POWERADE State Rankings: Final
| Week: | |
| Poll: | |
After games of Saturday, Dec. 17
Compiled by Cal-Hi Sports. Writeups by Mark Tennis, Ronnie Flores, Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend.
For the POWERADE FAB 50, click here
Click here to check out the complete Cal-Hi Sports page on ESPNHS for more final state football rankings, state record updates, state stat stars and CIF bowl game rankings.
| 2011 POWERADE California Football Rankings: Final | |||
| RK (LW) | SCHOOL (CITY, STATE) | REC | COMMENT |
| 1 (1) | De La Salle Concord, CA | 13-1 | Chances for a fourth straight CIF Open Division state title next year for the Spartans are good despite quarterback Bart Houston graduating and despite the addition of a NorCal regional bowl. This is because the defense has several top players coming back and defense is the main reason for De La Salle's dominant position in the state. Many teams can rev it up on offense, but no other team in the state also puts out a consistently strong defense quite like the Spartans. |
| 2 (5) | Santa Margarita Catholic RanchoStMargarita, CA | 13-2 | There was thought to putting Vista Murrieta in the final No. 2 spot, but the Eagles get the nod for going through a four-team gauntlet at the end that no other team in the state had to navigate. Wins in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs over Long Beach Poly, Mission Viejo and San Clemente was followed by the win against Bellarmine in the CIF Division I state bowl game. Coach Harry Welch's team, with junior quarterback Johnny Stanton leading the way, is loaded for next year and would be a lock for preseason state No. 1 in most years, except that De La Salle is currently on a three-year run at the top and will have some top-notch players back as well. |
| 3 (3) | Bellarmine College Prep San Jose, CA | 12-2 | The Bells went to the well in Carson a second time and came up empty with the loss to Santa Margarita in the CIF D1 Bowl game. When Bellarmine's Justin Taliaferro (15 carries, 57 yards, two touchdowns) scored on a 3-yard run with 9:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bells held a 30-21 lead. They looked in great shape to win the game. Unfortunately, they didn't have an answer for the late game heroics of Eagles quarterback Johnny Stanton. Although Stanton had the more impressive statistics, Bellarmine quarterback Travis McHugh was very impressive in his own right. McHugh accounted for 305 of the Bells' 401 yards of offense. The Bells finish with two close losses to the state's top two teams, and while there are those that may argue, this is where they belong in the final rankings. Coach Mike Janda, who is 0-2 in bowl games after a previous loss to Oceanside, loses just about every one of his top skill players, so next year would seem to be a question mark. |
| 4 (4) | Vista Murrieta Murrieta, CA | 14-0 | Yes, we know we had the Broncos higher than Santa Margarita in the rankings after all of the section playoffs were done. The Bellarmine of San Jose team that the Eagles beat in the CIF Division I bowl game, however, was legit and that allows Santa Margarita to go up. It's not as if Vista Murrieta dropped at all in the final rankings, either. The team just stayed in the fourth spot. Even more attention should be on the Broncos next year with the return of multi-talented Su'a Cravens. It already looks like he'll be the highest-ranked recruit in the state for next year. |
| 5 (9) | Helix La Mesa, CA | 13-1 | With its 35-21 victory over previous No. 6 Del Oro in the CIF Div. II bowl game, the Highlanders move up four spots in the final ratings. As the Div. II title game played out, it was evident Helix just had too much speed on both sides of the ball for Del Oro and you got the sense that perhaps Westlake was in for a long game against De La Salle as well because Del Oro played that team all the way down to the final play. From a pure talent standpoint, this Helix team resembled Troy Starr's 2002 and 2005 units at Taft of Woodland Hills that were upset in the L.A. City Section title games. Helix, however, put it together with dominating performances down the stretch and the only thing that keeps the Highlanders out of the POWERADE FAB 50 is the opening loss to Eastlake of Chula Vista. |
