Play, win, repeat.

For the third straight week, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are ranked one-two in the CIF-Southern Section combined Divisions 1 and 2 poll issued Sept. 3, after both again posted impressive wins last weekend.

J.Serra, despite a loss last week, remains fourth, and Serra of Gardena is still tenth in the D-1 & 2 poll. Idle Alemany is still fourth in D-3, but Cathedral dropped from eighth to tenth after a loss.

Loyola remains seventh in D-4; St. Paul dipped from sixth to seventh, and St. Bonaventure from eighth to tenth in D-5; St. Bernard rose from ninth to eighth in D-13; and Mary Star of the Sea is still seventh in D-14.

Among those receiving votes in their respective divisions, but just outside the top ten, were St. Francis (D-3), Damien (D-4), Crespi (D-6) and St. Anthony (D-9).

In Maxpreps’ national rankings, there was some movement in one of its polls. While Mater Dei and St. John Bosco were again one-three in the Xcellent Top 25, St. John Bosco was second and Mater Dei third in the Freeman computer rankings, with St. Frances Academy of Baltimore on top (and second in the Xcellent poll). 

This week’s games mark the first of the annual month-long “Touchdowns Against Cancer” contests, inviting fans of participating schools to make monetary contributions based on how many touchdowns their teams score in those designated games. Proceeds benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

The schedule for this weekend:

September 6: Mater Dei at Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.); St. John Bosco vs. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) at Las Vegas; Santa Margarita at Cherry Creek (Colorado); Bishop Amat at J.Serra; Carson at Cathedral; Alemany at Dorsey; Loyola at St. Augustine (San Diego); Chaminade at Birmingham; Serra (Gardena) at Calabasas; Damien at St. Francis; Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) at Moorpark; Legacy (North Las Vegas) at Paraclete; Narbonne at St. Paul; Crespi at Harvard-Westlake; St. Anthony at Palm Springs; Bishop Montgomery at St. Pius X-St. Matthias; La Salle at Santa Paula; St. Genevieve at Salesian; Verbum Dei at Maranatha; Cantwell Sacred Heart at Whittier Christian; St. Monica (Santa Monica) at Village Christian; Highland at St. Bonaventure; Bishop Diego at Lompoc; St. Bernard at Westchester.

September 7: Servite at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas); Mary Star.of the Sea at Fairmont Prep.

Eight-Man Football: St. Joseph Academy at St. Michael’s Prep (Sept. 5); Beacon Hill at Santa Clara (Sept. 6); Trona at Villanova (Sept. 6). 

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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