HIGH SCHOOLS

BEN BOLCH’S PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

*--* Rk. Team (2008 Record, Div.) Comment 1 LONG BEACH POLY (14-1, SS-Pac-5) Putting Jackrabbits atop preseason rankings about as adventurous as predicting cold in Alaska in January. 2 OAKS CHRISTIAN (14-0, SS-Northwest) Lions playing a legitimate nonleague opponent in Sammamish (Wash.) Skyline on Sept. 18. 3 LAKEWOOD (6-7, SS-Pac-5) Even without troubled tailback Jerry Stone, Lancers are so loaded that even their water boy runs 4.4 in the 40. 4 ST. BONAVENTURE (14-1, SS-Northern) Coach Todd Therrien should loan counterpart Bill Redell his copy of Nonleague Scheduling for Dummies. 5 SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (11-1, SS-Pac 5) Quarterback Ryan Kasdorf searching for a couple of playoff victories to go with all those passing yards. 6 ORANGE LUTHERAN (10-3, SS-Pac 5) Lancers may try to lug Horseshoe back to California for good luck in Trinity League play. 7 CHAPARRAL (12-2, SS-Inland) Quarterback Mitch Glassman’s throwing motion doesn’t look so funny when the ball hits its target. 8 TESORO (13-1, SS-Pac 5) Titans will have about as much luck sneaking up on people now as one of their 300-pound linemen. 9 CRENSHAW (9-3, City) Opener vs. Lakewood sounds like a Bruce Lee flick: Cougars’ “Black Mamba” vs. Lancers’ “Black Dragon.” 10 SERVITE (7-4, SS-Pac-5) It could be back to reality in a hurry for QB Cody Fajardo when he faces Long Beach Poly’s secondary. 11 EDISON (7-3, SS-Pac 5) Sunset League foes should expect to tip their hats to Chargers this year. 12 MATER DEI (8-4, SS-Pac-5) Jose Lima was still a Dodger the last time the Monarchs went into a season without Matt Barkley. 13 RANCHO CUCAMONGA (13-0-1, SS-Central) Cougars are not fit to be tied -- or beaten -- with so much talent returning on offense. 14 LOYOLA (6-5, SS-Pac 5) After squeaking into postseason last year, the Barr is set higher for Cubs in 2009. 15 GARDENA SERRA (13-1, SS-Northwest) Addition of receiver Paul Richardson could signal transfer of power in Cavaliers’ division. 16 TAFT (11-2, City) D.J. Morgan has entered into negotiations with studio executives to star in remake of “The Running Man.” 17 LOS ALAMITOS (8-3, SS-Pac 5) It’s not like Griffins ever have to rely on having their name drawn out of a hat to make playoffs. Oh, wait 18 CORONA CENTENNIAL (15-0, SS-Inland) “Rebuilding” for the Huskies probably means losing a game or two. 19 CRESPI (6-4, SS-Pac 5) Celts fans take to missing playoffs about as well as USC fans do to getting left out of BCS title game. 20 MISSION VIEJO (10-2, SS-Pac 5) Diablos not favored to win the South Coast League for first time since the Internet was new and exciting. 21 MOORPARK (12-2, SS-Northern) Fabio of “Top Chef” should spring for dinner at Cafe Firenze if Musketeers beat St. Bonaventure in playoffs. 22 NORCO (8-5, SS-Inland) Rankings committee seeking to patent phrase “Gerhart tough” in honor of Cougars coach and his family. 23 VALENCIA (10-3, SS-Northern) Opener provides Vikings a Thousand (Oaks) reasons to try and avoid losing first game for two straight years. 24 REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (10-2, SS-Inland) Will Wildcats pile up victories only to once again end up on postseason scrap heap? 25 CHARTER OAK (SS-Southeast, 13-0-1) Someone has to lose when Chargers play host to Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 25. Or maybe not. *--*