| 6 (2) | Westlake Westlake Village, CA | 14-1 | The Warriors drop four spots in the final ratings following their 35-0 loss to top-ranked De La Salle in the open division title game. There weren't any prep experts around the state we could find that would go on record to predict a Westlake victory, so we find it curious to how Westlake could be ahead of the Spartans in any credible ratings system. On the flip side, coach Jim Benkert's club did record quality victories over Del Oro, St. Bonventure and Oaks Christian (twice) and were the deserving club to face De La Salle considering Vista Murrieta didn't have a realistic shot. Benkert loses key players off a stout defensive line, but has two nice building blocks on offense to build his 2012 team around in QB Justin Moore and RB-DB Dashon Hunt. |
| 7 (6) | Del Oro Loomis, CA | 13-2 | Coach Casey Taylor's team ran into a supremely talented club from Helix of La Mesa in the CIF Division II state bowl game, but was in the game for most of the way and battled to the very end. Since the only other loss was by just three points in overtime to CIF Open Division runner-up Westlake, the Golden Eagles can still be in front of Oaks Christian and others from Southern California for the final rankings. Quarterback Bobby Heatherington will have to be replaced next year, but one major returnee will be running back/defensive back Brandon Monroe. |
| 8 (10) | Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | 13-0 | The Drillers and their faithful are left thinking what could have been, but after Santa Margarita's showing in the D1 Bowl game, it's hard to argue the Eagles were a legitimate choice as well. The prospect of a playoff system next season does nothing to soothe the disappointment of head coach Paul Golla and his boys, because next year is next year, and the prospects of the Drillers running the table again, with an extra game to boot, will be a difficult task. What they do earn is a two-spot bump and a very respectable finish in the state rankings. Golla returns junior RB/LB Kyle Pope (367 combined yards, 6 TDs, six sacks, 54 tackles) and four solid sophomores, led by 6-foot-3, 170-pound wide receiver Kevin Hayes, the team's leading receiver with 26 catches for 621 yards and six scores. |
| 9 (7) | Oaks Christian Westlake Village, CA | 11-3 | The Lions could not overcome turnovers in their CIFSS Northern Division title game loss to No. 6 Westlake and as a result of Westlake's shutout loss to De La Salle in the open division bowl game has to drop a couple of spots in the final ratings. There is no shame is losing to 14-0 Bellevue of Washington, but the two losses to Westlake don't hold the same weight they did before the bowl games and that allows unbeaten Bakersfield to hop Oaks Christian in the final ratings. Oaks Christian did beat St. Bonaventure twice and the program will make another run at a CIF Southern Section title next year as there were plenty of standout underclassmen, including sophomore QB Brandon Dawkins. |
| 10 (8) | Centennial Corona, CA | 12-2 | The Huskies sure were an interesting team to watch with their massive offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-4, 330-pound Lio Lafaele, and then with a diminutive backfield of 5-foot-8 quarterback Hayden Gavett and 5-foot-5 running back Romello Goodman. It almost got them another CIFSS Inland Division title, but the repeat was not to be as Vista Murrieta scored with 30 seconds left in the title game to post a 35-28 victory. Onlookers say that coach Matt Logan's team will be locked and loaded once again next season although it will be with newcomers at most of the skill positions. |
| 11 (11) | Upland Upland, CA | 12-1 | It was an impressive season for coach Tim Salter's squad as it went 12-0 before falling in the CIFSS Inland Division semifinals to eventual champion Vista Murrieta. Before going undefeated in Baseline League play, the Highlanders picked up wins against Tustin (a section champ) as well as perennial power Loyola. Other impressive wins included a league win over Rancho Cucamonga and a quarterfinal playoff win against Charter Oak in convincing fashion. Junior quarterback Nate Romine passed for 2,192 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season while senior Donta Abron Jr. rushed for 1,754 yards and 33 touchdowns for an offense that averaged 42.5 points per game. |
| 12 (12) | Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA | 10-3 | The Diablos put together another successful season under veteran coach Bob Johnson, but for the third consecutive year they lost a close post-season game to end their season. In 2010, they lost to Servite in the CIFSS Pac-5 final and this year, a one-point loss to Santa Margarita means they've lost to the eventual champ all three of those years. Santa Margarita's win in the Div. I bowl game looks good for Mission Viejo, but the loss to Redlands East Valley is the stinker that keeps them out of the top 10. Johnson has earned state team of the year honors at Mission Viejo with New York Jet Mark Sanchez at quarterback (2004) and at El Toro with his son Brett under center (1986), but a title in the Southern Section's highest division still eludes him. |
