California High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - August 26

The first week of the 2024 high school football season in California did not disappoint. Multiple matchups lived up to their billing, resulting in some interesting finishes and plenty of upsets.

No. 1 Mater Dei held serve at home against Centennial. No. 2 St. John Bosco took care of business across the country in Florida, while J Serra Catholic took down Sierra Canyon in a top-10 in-state showdown. Twelve teams in the previous On3 Massey Ratings California top 25 lost last week.

As a result, there’s been some major movement in the rankings, with eight new teams entering the picture heading into the second full week of the season. Below are the top 25 programs in California moving into this week’s jam-packed slate.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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1. Mater Dei (1-0)

Previous: No. 1
The Monarchs passed their first test of the season last Thursday, defeating a Husan Longstreet-less Centennial, 42-25. Washington quarterback commit Dash Beierly threw two touchdowns in his first start, while Oregon running back pledge Jordon Davison and Ohio State wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. each found pay dirt. The Monarchs now have an early bye week as they gear up for a massive national top-10 showdown against Bishop Gorman (Nev.) on Sept. 6.

2. St. John Bosco (1-0)

Previous: No. 2
The Braves fought past Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) 34-27 in a national top-25 matchup at St. Thomas Aquinas High in Florida that featured a myriad of penalties. Sophomore running back Maliq Blackwell-Allen scampered for a 71-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference. Bosco will play its first home game on Friday, hosting Eastwood (Texas).

3. Mission Viejo (2-0)

Previous: No. 5 (+2)
The Diablos dominated Santa Margarita Catholic 35-7 last week and have now outscored opponents 76-14 through the first two weeks of the season. Mission Viejo will continue to make a case for having the No. 1 defense in the state as it hosts Henderson Liberty (Nev.) this Friday.

4. Centennial (0-1)

Previous: No. 3 (-1)
Despite being without Texas A&M five-star QB commit Husan Longstreet, Centennial held its own against the No. 1 team in the nation on the road last week, still managing to score 25 points against a stout Mater Dei defense. The Huskies will now begin a three-game home stand, beginning with a matchup against No. 13 Santa Margarita Catholic (0-1) on Friday.

5. J Serra Catholic (1-0)

Previous: No. 6 (+1)
The Lions turned heads last week by rolling over then No. 4 Sierra Canyon, 35-7. Linebacker Madden Faraimo looked the part as one of the state’s top senior defensive prospects. J Serra will hit the road for a Thursday-night matchup against San Bernadino Aquinas (0-1) this week.

6. Orange Lutheran (1-0)

Previous: No. 8 (+2)
Opening the season on the road is never easy, but Nebraska QB commit TJ Lateef and the Lancers were able to grind out a 21-13 win in Gardena over ranked Junipero Serra last week. Lutheran remains on the road and will head to Rancho Cucamonga (0-1) on Friday night to take on the Cougars.

7. Servite (1-0)

Previous: No. 7
The Servite defense opened the 2024 campaign by pitching a 45-0 shutout against Salt Lake City East (Utah). Michigan State QB commit Leo Hannan began his senior season with five touchdowns through the air. The first real test of the season for the Friars is up next, as they will look to take down No. 15 Murrieta Valley (1-0) on Friday in one of four ranked matchups across the state.

8. Sierra Canyon (1-1)

Previous: No. 4 (-4)
After opening the season with a win in Hawaii, Sierra Canyon was overpowered on the road by J Serra Catholic and was able to generate just a single touchdown in a 28-point defeat. The Trailblazers will take the field at home for the first time this year on Friday and look to bounce back in another tough game against No. 14 Oaks Christian.

9. Los Alamitos (1-0)

Previous: No. 10 (+1)
Los Alamitos delivered perhaps the biggest beatdown across the country last week, decimating Anaheim Western by a final score of 71-0. The bar will remain high for USC receiver commit Ja’Myron Baker and the Griffins moving forward as they host Narbonne (1-0) and star junior Oklahoma QB commit Jaden O’Neal this week.

10. Folsom (1-0)

Previous: No. 12 (+2)
Top uncommitted junior quarterback Ryder Lyons made multiple highlight-reel plays and collected over 300 total yards and three touchdowns in a 63-20 blowout at home against Long Beach Poly. The Bulldogs will look for their second ranked win in as many games when they host No. 12 San Mateo Junipero Serra this Friday.

Teams 11-25 in latest California High School Football Rankings

11. De La Salle (-2)
12. San Mateo Junipero Serra (+1)
13. Santa Margarita Catholic (-2)
14. Oaks Christian (+3)
15. Murrieta Valley (previous unranked)

16. Clovis East (previous unranked)
17. Gardena Junipero Serra (-3)
18. Clovis North (previous unranked)
19. Damien (previous unranked)
20. Central Fresno (previous unranked)

21. Rocklin (-2)
22. St. Bonaventure (previous unranked)
23. Chaparral (previous unranked)
24. Cathedral Catholic (previous unranked)
25. Pittsburg (-2)

Dropped Out: San Diego Lincoln (previously 15th); San Clemente (previously 16th); Rancho Cucamonga (previously 18th); Carlsbad (previously 20th); El Dorado Hills Oakridge (previously 21st); Stockton St. Mary’s (previously 22nd); Long Beach Poly (previously 23rd); Huntington Beach Edison (previously 25th)