The San Gabriel Valley area high school football rankings for teams covered by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News and Whittier Daily News.
FOOTBALL TOP 30
1. Charter Oak (10-0)
Charter Oak finished the regular season with a perfect record. The last time it did that was in 2017 when it advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals. Maybe that’s a good sign because the Chargers are back in the Division 3 playoffs. But the divisions are put together much differently in 2022. The Chargers have to go on the road Friday for their first-round game against undefeated Yorba Linda (10-0). QB Richie Munoz was the area’s regular-season player of the year and he will have to deliver again for Charter Oak to advance in the playoffs.
Previous: 1
Next: at Yorba Linda, Friday, 7 p.m.
2. La Serna (9-1)
The Lancers finished the regular season as the area’s highest-ranked public school in the CalPreps CIF-SS rankings. They drew a home game in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs. They will host Bay League champion Palos Verdes (7-3) and you have to like the Lancers’ chances. They run the ball effectively and play super defense. Can they do it at the Division 3 level? Wins over Damien and Pasadena show they can.
Previous: 2
Next: vs. Palos Verdes at California High School, Friday, 7 p.m.
3. Bishop Amat (7-3)
Amat finished the regular season strong with wins over Notre Dame and Alemany, and now they have some momentum headed for the Division 2 playoffs, where they are the fourth seed. It was a good sign that senior RB Aiden Ramos had his best game of the season against Alemany, and maybe the Lancers’ rotation of quarterbacks will work. Amat is in a division that looks wide open and it gives the Lancers their best opportunity at a divisional title since their last one in 1995.
Previous: 3
Next: vs. Murrieta Valley, Friday, 7 p.m.
4. Pasadena (9-1)
The Bulldogs rolled through the Pacific League and haven’t had a competitive game since beating Colony 14-7 on Sept. 16. That is going to change in a hurry because the Bulldogs are on the road in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs against undefeated El Modena (10-0). Pasadena has big-time playmakers like wideout Baylin Brooks and QB Indiana Wijay is playing well. Pasadena’s tough nonleague schedule prepared it for the postseason, but now comes test time.
Previous: 4
Next: at El Modena, Thursday, 7 p.m.
5. St. Francis (7-3)
The Golden Knights dropped their final Angelus League game to Loyola to finish in a three-way tie for first. They are in the Division 5 playoffs after advancing to the Division 4 finals last season. If their defense holds up, they will have a chance to make another title run with RB Devyn Turner and QB Jack Jacobs. Still, they have a tough opener in the first round against Desert Sky League champion Silverado (8-0) on the road.
Previous: 5
Next: at Silverado, Friday, 7 p.m.
6. La Habra (6-4)
The Highlanders will be an interesting team to watch in the Division 6 playoffs because they blew through the Freeway League after a 1-4 start. The nonleague losses were to Bishop Amat, Upland, Orange and El Modena, so this figures to be a division they can make a run in. Quarterback Justin Gil is starting to get hot with over 1,600 yards passing and 17 touchdowns. Still, it’s a road game at Calabasas (6-4), so it will be a good opening test.
Previous: 7
Next: at Calabasas, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. Bonita (6-4)
The Bearcats are the highest-ranked team from the SGV area to not make the playoffs. It is a shame considering they had six wins and nearly beat No. 1 Charter Oak, losing in the final seconds. They own wins over San Dimas, Claremont and Northview, all teams that made the playoffs. The Bearcats have several super players returning next season, but missing the playoffs still hurts.
Previous: 6
Next: Season over.
8. Northview (8-2)
The Vikings won the Division 10 championship last year, but this year the Vikings won the Valle Vista League title and are now in Division 6, where the competition is much tougher. Northview will be on the road to open the playoffs against River Valley League champion Ramona (9-1). After Northview’s good fortune last season, it is the last team that will complain.
Previous: 8
Next: at Ramona, Friday, 7 p.m.
9. Monrovia (8-2)
The Wildcats went 10-0 last year and lost in the first round of the Division 6 playoffs. They improved their nonleague schedule this season and lost games to Ayala and Northview, and those losses helped them drop two divisions to Division 8, where the Wildcats are hoping to have some success. The Wildcats need to shore up their defensive deficiencies, but at least they will be home in the first round, playing Pacific Coast League champion Northwood (9-1), which will be no easy task.
Previous: 10
Next: vs. Northwood, Friday, 7 p.m.
10. Rio Hondo Prep (8-1)
The Kares won their final regular-season game against Campbell Hall 19-7 to clinch a spot in the playoffs. They are in Division 10. They showed last season win a win over Charter Oak in the first round of the Division 7 playoffs that they’re more than capable of holding their own. Still, a first-round road game at Norwalk (9-1) is a super-tough way to start the playoffs.
Previous: 11
Next: at Norwalk, Friday, 7 p.m.
11. Damien (3-7)
12. Glendora (4-6)
13. La Mirada (4-6)
14. Maranatha (9-0-1)
15. Cantwell Sacred Heart (9-1)
16. El Rancho (6-4)
17. St. Paul (4-6)
18. South Pasadena (8-2)
19. San Dimas (6-4)
20. Baldwin Park (8-2)
21. Diamond Bar (9-1)
22. Covina (6-4)
23. West Covina (5-5)
24. Walnut (7-3)
25. La Salle (5-5)
26. Schurr (6-4)
27. San Gabriel (6-3)
28. Montebello (5-5)
29. Azusa (9-1)
30. Gladstone (7-3)
