Not a single change in the Top 10, but we have some great Prep Zone matchups this week.
Relatively speaking, it was a quiet week in the CIF-SS as a host of teams get ready for the beginning of League play this week, but there was drama last week and loads to come this week. Check out the latest Top 10 in the CIF Southern Section Scouting Report.
No. 1 Vista Murrieta got a bit of a scare two weeks ago against Cathedral Catholic of San Diego. The Broncos were down in the fourth quarter before rallying to score twice and pull off out a 21-10 win. There was no such drama last weekend against Palisades as the Broncos jumped out to a 42-0 lead before letting off the gas and coasting to a 42-6 win. In a week that is flush with battles, the Broncos should have an easy visit to Temecula Valley High School on Friday.
No. 2 Mission Viejo took care of business against Redlands East Valley with a 52-21 win. Redlands East Valley has had a disappointing season to date, but they were still a dangerous opponent that the Diablos dismantled. Mission Viejo gets a week off before it begins South Coast League play against San Clemente who has fallen on hard times after a good start. A trip to Tesoro looms large on Oct. 19.
No. 3 Mater Dei found out last week what Serra found out the week prior, that the City-Section's top team Narbonne is legit. The Monarchs were down early, came back to take the lead before falling in a one-point, 18-17 loss to Narbonne. Narbonne notched its belt with two Southern Section Top 10 victories in back-to-back weeks and should only be challenged by Crenshaw in the City-Section this year. Mater Dei meanwhile has to rebound quickly against JSerra. The Lions have roared to a 5-0 record against less than stellar competition, but JSerra, like all Trinity League teams, are capable of beating one another on any given week.
No. 4 Santa Margarita was trying to find the silver lining in MVP Johnny Stanton's season-ending injury, and if there was one, it was that the Eagles had two weeks to prepare for their first game without him. Josh Canty or Kyle Sweet look to be the starter. Sweet actually has a better arm than Stanton and could add a different dimension to the offense. The Eagles take on Servite this week who have had quarterback troubles of its own this year. Servite got back on the winning side of the ledger with a 38-6 victory over St. Paul after being shut out in back-to-back games.
No. 5St. John Bosco was forced to forfeit its first four non-league games last week for using an ineligible player, but no one has beaten the Braves on the field. As if the their schedule wasn't tough enough already, St. John Bosco battled the trip and the distractions to beat Utah's top team Jordan, 34-33 in an instant classic. Bosco must come home, regroup and hit the road to face a surging Orange Lutheran team who is 5-0. While the Braves were wracking up traveler rewards last week, the Lancers had the week off to prepare.
No. 6St. Bonaventure was expecting a fight from a reeling Westlake team, and the Seraphs got one. St. Bonaventure fell behind early before rallying behind its defense and special teams to pull out a 31-23 win. The Seraphs were due a letdown after an emotional loss to Santa Margarita and a tough early-season slate, and Westlake bounced back from a pair of drubbings they had received the previous weeks. It's a mark of a good team that St. Bonaventure won when they weren't at their best. They shouldn't have to be at their best to cruise through the rest of their schedule in preparation for the playoffs.
No. 7Corona Centennial reloads every year and becomes the kind of team no one wants to face at the end of the season. The Huskies are well on their way to becoming that team after a 68-15 rout of Etiwanda this week. Quarterback Robert Webber is giving the Huskies an aerial assault that they haven't had in the past. He's passed for over 600 yards combined the last two weeks, and he should be able to pad those numbers against Corona this week.
No. 8Oaks Christian bounced back from a dreadful game against Crenshaw in which the Lions only mustered two points to beat Thousand Oaks, 38-6. The Lions should roll through their half of the Marmonte league before a showdown with St. Bonaventure in the League Championship game.
No. 9 Tesoro was idle this week in preparation for South Coast League play this week as the Titans open with 4-2 Trabuco Hills. Tesoro has been in some battles this year with two last-drive wins against Chino Hills and Chaparral. We'll get a better idea of just how good Tesoro is in the next three weeks as the Titans travel to El Toro and Mission Viejo after opening league play with Trabuco Hills this week.
No. 10 Lompoc was idle this week which should give the Braves a chance to get running back Lavon Coleman healthy. Coleman was out the last two weeks with a thigh bruise, but the Braves are good enough to run the rest of the table without him. Getting Coleman healthy to finish the season with be crucial if Lompoc is to make a run at the Western League Championship.
