SB Live California Top 25: St. John Bosco tops our statewide 2019 preseason high school football rankings
Mater Dei or St. John Bosco? That has been the question all offseason.
Both teams are ranked in the top 5 of every meaningful national high school football poll, and both are clearly a cut above the competition in California.
But who's No. 1?
We're going with St. John Bosco in SB Live California's preseason Top 25 football rankings.
Bosco's senior core of DJ Uiagalelei, Drake Metcalf, Kobe Pepe and Kourt Williams has lost to Mater Dei in section championship games the last two seasons. Last year's loss came after the Braves had beaten the Monarchs 41-18 in the regular season. They feel like they let last year's championship slip away and are desperate to get back on top.
The margin between Bosco and Mater Dei is razor thin. Orange Lutheran transfer Logan Loya will be the Braves' x-factor. Having a high-level senior receiver with Trinity League experience will be what tips the scale in St. John Bosco's favor in 2019.
2. Mater Dei
The Monarchs have a great chance at an open division state championship three-peat. Head coach Bruce Rollinson said quarterback Bryce Young has "the keys to the race car" this season. The USC commit will have a huge year.
Mater Dei must replace Bru McCoy and Elias Ricks. McCoy played both ways as a defensive lineman and was the Monarchs' number one receiver in 2018. Ricks intercepted three passes and returned them all for scores in the first half of last year's semifinal win over Corona Centennial. Even for Mater Dei, where they don't rebuild, they reload, making up for the loss of these two will be extremely difficult in the St. John Bosco game(s).
The Huskies look like the last great public school power in Southern California high school football. Corona Centennial opens their season against Mater Dei on August 23rd. That game will reveal just how big the gap is between the big-two and everybody else.
Junior defensive lineman Kore Foreman has emerged as one of the top 2021 recruits in the nation this offseason. He recently visited Clemson.
4. De La Salle
The Spartans have won 27 straight North Coast Section titles. Enough said.
5. JSerra
The Lions lost their two biggest games to St. John Bosco and Oaks Christian by a combined eight points last season. They return a loaded offensive line led by Michigan commit Jeffrey Persi that will pave the way for running back and Cal commit Chris Street. This should be the best team of the Pat Harlow era at JSerra.
6. Folsom
Fresh off of a Division 1-AA state championship in 2018, the Bulldogs return Daniyel Ngata, one of the top running backs in the state.
Circle Sept. 13 on your calendar. That's when the Bulldogs host De La Salle.
New quarterback Peter Costelli takes over and will work with head coach Chad Johnson, one of the top offensive minds in the country. It's a match made in heaven.
8. Calabasas
Quarterback Jaden Casey (Fresno State commit) has the luxury of throwing to two of the best receivers in the country in Oregon commit Johnny Wilson and LSU commit Jermaine Burton.
The always dangerous Lions bring back a strong core from last year's Southern Section Division I semifinalist team led by linebacker Mister Williams and receiver Bryce Farrell (Stanford commit). They've also added a few transfers in Patrick Roberg, a linebacker from Westlake and Derek Boyd a running back from Reseda.
10. Narbonne
The Gauchos are loaded and would be higher on the list if it weren't for the current LAUSD investigation going on involving their football program. Quarterback Jake Garcia and linebacker Jordan Banks are special talents.
Liberty won the Division 1-A state championship last season and bring back Oregon commit Jay Butterfield at QB.
12. Sierra Canyon
The Trailblazers lost to Liberty in last year's Division 1-A state championship. They have a large number of returners led by senior linebacker JD Hernandez and junior defensive back DJ Harvey.
The Dons were San Diego's best team last season and that shouldn't change in 2019. They're led by senior linebacker Jordan Allen.
14. Norco
Sophomore running back Jaydn Ott transferring to Bishop Gorman hurts, but QB Shane Illingworth (Oklahoma State commit) and DE/WR Jaden Navarrette (Oregon commit) coming back means great thing are coming for the Cougars.
15. Corono Del Mar
The Sea Kings have the best quarterback, receiver and tight end trio in Southern California and maybe even the nation in Ethan Garbers, John Humphreys and Mark Redman. All three are committed to Pac-12 schools.
16. Grace Brethren
Head coach Josh Henderson has built a power. The Lancers return Mikey Zelle under center and have a lot of size on defense led by Jay Toia, a USC commit.
17. Central (Fresno)
Receiver and Cal commit Jeremiah Hunter is the top player for a Grizzlies team hungry to avenge last year's state bowl game loss to Folsom.
Running back Kendall Milton committed to Georgia in July. The Bears open with Narbonne at home on August 24th.
19. Upland
Justin Flowe is the best linebacker in the country and has been at Upland since his freshman year. Running back Tyevin Ford will run over plenty of defenders in 2019. He's 5-foot-11, but weighs over 230 pounds.
20. Servite
Head coach Troy Thomas has a strong team and his two top players might be sophomores in QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa Mcmillan. Senior tight end Jake Overman probably won't agree with that though.
21. St. Augustine
St. Augustine will rival Cathedral Catholic in San Diego. Running back Byron Cardwell is a tremendous talent.
22. Orange Lutheran
RJ Regan leads an Orange Lutheran team that hopes to get out of Mater Dei's and St. John Bosco's shadow in the Trinity League.
The Knights are favorites to win the Mission League. Kevin Rooney has been in charge at ND for 40 years; this will be one of his top teams led by quarterback Cooper Meek.
24. Lawndale
The Cardinals won the Division 2-A state championship last year. Quarterback Jalon Daniels was surgical in their playoff run. Defensive back Makell Esteen has 19 career interceptions.
25. La Habra
La Habra has talent all over the field led by Ohio State bound cornerback Clark Phillips. The Highlanders will contend for a Division 3 Southern Section championship.
