victory.
Up Next: With both teams tied at 4-0 atop the WCAL, it’s a big game for Bellarmine, but it’s even bigger for Saturday afternoon host St. Ignatius. This is only the second time since the league was formed in 1967 that St. Ignatius has started 4-0 in league. The only other time was in 2006 when the Wildcats were co-champions with San Mateo Serra. That year they started 4-0 before Serra beat them. A Bellarmine team that’s won 13 straight in WCAL play will get its biggest league test against a team playing perhaps its biggest game in 45 years.
22. (22) CRENSHAW (LOS ANGELES) 7-1
Why This Ranking: The Cougars stay put after a strong win against arch-rival Dorsey. There were not enough ranked teams above them that lost, but they solidified their status as the No. 2 team in the L.A. City Section behind Narbonne. Crenshaw also has a head-to-head win over No. 23 Oaks Christian.
Weekend Result: Cornerbacks Dominique Hatfield (Utah) and Mossi Johnson (UCLA) were the talk of the town after the team’s 34-14 triumph over Dorsey. Hatfield picked off two passes, ran one back 32 yards for a score and also added four catches on offense. Johnson didn’t score on offense like he has in recent games, but also notched a pick on defense. Others to shine included Ajene Harris with two touchdown passes and Corey Walker with a 22-yard TD run.
Up Next: Crenshaw is scheduled to visit West Adams Prep of Los Angeles, a winless team (0-7) that did not play Mission Hills of San Marcos from the San Diego Section earlier in the season.
23. (23) OAKS CHRISTIAN (WESTLAKE VILLAGE) 7-1
Why This Ranking: There was nowhere to go this week for the Lions since the only two teams to lose in the top 25 this week were teams that lost to other ranked teams. The team’s 41-30 win against Chaminade from early in the season continues to grow in stature as does the one over Granite Bay.
Weekend Result: Junior Brandon Dawkins connected with senior Francis Owusu three times for touchdowns to lead Oaks Christian to a 47-21 triumph against Calabasas. Owusu, who is headed to Stanford, is a matchup nightmare for opposing corners due to his size (6-3, 195) and speed. Dawkins also scored in the game on a 12-yard run.
Up Next: The Lions meet 7-1 Moorpark to decide one of two division titles in the Marmonte League. Moorpark’s only loss is by just one point to Palos Verdes, but in recent weeks the Musketeers have beaten the same teams that Oaks Christian has beaten in league by almost the same margins. It should be a test for the Lions.
24. (24) CHAMINADE (WEST HILLS) 7-1
Why This Ranking: Coach Ed Croson’s team stays put after another impressive Mission League triumph. There are some who now look at the Eagles as the favorite in the CIFSS Western Division and that may be true, but Lompoc (with the state’s longest current win streak) probably will remain ranked higher until the two possibly meet.
Weekend Result: Just like No. 20 Edison, the Eagles scored 78 points in their game last week. Their 78 points, however, was against Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood, which was 6-1 coming in. The 78-34 win also was huge for senior running back Terrell Newby. He broke a school record and put his name into the state record book by scoring eight touchdowns. Newby had seven TDs by haltime and finished with 16 carries for 360 yards. Anyone who scores eight TDs in one game is automatically put into the book. Seven doesn’t make it, but eight is enough.
Up Next: With Serra of Gardena and Harvard-Westlake out of the way, Chaminade is favored to complete a perfect run through league with wins over the next two weeks against St. Francis of La Canada and Cathedral of Los Angeles. The Eagles play at St. Francis on Friday.
25. (25) HART (NEWHALL) 7-1
Why This Ranking: While teams like Bishop Amat and Clovis North certainly did enough to be put into this week’s rankings, we rarely drop a team like Hart from the top 25 that won its game 35-0. The Indians’ only loss still remains the one by 10-7 to Tesoro, which now has two losses but is still higher in the top 25.
Weekend Result: The team’s 35-0 romp was against Saugus and featured more pin-point passing from quarterback Brady White. He hit on 22 of 31 for 390 yards and three touchdowns. White spread around his passes as well. Connor Wingenroth had five catches for 121 yards and one TD with another 7-yard scoring run and an interception on defense. Trent Irwin had five catches for 121 yards and one score while Wes Fitzpatrick had six catches for 75 yards with one TD catch and a pick.
Up Next: Hart will play its toughest two league games in its final two regular season games, beginning this week against Valencia. The Vikings just knocked off Canyon of Canyon Country 54-41 and the matchup with Hart likely decides the Foothill League championship.
TEAMS THAT DROPPED
None.
TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE
Bishop Amat (La Puente) 6-1-1
Buhach Colony (Atwater) 6-2
California (San Ramon) 7-1
Charter Oak (Covina) 7-1
Citrus Hill (Perris) 8-0
Clovis North (Clovis) 8-0
Clovis 7-1
Crespi (Encino) 7-2
Helix (La Mesa) 6-1
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 7-1
La Serna (Whittier) 7-1
Luther Burbank (Sacramento) 8-0
Lutheran (Orange) 6-2
Marin Catholic (Kentfield) 8-1
Monte Vista (Danville) 6-2
Moorpark 7-1
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 6-3
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 7-1
Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 5-3
Placer (Auburn) 8-0
Rancho Cucamonga 6-2
Serra (Gardena) 6-2
Serra (San Mateo) 6-1
Serrano (Phelan) 8-0
Servite (Anaheim) 3-5
St. Ignatius (San Francisco) 6-1
St. Mary’s (Stockton) 6-2
Tustin 8-0
Westlake (Westlake Village) 6-3
Comments or corrections? Email markjtennis@gmail.com.
