SBLive's California Top 25 football rankings: Playoffs begin in half the state
Five of the California Interscholastic Federation's section completed its regular seasons last week and all announced playoffs brackets.
The San Diego, Southern, LA City, Central and Sac-Joaquin Sections released pairing over the weekend and will begin the playoffs on Friday, though many of the top seeds have first-round byes, including most at the top teams in the SBLive California Top 25 rankings.
With 20 of the top 25 teams residing in the Southern Section, interest lies within those Divisions, particularly Divisions I and II.
The Southern Section decided on 10 teams in its top bracket, giving byes to No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 2 St. John Bosco, No. 3 Centennial, No. 4 Long Beach Poly, No. 5 Los Alamitos and No. 6 Centennial.
Interestingly, four of those teams will face off with Centennial hosting Mission Viejo and perhaps the most anticipated game, Long Beach Poly and Los Alamitos tangling on Nov. 11. The latter game is at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.
There were no big upsets among the state's elite, however previous No. 17 JSerra knocking off previous No. 10 Orange Lutheran 20-7 raised a few eyebrows.
In Northern California No. 7 Serra-San Mateo and No. 9 Folsom had tougher times than anticipated, but both teams are just waiting to make playoff pushes.
SBLive's California Top 25 football rankings (records thru Oct. 29)
1. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (10-0 record)
Last week rank: No. 1
Last week result: Beat Servite 48-17
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. JSerra/Santa Margarita winner
2. St. John Bosco-Bellflower (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 2
Last week result: Beat Santa Margarita 56-14
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Orange Lutheran/Edison winner
3. Centennial-Corona (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 3
Last week result: Beat Norco 42-0
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Mission Viejo
4. Long Beach Poly (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 4
Last week result: Beat Long Beach Jordan 63-0
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Los Alamitos at Veterans Stadium
5. Los Alamitos (8-2)
Last week rank: No. 5
Last week result: Beat Fountain Valley 68-0
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadiums
6. Mission Viejo (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 6
Last week result: Beat Capistrano Valley 63-7
Next game: Nov. 11 at Centennial
7. Serra-San Mateo (9-0)
Last week rank: No. 7
Last week result: Beat St. Ignatius 21-7
Next game: Saturday vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco
8. Edison-Huntington Beach (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 8
Last week result: Beat Corona del Mar 40-13
Next game: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran
9. Folsom (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 9
Last week result: Beat Rocklin 14-7
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Sheldon-Lincoln winner
10. Pittsburg (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 13
Last week result: Beat Heritage-Brentwood 43-7
Next game: Friday at Antioch
11. Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita (6-4)
Last week rank: No. 11
Last week result: Lost to St. John Bosco 56-14
Next game: Friday vs. JSerra
12. JSerra Catholic-San Juan Capistrano (5-5)
Last week rank: No. 17
Last week result: Beat Orange Lutheran 20-7
Next game: Friday at Santa Margarita
13. Inglewood (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 12
Last week result: Beat Morningside 45-0
Next game: Friday vs. Apple Valley at El Camino College
14. Carlsbad (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 14
Last week result: Beat Vista 57-28
Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Poway
15. Orange Lutheran (6-4)
Last week rank: No. 10
Last week result: Lost to JSerra 20-7
Next game: Friday at Edison
16. Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth (6-4)
Last week rank: No. 15
Last week result: Beat Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 42-21
Next game: Friday vs. Warren-Downey
17. Serra-Gardena (6-4)
Last week rank: No. 18
Last week result: Beat Chaminade 32-23
Next game: Friday vs. Norco
18. Chaminade-West Hills (8-2)
Last week rank: No. 16
Last week result: Lost to Serra-Gardena 32-23
Next game: Friday vs. San Clemente
19. Warren-Downey (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 19
Last week result: Beat Dominguez 44-0
Next game: Friday at Sierra Canyon
20. Bishop Amat-La Puente (7-3)
Last week rank: No. 20
Last week result: Beat Alemany 36-7
Next game: Friday vs. Murrieta Valley
21. Oak Hills-Hesperia (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 21
Last week result: Beat Sultana 49-34
Next game: Friday vs. St. Bonaventure
22. Cajon-San Bernardino (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 22
Last week result: Beat East Valley-Redlands 49-16
Next game: Friday vs. Citrus Valley-Redlands
23. Citrus Valley-Redlands (8-2)
Last week rank: No. 23
Last week result: Beat Redlands 49-6
Next game: Friday at Cajon
24. Rancho Cucamonga (8-2)
Last week rank: 24
Last week result: Beat Upland 34-14
Next game: Friday vs. Oaks Christian
25. St. Mary's-Stockton (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 25
Last week result: Beat Lincoln-Stockton 42-14
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Turlock-Edison winner
On the bubble: Apple Valley (8-2), Chaparral (6-4), Clovis West (9-1), Cypress (10-0), De La Salle-Concord (6-3), Oaks Christian (7-3), St. Bonaventure-Ventura (7-3), West Ranch-Valencia (10-0), Yorba Linda (10-0).