ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: Santa Margarita, which was No. 1 in Orange County preseason rankings, opened the season with a 27-0 win over visiting Jones of Orlando, Fla. … San Clemente’s win over Tustin bumps the Tritons up one position. … La Habra climbs a few places after a 56-13 win over Upland. … Yorba Linda is another team on the rise after a 34-21 win over Laguna Beach.
FOOTBALL TOP 25
1. Santa Margarita 1-0 (75 poll points)
The Eagles, a CIF Southern Section and CIF State champion last season, got off to a grand start with a 27-0 win over Jones of Orlando, Fla. Coach Carson Palmer’s son, junior Fletch Palmer, got the start at quarterback and threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman linebacker Ayden Steen had seven solo tackles with three sacks.
Previous ranking: 1
2. Mater Dei 1-0 (72)
The Monarchs beat visiting American Fork (Utah), 31-11. Sophomore running back Asir Nembhard rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Previous ranking: 2
3. Mission Viejo 1-0 (69)
The Diablos opened the season with a 55-17 rout of visiting Chaparral. Senior receiver Luke Karby had eight catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Hicks scored a touchdown on an interception return and another on a punt return.
Previous ranking: 3:
4. Orange Lutheran 0-1 (66)
The Lancers lost a tough one in Ray Fenton’s debut as their head coach, 23-22 to Central of Miami, Fla. Chris Flores had seven receptions for Orange Lutheran.
Previous ranking: 4
5. Servite 0-1 (62)
The Friars lost to an excellent Centennial of Corona team, 41-21, in Rick Garretson’s first game as Servite’s head coach. Benjamin Harris had eight receptions and Jorden Wells rushed for 125 yards including a 55-yard touchdown run. The Huskies are No. 3 in CalHiSports.com’s state rankings.
Previous ranking: 5
6T. Crean Lutheran 1-0 (59)
The Saints rolled to a 31-6 win over Loyola. They scored on their first five possessions. Senior quarterback Caden Jones passed for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Ty Johnson had 10 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Previous ranking: 6
6T. San Clemente 2-0 (59)
No jet lag from their Hawaii trip for the Tritons. They returned home and earned a 17-0 win over visiting Tustin, which was No. 8 in the Orange County preseason rankings. Jaxson Rex returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown.
Previous ranking: 7
8T. Corona del Mar 1-0 (49)
The Sea Kings walloped Lakewood, 48-3. Nolan Scott had six receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown and also contributed an interception.
Previous ranking: 9
8T. JSerra 0-1 (49)
Hardy Nickerson’s debut as the Lions’ head coach was a rough one, a 42-21 loss to Sierra Canyon, the No. 5 team in CalHiSports’ state rankings. Jaxsen Stokes had seven receptions for JSerra.
Previous ranking: 10
10. Edison 1-0 (48)
The Chargers did not play last week, having played the previous week in Hawaii where they beat Iolani, 41-27. Edison play host to Pinnacle of Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday at Huntington Beach High.
Previous ranking: 14
11. Tustin 0-1 (42)
Previous ranking: 8
12T. La Habra 1-0 (39)
Previous ranking: 15
12T. Yorba Linda 1-0 (39)
Previous ranking: 17
14. Huntington Beach 1-0 (38)
Previous ranking: 13
15. San Juan Hills 1-0 (32)
Previous ranking: 11
16. Capistrano Valley 1-0 (30)
Previous ranking: 16
17. Los Alamitos 0-1 (28)
Previous ranking: 12
18. Villa Park 1-0 (25)
Previous ranking: 18
19. Laguna Beach 0-1 (24)
Previous ranking: 20
20. Dana Hills 1-0 (23)
Previous ranking: 23
21. Orange 1-0 (11)
Previous ranking: 24
22. El Modena 0-0 (9)
Previous ranking: 22
23. Newport Harbor 2-0 (7)
Previous ranking: 21
24. Western 0-1 (6)
Previous ranking: 19
25. Brea Olinda 1-0 (4)
Previous ranking: 25
Also receiving votes: Trabuco Hills 1-0 (3); Cypress 1-0 (2); El Toro 1-0 (2); Troy 0-0 (1).
About the poll: There are three media members who vote in the weekly poll.
