A plethora of intensely-fought league games played last weekend, with local Catholic teams were right in the thick of things.

Highlighting the results was St. John Bosco’s 28-25 win over Mater Dei in their Trinity League opener, with the Braves holding on to win after leading 21-10 at the half. The win was not secure until Mater Dei fumbled for the third time with 1:48 remaining in the game. Quarterback Josh Rosen passed for 212 yards, Kaylin Franklin caught six passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, and Sean McGrew rushed for 123 yards and one touchdown.

St. John Bosco thus switched places with Mater Dei in a number of polls (local and national), while fellow Trinity Leaguer Servite of Anaheim moved into the top 25 nationally, having lost only to the country’s No. 1 and 2 teams (Bishop Gorman and De La Salle).

In a Mission League surprise, Bishop Amat outscored Alemany 47-20 at Mission Hills, as the Lancers’ secondary grabbed two interceptions, the special teams blocked a punt, and running back Torreahno Sweet gained 93 yards and three touchdowns.

Further turning the Mission League upside down were Serra/Gardena, which edged previously unbeaten Crespi, and Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks, which toppled Chaminade. The result is a three-way tie for first among Bishop Amat, Serra and Crespi at 2-1, with Alemany and Notre Dame 1-1, Chaminade 1-2 and idle Loyola 0-2. The league title is far from settled.

St. Francis and Bishop Garcia Diego remained unbeaten with victories last weekend

Last week’s other results:

Trinity League: J.Serra 35, Santa Margarita 28; Servite 28, Orange Lutheran 25.

Angelus League: St. Francis 21, Harvard-Westlake 7; St. Paul 28, La Salle 21; Cathedral 58, Salesian 20.

Los Padres League: St. Joseph/Santa Maria 22, Pioneer Valley 17.

Baseline League: Upland 44, Damien 14.

Santa Fe League: St. Anthony 39, St. Genevieve 19; St. Monica 34, Mary Star 15.

Frontier League: Grace Brethren 39, Santa Clara 3.

Condor League: Orcutt Academy 66, Villanova 15.

Non-League: Bishop Montgomery 49, Don Bosco Tech 0; Cantwell Sacred Heart 70, Animo 0; St. Bonaventure 28, Camarillo 10; Bishop Diego 37, View Park 6; Brentwood 49, St. Bernard 24; Verbum Dei 47, Oak Park 22; Westlake 52, Paraclete 3.

Tidings Top 4

There was another shakeup in The Tidings’ rankings of teams from the Los Angeles Archdiocese:

1. St. John Bosco (5-1) jumps back up to the top spot, handing Mater Dei its first loss of the season. The Braves travel to Orange Coast College this Friday (Oct. 17) to take on unbeaten J.Serra in another tough league game.

2. Bishop Amat (4-3) jumps into the rankings, after handing Alemany (last week’s No. 1) its first loss of the season. After knocking off both Serra (Gardena) and Alemany in back-to-back weeks, Amat has vaulted into the Mission League lead, heading into league games against Chaminade (Oct. 17), Loyola and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).

3. Alemany (5-1) dropped down from its previous top spot. The Warriors have an away game Oct. 17 against Loyola, and need to play virtually mistake-free football for the rest of the season.

4. Serra (Gardena) (5-2) debuts in the rankings, after defeating Crespi 21-20 when the Celts missed a potential game-tying extra point with 29 seconds left. The Cavaliers, who overcame a 14-7 Crespi lead with two fourth quarter scores, have a week off to prepare for their Oct. 24 game at Alemany. 

Honorable Mentions: Crespi (5-1), which takes on Notre Dame Oct. 17, and Chaminade (5-2), which lost to Notre Dame last week, 41-38, and travels to La Puente to take on Bishop Amat this week.

Upcoming games (all Oct. 17, except as noted):

Mission League: Crespi at Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks; Bishop Amat at Chaminade; Alemany vs. Loyola at L.A. Valley College.

Trinity League: Mater Dei at Servite; J.Serra at St. John Bosco (Oct. 16); Orange Lutheran at Santa Margarita.

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

Baseline League: Etiwanda at Damien.

Santa Fe League: Mary Star at St. Genevieve (Oct. 18); St. Monica at Don Bosco Tech.

Frontier League: Santa Clara at Santa Paula.

Condor League: Villanova at Orcutt Academy.

Non-League: Bishop Montgomery at St. Anthony; Carpinteria at Cantwell Sacred Heart; Agoura at Verbum Dei; Bishop Diego at Immanuel.

CIF-SS Division Rankings (as of Oct. 13):

Pac-5: St. John Bosco (1), Mater Dei (2), J.Serra (5), Servite (6), Bishop Amat (8), Alemany (9), Santa Margarita (10). Honorable mentions: Crespi, Notre Dame, Serra/Gardena.

Southeast: St. Francis (1), Cathedral (3). Honorable mention: St. Paul.

Mid-Valley: Paraclete (3).

East Valley: St. Anthony (5).

Northern: Bishop Diego (4).

Northwest: St. Honorable mention: Cantwell-Sacred Heart.

National Polls (as of Oct. 13):

Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25: St. John Bosco (7), Mater Dei (11), Servite (25).

Maxpreps’ California/So Cal, Division 1: St. John Bosco (1), Mater Dei (2), J.Serra (3), Servite (5), Bishop Amat (6), Crespi (7) Alemany (9), Serra (10).

Division 2: St. Francis (5), Cathedral (10).

Division 4: Bishop Diego (4).

BY JACOB SCOTT AND MIKE NELSON