| 13 (13) | San Clemente San Clemente, CA | 12-2 | The Tritons did not win the South Coast League (Mission Viejo did), but a strong run through the CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs lands them their highest overall state rating ever. Even after they lost 27-13 to Santa Margarita in the Pac-5 finals, coach Jon Hamro was appreciative of the support the community gave the team and himself after taking over right before the season started for Eric Patton. With a great senior class, San Clemente has some rebuilding to do, but the team earned this spot after walloping Tesoro 51-16 in the semifinals one week after the Tritons knocked off SoCal's top-ranked team at the time, Servite of Anaheim. |
| 14 (14) | Servite Anaheim, CA | 10-2 | Considered one of the favorites to be playing in Carson at the end of the year, the Friars' season came to a surprising end with a 24-20 loss to Tesoro in the CIFSS Pac-5 Division quarterfinals. Before starting a challenging league schedule, the Friars racked up wins against four teams that ended the year with winning records, including a 20-0 win over Oceanside to start the year. In Trinity League play, Servite went undefeated, including a triumph over eventual Division I state champion Santa Margarita. The only other loss on the year was 31-28 against Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, which finished No. 8 in the FAB 50 national rankings. |
| 15 (15) | Saint Bonaventure Ventura, CA | 10-3 | The Seraphs were thoroughly outplayed in their 35-14 loss to Westlake, but they did play No. 9 Oaks Christian tough twice, including a 27-24 loss in the CIFSS Northern Division semifinals. After the season-opening 29-27 victory over Centennial of Corona, there is not a signature win you can point to for this senior-oriented club. It was, however, another successful season for coach Todd Therrien, who upped his on-field record to 60-9 since taking over for current Crespi of Encino coach Jon Mack in 2007. |
| 16 (16) | Vacaville Vacaville, CA | 13-1 | Winning 11 straight games to end the season, the Bulldogs put together an impressive playoff run that saw them defeat St. Mary's of Stockton, undefeated Buhach Colony of Atwater and then Folsom for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship. On the season, their offense averaged 46 points per game while featuring a running game that averaged nearly 400 yards and had two running backs rush for over 1,400 yards. Keeping the Bulldogs from a trip to Carson was an early season road loss to Marin Catholic in a game they led 27-13 after three quarters only to lose 33-29. Another huge win came against eventual Sac-Joaquin Division I champ Granite Bay. |
| 17 (17) | Granite Bay Granite Bay, CA | 12-2 | Slotting the San-Joaquin Section Division I champions one spot behind Vacaville was an easy call as one of their two losses on the year was on the road against the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II champion Bulldogs. Before the loss to the Bulldogs, the Grizzlies opened the season with wins over Reed of Nevada and St. Mary's of Stockton and finished second in the Sierra Foothill League with their lone other loss coming against Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion Del Oro of Loomis. On the way to their section championship, they knocked off top-seeded Lincoln of Stockton and then defeated second-seed Pleasant Grove of Elk Grove 30-24. |
| 18 (18) | Poway Poway, CA | 12-0-1 | Without the 17-17 tie to San Pasqual of Escondido on the resume, the Titans would be pushing towards a top 10 overall rating. They finished at No. 10 in the final rankings when they last won the CIF San Diego Section Div. I title in 2007, but it's still hard to determine how they would fare against the top Division I competition in the state in a regional bowl format based on the teams they beat this season. Regardless, Poway's 56-0 dismantling of Vista in the section title game was impressive and with players such as DB Derek Babiash returning the team figures to be a section-title contender in 2012. |
| 19 (19) | Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 11-2 | Roaring their way to the final four of the CIFSS Inland Division playoffs the Cougars' season came to an end with a 41-21 loss to Centennial of Corona in the semifinals. The key victory that helped them earn their top 20 final ranking was a win over undefeated Redlands East Valley in the quarterfinals while their lone other loss was against fellow semifinalist Upland. Before finishing second to Upland in Baseline League play, Rancho Cucamonga rang up a 21-13 road win against a Charter Oak of Covina team that went 10-2 on the year. Leading the way for the Cougar defense were junior linebackers, and twins, Alani and Viliami Fatu. They each finished with 70 total tackles on the year. |
| 20 (20) | Redlands East Valley Redlands, CA | 11-1 | With a defense that didn't allow more than 15 points in a single game, it looked like the Wildcats would be playing deep into the postseason before they were surprised in the CIFSS Inland Division quarterfinals 9-6 by Rancho Cucamonga. Before going undefeated in the Citrus Belt League, coach Kurt Bruich's team posted a 14-12 win over Dorsey of Los Angeles and a 10-7 win over Mission Viejo. Senior linebacker Dylan Moi had a team-high 105 total tackles as the defense recorded five shutouts and allowed just 83 total points all season. |
| 21 (21) | Rancho Verde Moreno Valley, CA | 14-0 | The Mustangs remain in the same spot in the final ratings after they were bypassed for the CIF Div II state bowl game in favor of Helix. As the bowl games played out one thing became clear -- Rancho Verde was more on par with Helix than Washington Union was with Lompoc even though Washington Union was selected for the Div. III bowl game over the Braves. In an overall evaluation of the season, it's just hard to determine just how good Pete Duffy's team was in comparison to the other top teams in the state based on the slate of teams they defeated. Duffy's program has produced a plethora of college-bound talent the last five years, but this team put it all together to capture the program's first section title. |
| 22 (25) | St. Mary's Stockton, CA | 9-3 | As we've said before, no team in the state benefitted more in the final rankings from opponents winning titles than the Rams. All three teams St. Mary's lost to during the season - Granite Bay, De La Salle and Vacaville - won section or state titles. The Granite Bay and Vacaville games also were one-score contests. The Rams also notched a big win with their victory in October over city rival Lincoln. Jalen Ward led the team as a running back, while Jamie Christopherson (linebacker) and Ewing Simmons (defensive end) were standouts on defense. |
| 23 (NR) | Lincoln Stockton, CA | 11-2 | All of the Sac-Joaquin Section teams line up easily according to who beat who, so up next would be the Trojans, based mostly on their head-to-head win against Pleasant Grove. Lincoln may have the state's best quarterback-running back duo next season with Zack Greenlee and Justin Davis. As juniors, Davis had the more breakout season of the two as he rushed for more than 2,400 yards and scored 41 touchdowns. We certainly didn't see a junior running back in person any better from any team in the state we saw during the season. Greenlee throws a great deep ball and will have several top receivers coming back next season as well. |
| 24 (NR) | Pleasant Grove Elk Grove, CA | 12-2 | Despite a season that saw the Eagles reach the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game and end with a top 25 ranking, it had to be a bit of a letdown after starting the season ranked at No. 4 in the state and being mentioned in national rankings as well. Starting the season with a nationally televised win on ESPN2 over Monterey Trail, the Eagles lost the next week in a double-overtime 50-49 thriller against Lincoln of Stockton. All their goals were still for the taking and one of them was achieved with a win against Folsom as part of a perfect run in Delta River League play. Pleasant Grove also scored 731 points this season, more than any other team in the state. |
| 25 (NR) | L. B. Polytechnic Long Beach, CA | 10-2 | The Jackrabbits move up in the final ratings after taking an overall look at their resume and comparing their level of play to teams that were ranked ahead of them last week such as Lompoc, Campolindo and Marin Catholic. Poly beat Grant of Sacramento, L.A. City runner-up Carson and No. 26 Narbonne to open the season and lost to No. 12 Mission Viejo by five points the following week. In the loss to Mission Viejo, the offense put a stellar defense in bad spots and it was more of the same in a 49-16 setback to Santa Margarita in the CIFSS Pac-5 quarterfinals. Poly is now 24-12 since winning the 2008 Pac-5 title game, including the team's crushing loss to Grant in the open division bowl game the following week. |
| 26 (NR) | Narbonne Harbor City, CA | 11-3 | The Gauchos have captured two L.A. City Section Div. I championships and have been to the title game three times in four years. With QB Troy Williams back to run the no-huddle offense, they also will open as the early title favorites for 2012. Back-to-back losses to Poly and Tesoro don't look bad now and although they weren't able to avenge a Marine League loss to San Pedro, the 41-7 semifinal win over Dorsey and two wins over Carson make up for it from a ratings perspective. |
| 27 (22) | Lompoc Lompoc, CA | 14-0 | It might seem odd that the Braves drop five spots in the final ratings after finishing the season with a 20-game winning streak and back-to-back CIFSS Northwest Division titles, but evaluating the Div. III bowl game in which Lompoc was not selected for it was clear there are some bigger schools from around the state that play at a higher level. What the Washington Union-Campolindo game did show was the Braves would be a prohibitive favorite over both teams and don't deserve to drop all the way behind Washington for the final rankings. |
| 28 (NR) | Folsom Folsom, CA | 11-3 | It was a bittersweet season for the Bulldogs. On one hand, senior quarterback Tanner Trosin became the first passer in state history to go over 5,000 yards for one season. Senior receiver J'Juan Muldrow also enjoyed a mammoth season. The sour taste, though, comes from not repeating as a league champion (behind Pleasant Grove) and not repeating as a section champion (lost to Vacaville in the final). Folsom's biggest wins were against San Ramon Valley of Danville and Elk Grove, which was 12-0 at the time. |
| 29 (NR) | Tesoro Las Flores, CA | 8-5 | Coach Brian Barnes' team advanced to the CIFSS Pac-5 Division semifinals where its season ended with a second loss to San Clemente. Before South Coast League play got underway, the Titans posted a win against eventual L.A. City champ Narbonne but also had a loss to Chaparral of Temecula. The big win of the season, of course, was the 24-20 upset of two-time defending Pac-5 champ Servite of Anaheim. |
| 30 (NR) | Elk Grove Elk Grove, CA | 12-1 | Finishing two wins shy of a possible trip to Carson, the Thundering Herd thundered their way to 12 straight wins before a loss to Folsom in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinals. After defeating Nevada Union of Grass Valley in a big non-league win, Elk Grove opened up Delta Valley League play with a win over Grant of Sacramento on the way to an undefeated league record. Led by senior Deon Ransom, who rushed for 1,825 yards and 27 touchdowns, and junior Robert Frazier, who rushed for 1,494 yards and 21 touchdowns, the Herd averaged 332.9 yards rushing per game as a team. |
| 31 (NR) | Junipero Serra San Mateo, CA | 11-2 | Head coach Patrick Walsh and his Padres finish as the No. 3 team from the San Francisco Bay Area but the 28 spots between Serra and No. 3 Bellarmine is a tell-tale sign about the Bay Area's strength this season. The running game will continue next year despite the loss of record-setting Washington-bound Erich Wilson. Junior Eric Redwood (1,344 yards, 12 TDs) will be the one to carry the load. After that, its slim pickings, but Walsh always seems to have a competitive team that just can't seem to get over the hump. |
| 32 (NR) | Buhach Atwater, CA | 12-1 | A season-opening 34-13 win over Bethel of Vallejo just got better and better, as the Jaguars made the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals. Buhach's season reached its crest after wins against Pitman of Turlock and Turlock allowed the Thunder to finish Central California Conference play undefeated and earn the top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs. The team's only loss was to No. 16 Vacaville in the semifinals. The year included a 90-48 win over Golden Valley of Merced. |
| 33 (NR) | Cathedral San Diego, CA | 12-1 | Only three teams scored more than the 14 points against Helix that the CIF San Diego Section No. 3 team posted in their only loss, 48-14 to the Highlanders. Coach Sean Doyle should have a strong team back next year with 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior quarterback Garrett Bogart (1,805 yards, 19 TDs) returning along with fellow junior running back Tony Johnson. The 6-foot, 205-pound Johnson (597 yards, five TDs in six games) was the team's leading rusher until going down with a knee injury. The leading returning receiver on a team where no one caught more than 18 passes was 5-foot-11 sophomore Chris Moliga. |
| 34 (NR) | Arroyo Grande Arroyo Grande, CA | 13-1 | Led by senior quarterback Brent Vanderveen, who passed for 2,422 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 463 yards and six scores, the Eagles won their final 13 games of the season and won the CIFSS Western Division championship with a 42-14 win over Culver City. Two other quality wins came against Cabrillo of Lompoc and Chaminade of West Hills. The lone loss was in their season opener to a Lompoc team that went undefeated and captured the CIFSS Northwest section championship. |
| 35 (NR) | San Ramon Valley Danville, CA | 10-4 | With Campolindo's loss in the D3 Bowl Game, it's coach Mark Kessler's Wolverines and Cal-bound quarterback Zach Kline and his mates that move back into the No. 2 spot in the CIF North Coast Section, Once again, the disparity in the 34-spot distance between San Ramon Valley and the NCS's top team, De La Salle, is proof of the lack of strength in the NCS. Still, of their four losses, three are to teams ranked above them. Two are to De La Salle, one is to Folsom and the other is to crosstown arch-rival Monte Vista, a pretty good team that the Wolves beat in a second matchup in the playoffs. |
| 36 (NR) | Carson Carson, CA | 8-6 | After leading his club to the L.A. City Section finals for the second consecutive year, coach Elijah Asante has stepped down to pursue a job at a school where he could earn more than a coaching stipend. Asante's strategy to play a murderous pre-league schedule seemed to help his team in the post-season. The big win was a 24-19 victory over then unbeaten San Pedro in the semifinals. |
| 37 (NR) | Saint John Bosco Bellflower, CA | 8-4 | The Braves finished tied for second-place in the rugged Trinity League with Santa Margarita and earned some quality victories throughout the season. Led by the big play ability of WR Bryce Treggs and RB DaVonte Young, Bosco beat Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran in league play and downed Serra League champ Alemany in the opening-round of the CIFSS Pac-5 Division playoffs. |
| 38 (NR) | Washington Union Fresno, CA | 14-0 | One of just two undefeated teams to win a CIF Bowl Game, the Panthers fall into the right spot as the No. 2 team from the CIF Central Section. Some may argue about Lompoc being ahead of them, but their 21-16 CIF Division III bowl game victory over Campolindo was nothing to write home about in terms of how well they played. However, Washington did play better than than a 14-0 opponent that was coming off beating what was supposed to be two of the top teams in the NCS, Cardinal Newman and Marin Catholic. Plus, head coach Jeff Freitas and his Panthers will always be able to say they were the first team from "the valley" to win a bowl game. Record-setting wide receiver Deontay Greenberry (2,165 yards receiving, 33 TDs) didn't have an explosive game, but he played great defense, and the one TD pass he did catch -- with three defenders on him like a blanket -- was a crucial score. |
| 39 (23) | Campolindo Moraga, CA | 14-1 | There's not much you can say about the Cinderella Cougars except that at some point either they would complete the dream season or the clock would strike midnight. Despite coming out sluggish, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, and never really getting their offense in gear, head coach Kevin Macy's boys were in the game against Washington Union until the final moments. Junior quarterback Brett Stephens didn't provide the magical big plays he had the previous two weeks. In fact, he was intercepted four times, the same number he had for the season entering the game. The good news is Stephens returns, bad news is junior wide receiver Mason Windatt is the only other offensive impact player returning. |
| 40 (24) | Marin Catholic Kentfield, CA | 13-1 | The good news for Wildcats' coach Mazi Moayed and the MC faithful is 6-foot-3, 175-pound quarterback Jared Goff, who finished the season as the Redwood Empire's all-time leading passer with 3,161 yards and 44 touchdowns, will be back for his senior season together with a ton of skilled returnees, led junior running back Akili Terry and multi-talented 5-11, 175-pound sophomore Andrew Cellis. The Wildcats have a load of defensive players returning as well. Next year, they'll get one last chance to grab the brass ring with Goff as signal-caller and should come into the season as the top D3 team in the state. |
| 41 (NR) | San Pedro San Pedro, CA | 12-1 | In contrast to Carson, the Pirates don't play an overwhelming pre-league schedule, but receive ratings credit for navigating through the rugged Marine League with no losses. Led by co-L.A. City offensive player of the year Kenny Potter, Pedro downed two-time defending champ Crenshaw in the quarterfinals before losing to Carson. |
| 42 (NR) | Oakdale Oakdale, CA | 13-1 | The Mustangs' dream season came up a win short of perfection as they lost to No. 7 Del Oro of Loomis 21-7 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship game. After defeating Manteca and going undefeated in the Valley Oak League, coach Trent Merzon's squad rang up playoff wins over Vista del Lago of Folsom and Casa Roble of Orangevale. Before league play began, Oakdale got wins over a pair of nine-win teams -- Aptos and Rancho Cotate of Rohnert Park. |
| 43 (NR) | Palo Alto Palo Alto, CA | 10-3 | Paly came on at the end to post a very respectable year considering the Vikes started a sophomore quarterback, Keller Chryst, son of 49ers quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst, that played better as the season progressed. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder passed for 2,165 yards and 27 TDs with 11 interceptions. He got roughed up in the CCS Open Division 41-13 title game loss to Bellarmine, but remembering that game will help him next season. Jayshawn Gates-Mouton (34 receptions, 518 yards, five TDs) will be his top returning receiver. |
| 44 (NR) | Dorsey Los Angeles, CA | 11-2 | The Dons were rolling along as a state top 25 team and entered the playoffs as the Coliseum League champs. The first kink in their armor came when Alemany lost in the first-round of the CIFSS Pac-5 playoffs because that was the win that justified Dorsey's rating. The loss to Narbonne in the L.A. City Section semifinals wasn't bad, but the manner in which they lost (41-7) drops them a few more spots. |
| 45 (NR) | Bishop Alemany Mission Hills, CA | 8-3 | You have to give the Warriors some props for going 4-0 for the second straight season in the Serra League. They also posted a quality win against Chaminade of West Hills. Receiver Steven Mitchell and quarterback Devon Dunn will both be back next season. |
| 46 (NR) | Palma Salinas, CA | 11-1-1 | Palo Alto advancing father in the playoffs plus owning a 28-18 win over the Hollister San Benito team that beat the Chieftains 13-12 drops coach Jeff Carnazzo and his boys into this spot. They are ahead of the Cardinal Newman team they tied since they are a section champion, having captured the CCS Division III championship. The Chieftains will have a lot of returning talent next season, led by WR/DB Jack Ross, DE Jack Powers and WR/DE Noah Allen. |
| 47 (NR) | Cardinal Newman Santa Rosa, CA | 11-1-1 | There are a lot of folks that believe that had not quarterback Matt Sullivan broken his leg that coach Paul Cronin and the Cardinals may have made another trip to Carson and given Washington a much better game. The problem is he did, and he and running back Steven Tomasin are now gone. Most of the other top starters are graduating but Cronin has a whole bunch of solid underclass returnees and JV talent coming up. |
| 48 (NR) | Loyola Los Angeles, CA | 8-3 | Despite a first-round CIFSS Pac-5 Division loss to Huntington Beach, the Cubs make the top 50 after a solid regular season that saw them finish second in the Serra League behind Alemany. Their other loss came on the road against Upland. During their 4-0 start to the season, the Cubs beat St. John Bosco of Bellflower and gave West Covina its only loss as the Bulldogs went on to capture the CIFSS Southeast Division championship. |
| 49 (NR) | Windsor Windsor, CA | 14-0 | The Jaguars were on the board but really never had a chance for a bowl bid despite being one of only six undefeated teams (on the field) in the expanded top 50. Their schedule just didn't warrant it. Still, no one can take away a perfect season and the 10-year-old school's first NCS title, after a 28-20 win over Concord in the D2 championship game. Junior defensive back Mike Piazza (56 tackles, seven interceptions) will return to anchor a defense that only gave up 133 points in 14 games. |
| 50 (NR) | Los Gatos Los Gatos, CA | 11-1-1 | Running back Garrett Zeiter led the Wildcats to the CCS Division II title. They balanced out a bad loss to Milpitas and a tie with Wilcox of Santa Clara by posting victories against Palo Alto and Oak Grove of San Jose. |
| Dropped out: None. | |||