SBLive’s Southern Section Top 25 Football Rankings: Long Beach Poly ends the season at No. 16

After the final week of football action across California, here are SBLive’s Top 25 Southern Section high school football rankings for the fall 2021 season. The rankings are compiled by reporter Connor Morrissette and have been released every Monday throughout the fall 2021 season.

SBLIVE’S SOUTHERN SECTION TOP 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS

December 13, 2021

1. Mater Dei (12-0)

Last week: 1

The Monarchs won 11 of their 12 games this season by two scores against a national schedule. In the Division 1 Southern Section championship game, Mater Dei took down No. 2 Servite 27-7.

2. Servite (10-3)

Last week: 3

The Friars beat No. 4 St. John Bosco 40-21 in the Division 1 Southern Section semifinals which boosts them to No. 2 to end the year.

3. Corona Centennial (11-1)

Last week: 4

The Huskies came the closest of any team this season to beat No. 1 Mater Dei, but fell 21-16 in the Division 1 Southern Section semifinals.

4. St. John Bosco (10-2)

Last week: 2

The Braves didn’t make the upper Division Southern Section championship game for the first time since 2012, which drops them to four. They’re still a consensus top 25 team in the nation though.

5. Mission Viejo (9-2)

Last week: 5

Mission Viejo ended the season as the No. 5 team in the Southern Section, but there were four juggernauts above them. In their first round playoff game against No. 4 Corona Centennial, Mission Viejo fell 62-16.

6. Norco (8-3)

Last week: 7

Norco drew No. 1 Mater Dei in the first round of the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs and put up a good fight before eventually losing 49-14.

7. Santa Margarita (6-5)

Last week: 8

Santa Margarita finished fourth in the Trinity League this season. In the Division 1 Southern Section playoffs, the Eagles fell to No. 2 Servite 34-3 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.

8. Los Alamitos (9-2)

Last week: 9

Los Alamitos lost in the first round of the Division 1 Southern Section football playoffs 63-38 to No. 4 St. John Bosco. The Griffins will return virtually all of their skill players next season including 2023 USC QB commit Malachi Nelson.

9. Orange Lutheran (10-5)

Last week: 13

Orange Lutheran won the Division 2 Southern Section championship 38-35 against No. 10 Alemany before dropping a tight high scoring 71-62 game to Cathedral Catholic in a state bowl game. Lancers quarterback Logan Gonzalez finished the season with 3,975 passing yards, which was good for No. 2 in the state.

10. Alemany (8-4)

Last week: 15

After winning the Mission League, Alemany lost in the Division 2 Southern Section championship game 38-35 to No. 9 Orange Lutheran.

11. Sierra Canyon (7-5)

Last week: 6

Sierra Canyon was a Division 2 Southern Section semifinalist this season. The Trailblazers lost 42-40 to No. 9 Orange Lutheran in the semi’s.

12. Inglewood (11-1)

Last week: 10

Inglewood finished the year with one loss and made the Division 2 Southern Section semifinals. The Sentinels lost 56-30 to No. 10 Alemany their semifinal game.

13. Edison (8-4)

Last week: 14

Edison lost a heartbreaker to No. 12 Inglewood in the Division 2 Southern Section quarterfinals 22-16, which ended their season.

14. Bishop Amat (8-4)

Last week: 16

Bishop Amat finished in second place in the Mission League behind No. 10 Alemany and then lost to Alemany in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs 54-38.

15. Gardena Serra (10-4)

Last week: 22

After finishing in third place in the Mission League, Serra Gardena won the Division 3 Southern Section championship over Apple Valley and then the Division 1-A CIF State championship over Liberty Bakersfield 21-16.

16. Long Beach Poly (11-4)

Last week: NR

After a slow start to the year, Poly ended up making the Division 4 Southern Section playoffs where they coasted to a championship with big wins over Trabuco Hills, Upland, Cypress and St. Francis. In their state bowl game, the Jackrabbits fell 21-17 to No. 15 Gardena Serra.

17. Vista Murrieta (9-3)

Last week: 24

Vista Murrieta fell 48-23 to No. 11 Sierra Canyon in the Division 2 Southern Section quarterfinals.

18. St. Bonaventure (9-1)

Last week: 12

After an undefeated regular season, St. Bonaventure fell in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs 26-10 to No. 12 Inglewood.

19. Corona del Mar (9-3)

Last week: 23

Corona del Mar beat Warren 42-35 in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs before losing 38-14 to No. 9 Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals.

20. Yorba Linda (10-1)

Last week: 25

Yorba Linda's reward for a 10-0 regular season was playing No. 14 Bishop Amat in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs. The Mustangs lost 44-21.

21. Etiwanda (12-1)

Last week: 18

Etiwanda fell in overtime 34-27 to No. 15 Gardena Serra in the Division 3 Southern Section semifinals. It was a heartbreaking end to their previously undefeated season.

22. Simi Valley (10-1)

Last week: 17

Simi Valley drew No. 9 Orange Lutheran in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs after finishing the regular season 10-0. The Lancers lost 49-13 in that game.

23. Bishop Diego (8-2)

Last week: 19

Bishop Diego's two losses this season came against No. 18 St. Bonaventure 21-14 in the regular season and No. 10 Alemany 45-14 in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs.

24. Cajon (10-1)

Last week: 21

After a 10-0 regular season, Cajon lost to No. 17 Vista Murrieta 40-27 in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs.

25. JSerra (3-8)

Last week: NR

Yes, JSerra finished the year 3-8, but all eight of their losses came against opponents ranked ahead of them. The Lions pushed No. 11 Sierra Canyon in the first round of the Division 2 Southern Section playoffs before eventually losing 42-35 on an end zone interception.