SBLive's LA City Section Top 10 Football Rankings: No. 2 Banning hosts No. 1 San Pedro
SBLive's LA City Section football rankings will be released every Monday throughout the 2022 season. Enjoy!
PRESEASON RANKINGS | WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9
1. San Pedro Pirates (9-0)
Last week: 1
Last game: 28-7 win over Narbonne
Next game: Oct. 28 at No. 2 Banning
The Pirates are giving up an average of just 7.5 points per game this season. Their vaunted defense will travel to Wilmington on Friday for an epic Battle of the Harbor showdown with A TON on the line. The winner won't only take home the Marine League title, they'll also most likely earn the No. 1 seed in the LA City Section Open Division playoffs. Buckle up!
2. Banning Pilots (5-4)
Last week: 2
Last game: 42-10 win over Gardena
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. No. 1 San Pedro
If Banning wins against No. 1 San Pedro on Friday, expect the Nuhi-Yandall brothers to be a big reason why. Last week, senior Caleb Nuhi-Yandall made eight tackles and had an interception against Gardena. Junior Elijah Nuhi-Yandall caught seven passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns. He also made six tackles on defense.
3. Venice Gondoliers (7-2)
Last week: 4
Last game: 43-8 win over University
Next game: Oct. 28 at Palisades
Venice has an outside shot at the No. 1 seed in the Open Division playoffs if they blow out Palisades on Friday and Banning takes down San Pedro. In last week's 43-8 win over University, senior QB Paul Kessler completed three passes and they all went for TDs.
4. Franklin Panthers (9-0)
Last week: 6
Last game: 35-0 win over Wilson
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Marshall
Franklin will finish up one their best regular seasons in school history against 2-7 Marshall. The Panthers will most likely get the No. 4 seed in the Open Division playoffs. That's a major achievement for a program that played for the Division 2 City championship back in 2019.
5. Eagle Rock (8-1)
Last week: 8
Last game: 49-6 win over Marshall
Next game: Oct. 28 at Lincoln
Eagle Rock dropped its first game of the season against No. 5 Franklin last month, but the Eagles bounced back with blowout wins over Wilson and Marshall. Expect Eagle Rock to qualify for the Open Division playoffs. Their best win on the season came against No. 9 Granada Hills, 37-22.
6. Birmingham Patriots (5-4)
Last week: 5
Last game: 27-20 win over El Camino Real
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. Cleveland
Birmingham winning by one score against El Camino Real drops the Patriots down one spot to No. 6 this week. Birmingham hasn't lost a league game since 2017 and they've won the last two Open Division titles in the City Section. They'll be a tough out in the postseason.
7. Garfield (7-2)
Last week: 7
Last game: 16-8 win over No. 8 Roosevelt
Next game: Oct. 28 at Legacy
In front of 45,000 fans at the LA Coliseum, Garfield took down arch rival Roosevelt 16-8 in the 87th East LA Classic. The Bulldogs played masterful defense to shutout the Rough Riders for the final three quarters. On offense, Garfield scored two TDs via Damian Cabrera QB keepers. The win virtually locks the Bulldogs into the Open Division playoffs.
8. Roosevelt Roughriders (8-1)
Last week: 3
Last game: 16-8 loss to No. 7 Garfield
Next game: Oct. 28 vs. South Gate
Roosevelt drops to No. 8 this week because for the first time this season, the Rough Riders struggled to move the ball in the Wing-T against Garfield. Consistent penalties also didn't help Roosevelt's cause. CalPreps has Roosevelt at No. 6 in the City Section, so it looks like for the second year straight Aldo Parral's team will be Open Division bound.
9. Granada Hills Highlanders (6-2)
Last week: 10
Last game: 56-6 win over Taft
Next game: Oct. 27 at El Camino Real
If the season ended today, the Highlanders would be the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 playoffs. Last week, Granada Hills blew out West Valley League foe Taft 56-6. So far this season, Highlanders senior running back Dijon Stanley, a Utah commit, is averaging 12 yards per carry.
10. Carson (4-5)
Last week: 9
Last game: 14-0 loss to No. 1 San Pedro
Next game: Oct. 27 vs. Gardena
Carson played No. 1 San Pedro tough two weeks ago, but couldn't put any points on the board. If the season ended today, the Colts would be the No. 3 seed in the Division 1 playoffs.
In the mix: Cleveland, Palisades, El Camino Real
