Skip to main content

With CIF section championship games set to kick off this weekend, there are still 14 undefeated football teams left in California. Here's a look at every remaining unbeaten team, ranked from 14 to 1.

14. Marquez (Huntington Park) -- 13-0

It’s been 13 games. Marquez still has not given up 100 points on the season.

Their defense is loaded with athletes from front to back, led by LB Christopher Diego. The Gladiators have a bunch of rushing threats. Armando Guardado and Joe Vasquez both closing in on 1,000 rushing yards at RB, and Juan Gonzalez and Oscar Hernandez combine for another 1,142 rushing yards and 28 rushing TDs. QB Erick Salas has a respectable 1,573 passing yards this season, and his efficiency has been outstanding, with a huge passer rating of 134. All of these players are seniors, as is almost the entire core for the Gladiators.

The L.A. City Section Division 3 favorite is now just one week away from potentially claiming the crown, and they beat arguably their best competition of the season lack week in George Washington Prep. The 12-7 defensive battle was the first close game of the year for Marquez, who’s blown out every other opponent they’ve faced. Now with some experience in a close game under their belts, they’ll be a slight favorite over Gardena, who’s 9-4 but played a way harder schedule. Having seen the likes of San Pedro and Narbonne this season could give Gardena an edge, but the odds still lie with the undefeated squad.

13. St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey) -- 12-0

For those who haven’t heard, St. Pius X-St. Matthias is doing this in only their third year as a football program. St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, also known as PMA, wrapped up an undefeated season regular and is the top favorite to win Division 14. The Warriors won their first two playoff games by a combined score of 99-10 and eliminated arguably the strongest team left in the field last week narrowly in Vista Del Lago.

PMA is loaded with versatile athletes who play a number of roles in every phase of the game, such as Bruce Walker, Brenden Hodge, and Domingo Ladson. After going 7-14 the past two seasons, there’s a great chance the Warriors are going to run away with the division title this season. But for the second straight week, they’ll be seeing, most likely, their biggest test yet. Last week they had no room for error in beating Vista Del Lago, and South is in roughly the same ballpark. 

12. El Monte -- 13-0

Congratulations to El Monte, the only team on this list to have already won their sectional title. Last week Adelanto and Orange Vista got into a bench-clearing brawl early in the third quarter with Adelanto up 41-0, and the game was stopped with nearly all players ejected for leaving the benches and/or taking place in the melee. Adelanto was disqualified despite having dominated Orange Vista thoroughly. Meanwhile, the Lions knocked off Jurupa Hills 22-15 in their first close game of the season, and that means El Monte is home free–the CIF Southern Section Division 12 championship is theirs.

There are some teams where every time they come up, it is obligatory to go through their updated stat totals. Through 13 games and a Division 12 title, El Monte is at 4,889 rushing yards as a team. Davon Booth has 2,407 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdonws. Abel Cueva is up to 1,294 and 19. It’s time for state, which means they’re still going. Their strong defensive performance when their offense wasn’t unstoppable against Jurupa Hills bodes well for their chances of remaining undefeated.

11. Paradise -- 12-0

Trivia time: what do East Nicolaus and West Valley (Cottonwood) have in common? They’re both very good teams at 11-1, with their only loss coming to unbeaten Paradise. What the Bobcats have done in the wake of their entire town and most of their homes being destroyed by the Camp Fire has been nothing short of miraculous and inspirational. 12-0 speaks for itself, and while they’ve faced several pretty weak opponents, they’ve knocked off some really good ones too.

If you think El Monte’s numbers are wild, check out Paradise: through just 12 games, they’ve eclipsed 5,000 rushing yards. The Bobcats are also up to 71 touchdowns on the ground. They’ve only thrown the ball 41 times this entire season. (For what it’s worth, Danny Bettencourt has four touchdowns and zero picks on the year.) They are going to run the ball literally almost every single time, and nobody has been able to do anything about it.

Much like El Monte, they have one top threat putting up unthinkable numbers, and a second option putting up numbers that many feature backs could only dream of. Tyler Harrison has 2,387 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns as a sophomore. Lukas Hartley has another 1,322 yards and 20 touchdowns. Six other Bobcats have at least 118 rushing yards on the season, with 21 more touchdowns between them. Not one Bobcat has 100 receiving yards.

