THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

A LOOK AT THE TOP 25 FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE SOUTHLAND AS RANKED BY TIMES STAFF WRITERS:

*--* Rk School (Rec., Sec.-Div.) Comment and last ranking 1 MISSION VIEJO (4-0, SS-Div. II) Outscored L.B. Poly, Los Alamitos, 96-35. (1) 2 LOYOLA (4-0, SS-Div. I) Defense should be Hart-stopping. (4) 3 MATER DEI (3-1, SS-Div. I) That 14-7 loss to Mission Viejo looks very good. (6) 4 EDISON (4-1, SS-Div. I) Had Mater Dei in cross hairs, missed shot. (3) 5 S.O. NOTRE DAME (4-0, SS-Div. II) Facing one of Southland’s hottest teams, Valencia. (5) 6 L.B. POLY (3-1, SS-Div. I) Couldn’t match up physically with Mission Viejo. (2) 7 LOS ALAMITOS (3-1, SS-Div. I) Outscored last two opponents, 84-7; Carson next. (7) 8 LAKEWOOD (4-0, SS-Div. I) Wishing it played L.B. Poly this week for Moore title. (8) 9 VALENCIA (4-0, SS-Div. II) Defense has been overshadowed by offense all season. (9) 10 ST. BONAVENTURE (4-1, SS-Div. IV) After loss to Lakewood, barely beat Crespi. (10) 11 ORANGE LUTHERAN (3-1, SS-Div. VI) In search of a QB, Aaron Corp was 14 for 18 for 167 yards. (12) 12 NORCO (4-0, SS-Div. V) Toby Gerhart has nine TDs in two games. (13) 13 NARBONNE (4-0, City) Gauchos need to be better this week against Taft. (17) 14 DORSEY (3-1, City) Provide another stellar foe for Birmingham. (18) 15 BIRMINGHAM (2-2, City) Beat Hart, only losses to Notre Dame, Valencia. (NR) 16 HART (2-2, SS-Div. II) Furious comeback falls short against Birmingham. (11) 17 BISHOP AMAT (3-2, SS-Div. I) Idle this week before Serra League opener vs. Loyola. (19) 18 PALMDALE (2-2, SS-Div. III) At full strength, Falcons can fly with the best. (NR) 19 ESPERANZA (4-1, SS-Div. I) One bad half doesn’t warrant rankings banishment. (14) 20 CRENSHAW (3-1, City) Westchester win was the calm before storm. (20) 21 TAFT (3-1, City) Josh Portis’ five TD passes throttle L.A. University. (21) 22 C.C. CANYON (4-0, SS-Div. II) Has allowed 30 or more points in three games. (22) 23 PLAC. VALENCIA (4-0, SS-Div. VI) There’s a second Valencia on the landscape. (NR) 24 FULLERTON (4-0, SS-Div. IX) Avoided letdown after win over St. John Bosco. (23) 25 NEWPORT HARBOR (4-0, SS-Div. VI) Mira Costa showdown loses luster with Mustang loss. (25)

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