State TOP 25 Weekend Scoreboard

It’s another week with numerous Saturday matchups, including those involving No. 2 Mater Dei, No. 3 Centennial of Corona and No. 4 Serra of San Mateo. All three were winners with history made in the MD and Serra victories and perhaps a heart palpitation or two for Centennial fans. In Friday night’s most significant games, the big winners were Long Beach Poly, JSerra, Santa Margarita and Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills.

Note: Look for a brand new State Top 50 set of football rankings that won’t simply be a list on Monday night. We’ll have insights and breakdowns based on 45 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. 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.

FOR LAST WEEK’S FIRST 25 IN TOP 50 STATE RANKINGS, CLICK HERE.

(Rankings based on previous State Top 50)
(Through reported results of Saturday, Sept. 2)
(Thanks to Northern California correspondent Daniel Poulter for contributions)

1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 3-0
Won at home Friday vs Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C., 48-12. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa had a 37-yard interception return TD and Caleb Sanchez passed for 210 yards (14 of 19 attempts) and two TDs to lead the Braves. They are taking on another middle Atlantic powerhouse next week at home with a game against St. Frances Academy of Baltimore.

2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 3-0
Defeated Creekside (Fairbairn, Ga.) 62-0 in home opener Saturday. Elijah Brown made us check the record books as he threw for seven touchdowns. Two were to Marcus Brown, two were to Jonah Smith. The school record is seven since no one from MD has ever thrown eight in a game before. The last QB for the Monarchs, Bryce Young (now playing for the Carolina Panthers), had seven in back-to-back CIF Southern Section playoff games in 2019.

3. Centennial (Corona) 2-1
Head coach Matt Logan’s team had a Saturday clash in the final game of the weekend in San Diego at the Honor Bowl. The Huskies won, 50-43, over Punahou of Hawaii. The Buff ‘N Blu took the lead with a touchdown and two-pointer with 54 seconds left, but that was enough for Husan Longstreet. The junior QB hit on a touchdown pass to Jason Harris Jr. with seven seconds left for the win. Punahou entered 2-0 and for reference had a 51-7 win two weeks ago vs Long Beach Millikan (which just beat St. Francis of La Canada).

4. Serra (San Mateo) 3-0
The Padres had their second straight Saturday game at home to start the season. After their 21-14 win last week at Freitas Field over Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouse Folsom, they blanked De La Salle of Concord, 28-0. The Spartans hadn’t been shut out since 2005 by Clovis West and before that it was 1979 by Salesian of Richmond. In between, it was 308 straight scoring games (a state record at the time). Serra only led 8-0 at halftime and took control in the second half.

5. Mission Viejo 2-1
LOST to No. 12 Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, 32-28. The Diablos had a 28-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, but could not hold on. A 22-point run after they were down 17-6 at halftime featured two rushing TDs by junior Hinesward Lilomaiava and a 64-yard interception return TD by Travis Anderson.

6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) 3-0
The Trailblazers welcomed Green Valley (Henderson, Nev.) on Friday and after one quarter it was clear what would be the final result. Sierra Canyon dropped 28 points on the Gators in just the first quarter and cruised to a 56-0 victory. Quarterback Wyatt Becker was 11-for-15 for 262 yards and connected on four touchdown passes, while adding two scores on the ground.

7. Lutheran (Orange) 3-0
Won at home Friday vs Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) by a 20-0 score. Eastside played its first game of the season and has been ranked near the top of the state according to some sources. Head coach Rod Sherman’s team travels to Arizona next week to face Chandler.

8. Los Alamitos 3-0
Defeated Timpview of Provo, Utah, 57-35, in a scorefest special. The Griffins were 0-2 in early season games last season against out-of-state opponents. They don’t have any more of them to play this season.

9. Lincoln (San Diego) 3-0
No. 39 St. Bonaventure of Ventura kept it close for a half, as the Hornets led 14-6 at the break, but the overrun would come in the second half in a 49-12 victory for Lincoln. Oregon commit Akili Smith Jr. connected with Isaiah Grant late in the third quarter on a 99-yard touchdown score to put the game firmly out of reach. Grant would also take a kickoff back for a touchdown. And if you follow Cal-Hi Sports you know that a 99-yard touchdown play ties the state record and will be added to the all-time list. We had another one just last week by Aragon (San Mateo).

10. Carlsbad 3-0
There were no issues this week for Carlsbad, as the Lancers were up 35-0 after the opening quarter of action and quickly raced to a 56-0 blowout victory of San Pasqual (Escondido) on the road. Alabama commit Julian Sayin had five touchdown passes tonight.

