If Southern California is known as the land of earthquakes, then this weekend’s high school football action, caused a shake-up in the High School Football America/SoCal Top 25 landscape.
Related: High School Football America/SoCal Top 25 Scoreboard
For the first time, since we began using our proprietary algorithm 2013 for our rankings, we’ve had a Top 25 team drop-out of the poll without losing. Westlake‘s 21-14 win over former #11 Santa Margarita is what caused a big shift in the rankings. Westlake, which began the year ranked #18 in our preseason poll, dropped-out after losing to Red Mountain from Arizona in Week 1.
Related: High School Football America/SoCal Preseason Top 25
Westlake returns to the poll at its original #18 ranking, with Santa Margarita falling eight spots to #19.
Westlake’s upset win, knocks former #24 Heritage out of the Top 25. The shift downward was caused by the strength of schedule part of our formula. Westlake has played a tougher schedule with opponents they’ve already played owning a 9-7 record, while Heritage’s four opponents are a combined 3-12.
Another oddity in this week’s poll is Narbonne (1-2) climbs from #15 to #11, even though the Gauchos lost to #8 Serra 41-40 in overtime. Narbonne’s two losses are to the #8 and #9 (Long Beach Poly) teams in this week’s rankings. The 20-17 loss to Poly came with less than a minute to go in the game. In the Serra game, Narbonne elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win in overtime against the Cavaliers.
High School Football America/SoCal Top 25
Games through September 20th
#1 Corona Centennial Huskies
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #1
Rewind: beat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 52-0
Fast Forward: Idle
#2 St. John Bosco Braves
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #2
Rewind: beat Crespi 55-7
Fast Forward: at. St. Peter’s Prep (New Jersey), Saturday
#3 Mater Dei Monarchs
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #3
Rewind: beat Upland 43-14
Fast Forward: vs. Edison, Friday
#4 Bishop Amat Lancers
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #4
Rewind: beat Chino Hills 63-28
Fast Forward: vs. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Friday
#5 Mission Viejo Diablos
Record: 5-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #6
Rewind: beat #10 Norco 37-13
Fast Forward: at Redondo Union, Friday
#6 Vista Murrieta Broncos
Record: 3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #7
Rewind: beat Lakewood 43-7
Fast Forward: at Orange Lutheran, Friday
#7 Alemany Warriors
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #8
Rewind: beat Dorsey 57-19
Fast Forward: vs. Crespi, Friday
#8 Serra Cavaliers
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #9
Rewind: beat #15 Narbonne 41-40 (OT)
Fast Forward: at #13 Loyola, Friday
#9 Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits
Record: 2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #5
Rewind: lost to Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 52-13
Fast Forward: at Long Beach Wilson, Friday
#10 Oaks Christian Lions
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #12
Rewind: beat Antelope Valley 48-14
Fast Forward: at Birmingham, Friday
#11 Narbonne Gauchos
Record: 1-2
Last Week’s Ranking: #15
Rewind: lost to #9 Serra (Gardena) 41-40 (OT)
Fast Forward: at Paramount, Friday
#12 JSerra Lions
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #11
Rewind: beat Hamilton 42-14
Fast Forward: at St. Paul, Friday
#13 Loyola Cubs
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #18
Rewind: beat Salesian 52-22
Fast Forward: vs. #8 Serra (Gardena), Friday
#14 Tesoro Titans
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #19
Rewind: beat West Covina 35-0
Fast Forward: at Corona del Mar, Thursday
#15 Orange Lutheran Lancers
Record: 2-2
Last Week’s Ranking: #14
Rewind: lost to De La Salle 41-3
Fast Forward: vs. #6 Vista Murrieta, Friday
#16 Chaminade Eagles
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #20
Rewind: beat Birmingham 46-6
Fast Forward: Idle
#17 St. Bonaventure Seraphs
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #21
Rewind: beat La Quinta 41-0
Fast Forward: vs. Hart, Friday
#18 Westlake Warriors
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: NR
Rewind: beat #11 Santa Margarita 21-14
Fast Forward: at Dominguez, Friday
#19 Santa Margarita Eagles
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #11
Rewind: lost to Westlake 21-14
Fast Forward: vs. King, Friday
#20 Norco Cougars
Record: 2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #10
Rewind: lost to #6 Mission Viejo 37-13
Fast Forward: vs. Citrus Hill, Friday
#21 La Habra Highlanders
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #25
Rewind: beat #13 Los Alamitos 37-32
Fast Forward: at Colony, Thursday
#22 Los Alamitos Griffins
Record: 2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #13
Rewind: lost to #25 La Habra 37-32
Fast Forward: at #23 San Juan Hills, Friday
#23 San Juan Hills Stallions
Record: 4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: #23
Rewind: beat Marina 51-6
Fast Forward: vs. #22 Los Alamitos, Friday
#24 Rancho Cucamonga Cougars
Record: 3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #16
Rewind: beat Murrieta Valley 34-28
Fast Forward: vs. La Serna, Friday
#25 Redlands East Valley Wildcats
Record: 2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: #22
Rewind: beat Rancho Verde 38-34
Fast Forward: vs. Carter, Friday
*Editor’s note: High School Football America uses its proprietary algorithm to determine the HSFA SoCal Top 25
