No, Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco isn’t the only high school football game in town this weekend, though No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns don’t happen that often — like, whenever these two Trinity League titans get together.
There are, in fact, plenty of important games this week outside of Bellflower that have a bearing on league championships and divisional seedings for the playoffs that begin in two weeks.
And yet it’s hard to keep your eyes off of the clash Oct. 25 at Parish Family Stadium between Mater Dei (the local and national No. 1) and St. John Bosco (ditto, No. 2). These teams have been the key combatants for the last three years, with one or the other emerging victorious with CIF-Southern Section, state and national titles.
Awaiting their battle, the Monarchs and Braves were again ranked one-two in the CIF-Southern Section Divisions 1 & 2 football poll issued Oct. 21. Servite and J.Serra swapped positions five and six (the Friars moved ahead of the Lions after their win last week), and Bishop Amat is still eighth.
In Division 3, Alemany is third and Paraclete ninth and tenth. Loyola is sixth in D-4; St. Paul fifth and St. Bonaventure tenth (down from seventh) in D-5; and unbeaten St. Pius X-St. Matthias continues as No. 1 in D-14, with Mary Star up from tenth to sixth, and St. Monica of Santa Monica down from third to eighth after the Stars beat the Mariners last week.
Key non-Bellflower-related contests this week include Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks at Bishop Amat (Mission League), Cathedral at Crespi (Angelus League), St. Anthony at St. Paul (Del Rey League), and Cantwell Sacred Heart at Mary Star (Camino Real League). In each case, the winner has the inside track to the league title, heading into the final week of the regular season.
This week’s games (overall and league records in parentheses):
Trinity: Mater Dei (8-0, 3-0) at St. John Bosco (8-0, 3-0), Servite (5-3, 1-2) at Santa Margarita (3-5, 0-3), Orange Lutheran (4-4, 1-2) at J.Serra (5-3, 1-2).
Mission: Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks (6-2, 2-1) at Bishop Amat (7-1, 3-0), Chaminade (3-5, 1-2) at Loyola (3-4, 1-2), Serra (4-4, 0-3) at Alemany (6-1, 1-2).
Angelus: Cathedral (4-4, 1-0) at Crespi (5-3, 1-0), St. Francis (6-2, 0-1) at Salesian (1-7, 0-1).
Del Rey: St. Anthony (5-4, 3-0) at St. Paul (6-2, 2-0), St. Genevieve (4-4, 0-2) at La Salle (5-3, 0-2).
Camino Real: Cantwell-Sacred Heart (6-2, 1-0) at Mary Star (7-1, 1-0), St. Monica (6-1, 0-1) at Bishop Montgomery (1-7, 0-1).
Santa Fe: Verbum Dei (2-6, 1-0) at St. Pius X-St. Matthias (7-0, 1-0), Don Bosco Tech (1-7, 0-1) at St. Bernard (3-4, 1-7).
Baseline: Damien (4-4, 1-2) at Etiwanda (5-3, 2-1).
Camino League: Bishop Diego (3-5, 0-2) at Moorpark.
Eight-Man: Avalon (4-3) at St. Michael’s (6-2), Villanova (3-2) at Thacher, Santa Clara (3-1) at Lancaster Baptist..
Idle: St. Bonaventure (5-4, 1-2 in Marmonte League), Paraclete (6-3).