11. JSerra (SJ Capistrano) 2-1
Defeated Chaminade (West Hills), 41-7, on Friday in home opener. The team’s 9-7 loss in the first game to Sierra Canyon is looking better and better. This game clearly didn’t come down to a last-second field goal, which cost JSerra against Chaminade last season.

12. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach) 2-1
Knocked off No. 5 Mission Viejo, 32-28, on Friday at Veterans Stadium. According to newspaper accounts, not only did the Jackrabbits come back from a 28-17 early fourth quarter deficit but two players had to be taken from the field in the ambulance. Both players gave salutes to the crowd as they left the field. Darius Curry threw a game-winning TD pass to sophomore Kamarie Smith with 28 seconds left. Smith ended with seven receptions for 251 yards and three TDs.

13. De La Salle (Concord) 0-2
LOST to No. 4 Serra (San Mateo) 28-0 on Saturday on the road. The team’s first two opponents (Orange Lutheran was the first) may be two of the top six or seven teams in the state, but it’s still got to be a big disappointment to the faithful that the CIF Open Division as the top NorCal team is likely already out of reach.

14. Folsom 2-1
It took awhile to warm up, but the Bulldogs bounced back from a loss to No. 4 Serra (San Mateo) with a comfortable 48-15 blowout victory over Edison (Stockton) on Friday. Sophomore star quarterback Ryder Lyons had five touchdown passes, with two going to fellow sophomore Isaiah Williams.

15. St. Mary’s (Stockton) 3-0
The pecking order in the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section was made clear on Friday evening, as St. Mary’s stifled No. 43 Manteca 44-7 on Friday at home. The Rams have next week off before traveling to No. 13 De La Salle (Concord).

16. Rancho Cucamonga 3-0
The Cougars had a Thursday night contest this week and they posted a 21-14 win over Norco. That’s a lot closer than expected considering the scores of Norco’s first two games and that Rancho has wins over Murrieta Valley and Servite of Anaheim.

17. Santa Margarita (Rancho SM) 2-1
The Eagles made the trip north of the Grapevine to square off with the back-to-back Central Section champions No. 18 Liberty of Bakersfield on Friday and Santa Margarita headed back home with a 34-14 victory. Santa Margarita fell behind early, but held the Patriots to only 14 first quarter points and rallied for 27 unanswered points in the convincing win.

18. Liberty (Bakersfield) 2-1
For most of the first quarter, Liberty held a 14-7 advantage over a visiting Trinity League foe, No. 17 Santa Margarita, but that would be the last amount of success for the Patriots on Friday. The Eagles answered back with 27 unanswered points to pull off the 34-14 victory.

19. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 2-1
It was a comfortable evening for the Lions, as Oaks Christian routed Roosevelt of Eastvale 50-14 on Friday. Chase Farrell led the way with five catches for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Star running back Deshonne Redeaux used 10 carries to find 165 yards on the ground and one touchdown rush.

20. San Clemente 3-0
Defeated La Costa Canyon of Carlsbad, 28-0, on Friday. It is the second straight shutout of a CIF San Diego Section opponent as the Tritons won previously, 34-0, over Torrey Pines of San Diego.

21. Madison (San Diego) 2-1
The Warhawks were one two-point-conversion from sending their Top 25 battle against No. 24 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) at the Honor Bowl to overtime, but the Warhawks were stuffed on the goal line and fell 22-20 at the hands of Northern California’s Trojans. James Tivao took a quarterback run for the first score for the Warhawks.

22. Pittsburg 2-0
Defeated Granite Bay, 41-21, on Friday night in Placer County. It was 14-14 midway through the third quarter, but after that the Pirates’ offense and defense took command. A 41-yard TD pass from Marley Alcantara to Mahkari Kenion broke the tie, which was followed by a stop and then a 6-yard TD pass from Alcantara to Tristen Berena. Alcantara scrambled for two TDs on runs to cap the next two drives. Is Pitt better than last year despite the graduation loss of Jaden Rashada at quarterback and others? Could be.

23. Serra (Gardena) 2-1
Defeated Cathedral of Los Angeles, 47-14, on Friday. The Cavs have Long Beach Poly and Oaks Christian over the next two weeks.

24. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 3-0
The victories don’t stop for the Trojans, as Oak Ridge traveled to Cathedral Catholic High in San Diego and stopped No. 21 Madison (San Diego) 22-20 on Friday afternoon in the first Honor Bowl game of the weekend. Jasen Wormack gave the Trojans the lead 9-7 just before the halftime break and Oak Ridge never trailed the rest of the way in the razor-thin contest.

25. Helix (La Mesa) 3-0
The Highlanders opened up the day at the Honor Bowl in San Diego on Saturday with a 30-22 win over Red Mountain of Peoria, Ariz. Utah State-bound QB Ryland Jessie had to leave the game with an injury but returned in the second half. The last TD by Red Mountain came on a kickoff return with less than two minutes to play.

TEAMS ON THE BUBBLE

Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) 1-2
The host school of the Honor Bowl weekend in San Diego had a tough night as the Dons lost 31-21 to Brophy Prep of Phoenix, Ariz. It was the second of two Friday games played in the Honor Bowl. There will be three more on Saturday.

Central Catholic (Modesto) 2-1
The team went to Reno, Nevada to square off with the top team in Northern Nevada in Bishop Manogue. The Raiders’ defense was key, as Central Catholic kept the Bishop Manogue rushing attack in check. Joey Alcutt put the Raiders ahead for good with a 52-yard touchdown run. Central Catholic headed home with a 16-7 victory.

Chaminade (West Hills) 1-2
LOST on Friday at state No. 11 JSerra of SJ Capistrano, 41-7. It could be one of those up-and-down seasons for the Eagles.

Chaparral (Temecula) 2-1
Defeated San Jacinto 20-6 on Thursday. No, it wasn’t close to being 72-63 (which was the score that San Jacinto lost by in its previous game to Culver City).

Clovis North (Fresno) 3-0
There was a running clock to start the second half, as the Broncos breezed to a 55-0 victory over El Diamante of Visalia. Mario Cosma connected with Vincent Cordoba on a touchdown pass at the end of the first quarter to make it 28-0 and then returned a punt early in the second quarter for a touchdown.

Clovis West (Fresno) 2-1
Lonnie Franks scored from 2-yards out with 25 seconds remaining to help Clovis West outlast defending D2 Central Section champion Lemoore at home 27-26. Landon Wright took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a score and snagged a 50-yard touchdown catch from Tyler Patrick on the first offensive drive for the Golden Eagles.

Edison (Huntington Beach) 1-1
Did not play. The Chargers had an open date this week. They face surging Palos Verdes next week.

Grant (Sacramento) 2-1
After falling to No. 24 Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in Week 1, it was a bounce back week for the Pacers. Grant beat Reno High 40-0. There was some bad news for the Pacers, as it was reported that three-star prospect Devin Green’s transfer to Grant from Sheldon was denied by the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Granite Hills (El Cajon) 2-0
Defeated St. Augustine (San Diego) 24-21 on Friday. St. Augustine came into the game at 2-0.

Oak Hills (Hesperia) 3-0
Defeated Palmdale, 65-3, on Thursday. The schedule will get tougher for the Bulldogs in future weeks.

Palos Verdes (PV Estates) 3-0
Defeated Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) 14-11 on Thursday. CdM was 2-0 and was No. 30 in our top 50 so these Sea Kings will be coming up in the next rankings.

Manteca 2-1
LOST to No. 15 St. Mary’s (Stockton), 44-7, on Friday. The loss followed a big win over Granite Bay.

Pacifica (Oxnard) 3-0
Defeated Santa Barbara, 28-15, on Santa Barbara. There was no letdown for the Tritons after their big win over St. Bonaventure (Ventura) in their previous game.

San Ramon Valley (Danville) 2-0
It was another quality Bay Area win for San Ramon Valley, as the Wolves picked up a 44-21 victory over Acalanes of Lafayette. The Wolves had a 31-14 lead heading into the halftime break, with quarterback Luke Baker completing two touchdown passes and John Pau Mendoza also added two rushing scores.

St. Bonaventure (Ventura) 1-2
It was another tough week for St. Bonaventure, as the Seraphs were quickly outmatched in the second half by No. 9 Lincoln (San Diego) in a 49-12 loss on Friday. Lincoln picked up 542 yards of total offense in the win.

Valencia 3-0
Defeated Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta) 20-14 on Friday. The Vikings did their part to set up a showdown next week vs 3-0 state-ranked Rancho Cucamonga.

Villa Park 3-0
Defeated Upland 2-1 in another key Thursday night contest. Upland was No. 31 in our most recent rankings.

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