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What happened in the seventh week of Southern Section high school football? Here’s what you need to know

Thrilling league wins for Bishop Amat and Orange Lutheran headlined the weekend

The seventh week of the California high school football season is the start of league play in most of the CIFSS. That makes it one of the more exciting weeks of the year year in and year out. And in 2022, it did not disappoint. 

Here's a look at the top storylines last week (Sep. 30 - Oct. 2) in Southern Section football. All rankings referenced pertain to SBLive’s Southern Section rankings unless noted otherwise.

NO. 10 BISHOP AMAT COMES BACK AGAINST SIERRA CANYON IN DRAMATIC FASHION

Bishop Amat vs Sierra Canyon

Safe to say it was an unforgettable week for the Bishop Amat to open Mission League play. 

With head coach Steve Haggerty suspended following the team's altercation with Damien last week, the Lancers looked shellshocked for much of the game, and trailed 28-14 early in the third quarter. But they came alive after that and finished the game on a 17-0 run to win in double overtime.

"Steve has built a great staff," defensive coordinator Sean Koelle said. "Having the support system that he has put in place for us, he's just implemented so much for us. When we had our opportunity, he's gifted us with that."

MORE: WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS | INTERVIEW WITH COACH SEAN KOELLE

NO. 12 ORANGE LUTHERAN BEATS NO. 7 SANTA MARGARITA IN THRILLER

Orange Lutheran football 2022

The Mission League wasn't the only big-name conference to produce a game of the year candidate this past weekend. The Trinity League had one as well (plus another close game/notable result we will touch on) – OLu's 28-26 win against Santa Margarita.

The Lancers' win against the team that many penciled into the third spot in the Trinity League was massive. It may prove to bump them into the Division 1 by the start of the Southern Section postseason.

MORE: WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS | INTERVIEW WITH TJ LATEEF

NO. 14 JSERRA PUTS AN UNFORESEEN SCARE INTO NO. 2 MATER DEI; MONARCHS SURVIVE

By a show of hands, who expected JSerra to give Mater Dei one of its biggest scares in recent history?

Unless you're affiliated with the Lions, your hands are down. Ours are too. 

JSerra had leads of 6-0 and 13-6 in the second quarter before the Monarchs took a 14-13 lead and won the second half 8-0, good for a 21-13 final. 21 points tied the fewest points Mater Dei has scored since 2018, and is one its very lowest marks in the last eight years.

NO. 16 OAK HILLS, NO. 21 APPLE VALLEY PICK UP STATEMENT WINS LEADING UP TO CHAMPIONSHIP

Apple Valley Serrano football8

While Apple Valley was the heavy favorite at Serrano on Thursday in the first week of Mojave River League play, it raises eyebrows anytime someone beats a program like the Diamondbacks 50-0.

The Sun Devils' O-line dominated, and Noah Celie threw 4 touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown as the squad fired on all cylinders.

MORE FROM APPLE VALLEY'S WIN: WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEW WITH NOAH CELIE

Meanwhile in Ridgecrest, Oak Hills – another team whose offensive line has been outstanding (in more ways than one) – blew out Burroughs 55-0. With both High Desert powers playing Southern Section Division 2-caliber football, it's hard not to look ahead to the Mojave River League title game, where we'll have coverage from Apple Valley on Oct. 21.

HOW THE REST OF THE TOP 30 FARED, AND OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS:

  • No. 1 St. John Bosco got revenge against Servite for last year's semifinals defeat, trouncing the Friars 49-3.
  • No. 3 Corona Centennial rolled to a 70-28 win over Chaparral.
  • No. 4 Long Beach Poly unofficially wrapped up another Moore League title with a 42-0 rout of Millikan.
  • No. 5 Los Alamitos smoked Newport Harbor 61-21.
  • No. 8 Edison rinsed crosstown rival Huntington Beach 42-8.
  • No. 9 Chaminade stayed dominant with a 43-8 win over No. 30 Alemany.
  • No. 11 Inglewood moved to 6-0 in dominant fashion as well, blowing out Hawthorne 37-0.
  • No. 13 Serra (Gardena) hung on in another close defensive battle, defeating Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 13-7.
  • No. 15 Warren thrashed Mayfair, one of its top league foes, 54-7.
  • No. 17 Citrus Valley cruised to a 28-0 win against Beaumont.
  • No. 18 Norco put up a whopping 55 first half points in a 69-28 win against Vista Murrieta.
  • No. 19 Ayala avenged last year's regular season loss against Glendora with a 56-33 win.
  • No. 22 Yorba Linda held off an upset bid from El Dorado in a 24-21 victory.
  • No. 23 Murrieta Valley stayed hot with a 48-17 win against Roosevelt.
  • No. 24 San Clemente breezed past San Diego Section foe Steele Canyon 35-0.
  • No. 25 Cajon smashed Redlands 64-7.
  • No. 26 Corona del Mar coasted to a 41-7 win against Fountain Valley.
  • No. 27 La Serna routed California 41-0.
  • Damien made waves with a light upset over No. 28 Upland to start Baseline League play.
  • No. 29 Oaks Christian rode a forceful start in a 29-16 win against Calabasas.
  • West Ranch became one of the state's only 7-0 teams with a 20-14 win against Hart.
  • Newbury Park bounced back from last week's crushing loss by surviving a 35-28 test from Moorpark.
  • Simi Valley beat Westlake 21-20 in double overtime to start Marmonte League play.
  • Etiwanda came back from a 20-7 third quarter deficit to beat Chino Hills 26-20 in its Baseline League opener.