California High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Sept. 23

Week five of the California high school football season saw a majority of the state’s top programs hold serve. As a result, the rankings have not shifted much heading into the final weekend of September.

Just two programs in the On3 Massey Ratings California top 10 moved position this week. Mater Dei, St. John Bosco and Mission Viejo remain the top three teams in the state.

Below are the updated top 25 teams in the state of California, as of Sept. 23.

1. Mater Dei

Previous Rank: No. 1
Offense didn’t come as easy as normal for Mater Dei last week, but it relied on its defense for a 25-14 win over Baltimore St. Frances Academy to improve to 4-0. The top-ranked Monarchs now have three wins over national top-30 programs, including Bishop Gorman (Nev.) and in-state Centennial. Per the Massey Ratings, the No. 1 defense and No. 3 offense in the nation resides in Santa Ana. Mater Dei is idle this week and will return to action on Oct. 4 at No. 7 Santa Margarita Catholic.

2. St. John Bosco

Previous Rank: No. 2
St. John Bosco is now 5-0 on the season following a 35-14 win at home over Pittsburg. The Braves now have two wins against out-of-state competition, as well as a trio of victories over ranked programs in California. They’re also idle this week and are set to return for a major Golden State tilt against Orange Lutheran in Bellflower on Oct. 4. Bosco has the nation’s No. 4 offense and No. 4 defense, per the Massey Ratings.

3. Mission Viejo

Previous Rank: No. 3
It wasn’t pretty, but Mission Viejo was able to outlast Basha (Ariz.) for a big 31-28 victory over the weekend. Now 5-0, the Diablos have passed multiple big tests and continue to look like the No. 3 team in the Golden State early on. They’ll now seek their second in-state ranked victory of the season on Friday when they host No. 18 Chaparral.

4. Centennial

Previous Rank: No. 5 (+1)
All is right once again for Centennial following an 0-2 start to the season. The Huskies have now won three games in a row following an eye-popping 24-point victory on the road over Liberty, the top-ranked program in Arizona former national top-25 team. Texas A&M QB commit Husan Longstreet and Co. now enter an idle week and will return to action on Oct. 3 to take on Eleanor Roosevelt High.

5. J Serra Catholic

Previous Rank: No. 4 (-1)
J Serra Catholic is now 5-0 following an easy 49-21 win on the road over Damien. The Lions have outscored opponents 182-60 thus far and already have three ranked in-state victories — over Sierra Canyon, Clovis North and San Diego Lincoln. They now enter a bye week before returning to home turf on Oct. 4 for a crucial top-10 matchup against No. 8 Servite.

6. Orange Lutheran

Previous Rank: No. 6
Orange Lutheran’s rigorous beginning to the 2024 season has led to a sound 4-1 record, with the lone blemish being a respectable defeat on the road to national top-10 Bishop Gorman. The Lancers outlasted No. 10 Sierra Canyon for a 33-26 victory last weekend and now also enter a bye week. They’ll return on Oct. 4 for another monumental challenge, on the road at No. 2 St. John Bosco.

7. Santa Margarita Catholic

Previous Rank: No. 7
The 2024 season has brought some mixed results for Santa Margarita Catholic, who’s now 3-2 after a disappointing 14-13 loss to Lawndale Leuzinger. The Eagles own a dominant victory over No. 5 Centennial and a 20-point win over ranked Oaks Christian, but also took a season-opening loss to No. 3 Mission Viejo. On a bye this week, the Eagles will now gear up for one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Games against Mater Dei, St. John Bosco and J Serra Catholic are among those left on the calendar.

8. Servite

Previous Rank: No. 8
Servite remains 4-0 and has been dominant on the defensive side of the ball. The Friars have allowed just 34 total points thus far and have one ranked win under their belt — a 20-point road victory over No. 16 Murrieta Valley. Coming off a bye last week, Michigan State QB commit Leo Hannan and Co. will welcome in Santa Fe Springs St. Paul this week.

9. De La Salle

Previous Rank: No. 9
De La Salle has cruised through its schedule thus far and is now 4-0 after surviving Stockton St. Mary’s 38-35 on the road last week. The Spartans are averaging over 40 points per game and will look to make it two road victories in a row when they take on fellow undefeated El Cerrito this week.

10. Sierra Canyon

Previous Rank: No. 10
Like many other top programs in the state, Sierra Canyon has faced a stout schedule to begin 2024. The Trailblazers find themselves at 2-3, but all three losses have come against top-10 in-state teams in J Serra Catholic, St. John Bosco and most recently Orange Lutheran. They’re also idle this week and will return on Oct. 4 on the road at Chaminade.

Teams 11-25 in latest California High School Football rankings

11. Los Alamitos
12. Junipero Serra San Mateo
13. Folsom (+2)
14. Clovis East (-1)
15. Oaks Christian (+1)

16. Murrieta Valley (+3)
17. Junipero Serra Gardena (-3)
18. Chaparral (+3)
19. Lincoln (-2)
20. Central Fresno (+5)

21. Rancho Cucamonga (previous unranked)
22. Pittsburg (+1)
23. Clovis (previous unranked)
24. Inglewood (previous unranked)
25. Clovis North (-7)

Dropped Out: Rocklin, La Costa Canyon, Buchanan