There were few surprises among the top-rated teams in Division 1 on opening week of the 2018 high school football season, especially among the powerful Trinity League schools.
Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section poll, rolled over Bishop Amat 42-14, led by running backs Shakobe Harper and Sean Dollars, who combined for 281 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Mater Dei travels to Las Vegas this week to play Bishop Gorman.
No. 2 St. John Bosco, playing in its brand new Parish Family Stadium, blanked Timpview of Utah 49-0, as its defense intercepted four passes while its multifaceted offense ran and passed at will.
No. 8 Santa Margarita buried Downey 59-21; No. 9 J.Serra raced past Corona del Mar 49-7; and unranked Servite defeated Bakersfield 17-7.
No. 5 Chaminade, however, lost 31-13 to Oaks Christian. Alemany, the Eagles’ Mission League rival and No. 5 in Division 2, powered past San Fernando 43-0. Serra, Loyola and Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks begin their seasons this week.
Among other ranked Catholic teams, Cathedral (No. 6 in D-2) topped Banning 41-14; Paraclete (No. 2 in D-3) was edged by Higley in a 48-47 thriller; Bishop Diego (No. 3 in D-4) breezed past Cabrillo 42-0; and Crespi (No. 10 in D-4) downed Sylmar 42-0.
La Salle, No. 5 in D-7, was beaten 64-0 by Arcadia; St. Genevieve, No. 9 in D-10, coasted over Poly 55-0; and Santa Clara, third in D-13, was beaten by Santa Clarita Christian 28-14.
Other Catholic school winners on opening week included St. Bonaventure, 48-7 over El Camino Real 7; St. Paul, 38-0 over Venice; Don Bosco Tech, 35-20 over Mendez; St. Joseph of Santa Maria, 42-7 over Central Valley Christian; and St. Bernard, 17-9 over Salesian.
In other games: Glendora 41, Damien 28; Nogales 42, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 16; Valencia 24, St. Anthony 0; Arrowhead Christian 16, Verbum Dei 14; and Capistrano Valley 19, St. Monica 13 in overtime.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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