The list of unbeaten Catholic high school football teams got thinner last weekend as the start of league play grew closer.
As expected, St. John Bosco (5-0) remained atop the heap with another impressive road win, 56-20 over Chaminade (ranked 10th in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 poll). With its chief Division 1 and Trinity League opponent, Mater Dei, idle last week, the Braves (No. 1 in D-1) maintained their hold on the No. 1 national ranking, as per Maxpreps’ “Xcellent 25” poll.
Another Trinity League power, J.Serra, also went to 5-0 with a 50-10 lacing of Faith Lutheran. The Lions (No. 7 in D-1) and Braves are both idle this week before tangling Sept. 28 in the league opener for both schools at Bellflower.
Also staying unbeaten was Mary Star of the Sea, now 4-0 after rallying to defeat South (Torrance) 23-19. Quarterback Kevin Costa ran for 72 yards and threw for 170 more and three touchdowns, two of them to Isaac Colloca.
But Servite, previously No. 8 in D-1, lost its first game, 28-24 to Villa Park. The Friars (3-1) will take on Mater Dei (4-1) in their Trinity League opener Sept. 28, one week after the Monarchs play national powerhouse IMG Academy of Bradenton (No. 1 in Maxpreps’ computer rankings) on Sept. 21 in Santa Ana.
Also falling from the unbeaten ranks last weekend after winning their first four were Cathedral and St. Paul, both losing to Catholic foes in higher-ranked divisions. The Phantoms (No. 6 in D-2 last week) fell 42-21 to Bishop Amat (of D-1), while the Swordsmen (No. 3 in D-5) were upended 34-27 by Paraclete (of D-3).
For other teams ranked in last week’s divisional top 10s, results were mixed. Serra (No. 9 in D-1) was edged 27-26 in double overtime by L.A. City power Narbonne, but Alemany (No. 8 in D-2) beat Downey 24-20, and St. Bonaventure (No. 8 in D-4) won a 39-36 thriller at Hart.
Also noteworthy: St. Monica (Santa Monica) made it two straight, 14-0 over Riverside Prep. Other Catholic school winners: St. Francis 17, Saugus 13; Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 56, San Fernando 7; Crespi 26, El Camino Real 23; Damien 38, Alta Loma 28; St. Anthony 31, Gahr 28; St. Genevieve 58, Taft 0; Verbum Dei 28, Centennial (Compton) 15; Bishop Montgomery 42, Morningside 28; Bishop Diego 28, Golden Valley 14; Don Bosco Tech 57, Jordan (L.A.) 43; St. Joseph (Santa Maria) 48, Centennial (Bakersfield) 28; and St. Pius X-St. Matthias 34, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 15.
Catholic teams besides Cantwell-Sacred Heart which had a tougher time of it included Loyola, losing 17-7 to Valencia; Santa Margarita, beaten 51-46 by Orem; Salesian, losing 49-25 to Harvard-Westlake 49; and La Salle, defeated 78-0 by Apple Valley.
In eight-man football, St. Michael’s Prep powered past Lutheran 60-6, and Villanova stopped Valley Christian 40-26.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of the Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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