With a few leagues starting their “it really counts now” season last weekend, the league seasons for most Catholic teams kicks into gear this weekend with several top-notch matchups. Catholic schools have been dominant in the football season so far, especially in the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division poll issued Oct. 6, with the Trinity and Mission Leagues both with ample representation.

This week’s action includes a major Trinity Leagues matchup with No. 1 Mater Dei (5-0 overall) at No. 2 St. John Bosco (4-1) in the Trinity League. The Monarchs, also a top-5 nationally ranked team according to Maxpreps, survived a tough game at Westlake last week, 28-27, while the Braves rebounded from their previous weekend’s loss at Las Vegas to Bishop Gorman and ran roughshod over Crenshaw, 65-7.

Other Trinity League games find No. 6 J.Serra (5-0) at No. 10 Santa Margarita (4-1), and No. 7 Servite (3-2) at Orange Lutheran (4-1).

Last week’s Mission League action saw Alemany outscore Chaminade, 55-38; Bishop Amat get past Serra, 14-7; and Crespi down Loyola, 35-13. Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks posted a thrilling non-league win over Oaks Christian, 37-31.

This week, it’s Serra (4-2) at Crespi (5-0, tied for 10th with Santa Margarita); Bishop Amat (3-3) at No. 3 Alemany (5-0); and Notre Dame (4-1) at No. 9 Chaminade (5-1).

Tidings Top 4

With the season half over, there has been a definite shift in The Tidings’ rankings:

1. Alemany enjoyed a record-breaking week in its shootout win over Chaminade. Quarterback Blake Green torched Chaminade’s secondary, with a school record 437 passing yards, and three touchdowns; wide receiver Brandon Pierce caught 5 passes for 167 yards; running back Dominic Davis scored 4 touchdowns on the ground with 71 yards, and caught 7 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Warriors have moved to 14th nationally in Maxpreps’ Freeman poll and 23rd in Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25 poll.

2. St. John Bosco the reigning state champion, has been 2013 good, holding opponents to under 14 points in four of their five games, while the offense has averaged almost 50 points a game. In its blowout of Crenshaw, quarterback Josh Rosen threw for 264 yards and 5 touchdowns, 3 to Joey Chenoweth who gained 119 yards receiving. Throughout the season, Rosen has been exceptional, throwing for 1,260 yards with 17 touchdowns. Running back Sean McGrew has racked 718 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. This weekend’s game against Mater Dei could decide who wins the Trinity League title, but plenty of tough foes remain ahead.

3. Chaminade lost to Alemany, but maintained its high-scoring attack (43 points a game) led by quarterback Edward Sias (1,390 passing yards, 10 touchdowns) and running back Okalani Taufahema-Langi (605 yards, 10 touchdowns). In a quest to defend their own state title, the Eagles still have four key league games, starting with Notre Dame (Oct. 10), then Bishop Amat (Oct. 17), Crespi (Oct. 24), and Serra (Oct. 31).

4. Crespi opened its Mission League season 2-0, starting with an overtime victory over Bishop Amat. A gutsy call for a 2-point conversion paid off, giving the Celts (24th nationally) a 32-31 victory. Last week, in beating Loyola, Crespi’s double-barrel running attack featured Jalen Starks (112 yards and a touchdown) and Torrance Brumfield (104 yards, two touchdowns). The Celts’ tough remaining league schedule includes Serra (Oct. 10), Chaminade (Oct. 24) and Alemany (Nov. 7).

Last week’s other results:

Frontier League: Malibu 17, Santa Clara 0.

Condor League: Thacher 50, Villanova 10.

Non-League: Mater Dei 28, Westlake 27; St. Francis 45, Calabasas 7; St. Anthony 17, Valley Christian 14; St. Bernard 34, Mary Star 20; Cantwell Sacred Heart 45, Don Bosco Tech 0; Cathedral 36, Verbum Dei 0; St. Bonaventure 56, Garces 0; Bishop Diego 31, Mission Prep/San Luis Obispo 14; Ayala 17, Damien 13; St. Joseph/Santa Maria 63, Santa Maria 0; Carpinteria 21, St. Monica 7; Poly/Pasadena 43, St. Genevieve 24; Paraclete 40, Bishop 14.

Upcoming games (all Oct. 10, except as noted):

Mission League: Serra at Crespi; Bishop Amat at Alemany; Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks at Chaminade.

Trinity League: Mater Dei at St. John Bosco; J.Serra at Santa Margarita; Servite at Orange Lutheran.

Angelus League: St. Francis at Harvard-Westlake; St. Paul at La Salle; Cathedral vs. Salesian at Southwest College.

Los Padres League: St. Joseph/Santa Maria at Pioneer Valley.

Baseline League: Damien at Upland.

Santa Fe League: St. Genevieve at St. Anthony; Mary Star at St. Monica (Oct. 11).

Frontier League: Grace Brethren at Santa Clara.

Condor League: Villanova at Orcutt Academy.

Non-League: Bishop Montgomery at Don Bosco Tech; Animo (L.A.) at Cantwell Sacred Heart; St. Bonaventure at Camarillo; View Park at Bishop Diego; St. Bernard at Brentwood; Verbum Dei at Oak Park; Paraclete at Westlake.

CIF-SS Rankings (as of Oct. 6):

Pac-5: Mater Dei (1), St. John Bosco (2), Alemany (3), J.Serra (6), Servite (7), Chaminade (9), Santa Margarita and Crespi (10). Honorable mentions: Bishop Amat, Notre Dame.

Southeast: St. Francis (1), Cathedral (4), Salesian (7).

Mid-Valley: Paraclete (2).

East Valley: St. Anthony (5), St. Genevieve (10).

Northern: Bishop Diego (6).

National Polls (as of Oct. 6):

Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25: Mater Dei (6), St. John Bosco (10), Alemany (23).

Maxpreps’ Freeman: Mater Dei (5), St. John Bosco (8), Alemany (14), J.Serra (16), Crespi (24), Servite (25).

BY JACOB SCOTT AND MIKE NELSON