The opening week of the Southland high school football season has already produced a shake‑up in the power rankings, with Santa Margarita seizing the top spot after a dramatic 21‑20 victory over Corona Centennial. The narrow win not only highlighted the competitiveness of the league but also set a high bar for the teams that follow.
Week 1 Highlights
Corona Centennial, despite the loss, slides to second place and now faces a tough test at Mater Dei on September 11, while St. John Bosco rolled past Philadelphia Roman Catholic, 45‑25, and prepares for a Friday showdown in Pittsburgh.
Teams on the Rise
Sierra Canyon continued its early dominance by beating Hollywood Chaminade, 24‑7, and is set to travel to Honolulu to meet St. Louis on September 10, while Mission Viejo, ranked sixth, cruised past St. Paul, 77‑12, underscoring its potent offense.
Upcoming Matchups
Mater Dei, fresh off a 32‑26 win over Orem, Utah, will meet Corona Centennial again on September 11, a rematch that could further reshape the top tier. Meanwhile, San Clemente, which did not play in Week 1, is slated to host Chaparral on Friday, and Rancho Cucamonga will head to Oak Hills on Thursday after a 44‑14 triumph over Oaks Christian.
Other notable games include Chaminade’s 35‑10 victory over Valencia, which puts the team in position for a September 11 clash at Beaumont, and Crean Lutheran’s 31‑10 win over Mira Costa, setting up a Friday contest against JSerra. The week also features Palos Verdes’ narrow 21‑18 win over Orlando Bishop Moore, a game that will see the team travel to Carson on Thursday.
The schedule also includes Westlake’s 38‑7 victory over Agoura, with the team now set to face Chatsworth on Thursday, and St. Bonaventure’s 34‑21 win over St. Pius X‑St. Matthias, which leads to a Friday matchup against Trabuco Hills.