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This week’s Daily News high school football rankings, which include the team’s rank, record, last week’s ranking and its game this week.
DAILY NEWS TOP 15
1. Chaminade (7-0): The Eagles maintain their top spot after beating Notre Dame 65-34 at home thanks to five touchdowns from QB Javance Johnson. But now the most challenging part of Chaminade’s schedule starts Friday with Bishop Amat, followed by Sierra Canyon and Gardena Serra, respectively.
Last week: No. 1 | This week: at Bishop Amat, Friday
2. West Ranch (7-0): The Wildcats are officially in the driver’s seat after a 23-16 win over Valencia, which puts them one win away from officially earning at least a share of the Foothill League title, which would be the first in program history. Two more wins and it’s all theirs.
Last week: No. 2 | This week: vs. Golden Valley, Friday
3. Oaks Christian (5-2): The Lions remain unbeaten in the Marmonte League after traveling north to Santa Barbara and beating Bishop Diego 24-21. Junior wideout Justice Williams is continuing to show he’s one of the area’s best at the position. He had 111 yards receiving and two TDs.
Last week: No. 3 | This week: vs. Westlake, Friday
4. Sierra Canyon (3-4): The Trailblazers make program history with its first Mission League win, a 42-0 win over Alemany. Now, they travel to Gardena to take on Serra, which just beat Bishop Amat, a team Sierra Canyon lost to two weeks ago. It might be a must-win game …
Last week: No. 4 | This week: at Gardena Serra, Friday
5. Thousand Oaks (7-0): The Lancers are now the last Canyon League team unbeaten after taking down Camarillo 35-28. Chase Martin rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns and had eight tackles on defense.
Last week: No. 5 | This week: vs. Moorpark, Friday
6. Newbury Park (7-1): The Panthers beat Agoura 46-21. Brady Smigiel is the frontrunner to win Daily News Freshman of the Year. He threw six touchdowns and is up to 25 on the season.
Last week: No. 7 | This week: vs. Oak Park, Friday
7. Saugus (5-2): The Centurions took care of business with a gutty 14-6 win over Hart. Saugus’ only league loss is to West Ranch with three games left to play.
Last week: No. 7 | This week: vs. Castaic, Friday
8. Highland (6-1): The Bulldogs move up a spot because they won and teams ahead of them lost. Simple as that. Running back Brandon Williams is having an All-Area selection season. They beat Antelope Valley 65-6. Johnson had three TDs.
Last week: No. 9 | This week: at Lancaster, Thursday
9. St. Francis (5-2): The defense did enough. St. Francis edged Cathedral 48-39 in an Angelus League showdown. Devyn Turner and Jack Jacobs each rushed for two TDs in the win. Golden Knights move into the Top 10 …
Last week: No. 11 | This week: vs. Crespi, Friday
10. Calabasas (5-2): I called this one … the Coyotes went to Simi Valley and outscored the Pioneers 39-32 in a shootout just as I predicted. A big-time Marmonte League win. QB Alonzo Contreras has made the Calabasas offense difficult to prepare for.
Last week: No. 13 | This week: vs. Bishop Diego, Friday
11. Simi Valley (4-3): The Pioneers has seen their offense sputter before scoring 32 points against Calabasas Friday, but problem is the Coyotes scored more.
Last week: No. 8 | This week: at St. Bonaventure, Friday
12. Valencia (4-4): The Vikings fell to a very good West Ranch team 23-16 and also fall a bit in the latest rankings.
Last week: No. 10 | This week: at Hart, Friday
13. Golden Valley (6-2): The Grizzlies are the only other one-loss team in the Foothill League besides Saugus (and unbeaten West Ranch). Golden Valley has a chance to earn an automatic playoff berth if it keeps up its great play.
Last week: No. 15 | This week: at West Ranch, Friday
14. Moorpark (5-2): The Musketeers beat Royal 42-0 and has a tough task at Thousand Oaks this week. QB Connor Smith threw for 357 yards and four TDs in the big win.
Last week: No. 14 | This week: at Thousand Oaks, Friday
15. Alemany (2-4): The Warriors don’t have a quarterback and are trying to win games running the wildcat offense. It’s going to be rough final stretch for Alemany after losing 43-8 to Chaminade then 42-0 to Sierra Canyon this past week.
Last week: No. 12 | This week: vs. Notre Dame, Friday
Daily News Week 7 rankings, Oct. 3
Daily News Week 6 rankings, Sept. 26
Daily News Week 5 rankings, Sept. 19
Daily News Week 4 rankings, Sept. 12
Daily News Week 3 rankings, Sept. 5
Daily News Week 2 rankings, Aug. 29
Daily News Week 1 rankings, Aug. 22
Daily News Preseason rankings, Aug. 14