Prep2Prep CCS Rankings
THROUGH WEEK 3
It can be difficult to rank teams at this early stage of the season when teams play such a wide variety of competition. As a reult, it's no surprise to see a 1-2 Saint Francis team ranked at No. 2. In fact, WCAL teams make up five of the top six, led by consensus No. 1 Serra, which has steamrolled top competition on the way to a 3-0 non-league record.
Note: Last week's rankings in parentheses
Serra has already knocked off three Northern California heavyweights, including a 28-0 thrashing of perennial national power De La Salle in week 2. The Padres are of this week ahead of the beginning of WCAL play September 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Obviously records are a bit misleading at this point of the season with such a wide disparity in strength of schedule. But the Lancers have played two California powerhouses tough, losing 45-21 to SoCal power Helix and hanging with De La Salle before the Spartans pulled away for a 35-17 win. Saint Francis opens WCAL play September 22 at home against Archbishop Mitty.
The Wildcats opened the season with wins over Soquel and Liberty. But after Live Oak dropped out of a scheduled matchup, Los Gatos fell just short of a 3-0 start with a 22-21 loss against Sac-Joaquin Section power Grant. The Wildcats host former SCVAL rival Palo Alto in a non-league matchup Friday night.
Defense has been the calling card for the resurgent Warriors, who are bouncing back from a 1-9 campaign a year ago. Valley Christian has allowed just 26 points in three games against quality competition (Wilcox, Salinas, Hollister). The Warriors open WCAL action September 23 at home against San Jose rival Bellarmine.
Mitty is off to a 3-0 start following a 35-0 thrashing of Santa Teresa. The Monarchs haven't played the level of competition of some of their WCAL rivals, but the wins have been impressive nonetheless including a 41-28 victory over Aptos. Mitty opens WCAL action September 22 at Saint Francis.
The Crusaders won just one WCAL game a year ago, but look to be much improved coming off a 2-1 start including a 36-17 season-opening win over Sacred Heart Prep. Riordan is off this week and begins league play September 23 at home against crosstown rival St. Ignatius.
Wilcox bounced back from a season-opening one-point loss at Valley Christian with defensive-minded wins over Hollister and Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Chargers pay a visit to The King's Academy Thursday night.
Aptos is 0-3, but the losses have come against top teams from three different sections: Oakdale (SJS), Mitty (CCS) and Mission Prep (CS). The Mariners will be much closer this home this week when they visit North Salinas Friday night.
After opening the season with a narrow win over Menlo-Atherton, the Bells have suffered back-to-back defeats. However, the most recent one showed more promise as Bellarmine played NCS power Monte Vista tough before falling 40-30. Bellarmine opens WCAL action September 23 at Valley Christian.
The Bears are just 1-2, but both losses came by a field goal against Bellarmine and Patterson. Menlo-Atherton visits Menlo Saturday afternoon in another non-league matchup.
The Cowboys are one of the most difficult teams to rank considering they have been outscored 71-8 in their three defeats to start the season. However, the losses have come against NCS power Clayton Valley Charter, CCS power Valley Christian and CS power Clovis. And we likely won't learn much more about Salinas following its trip to Seaside Friday night.
The Gators bounced back from a season-opening loss to Archbishop Riordan with relatively easy wins over Sacred Heart Cathedral and Palo Alto. SHP continues its preparation for the revamped PAL-Bay Division with a trip to Hillsdale Friday night.
The Dores opened the season with one-sided wins over St. Francis-Watsonville and Aragon. Monterey hosts Monte Vista Christian Friday night.
St. Ignatius wrapped up a 2-1 non-league slate with back-to-back wins over Jesuit and Cathedral Catholic. The Wildcats begin WCAL play September 23 at Archbishop Riordan.
After easy wins over Soledad and King City to start the season, the Chieftains were shut out 14-0 at home against Yuma Catholic. Next up is a trip Friday night to Alisal.
Hollister played Wilcox tough but was blasted by Valley Christian to fall to 1-2. The Balers are off this week and open PCAL-Gabilan action September 22 at home against Alvarez.
Christopher looks like one of the teams to beat in the BVAL-Mount Hamilton after opening with wins over North Monterey County, Piedmont Hills and San Mateo. The Cougars host Overfelt Thursday night in a non-league matchup.
Live Oak was scheduled to take on Los Gatos this past week, but had to drop out of the matchup, leaving the Acorns with just 9 total games. Live Oak, which is 2-0 following wins over Gilroy and Mountain View, visits Ann Sobrato Saturday afternoon.
Mountain View is preparing for its first season in the new PAL-Bay Division and is off to a 2-1 start with big wins over The King's Academy and Leigh. The Spartans host a familiar foe in Homestead Friday night.
The Knights haven't played the most challenging schedule and are off to a 3-0 start. A much bigger test awaits Saturday afternoon when Menlo hosts Menlo-Atherton.
After opening the season with wins over Hillsdale and Menlo, the Vikings suffered their first loss, falling 28-14 to Sacred Heart Prep.
The Irish went winless during the non-league schedule, but played a difficult schedule (Pittsburg, Sacred Heart Prep and Wilcox - all on the road). It doesn't get any easier, as Sacred Heart Cathedral begins WCAL play September 22 at home against Serra.
There are quite a few teams vying for the final few spots in the rankings, but we reserve a spot for the Bruins, who have come out firing with one-sided wins over Cupertino and Soledad, the latter of which was by the same margin as Palma's win over the Aztecs. Branham continues its non-league schedule when it hosts Lynbrook Friday night.
Hillsdale is off to a 3-0 start following a 28-12 win over Woodside. Next up is the biggest test of the season, a home game Friday night against Sacred Heart Prep.
The Vikings haven't played the most challenging schedule, but wins over Ann Sobrato, Jefferson and Gilroy by an average margin of 35 points is enough to get the Vikings the final spot in the rankings. The competition takes a major step up Friday when North Salinas hosts Aptos.
