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

(3-0, City-Division I)

Deprived of fractured ring finger, receiver Geno Hall proudly holds index finger aloft to denote Cougars’ ranking. (1)

2

SERVITE

(3-0, SS-Pac-5)

Who’s the boss? Troy Thomas finally gets the best of former apprentice Jeremiah Ross. (2)

3

ST. BONAVENTURE

(3-0, SS-Northern)

Los Angeles Jordan couldn’t find many weaknesses to attack in Seraphs’ defense. (3)

4

OAKS CHRISTIAN

(3-0, SS-Northwest)

Steve Sarkisian scraps plans to have lunch with Nick Montana and a reporter during Lions’ trip to Seattle area. (4)

5

LAKEWOOD

(2-1, SS-Pac-5)

Considering developments in Long Beach, Moore League play could be easiest part of Lancers’ schedule. (5)

6

EDISON

(3-0, SS-Pac 5)

Fresh off record 486-yard game, quarterback Matt Viles switches focus to upstaging Tommy Grady’s college career. (6)

7

RANCHO CUCAMONGA

(3-0, SS-Central)

Rankings committee thinks both teams should have to forfeit if game against Charter Oak ends in another tie. (7)

8

ORANGE LUTHERAN

(1-1, SS-Pac 5)

Victory over Tustin could come with big loss after Garret Gilliland suffers ankle injury. (8)

9

GARDENA SERRA

(3-0, SS-Northwest)

Let’s dispense with the formalities and let Cavaliers fast-forward to section title game against Oaks Christian. (10)

10

MOORPARK

(2-0, SS-Northern)

Coach Tim Lins adds Carson to schedule, as in the Home Depot Center for a state championship bowl game. (11)

11

LOS ALAMITOS

(2-0, SS-Pac 5)

This could be rare instance when Griffins would rather play Long Beach Poly (1-2) than Long Beach Wilson (2-1). (14)

12

MISSION VIEJO

(3-0, SS-Pac 5)

“X” marks the spot defenses can’t seem to hit when trying to stop Diablos running back Xavier Edwards. (16)

13

S.O. NOTRE DAME

(2-1, SS-Pac 5)

Knights left Taft feeling bogged down after unveiling a running game to complement Air Kasdorf. (17)

14

MATER DEI

(2-1, SS-Pac 5)

Rankings committee decided having Monarchs and Long Beach Poly unranked just seemed too weird. (NR)

15

CORONA CENTENNIAL

(1-1, SS-Inland)

You can’t win them all, though Huskies had made it seem otherwise since December 2007. (9)

16

CHAPARRAL

(1-1, SS-Inland)

Unless Pumas upset Servite in two weeks, they might have to go to Pechanga to hit it big. (12)

17

CRESPI

(2-1, SS-Pac 5)

If it’s any consolation, Celts avoided a 3-and-uh-oh start that last year resulted in missing playoffs. (15)

18

TAFT

(1-1, City-Division I)

Gardena Serra will probably claim if it loses to Toreadors in a few weeks that it was because Taft got Lucky (Radley). (13)

19

VALENCIA

(2-0, SS-Northern)

Only way Vikings lose to Palmdale is if passing through Sleepy Valley on way to game has lingering effect. (19)

20

REDLANDS E. VALLEY

(2-0, SS-Inland)

It might not be a down year for Inland Empire after all if Wildcats can outlast Orange Lutheran. (21)

21

CHARTER OAK

(3-0, SS-Southeast)

Chargers decide against wearing ties to school on day of Rancho Cucamonga game. (22)

22

CARSON

(2-1, City-Division I)

Colts hope to avoid the agony of defeat during trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex. (18)

23

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

(3-0, SS-Pac-5)

Temescal Canyon offered few hurdles for sprinter Kyle Middlebrooks during Barons’ lopsided victory. (23)

24

NORCO

(1-1, SS-Inland)

Cougars will learn against La Quinta if country boys can survive against a team from the desert. (24)

25

NEWPORT HARBOR

(2-0, SS-Pac 5)

Rivalry with Corona del Mar should be dubbed “Battle for the Beach Ball.” (NR)