Final rankings

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.

*--* 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) *--*