SBLive's California Power 25 football rankings: Mater Dei takes over at No. 1

Monarchs take down nemesis St. John Bosco; Serra-Gardena moves up three spots after win over Bishop Amat

The drama at the top will be taken care on the field. We knew that. 

Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, two seemingly untouchable teams, took care of the Trinity League matchup Friday with the defending national champions pulling out a 17-7 slugfest win. 

The two will almost assuredly face off again in the Southern Section Division I title game Nov. 25 at the Rose Bowl. That will determine who finishes on top of the California Power 25 rankings. 

At least heading into the State Open Division Bowl game. 

The eventual Northern California representative may turn out to be a surprise. 

All season, the leader in the clubhouse has been Serra-San Mateo since it beat both Folsom (17-12) and De La Salle-Concord (24-21) in the first three weeks. 

But quietly St. Mary's-Stockton has been very impressive and on Friday, it knocked off De La Salle 45-35, scoring 45 of the game's final 66 points. The Rams may control their own destiny if it can run the table and beat Folsom along the way. Their margin of victory over De La Salle is greater than Serra. 

The Rams move up to No. 24 in this week's rankings. 

Serra-Gardena moved up three spots to No. 15 following a 27-21 win over Bishop Amat. 

California Power 25 football rankings (records thru Oct. 8)

1. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (7-0 record)
Last week: No. 2
Last game: Beat St. John Bosco 17-7 — Game story, column
Next game: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran at Santa Ana College

Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson and quarterback Elijah Brown enjoy a moment during the Monarchs' 17-7 win over St. John Bosco Friday at Santa Ana Stadium. Photo: Heston Quan. 

2. St. John Bosco-Bellflower (6-1 record)
Last week: No. 1
Last game: Lost to Mater Dei 17-7 — SJB A-OK
Next game: Friday vs. JSerra 

Bosco's bruiser junior RB Cam Jones rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown on Friday. Photo: Heston Quan. 

3. Centennial-Corona (6-1)
Last week: No. 3
Last game: Beat Roosevelt-Eastvale 62-14
Next game: Friday at Vista Murrieta

4. Long Beach Poly (7-0)
Last week: No. 4
Last game: Beat Long Beach Wilson 70-0
Next game: Friday vs. Cabrillo 

5. Los Alamitos (5-2)
Last week: No. 5
Last game: Beat Newport Harbor 61-21
Next game: Thursday vs. Edison-Huntington Beach at Huntington Beach

6. Mission Viejo (6-1)
Last week: No. 6
Last game: Beat Helix-La Mesa 58-27
Next game: Friday at San Clemente

7. Serra-San Mateo (6-0)
Last week: No. 7
Last game: Beat Bellarmine-San Jose 28-7
Next game: Saturday at Archbishop Riordan-San Francisco

8. Edison-Huntington Beach (7-0)
Last week: No. 8
Last game: Beat Newport Harbor 47-14
Next game: Thursday vs. Los Alamitos at Huntington Beach

9. Chaminade-West Hills (7-0)
Last week: No. 9
Last game: Beat Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 65-34
Next game: Friday at Bishop Amat

10. Orange Lutheran (6-1)
Last week: No. 10
Last game: Beat Servite-Anaheim 35-14
Next game: Friday vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana College

11. Santa Margarita (4-2)
Last week: No. 11
Last game: Beat JSerra 29-28
Next game: Friday vs. Servite at Saddleback College

12. Folsom (6-1)
Last week: No. 12
Last game: Beat Whitney-Rocklin 55-7
Next game: Friday vs. Del Oro-Loomis (7-0)

13. Inglewood (7-0)
Last week: No. 16
Last game: Beat Centennial-Compton 63-0
Next game: Friday vs. Leuzinger at El Camino College

14. Pittsburg (5-1)
Last week: No. 14
Last game: Beat Liberty-Brentwood 31-29
Next game: Friday at Deer Valley-Antioch

15. Serra-Gardena (4-3)
Last week: No. 18
Last game: Beat Bishop Amat 27-21
Next game: Friday vs. Sierra Canyon

Cincere Rhaney (3), Serra-Gardena. 

16. Bishop Amat-La Puente (5-2)
Last week: No. 15
Last game: Lost to Serra-Gardena 27-21
Next game: Friday vs. Chaminade-Los Angeles

17. JSerra Catholic (3-4)
Last week: No. 17
Last game: Lost to Santa Margarita 29-28
Next game: Friday at St. John Bosco

18. Carlsbad (5-1)
Last week: 19
Last game: Beat San Marcos 42-7
Next game: Friday vs. Oceanside

19. Warren-Downey (5-1)
Last week: No. 20
Last game: Beat Paramount 62-0
Next game: Friday vs. Downey

20. Oak Hills-Hesperia (7-0)
Last week: 21
Last game: Beat Hesperia 49-16
Next game: Friday vs. Serrano

21. Cajon (6-1)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Citrus Valley 28-7
Next game: Friday vs. Yucaipa

22. Citrus Valley (5-2)
Last week: No. 22
Last game: Lost to Cajon 28-7
Next game: Friday vs. Redlands East Valley

23. Norco (5-2)
Last week: No. 23
Last game: Beat Murrieta Valley 77-76 (OT)
Next game: Friday vs Roosevelt-Eastvale

24. Ayala-Chino Hills (6-1)
Last week: No. 24
Last game: Bye
Next game: Friday vs. Charter Oak

25. St. Mary's-Stockton (7-0)
Last week: No. 25
Last game: Beat De La Salle-Concord 45-25
Next game: Friday vs. Tracy

25. Rancho Cucamonga (5-2)
Last week: NR
Last game: Beat Etiwanda 21-6
Next game: Friday at Chino Hills