ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: Mission Viejo was third in the preseason rankings but moves up to No. 2 in the first poll after a 35-7 win over Santa Margarita. … JSerra gets a three-position bump after beating Sierra Canyon 35-7. … El Modena rises three positions, too, after a 41-34 win at Thousand Oaks. … Los Alamitos moves up one spot from after a 71-0 win over Western.
1. Mater Dei 1-0 (75 points)
The Monarchs, who are No. 1 in all sorts of national rankings, looked shaky at times by their high standards and great at other times in their 42-25 win over Corona Centennial. Junior defensive lineman Tomuhuni Topui was in on six tackles, had two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a blocked punt and ran it in 7 yards for a touchdown.
Previous ranking: 1
Mater Dei defensive lineman Tomu Topui takes the ball in for a touchdown after picking up a blocked punt by Centennial in Santa Ana on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
2. Mission Viejo 2-0 (72)
Jeron Jones had two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, and Brock deFries also scored on an interception return in the Diablos’ 35-7 win over Santa Margarita.
Previous ranking: 3
3. JSerra 1-0 (69)
Junior quarterback Ryan Hopkins made his first start a great one, rushing for two touchdowns and passing for 209 yards and a touchdown. Sawyer Thomson contributed two interceptions in the Lions’ 35-7 win over Sierra Canyon, which was ranked No. 4 in the state going into the game.
Previous ranking: 5
4. Orange Lutheran 1-0 (67)
Lancers senior quarterback TJ Lateef threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and Jae Nembhard filled in admirably at running back in a 21-16 win over Gardena Serra.
Previous ranking: 2
5. Servite 1-0 (62)
Leo Hannan completed 14 of 16 passes including five touchdowns and Devan Parker had five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in a 45-0 win over Salt Lake City East.
Previous ranking: 6
6. Santa Margarita 0-1 (60)
The Eagles could not get their offense going against a rugged Mission Viejo defense in a 35-7 loss. Junior receiver Trent Mosley was their top offensive threat with nine receptions for 110 yards.
Previous ranking: 4
7. Los Alamitos 1-0 (58)
Lenny Ibarra scored three touchdowns, including an 82-yard kickoff return, and Jerod Terry scored three touchdowns in the Griffins’ remarkably one-sided 71-0 win over Western.
Previous ranking: 8
8. San Clemente 0-1 (54)
The Tritons lost a close one on the road to Chaparral of Temecula 17-16 as they got little production out of their running game, rushing for only 45 yards on 19 attempts.
Previous ranking: 7
9. Edison 0-1 (50)
The Chargers lost a tough one on the road, 29-28 to Clovis West of Fresno, and have another challenging away game Friday against No. 13 Yorba Linda.
Previous ranking: 10
10. Tustin 1-0 (49)
Tillers senior running back Eimesse Essis, who averaged 145 rushing yards a game last season, ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-6 victory over El Toro,
Previous ranking: 9
11T. Crean Lutheran 1-0 (43)
Previous ranking: 11
11T. San Juan Hills 1-0 (43)
Previous ranking: 12
13. Yorba Linda 1-0 (39)
Previous ranking: 13
14. Corona del Mar 1-0 (36)
Previous ranking: 15
15. Villa Park 0-1 (33)
Previous ranking: 14
16. Tesoro 1-0 (30)
Previous ranking: 18
17. Capistrano Valley 1-0 (28)
Previous ranking: 16
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OCVarsity’s football stories, scores, photos from Friday’s Week 0 games
18. Trabuco Hills 0-0 (23)
Previous ranking: 17
19. El Modena 1-0 (21)
Previous ranking: 22
20. La Habra 1-0 (17)
Previous ranking: 21
21. Newport Harbor 0-1 (16)
Previous ranking: 21
22. Western 0-1 (11)
Previous ranking: 19
23. Foothill 1-0 (8)
Previous ranking: 24
24. Cypress 1-0 (6)
Previous ranking: 25
25. Huntington Beach 1-0 (5)
Previous ranking: 23
Also receiving votes: Troy 1-0 (1)
About the poll: There are three reporters who vote each week in the Orange County poll.