Top 25 California high school football rankings (9/9/2024)

Mater Dei stays firm at No. 1 with resounding win over national No. 2 Bishop Gorman; Top 12 spots remain in tact

Mater Dei defensive back CJ Lavender Jr. attempts to elude a Bishop Gorman player after making an interception. / Photo by Heston Quan

Mater Dei's grip on the top spot in the California high school football rankings remained firm after a decisive 31-15 win over Bishop Gorman in a battle of the nation's top two ranked teams.

The Monarchs' defense stood tall, limiting the Gaels to less than 200 yards of offense and 11 first downs, while sacking Gorman quarterbacks six times.

Mater Dei set the tone for the state's elite as the top 12 teams remaining firmly in place, even with a loss for No. 9 Sierra Canyon, which held its own during a 38-28 home loss to No. 2 St. John Bosco. The Trailblazers simply could not contain wide receiver Madden Williams, who had 10 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

CALIFORNIA WEEK 2 FOOTBALL SCORES

SCORES BY DAYS: Thursday | Friday | Saturday

SCORES BY SECTIONS: San Diego | Southern | LA City | Central | Central Coast | San Francisco | Oakland | North Coast | Sac-Joaquin | Northern

The other big California matchup featuring two ranked teams was No. 6 De La Salle thumping previous No. 12 San Mateo Serra, 39-10 as Derrick Blanche Jr. rushed for 182 yards on just 12 carries including a late 62-yard touchdown.

FOOTBALL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

• Mater Dei takes down Bishop Gorman
• 5 takeaways from Mater Dei over Gorman
• Madden Williams leads Bosco over Sierra Canyon
• De La Salle runs past Serra
• 5 takeaways from De La Salle over Serra
• Central Section roundup/scores
• Sac-Joaquin Section roundup/scores
• Central Coast Section roundup/scores
• North Coast Section roundup/scores
• California products on NFL rosters
• California recruiting updates/Phillip Bell to Ohio State

CALIFORNIA TOP 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS (9/8/2024)

1. Mater Dei (3-0)

Previous rank: 1
Last week results: Beat Bishop Gorman, 31-15
Next: Saturday at Kahuku

Mater Dei quarterback Ashton Beierly drops back to pass. / Photo by Heston Quan

2. St. John Bosco (3-0)

Previous rank: 2
Last week results: Beat Sierra Canyon, 38-28
Next: Saturday at San Mateo Serra

St. John Bosco’s Madden Williams was standout in the Braves victory over Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth, Calif. on Sept. 7, 2024. / Tarek Fattal

3. Mission Viejo (2-0)

Previous rank: 3
Last week results: beat Henderson-Nev., 46-0
Next: Friday at Highland

4. JSerra Catholic (3-0)

Previous rank: 4
Last week results: beat Clovis North, 35-6
Next: Friday vs. San Diego Lincoln at Southwestern College

5. Orange Lutheran (3-0)

Previous rank: 5
Last week results: Beat Baltimore St. Frances, 15-13
Next: Friday at Bishop Gorman

Previous rank: 6
Last week results: Beat San Mateo Serra, 39-10
Next: Friday vs. Mountain View Saint Francis

Derrick Blanche Jr. (22) finished with 12 carries, 182 yards rushing, including a 62-yard touchdown jaunt to finish off the scoring. De La Salle finished with 332 yards rushing and 408 overall in a 39-10 win over Serra on Sept. 6, 2024. / Photo: Dennis Lee

7. Pittsburg (2-0)

Previous rank: 7
Last week results: Beat Bishop Manogue, 41-14
Next: Friday vs. San Francisco Riordan

8. Santa Margarita (2-1)

Previous rank: 8
Last week results: Beat Bakersfield Liberty, 42-3
Next: Friday vs. Oaks Christian

9. Sierra Canyon (2-2)

Previous rank: 9
Last week results: Lost to St. John Bosco, 38-28
Next: Sept 21 at Orange Lutheran

10. Corona Centennial (1-2)

Previous rank: 10
Last week results: Beat Provo (Utah) Timpview, 56-20
Next: Saturday vs. Highland (Utah) Lone Peak

11. Servite (3-0)

Previous rank: 11
Last week results: Beat Chaminade, 14-0
Next: Friday vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Orange Coast College

12. Gardena Serra (2-1)

Previous rank: 12
Last week results: Beat Long Beach Poly, 27-21
Next: Sept. 19 at Oaks Christian

13. Chaparral (3-0)

Previous rank: 16
Last week results: Idle
Next: Thursday vs. Temecula Valley

14. Vista Murrieta (3-0)

Previous rank: HM
Last week results: Beat Orance Vista, 28-22
Next: Friday vs. Citrus Valley

15. San Diego Lincoln (2-1)

Previous rank: 18
Last week results: Beat Coronado, 51-14
Next: Friday vs. JSerra Catholic at Southwestern College

16. San Mateo Serra (1-1)

Previous rank: 12
Last week results: Lost to De La Salle, 39-10
Next: Saturday vs. St. John Bosco

17. Folsom (1-1)

Previous rank: 13
Last week results: Idle
Next: Friday vs. Turlock

18. Murrieta Valley (1-1)

Previous rank: 19
Last week results: idle
Next: Friday vs. Murrieta Mesa

19. Oaks Christian (2-1)

Previous rank: 25
Last week results: Beat Eastvale Roosevelt, 48-0
Next: Thursday vs. Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills

20. Newbury Park (3-0)

Previous rank: HM
Last week results: Beat Oxnard Pacifica, 36-3
Next: Friday vs. St. Pius X-St. Matthias

21. Oak Hills (3-0)

Previous rank: 23
Last week results: Beat Palmdale, 56-6
Next: Friday vs. Citrus Valley

22. Cathedral Catholic (3-0)

Previous rank: HM
Last week results: Beat Mountain Pointe, 27-13
Next: Friday vs. San Francisco St. Ignatius

23. Los Alamitos (2-1)

Previous rank: 15
Last week results: Lost to Mililani (Hawaii), 27-24
Next: Friday at St. Paul

24. Central (3-0)

Previous rank: 22
Last week results: Beat Turlock, 28-22
Next: Friday at Stockton Edison

25. Rocklin (3-0)

Previous rank: HM
Last week results: Beat Stockton Lincoln, 43-3
Next: Sept. 20 at Folsom

HONORABLE MENTION: Cathedral (3-0), Charter Oak (3-0), Clovis East (3-0), Clovis North (2-1), Damien (3-0), Downey (3-0), Grant Union (2-1), Mountain View St. Francis (2-0), Pacifica Oxnard (2-1), Palos Verdes (2-1), Riordan (1-1), San Clemente (1-2), San Ramon Valley (2-0), St. Bonaventure (3-0), Upland (2-1)