Paradise is one win away from a Northern Section Division 3 championship. But to beat Sutter, they’ll most likely have to play their best game yet. Sutter lost 21-7 to Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) to open the season and has reeled off 11 straight since. That includes wins over Benicia, Chico, and Lassen. In fact, it would be hard not to give the edge here to a team that beat mighty Chico by 40.

Either way, Paradise has a very solid chance of taking home the championship, and they’ve got a lot of people rooting for them. No matter what, it’s been an incredible season for the Bobcats.

10. Scripps Ranch (San Diego) -- 12-0

The rematch with La Jolla, who Scripps Ranch already beat 17-7 this season, is on after all. Like we said last week, beating them twice is a tall order, but the Falcons have no reason not to like their chances. Especially coming off a thorough 49-24 knockout of Central whereas La Jolla struggled to put away a slightly less formidable Brawley squad and only won 15-14. Still, a win is a win, and if La Jolla brings their best shot against Scripps Ranch this time, the perfect season could be threatened.

San Diego Section Division 3 favorite Scripps Ranch is in the same ballpark as El Monte, but gets a slight edge for defeating La Jolla 17-7 earlier in the season. Speaking of La Jolla, they are also in the semifinals, and the odds are strong that they’ll have a rematch with the Falcons for the title next week. Overall, Scripps Ranch has a fairly strong chance of completing the dream season, but beating La Jolla again would certainly be a challenge.

Through 12 games, the Falcons are allowing less than 8.5 points per game–88 total on the season. RB Nicholas Gardinera and QB Luke Durkin lead the way for a well-balanced offense. Gardinera has 1,693 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns in addition to a bit of receiving work. Durkin is up to 2,185 passing yards this season with Rashad Griffin Jr. leading a deep receiving corps. Their offense has been great and consistent, but their defense has been the biggest story. 

9. Cypress -- 13-0

Last week we had No. 4 Cypress below No. 1 Serrano in our list of the best undefeated teams in SoCal. Serrano looked a little more formidable on the season, but there wasn’t much of a gap, and Cypress put their season to bed. Now they have a potentially thrilling matchup with a formidable No. 3 Temecula Valley squad for all the marbles. Temecula Valley has lost a couple games this season to San Jacinto and Murrieta Valley, but has otherwise been outstanding with a harder schedule than Cypress. That means another complete tossup, which worked out for them last week.

Cypress is led by 3-star ATH recruit Isaac Hurtado, who’s been outstanding all year at running back. Dylan Eldredge has also had a solid year at quarterback, with Elijah Vaielua as his top receiving target. Their defense has been among their biggest strengths all year as well. The Centurions are a balanced team and their record shows it. 

8. Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta) -- 13-0

Crescenta Valley is one game away from completing the dream season. Their 28-10 defeat of Katella last week was one of their best of the season, and if they play like that, they should be in good shape against Simi Valley. The Pioneers are not to be taken lightly though, with a second-half upset of Orange last week highlighting what’s been an outstanding run for a Simi squad that has been an underdog for most of the playoffs.

The Falcons’ defense is too dominant for Division 10, giving up only ten points per game on the season. LB Sebastian Deleon has over 150 tackles this season now, and DB PJ Weinmann is just one of numerous other standouts on that end. Running back Maximus Grant is possibly the biggest name on offense, but their offense is like their defense–strength in numbers, with too many threats at the skill positions to keep track of.

On paper, Crescenta Valley would have to have one of their worst games of the year for the Pioneers to have a major chance. Simi Valley projects to be in a similar ballpark as Katella, who the Falcons just beat fairly easily. But the Falcons could be in trouble if they sleep on Simi Valley’s momentum, explosive potential on offense, and championship pedigree.

7. Bishop’s (La Jolla) -- 12-0

The Knights’ 52-51 victory two weeks ago against explosive Poway was way too close for comfort for a team with championship aspirations. So, tightening up on defense and walloping Santa Fe Christian 44-7 is exactly what they need to get back on track. 

That said, Camino will likely be the best team they’ve seen this season. Or at least they might be. The Wildcats are 7-6 this season, and with some losses to powerhouses like Carlsbad, and also some losses to great teams that aren’t on the level of Bishop’s. However, Camino has also beaten Oceanside, and Bishop’s has not faced the likes of Oceanside once this season. Basically the same can be said for Camino’s wins against Torrey Pines, Eastlake, and Vista. Camino is a dangerous wildcard. A win for Bishop’s over Camino would be incredible icing on the cake for this amazing season.

