Top players to watch in each CIF Southern Section high school football final

From Division 1 to Division 14, here are the big names expected to perform on championship weekend for each CIF football finalist.

Mater Dei football players pose for a picture at the CIF championship football luncheon in Long Beach. / Heston Quan

The talent runs deep in the CIF Southern Section, which is known as the home of the best high school football in the country, and is host to the nation's No. 1-ranked team Mater Dei.

Here's a quick scan of top players to watch in each divisional final, starting with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco in Division 1 to San Gabriel and Pioneer in Division 14.

All the CIF finals will be played on Friday and Saturday this week.

RELATED CIF FINALS STORIES
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TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH IN EACH CIF FINAL

Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco - D1, Friday

MATER DEI (11-0)
OFFENSE: Dash Beierly, QB, Sr.; Jordon Davison, RB, Sr.; Marcus Brown, WR, Sr.; Kayden Dixon-Watt, WR, Jr.
DEFENSE: Nasir Wyatt, DE, Sr.; Shaun Scott, DE, Jr.; Abduall Sanders, LB, Sr.; Tomuhini Topui, DL, Jr.; Chuck McDonald, DB, Sr.

ST. JOHN BOSCO (11-1)
OFFENSE: Madden Williams, WR, Jr.; Daniel Odom, WR, Jr.; Koa Malau’ulu, QB, Fr.; Maliq Allen, RB, So.
DEFENSE: Isala Wily-Ava, DB, So.; Epi Sitanilei, DL, Sr.; Dutch Horisk, DL, Jr.

Newbury Park at Murrieta Valley - D2, Saturday

NEWBURY PARK (13-0)
OFFENSE: Brady Smigiel, QB, Jr.; Shane Rosenthal, WR, Sr.
DEFENSE: Carter Taylor, LB, Jr.; Balen Betancourt, LB, Jr.

MURRIETA VALLEY (11-2)
OFFENSE: Bear Bachmeier, QB, Sr.; Dorian Hoze, RB, Sr.
DEFENSE: Abelardo Leos, LB, Jr.; Santana Letua, DL, Jr.

Simi Valley at Edison - D3, Friday

SIMI VALLEY (12-1)
OFFENSE: Tagg Harrison, QB, Sr.; Brice Hawkins, RB, Sr.
DEFENSE: Jayden Graham, DB, Sr.; Izak Simpson, DL, Jr.;

EDISON (9-4)
OFFENSE: Sam Edmisten, RB, So.; Ayden Degiacomo, WR, So.
DEFENSE: Matt Lopez, LB, Sr.; Jeremiah Ross, LB, Sr.

Oxnard/Pacifica at St. Bonaventure - D4, Saturday

PACIFICA (9-4)
OFFENSE: Dom Duran, QB, Sr.; Savion Taylor, WR, Sr.; Isaiah Dillon, WR, Sr.
DEFENSE: Budder Aina, LB, Sr.; Dejuan Colvin, DE, Sr.;

ST. BONAVENTURE (9-4)
OFFENSE: Koen Glover, RB, Sr.; Jaxson Carper, QB, Fr.
DEFENSE: Philip Wilson, LB, So.; Jaden Few, DE, Sr.

La Serna at Palos Verdes - D5, Friday

LA SERNA (10-3)
OFFENSE: Grady Long, QB, So.; Kaimana Tufaga, WR, Sr.
DEFENSE: Eli Perez, LB, Sr.; Xavier Nunez, RB, So.

PALOS VERDES (8-5)
OFFENSE: Ryan Rakowski, QB, So.; Andrew Habif, RB, Jr.
DEFENSE: Weston Reis, LB, Fr.; Josh Williams,

Murrieta Mesa at Glendora - D6, Saturday

MURRIETA MESA (9-4)
OFFENSE: Trey Gamble Jr., QB, Jr.; Artyon Celestinem, RB, Sr.
DEFENSE: Deshawn Reid, LB, Sr.; Isaiah Casillas, DT, Sr.

GLENDORA (9-4)
OFFENSE: Simon Zwick, RB, Sr.; Tim Johnson, WR, Sr.
DEFENSE: Aidan Yamazaki, LB, Jr.; Austin Coronado, LB/DE, Sr.

Warren at Rio Hondo Prep - D7, Friday

WARREN (6-7)
OFFENSE: Skylar Lendsey, RB, Jr.; Teralle Watson, RB, Sr.
DEFENSE: Maurice Stepter, DB, Sr.; Jay'mari Redmond, DB, Sr.

RIO HONDO PREP (11-1)
OFFENSE: Noah Penunuri, RB, Jr.; Nathaniel Curtis, RB, Jr.
DEFENSE: Caeden Holcomb, LB, Sr.; Rainn Pollock, DB, Jr.

Serrano at St. Pius - D8, Friday

SERRANO (9-3) TOP PLAYERS: Trevor McSween, RB, Sr.; Isaiah Cabral, DT, Sr.

ST. PIUS (4-9) TOP PLAYERS: Geremya Hood, LB, So.; Gregory Taylor, DB, Jr.

Long Beach Wilson at Highland - D9, Saturday

WILSON (9-4) TOP PLAYERS: Maxwell Barbee, WR, Sr.; Jalen Nelson, LB, Sr.

HIGLAND (9-4) TOP PLAYERS: Justin Wyatt Jr., QB, Sr.; Jayden Carrillo, LB, Sr.

Silverado at St. Anthony - D10, Saturday

SILVERADO (8-5) TOP PLAYERS: Jace Weiss, QB, Sr.; Jarmarri Tharpe, DB, Sr.

ST. ANTHONY (8-6) TOP PLAYERS: Jeremiah Taufi, LB, Jr.

El Rancho at Portola - D11, Friday

TOP EL RANCHO (9-4) PLAYERS: Ryan Dominguez, QB, Sr.; Andrew Guerrero, WR, Sr.; Javier Hernandez, LB, So.

TOP PORTOLA (9-3) PLAYERS: Timothy Grettenberg, RB, Jr.; Maxwell Mapstone, LB, Jr.

Palmdale at Carter - D12, Friday

PALMDALE (8-5) TOP PLAYERS: Joshua Suarez, QB, Jr.; Paul Turner, WR, So.;

CARTER (9-3) TOP PLAYERS: Jordan Mckinney, RB, Sr.; Christopher Martinez, LB, Sr.

Gahr at Pasadena - D13, Saturday

GAHR (8-5) TOP PLAYERS: Roman Acosta, QB, Jr.; Isaiah Portillo, LB, Sr.

PASADENA (7-6) TOP PLAYERS: Hype Grand, QB, Sr.

San Gabriel at Pioneer - D14, Saturday

SAN GABRIEL (7-6) TOP PLAYERS: Adam Mascarro, RB, Jr.

PIONEER (8-5) TOP PLAYERS: Amiri Resendiz, QB, Sr.; Eduardo Gonzalez, LB, Sr.

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