CIF-Southern Section High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 8

There’s no more daunting part of the state when it comes to California high school football than the CIF-Southern Section, and that’s reflected again in this week’s state rankings.

Of the top 10 teams in the Golden State, nine hail from the CIF-SS, with only De La Salle to represent the rest of the state.

Below are the full top-25 rankings for the Southern Section, per the On3 Massey Ratings, highlighted by a new team in the top five and two new entrants into the rankings:

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 

Previous Ranking: No. 1
The Monarchs returned to the field after a bye week for a major top-10 California matchup against Santa Margarita Catholic on Friday night, and dispatched the home team 26-10 to remain undefeated. Another huge showdown awaits when they travel to California No. 5 Servite on Friday night.

2. St. John Bosco 

Previous Ranking: No. 2
The Braves were projected by the On3 Massey Ratings to have their way against California No. 6 Orange Lutheran and quarterback TJ Lateef on Friday, but the visitors gave Bosco everything they had in a 14-10 defeat. They didn’t drop in the rankings though, and they’ll look to remain undefeated this week against Santa Margarita Catholic.

3. Mission Viejo 

Previous Ranking: No. 3
The Diablos now sit at 6-0 after handling Long Beach Poly 35-14 on Friday night. They’ll get a well-deserved bye this week before traveling to face 3-3 San Clemente.

4. Centennial

Previous Ranking: No. 4
After a slow start that saw them lose their first two games, the Huskies have rebounded in a huge way with wins over Utah powers Timpview and Lone Peak, as well as a 63-39 bludgeoning of Arizona No. 1 Liberty last weekend. They hit a bit of a snag on Thursday, barely beating 2-3 Eleanor Roosevelt by a score of 14-0. Now 4-2, they’ll face talented Vista Murrieta and Murrieta Valley squads the next two weeks.

5. Servite 

Previous Ranking: No. 7 (+2)
The Friars pulled off a big upset win over J Serra Catholic on Friday, winning a 12-7 defensive slugfest over the previously undefeated Lions. Their biggest test of the year comes this week though, with national and California No. 1 Mater Dei coming to town.

6. Orange Lutheran 

Previous Ranking: No. 6
Orange Lutheran suffered its first loss of the year at the hands of St. John Bosco on Friday, but gave the Braves everything they could handle in a 14-10 game. They won’t have much time to think about it though, as J Serra Catholic comes in also looking to avenge its first loss.

7. J Serra Catholic 

Previous Ranking: No. 5 (-2)
The Trinity League spares nobody, and J Serra Catholic suffered its first setback of the year against a very good Servite squad. As mentioned above, there’s no time to stew in that one though with Orange Lutheran on the horizon.

8. Sierra Canyon

Previous Ranking: No. 9 (+1)
The Trailblazers are back to .500 after bludgeoning Chaminade 42-3 coming off a tough loss to Orange Lutheran two weeks before. Up next is a road test at Notre Dame, one which Sierra Canyon is still heavily favored to win.

9. Santa Margarita Catholic 

Previous Ranking: No. 8 (+1)
The Eagles are at the beginning of a brutal slate of Trinity League games, falling to No. 1 Mater Dei over the weekend with No. 2 St. John Bosco, No. 6 Orange Lutheran and No. 7 J Serra Catholic on the docket over the next three weeks.

10. Gardena Junipero Serra

Previous Ranking: No. 10
Junipero Serra has already faced three ranked teams in the first half of the season, falling to Orange Lutheran in Week 1 and Oaks Christian in Week 4 before finally breaking through in a 42-7 win over Los Alamitos. After surviving a 42-35 scare from Loyola over the weekend, they’ll host 1-5 Chaminade on Friday night.

Teams 11-25 in CIF-SS High School Football Rankings

11. Murrieta Valley (+2)
12. Oaks Christian
13. Los Alamitos (-2)
14. Chaparral (+1)
15. Rancho Cucamonga (-1)

16. Inglewood
17. Yorba Linda (+3)
18. Oak Hills (-1)
19. San Juan Hills
20. Damien (+4)

21. Newbury Park (+4)
22. Granite Hills (-1)
23. Leuzinger (-5)
24. Downey (previously unranked)
25. Long Beach Poly (previously unranked)

Dropped out: Vista Murrieta, Villa Park