Week’s Highlights
The opening week of the Southland’s elite high school football season delivered a mix of nail‑biting finishes and commanding displays, as the region’s top 25 squads fought for early momentum.
Corona Centennial’s narrow 21‑20 loss to Santa Margarita at Mater Dei underscored the competitiveness of the league, while Santa Margarita’s upcoming clash with Palmdale Highland promises another tight contest. Meanwhile, St. John Bosco rolled past Philadelphia Roman Catholic 45‑25 in Pittsburgh, showcasing a potent offense.
Sierra Canyon continued its winning streak, defeating Hollywood Chaminade (Fla.) 24‑7, and will now travel to face Honolulu St. Louis on September 10, adding an international dimension to its schedule. Orange Lutheran’s 38‑24 victory over San Diego Cathedral set up a showdown with Chandler (Ariz.) Basha, and Mission Viejo’s 77‑12 rout of St. Paul highlighted a dominant performance that will carry into a Friday test at Folson.
Other notable results included Rancho Cucamonga’s 44‑14 triumph over Oaks Christian, a 31‑19 win by Chaparral over San Juan Hills, and a 32‑28 corrected victory for Huntington Beach Edison over Phoenix Pinnacle, all of which position those teams for upcoming regional fixtures.
Several programs, such as San Clemente, sat out the week, while others like Crean Lutheran, JSerra, and Damien prepared for Friday matchups that will further shape the playoff picture. The diversity of opponents — from local rivals to out‑of‑state schools — reflects the increasingly national schedule of the Southland’s elite teams.