Notre Dame-commit Tyler Buchner is putting up unfathomable numbers at quarterback, which you’ve probably heard by now. He’s now up to 4,178 passing yards, 50 passing touchdowns, and 68.8 completion with only five picks. On the ground, he’s up to 1,257 yards and a whopping 23 more touchdowns. All in all, that’s 5,435 total yards and 78 total touchdowns. WRs Clarence Freeman IV and Clay Petry are the top two of numerous other strong skill players on the roster. Their championship game against Camino should be as exciting as any game anywhere.

6. Center (Antelope) -- 12-0

With only one game left, Center is so close to the Sac-Joaquin Division V title that they can almost taste it. Their schedule hasn’t been unwaveringly hard this year, but with wins over Lincoln (Lincoln), Rio Linda, and Bradshaw Christian, the Pioneer Valley League champion and sectional top-seed has proven they can step up against upper tier opponents.

The Cougars will most likely get their biggest test yet on Saturday with Ripon. The Indians have lost once narrowly to an equally strong Hilmar team, and are otherwise 11-0. However, like Center, they haven’t had a ton of opportunities to show out against elite competition. Ripon only escaped a strong Amador squad last week by one point as well. That said, they deserve every bit of the two-seed in their bracket.

If Center takes care of business and brings their A-game against Ripon, the numbers say they have a very high likelihood of completing the dream season.

5. La Serna (Whittier) -- 13-0

For a large chunk of the season, La Serna was a really good, consistent team that was eventually still undefeated when almost nobody else was because they were surrounded by teams that couldn’t hang with them. They went through the regular season 10-0 relatively unchallenged, which could bode well for both a deep playoff run and also a potential early exit.

It’s been the former. Now that the top-tier competition has come their way, the Lancers have risen to the occasion. They beat Warren handily to open the playoffs, and then knocked out two high-up contenders in Los Altos and San Jacinto in defensive battles. They’re as legit as their record says.

La Serna doesn’t have any flaws in any part of the game. Their defense has been excellent behind MLB Joey Bustos and co. QB Andrew Henriquez has continued his outstanding season, now at 2,337 passing yards on over 70% completion and 27 passing touchdowns to only three interceptions. That’s good for a huge passer rating of 138, and he’s a serious running threat with a few rushing touchdowns and nearly 400 rushing touchdowns as well. Chandler McCaffer leads a strong rushing attack with 948 rushing yards and 18 rushing attack, and is only one of many threats along with Steve Pinales, Bustos, Aaron Young, etc. Jake George, Milo Lopez, Atallah Shalash, and Jacob Leija are all major receiving targets. The list goes on.

However, now it’s time for No. 3 La Serna to take on No. 4 Pacifica, who’s 12-1. And you really can’t hold a nine-point loss against Oxnard against a Division 6 team that much. Pacifica will be the best team the Lancers have faced all year, and it might not even be close. Still, they have a reasonable chance to put the dream season into stone this week before advancing to state.

4. McClymonds (Oakland) -- 9-0

It’s really hard to put a team that’s “only” won nine games this year above a team like 13-0 on an undefeated teams power rankings because that is enough of a sample size to make a difference. But when you look at their strength of schedule, it’s abundantly clear that these Warriors are monsters. They’ve beaten Marin Catholic, Encinal, Campolindo, and Downey (Modesto). To be fair, it’s good that they picked out a brutal preseason like that, because they just won their five league games by a combined 298-0.

I’m not necessarily sure that McClymonds is better than fearsome La Serna, but they’ve beaten more elite foes in that brief preseason gauntlet than the Lancers have on the season. However, if both teams win next game with McClymonds likely to blow out Skyline for the second time this season and La Serna up against elite Pacifica (Oxnard), the Lancers could potentially jump them in these rankings before the year is out.

3. Central (Fresno) -- 12-0

Our rankings now have made a jump into three teams that you can safely call elite at a national level. Blowing out Whitney (Rocklin), Turlock, everyone associated with Clovis (naught, West, North, East–any kind of Clovis), and Buchanan (Clovis) is pretty indicative of where Central is at. In fact, they’ve not been challenged yet out of all 12 opponents they’ve faced, and most of them have been in the upper echelon, although only a few have been truly elite. Buchanan, who Central beat 41-20 last time, is the best of them, and that’s who stands between the Grizzlies and an undefeated season.

