THE TIMES’ TOP 25

The Times’ high school football rankings by Ben Bolch:

*--* Rk. Team (Rec., Sec.-Div.) Comment (Last week’s ranking) 1 CRENSHAW (10-0, City-Division I) Cougars hoped for Fairleigh Dickinson when told they would face a No. 16 seeding. (1) 2 EDISON (10-0, SS-Pac 5) If Chargers finish unbeaten, you could say it was a (Bill) Workman-like effort. (2) 3 OAKS CHRISTIAN (10-0, SS-Northwest) Tri-Valley League foes consider giving Bill Redell a rocking chair with a faulty leg as going-away present. (3) 4 SERVITE (9-1, SS-Pac-5) Friars’ playoff theme song should be “Hungry Like the Wolf,” which was big when they last won a section title in 1983. (4) 5 LAKEWOOD (9-1, SS-Pac-5) Lancers gear up for Newport Harbor by watching reruns of “The O.C.” (5) 6 MISSION VIEJO (10-0, SS-Pac 5) All Diablos need to know is: Moore League teams not named Long Beach Poly have gone 6-21 in playoffs since 2001. (6) 7 GARDENA SERRA (10-0, SS-Northwest) Thirteen wins won’t be enough for Cavaliers to become bowl-eligible. (7) 8 REDLANDS E. VALLEY (10-0, SS-Inland) Wildcats’ roar could be heard at Home Depot Center in late December if they win section title. (9) 9 BISHOP AMAT (9-1, SS-Pac 5) Rankings committee watches game from Lancers’ bandwagon since there’s no room in press box. (14) 10 ST. BONAVENTURE (9-1, SS-Northern) Channel League foes to Seraphs: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. (10) 11 VALENCIA (10-0, SS-Northern) Vikings fans have a man crush en masse on talented tailback Steven Manfro. (12) 12 NORCO (9-1, SS-Inland) Coach Todd Gerhart confirms dinner reservations for son Toby at Downtown Athletic Club. (13) 13 WESTLAKE (10-0, SS-Northern) Here’s saying that Warriors will ace Ventura test in first round. (23) 14 VISTA MURRIETA (10-0, SS-Inland) It doesn’t compute: The numbers crunchers at Calpreps.com have Broncos as fifth-highest-rated team in state. (19) 15 S.O. NOTRE DAME (8-2, SS-Pac 5) Coach Kevin Rooney would be an upgrade over Charlie Weis in South Bend. (11) 16 MOORPARK (9-1, SS-Northern) In case Musketeers aren’t heard from again, rankings com- mittee says good morning, good afternoon and good night. (8) 17 CARSON (8-2, City-Division I) Coach Mike Christensen rescinds demand for overhaul of playoff selection process given team’s cakewalk to semis. (17) 18 CORONA CENTENNIAL (8-2, SS-Inland) How the mighty have fallen: defending state champion Huskies not even seeded in playoff division. (18) 19 LOS ALAMITOS (8-2, SS-Pac 5) Question posed in Long Beach Poly’s defensive huddle Friday: “Hey, doesn’t their quarterback look familiar?” (20) 20 RANCHO VERDE (10-0, SS-Inland) Mustangs’ 51-0 rout of Canyon Springs is sponsored by Gordon Gekko. (22) 21 CHARTER OAK (9-1, SS-Southeast) Chargers’ bid for a section title is no Schurr thing. (24) 22 VENICE (9-1, City-Division I) Potential quarterfinal matchup against Los Angeles Jordan would be a doozy. (25) 23 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (8-2, SS-Pac-5) Three-and-out could describe Barons’ late-season slide if they lose in first round. (16) 24 DANA HILLS (8-2, SS-Pac-5) Internet TV crew should have pretended it lost signal during fourth quarter of blowout loss to Mission Viejo. (21) 25 ORANGE LUTHERAN (6-4, SS-Pac 5) Lancers’ postgame team huddle from Friday just broke up five minutes ago. (NR) *--*