THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

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

*--* Rk. Team (Rec., Sec.-Div.) Comment and last ranking 1 MISSION VIEJO (6-0, SS-Div. II) Tough part of regular-season schedule is over. (1) 2 MATER DEI (5-1, SS-Div. I) A 7-6 squeaker over Santa Margarita in Serra League opener. (2) 3 EDISON (5-1, SS-Div. I) Back to basics in rout of unbeaten Huntington Beach. (3) 4 S.O. NOTRE DAME (6-0, SS-Div. II) Scored on all eight first-half possessions vs. Harvard-Westlake. (4) 5 L.B. POLY (5-1, SS-Div. I) Jackrabbits scored 109 points the last two games. (5) 6 LOS ALAMITOS (5-1, SS-Div. I) Jim Barnes fired five touchdown passes against Marina. (6) 7 LAKEWOOD (6-0, SS-Div. I) Outscored last two opponents, 130-0. (7) 8 ST. BONAVENTURE (5-1, SS-Div. IV) Unimpressive against winless San Marcos. (8) 9 HART (4-2, SS-Div. II) Gained 526 yards, atypical 310 on the ground against Saugus. (9) 10 LOYOLA (5-1, SS-Div. I) Held off fourth-quarter rally to beat Bishop Amat, 17-14. (10) 11 ORANGE LUTH. (5-1, SS-Div. VI) Hasn’t given up more than seven points since Week 1 loss to Mater Dei. (11) 12 DORSEY (5-1, City) Johnson & Johnson made short work of Manual Arts. (13) 13 VALENCIA (5-1, SS-Div. II) Shane Vereen rushed for four touchdowns against Burbank Burroughs. (14) 14 COR. CENTENNIAL (5-1, SS-Div. V) A rarity: Huskies’ defense matched offense in rout of Norco. (20) 15 PALMDALE (4-2, SS-Div. III) Littlerock should be little challenge. (16) 16 CRENSHAW (5-1, City) Had too much speed for Fremont to handle. (18) 17 TAFT (5-1, City) Jamere Holland ignited 47-7 victory over El Camino Real. (19) 18 NORCO (5-1, SS-Div. V) Healthy Toby Gerhart might not have helped in loss to Centennial. (12) 19 PLAC. VALENCIA (6-0, SS-Div. VI) Rylon Thomas scored five times against Cypress. (23) 20 C.C. CANYON (6-0, SS-Div. II) Beat Burbank, 50-23, after trailing at halftime. (21) 21 BIRMINGHAM (3-3, City) Two touchdowns in first two running plays against Chatsworth. (22) 22 FULLERTON (6-0, SS-Div. IX) Six players reached end zone against Buena Park. (24) 23 BISHOP AMAT (3-3, SS-Div. I) Next opponent, Santa Margarita, lost to Mater Dei by one. (15) 24 SAN CLEMENTE (5-1, SS-Div. II) Has scored fewer than 31 only once, against Edison. (NR) 25 VILLA PARK (5-1, SS-Div. VI) Only loss is to division-rival Placentia Valencia. (NR)

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