It’s more of the same in the top division of the CIF-Southern Section, according to divisional polls released Sept. 30.
But in Division 14, St. Pius X-St. Matthias is the new No. 1, its first such ranking in memory, after the unbeaten (4-0) Warriors won 48-24 over Trinity Classical Academy last week. Another resurgent D-14 team, the St. Monica Mariners (6-0), rose from fourth to third, with Mary Star of the Sea ninth.
Meanwhile, Mater Dei, St. John Bosco (idle last week), J.Serra and Serra of Gardena are once again ranked first, second, fifth and sixth in the combined Divisions 1 & 2 survey. Servite, however, moved into eighth after beating former No. 10 Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks which fell out of the top ten.
In Division 3, undefeated Bishop Alemany (idle last week) went down one spot to third, while Cathedral and Paraclete switched places, with the Phantoms now ninth and the Spirits tenth. Loyola edged upward to sixth from seventh in D-4, with Damien still tenth.
More movement took place in D-5, as St. Paul rose from sixth to fifth and St. Bonaventure re-entered the top ten at No.8. Those receiving votes in their respective divisions, but just outside the top ten, include St. Francis (D-3), Bishop Diego (D-5), Crespi (D-6), La Salle and St. Anthony (D-9), and St. Bernard (D-13).
Nationally, Mater Dei (4-0) remained No. 1 team in Maxpreps’ composite rankings, followed by St. John Bosco (5-0), with both teams playing Trinity League openers Oct. 4 — the Monarchs hosting Orange Lutheran, and the Braves at Servite. J.Serra (4-1) hosts Santa Margarita (3-2) in the other Trinity League contest.
In Mission League openers Oct. 4, Alemany (5-0) hosts Bishop Amat (4-1), Notre Dame (4-1) is at Chaminade (2-3), and Serra (4-1) is at Loyola (2-3). Del Rey League openers Oct. 4 find St. Paul (4-2) at La Salle (4-1) and Harvard-Westlake (2-4) at St. Anthony (2-4), with St. Genevieve (3-2) at Agoura in a non-conference game.
Other league openers on Oct. 4 include St. Bonaventure (4-2) hosting Newbury Park (Marmonte), Bishop Diego (3-2) at Grace Brethren (Camino), and Damien (3-2) at Upland (Baseline).
The rest of this week’s schedule:
October 3: Cathedral at La Mirada.
October 4: Mayfair at St. Francis; Sierra Canyon at Crespi; Paraclete at Righetti; St. Pius X-St. Matthias at Cerritos; Don Bosco Tech at Cantwell Sacred Heart; Brentwood at St. Bernard.
October 5: Bishop Montgomery at Saddleback Valley Christian.
Eight-Man Football: Brethren Christian at St. Michael’s Prep (Express League, Oct. 3); Hesperia Christian at Villanova Prep (Oct. 4).
Idle: St. Monica (Santa Monica), Mary Star of the Sea, Verbum Dei, Salesian, Santa Clara.
