Defending Champion Mater Dei Ranked No. 1

Defending champion Mater Dei is top-ranked in Division I, according to the Southern Section’s preseason Top 10 football polls, which were released Monday.

The Monarchs open the season Sept. 11 at Central Section power Fresno Clovis West.

Other county teams ranked in Division I are No. 6 Esperanza, No. 7 Santa Margarita and No. 10 Los Alamitos.

In Division II, Mission Viejo is ranked third and San Clemente 10th.

The county is also well represented in Division VI with eight ranked teams, led by No. 2 Tustin. Brea Olinda, No. 2, is among nine county teams ranked in Division IX.

Southern Section Preseason Top 10 Polls

Division I--1. Mater Dei, 2. Bishop Amat, 3. Long Beach Poly, 4. Rialto Eisenhower, 5. L.A. Loyola, 6. Esperanza, 7. Santa Margarita, 8. Fontana Miller, 9. Lakewood, 10. Los Alamitos.

Division II-1. Diamond Bar, 2. Compton Dominguez, 3. Mission Viejo, 4. Upland, 5. Palos Verdes Peninsula, 6. Paramount, 7. Beverly Hills, 8. Chino, 9. La Verne Damien, 10. San Clemente.

Division VI--1. Lakewood Mayfair, 2. Tustin, 3. Villa Park, 4. La Mirada, 5. Newport Harbor, 6. Woodbridge, 7. Irvine, 8. Loara, 9. Foothill, 10. Cypress.

Division IX--1. La Verne Bonita, 2. Brea Olinda, 3. Costa Mesa, 4. Corona del Mar, 5. Fullerton, 6. Rancho Alamitos, 7. Santiago, 8. Western, 9. Pacifica, 10. Valencia.

Division XI--1. Santa Monica St. Monica, 2. L.A. Cathedral, 3. Cerritos Valley Christian, 4. Ojai Nordhoff, 5. Ventura St. Bonaventure, 6. Carpinteria, 7. Orange Lutheran, 8. Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World, 9. Calabasas, 10. L.A. Verbum Dei.

Division XIII--1. Redlands Arrowhead Christian Academy, 2. L.A. Brentwood, 3. Mammoth Lakes Mammoth, 4. Capistrano Valley Christian, 5. Anza Hamilton, 6. Fontana Ambassador Christian, 7. Downey Calvary Chapel, 8. Boron, 9. La Canada Flintridge Prep, 10. Colton Christian Center Academy.