SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Football Rankings: St. John Bosco returns to No. 2

The fall 2021 high school football regular season wrapped up for teams in the Southern Section last week. In the marquee game of the week, No. 2 St. John Bosco beat No. 3 Servite 24-10.

The fall 2021 high school football regular season wrapped up for teams in the Southern Section last week. In the marquee game of the week, No. 2 St. John Bosco beat No. 3 Servite 24-10.

After the eleventh week of action across the Section, here are SBLive’s Top 25 Southern Section high school football rankings. The rankings are compiled by reporter Connor Morrissette and have been released every Monday throughout the fall 2021 season. Today’s rankings will be the penultimate set of rankings we release with the final Southern Section 25 coming out the week after state champions are crowned in December.

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS

SBLIVE’S SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS

November 1, 2021

1. Mater Dei (8-0)

Last week: 1

Mater Dei firmed its grip on the No. 1 ranking with a 46-37 win over No. 3 Servite two weeks ago. Against a national schedule, Mater Dei has won every game they’ve played by at least two scores this season which as earned them the No. 1 seed in the Southern Section Division 1 football playoffs.

2. St. John Bosco (9-1)

Last week: 3

St. John Bosco used a dominant defensive performance to beat No. 3 Servite 24-10 last week. The Braves will feel like they can win a state title in California following their big win.

3. Servite (8-2)

Last week: 2

Servite lost to No. 2 St. John Bosco 24-10 to end the regular season 8-2. The Friars, who have had one of the top offenses in the nation this season, were held to their lowest point total of the year in the game. They’ll most likely meet St. John Bosco in a rematch in the semifinals of the playoffs in three weeks.

4. Corona Centennial (10-0)

Last week: 4

Centennial picked up another dominating win in the Big VIII League last week as they took down Corona 64-0. The Huskies best wins are over No. 6 Sierra Canyon and No. 7 Norco. Centennial will host No. 5 Mission Viejo in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs on Nov. 12.

5. Mission Viejo (9-1)

Last week: 5

Mission Viejo won the South Coast League title after beating San Clemente 45-0. The Diablos have been the biggest surprise team in California high school football this season.

6. Sierra Canyon (5-4)

Last week: 6

Sierra Canyon dominated Paraclete 61-0 to win the Gold Coast League. Their best win this season came against No. 7 Norco 35-21 in September. The Trailblazers qualified for the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs and will meet JSerra in the opening round, a team they beat 40-14 at the beginning of the season.

7. Norco (8-2)

Last week: 7

Norco stuck with No. 4 Corona Centennial for a half, but lost 48-24 three weeks ago. Since then, they’ve beaten league foes King and Roosevelt. The Cougars’ best win came over No. 8 Santa Margarita in August. Norco faces the unfortunate fate of playing No. 1 Mater Dei in the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs on Nov. 12.

8. Santa Margarita (6-4)

Last week: 8

Santa Margarita beat No. 13 Orange Lutheran 35-28 to end the regular season with a winning record and clinch a Southern Section Division 1 playoff berth.

9. Los Alamitos (9-1)

Last week: 9

Los Alamitos blew out Newport Harbor 48-0. The Griffins lone loss this season came to No. 8 Santa Margarita. Los Al will take on No. 2 St. John Bosco on the road in the Division 1 Southern Section football playoffs on Nov. 12.

10. Inglewood (9-0)

Last week: 10

Inglewood scored 106 points in a shutout win over Morningside. 2022 UCLA QB commit Jutsyn Martin threw 13 TD passes.

11. Warren (Downey, Calif.) (8-0)

Last week: 11

Warren took down rival Downey 26-16 to clinch a perfect regular season, San Gabriel Valley League title and Division 2 Southern Section playoff win. Warren’s best win this season came against No. 22 Gardena Serra, 14-0, in September.

12. St. Bonaventure (9-0)

Last week: 14

The Seraphs are undefeated with their best win coming against No. 19 Bishop Diego 21-14 on Oct. 1. They’re in the Division 2 Southern Section football playoffs and will host No. 10 Inglewood in the first round on Friday.

13. Orange Lutheran (6-4)

Last week: 12

The Lancers started the year 5-0 under new head coach Rod Sherman, but they then lost four of their five games in Trinity League play. Orange Lutheran's best win came against No. 14 Edison, 23-21, in early September.

14. Edison (7-3)

Last week: 13

Edison will be a tough out in the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs after playing a very challenging regular season schedule and going 7-3. The Chargers play Murrieta Valley in the first round of the playoffs on Friday.

15. Alemany (5-3)

Last week: 15

Alemany can’t be stopped on the ground right now. The Warriors rushed for 510 yards in a 45-35 win over No. 16 Bishop Amat two week ago and then for 428 yards in a Mission League clinching 49-21 win over Chaminade last week.

16. Bishop Amat (7-3)

Last week: 16

The Lancers finish the regular season 7-3 and in second place in the Mission League following a 41-40 overtime win over Gardena Serra. Amat’s three defeats this season have all come against ranked opponents (No. 2 St. John Bosco, No. 3 Servite and No. 15 Alemany).

17. Simi Valley (10-0)

Last week: 17

Even with backup QB Steele Pizzella playing, Simi Valley just keeps on winning. They beat Agoura 48-12 to move to 10-0 on the season. The Pioneers will play at No. 13 Orange Lutheran in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs on Friday.

18. Etiwanda (10-0)

Last week: 18

Etiwanda beat Upland 21-13 to clinch the Baseline League title and earn a Division 3 Southern Section playoff berth.

19. Bishop Diego (8-1)

Last week: 19

Bishop Diego fell to No. 12 St. Bonaventure 21-14 last month, but the Cardinals have blown out every other Southern Section opponent they’ve played this season. Bishop Diego will play No. 15 Bishop Alemany in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section football playoffs on Friday.

20. Glendora (10-0)

Last week: 20

Glendora entered the rankings last month after beating previously undefeated Ayala 21-7. Braydon Brus rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Tartans qualified for the Division 3 playoffs in the Southern Section and will play Downey in round one.

21. Cajon (10-0)

Last week: 21

Cajon finished the regular season undefeated and qualified for the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs. They'll meet No. 24 Vista Murrieta in the first round.

22. Gardena Serra (5-4)

Last week: 22

Serra lost a heartbreaker to Bishop Amat 41-40 in overtime, but the defeat may have dropped them from Division 2 to Division 3 of the Southern Section playoffs. The Cavaliers will play Mission League foe Chaminade in the first round, a team they beat 16-12 earlier this season.

23. Corona del Mar (8-2)

Last week: 23

CDM's reward for finishing in third place in the Sunset League is a date with No. 11 Warren in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section football playoffs.

24. Vista Murrieta (8-2)

Last week: NR

Despite suffering an unexpected loss to Murrieta Valley two weeks ago, the Broncos finish the regular season ranked thanks to big wins over Upland and Villa Park earlier this year.

25. Yorba Linda (10-0)

Last week: 25

The Mustangs are a perfect 10-0 and will meet No. 16 Bishop Amat in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs.