No. 1 St. John Bosco did seemingly the impossible, running the gauntlet in the Trinity League and making it look easy. Orange Lutheran was the only team to keep Bosco's margin of victory in league play under 20 points. The Braves enter the Pac-5 Playoffs as the favorites because of a punishing offensive line, exciting skill-position players, and arguably the Southern Section's top defense. Agoura poses no threat to Bosco this week.
No. 2 Serra had already done their heavy lifting in the previous weeks and used St. Paul as a tuneup for the playoffs. The Western division doesn't have the same depth as the Pac-5 so it will be a couple of weeks before we see the Cavaliers play a compelling game. Serra can name their score against Pacifica this week.
No. 3 Mission Viejo bullied the South Coast League all season. While more predictable than Bosco's run through the Trinity League, the Diablos run was no less impressive as Mission Viejo beat each of its league opponents by at least 30 points. Mission Viejo is stout on defense, has a smart accurate quarterback, and talented skill players. The Diablos are a legit threat in the Pac-5. and should dispatch 4-6 Crespi without too much difficulty on Friday.
No. 4 Long Beach Poly took their foot off the gas pedal on Friday after building a 57-0 lead on Woodrow Wilson, the Jackrabbits kept the ball out of the endzone in the fourth quarter while showing some semblance of mercy. Poly hasn't been challenged in months, pitching five shutouts in their last six games. But we learned last year that Poly knows how to rise to a challenge after coasting through their league play. Poly gets the toughest draw of the top teams in the first round with a dangerous Orange Lutheran.
No. 5 Vista Murrieta claimed another Southwestern League Championship by dismantling Chaparral on Prep Zone in a 41-5 victory. The 2013 version of the Broncos team may be even more dynamic on offense with Coltin Gerhart at quarterback. After stumbling against Cathedral Catholic earlier this year, the Broncos scored 40 plus in six-straight games. By the quirk of scheduling, Vista Murrieta gets one of the tougher opponents in the Inland first round against Los Osos.
No. 6 Corona Centennial looked off to start the season with losses to Alemany and Long Beach Poly, but the Huskies are peaking at the right time. After dropping to 2-2, the Huskies scored 50 plus in every game but a convincing 43-25 win over Norco. Quarterback Robert Webber and running back Tre Watson form the best 1-2 punch in the Southern Section. Etiwanda is a solid first-round opponent in the Inland, but Centennial should prevail.
No. 7 Mater Dei won the No. 2 spot in the Trinity League outright with another dominating performance on defense to knock off Orange Lutheran. The Monarchs struggled on offense during the last month of the season, but there's nothing wrong with the defensive side of the ball. Orange Lutheran's triple-option offense can pose a lot of problems for teams, like hanging 54 on Santa Margarita just two weeks ago, but Mater Dei shut out the Lancers. Mater Dei will need a complete game to dispatch Oaks Christian in arguably the most compelling game of the Pac-5's first round.
No. 8 Alemany thought they had restored some sanity to the Serra League with a convincing win over Crespi to claim the League Championship and push the Celts to 4-6. Alemany's spot was secured in the Pac-5, but the Serra's craziness continued with a 4-6 at-large bid for the Celts. Alemany has been inconsistent this year with losses to Norco and Loyola and big wins over Centennial and Notre Dame. It won't matter which Alemany team shows up this week; the Warriors will advance against Moore League chum Lakewood.
No. 9 Rancho Cucamonga stumbled to the finish line against a surging Upland team. Upland turned it around after starting the season a bad 0-2 with blowout losses against Oaks Christian and Mater Dei. Rancho Cucamonga must find their playmakers on offense if they're going to make some noise in the Inland Division and pose a real threat to heavyweights Centennial and Vista Murrieta. The Cougars should handle Redlands East Valley this week.
No. 10 Chaminade was paying attention two weeks ago when St. Francis jumped all over Serra. The Eagles never let St. Francis breathe, speeding out to a 35-12 halftime lead and never looking back. Chaminade and Serra are on opposite sides of the Western bracket, and the Eagles have to be looking forward to redeeming themselves after Serra humiliated them 36-0 two weeks ago.
TOP 20 IN CIF-SS, WEEK 11
1. (1) St. John Bosco (10-0)
2. (2) Serra (10-0)
3. (3) Mission Viejo (10-0)
4. (4) Long Beach Poly (9-1)
5. (6) Vista Murrieta (9-1)
6. (7) Corona Centennial (8-2)
7. (9) Mater Dei (8-2)
8. (10) Alemany (8-2)
9. (5) Rancho Cucamonga (9-1)
10. (11) Chaminade (8-2)
11. (8) Orange Lutheran (7-3)
12. (17) Westlake (8-2)
13. (13) Notre Dame (7-3)
14. (16) La Habra (9-1)
15. (12) Oaks Christian (8-2)
16. (18) Valencia (8-2)
17. (20) Palos Verdes (8-2)
18. (NR) JSerra (7-3)
19. (NR) Upland (7-3)
20. (15) Hart (8-2)
In: JSerra, Upland
Out: Servite, St. Francis
