The Times’ final rankings
The Times’ final football rankings:
Rk. | Team (Rec., Section) | Comment (voting points/prev. ranking) |
1t | COR. CENTENNIAL (13-2, SS-INLAND) | Ryan Bass, Matt Scott fell short in spirited comeback vs. De La Salle in state Division I bowl game. (196/1) |
1t | BIRMINGHAM (13-1, CITY) | Behind Milton Knox, Patriots were best City team of this generation, winning fourth title in six years. (196/2) |
3 | L.B. POLY(13-1, SS-PAC-5) | Led by Jurrell Casey and Vaughn Telemaque, defense was calling card in 17th championship season. (184/5) |
4 | CRESPI(11-3, SS-PAC-5) | Counted out by many when QB Kevin Prince went out in Game 1, Celts were fighters to the end. (175/6) |
5 | ORA. LUTHERAN (10-2, SS-PAC-5 ) | Very nearly made return trip to the section finals with backup QB Bobby Wheatley at the helm. (163/4) |
6 | MATER DEI (9-2, SS-PAC-5) | Preseason No. 1 team failed to live up to expectations, including its own, with second-round loss. (161/3) |
7 | ST. BONAVENTURE(14-1, SS-Northern) | Transfer RB Darrell Scott helped turn very good team into state Division III bowl champions. (152/10) |
8 | SERVITE(9-3, PAC-5) | Friars were a completely different team after they made DJ Shoemate their full-time running back. (142/9) |
9 | HART (12-1-1, SS-Northern) | Delano Howell rushed for 2,249 yards, 36 TDs for Indians, who reached their division’s title game. (134/8) |
10 | REDLANDS E. VALLEY (12-1, SS-Inland) | Running back Chris Polk had all-star caliber season, but upset in semifinals was tough to swallow. (123/7) |
11 | SAUGUS (10-3, SS-Northern) | Centurions emerged as one of Southland’s most exciting teams behind junior RB Ryan Zirbel. (107/15T) |
12 | RIV. NORTH (13-1, SS-Eastern) | Second straight championship courtesy of big seasons by QB Jamar Calhoun, RB Cedric Foster. (106/12) |
13t | EDISON (8-4, SS-PAC-5) | Chargers, QB Nick Crissman bounced back impressively after embarrassing 42-14 loss to Mater Dei. (95/14) |
13t | ESPERANZA (10-2, SS-PAC-5) | Behind RBs Reid Williams and Jared Moore, Aztecs continued to show they could pound the ball. (95/15T) |
15 | COR. SANTIAGO(8-5, SS-Inland) | Sharks upset the balance of their division with big upsets in playoffs on way to the title game. (87/NR) |
16 | S.O. NOTRE DAME (8-3, SS-PAC-5) | Dayne Crist threw for 16 TDs, but without him, Knights couldn’t beat Newport Harbor in playoffs. (77/11) |
17 | EL DORADO (13-1, SS-Southwest) | Anthony Laurenzi had 23 sacks for the back-to-back division champions, who won 13 in a row. (68/18) |
18 | OAKS CHRISTIAN (11-3, SS-Northwest) | Even without last year’s horde of college prospects, Lions breezed to another section championship. (56/NR) |
19 | TESORO (7-4, SS-PAC-5) | Ended Mission Viejo’s seven-year domination of South Coast League, also beat San Clemente. (48/24) |
20 | CARSON(11-3,City) | Colts finished runners-up to Birmingham for City title under second-year Coach Mike Christensen. (43/NR) |
21 | ST. PAUL(10-4, SS-Western) | Unseeded division champs are perfect example that it’s how teams finish their seasons that counts. (37/NR) |
22 | NEWPORT HARBOR (8-4, SS-PAC-5) | In only second season in Sunset League, Sailors upset Los Alamitos and finish tied for second. (32/NR) |
23 | VISTA MURRIETA(11-1, SS-Inland) | Dual-threat QB Kavon Seaton seemed to have team of destiny until upset in quarterfinals by Santiago. (31/13) |
24 | CHAPARRAL (9-4, SS-Inland) | Sophomore RB Jonathan Diaz is one reason for division semifinalists to look forward to 2008. (13/NR) |
25 | NEWBURY PARK(11-2, SS-Northern) | In display of symmetry, Chris Brown ran for 24 TDs, Colby Cameron passed for 24 TDs. (12/NR) |
Others: Valencia, Dominguez, La Habra. Rankings are based on the votes of eight high school sports staff members. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24, etc. |
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