The offense and defense are both elite. Jameson Silva is the best quarterback nobody talks about, with efficiency you just don’t see at the high school level. He’s thrown a strong 2,636 passing yards through 12 games, but 76% completion and 38 touchdowns to only one interception? That’s unreal. And it’s good for a passer rating of 151.1. He can run too.

Speaking of running, RB Quali Conley is up to 1,302 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns as well, with 341 more yards and five more touchdowns in the air. Silva has too many options at receiver, with Xavier Worthy and Jeremiah Hunter leading the charger, and Manuel Oliver-Davis and AJ Simpson-Battle also making a major impact, along with Conley. The Grizzlies appear to be outstanding at one through eleven on defense, but DE Jeremiah Shelton, 6-4, 320-pound DT Ricky Correia, OLB Dominic Mendez, and DB Sean Haymon are among the top contributors.

Beating Buchanan again will be far from a cakewalk, especially with 5-star RB Kendall Milton reportedly in good health right now. But Central has to like their chances of taking their undefeated season another couple weeks as much as almost anyone else on this list. Although the safest bet might be…

2. Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) -- 13-0

With the Sea Kings in Division 3, their odds of winning not just the division title but going undefeated through state might be the best of anyone on this list. Like, they are the odds-on favorite to do so, even with a familiar foe in Grace Brethren lurking and elite teams on deck should they advance to state. 

Whenever Corona del Mar gets brought up I eventually just list their passing game statistics, so this time I won’t beat around the bush.

They have one of the most prolific passing games in the country led by QB Ethan Garbers, WRs John Humphreys and Bradley Schlom, and TE Mark Redman. Garbers and Redman are committed to Washington, and Humphreys is committed to Stanford–all three are 4-star prospects. Schlom is a 3-star prospect as well. 

Their numbers are surreal. Garbers is up to 4,342 passing yards, 62 passing touchdowns, 70.2% completion, seven rushing touchdowns, and only five picks. As for his receivers: 1,705 receiving yards and 28 receiving touchdowns for Humphreys, 1,055 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns as a WR2 for Schlom, and 794 yards and 12 touchdowns for Redman, who also has significant blocking duties as a 6-6, 250-pound tight end. RB/SB Riley Binnquist is also a major factor.

Defense isn’t what the Sea Kings are known for, but they held Alemany and San Clemente to 21 and everyone else they’ve played to less. Their secondary has been dominant this year, comprised of cornerbacks Ryder Haupt and Chandler Fincher, and safeties Zack Green and Tommy Griffin. Their front seven isn’t enormous but they have been unshakeable this year, led by Brock Preston, Cole Rener, Chase Zanck, Connor Brooks, and Kevin Ledezma.

This is a Division 3 team that would have been the odds-on favorite in Division 2, and a potential Division 1 semifinalist. If they keep on keeping on, they aren’t losing this season, but sustaining their ridiculous level of play is of course a tall order. They better remain close to flawless on the season against Grace Brethren, who beat them in the Division 4 championship last year.

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) -- 12-0

So predictable. It’s almost like Mater Dei is the consensus top team in the country, the way they always end up at the top of these lists.

They made their schedule as hard as possible, and haven’t had any close calls. They’ve blown out Corona Centennial, Servite, Bishop Amat, and Mission Viejo. The Monarchs beat another top-50 team in the country in St. John’s (Washington D.C.) by 29. They beat the second and third top ranked teams in the country, St. John Bosco and St. Frances (Baltimore), by two touchdowns each, and would’ve likely won by more if not for ultra conservative play-call down the stretch.

Despite the risk of sounding like a broken record, the Monarchs are basically an all-star team. Among the multiple dozens of future D-1 players on this team are 5-star QB Bryce Young, WR Kody Epps, OL Myles Murao, LBs Raesjon Davis, Dean Neeley, and Kobah Fuamutu, and DBs Domani Jackson and Jaylin Davies. That's basically the tip of the iceberg.

Mater Dei is the favorite to remain the consensus best team in the country for two more games before their incredible senior class is out. St. John Bosco gets their second crack at them this week, and it has a strong likelihood of being Mater Dei’s biggest test of the year. They might lose, but this round they go in as official favorites against a Braves team that has been almost as dominant on the season with the sole exception being the loss against them. If they beat St. John Bosco again, they go straight to the state title game which history tells us will be against an elite De La Salle team that would still struggle to hang with them.

Unless you are a Bosco fan, enjoy it while it lasts–if they win out to finish the year, it could be a long time before we see a high school football team this dominant again.