FINAL ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL TOP 25 POLL
Notable this week: Santa Margarita is the No. 1 team in the final Orange County rankings for the 2025 season. … The Eagles won the CIF-SS Division 1 championship Friday by defeating Corona Centennial 42-7 at the Rose Bowl. … Los Alamitos passes San Clemente in the poll after it defeated the Tritons 33-20 in the Division 2 championship game. … La Habra moves up to No. 16 after its 27-13 win over San Jacinto in the Division 4 championship game.
1. Santa Margarita 10-3 (75 points)
The Eagles, led by first-year coach Carson Palmer, dominated Centennial 42-7 at the Rose Bowl in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game. Trace Johnson threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Trent Mosley had 10 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns. Santa Margarita beat Sierra Canyon in the first round and Orange Lutheran in the semifinals. The Eagles play Concord De La Salle (12-0) in the CIF State Open Division championship game Dec. 13 at Saddleback College.
Previous ranking: 1
2. Mater Dei 8-3 (72)
The Monarchs lost to Centennial 28-27 in the Division 1 semifinals. Mater Dei tied Santa Margarita and St. John Bosco for the Trinity League championship. The Monarchs lost by one point to Santa Margarita in a league game and beat Bosco in a league game. Mater Dei is No. 10 in this week’s MaxPreps.com national rankings.
Previous ranking: 3
3. Mission Viejo 9-2 (69)
The Diablos went 3-0 in the Alpha League, including wins over Los Alamitos (Division 2 champion) and San Clemente (Division 2 finalist). Mission Viejo beat Santa Margarita to begin the season and lost to Mater Dei 20-0 in the first round. It was Mission Viejo’s first shutout loss since 1995.
Previous ranking: 3
4. Servite 6-5 (65)
The Friars finished fourth in the six-team Trinity League. Their league wins were over JSerra and Orange Lutheran. Servite lost to Centennial 41-6 in the Division 1 quarterfinals.
Previous ranking: 5
5. Orange Lutheran 3-8 (64)
The Lancers finished fifth in the Trinity League. Orange Lutheran pulled off a big upset with a 20-19 win over St. John Bosco in the Division 1 quarterfinals. Two nonleague wins early in the season became forfeit losses when it was discovered that Orange Lutheran used an ineligible player in those games.
Previous ranking: 4
6. Los Alamitos 12-2 (60)
Los Alamitos won the Division 2 championship. The Griffins trailed San Clemente 17-3 in the first half before coming back to win 33-20. Kamden Tillis rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Lenny Ibarra rushed for 102 yards, had three tackles and a 64-yard punt. Jackson Renger had two of the team’s six sacks. Los Alamitos plays Cathedral Catholic (10-2) in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I-AA final Friday at Veterans Stadium.
Previous ranking: 7
7. San Clemente 9-5 (57)
The Tritons lost to Los Alamitos 33-20 in the Division 2 championship game. Jaxson Rex had three receptions and an interception. Running back Colin Granite scored San Clemente’s two touchdowns. San Clemente defeated Leuzinger 35-7 in the semifinals.
Previous ranking: 6
8. JSerra 3-7 (54)
The Lions did not qualify for the playoffs. They finished sixth in the six-team Trinity League with a 0-5 league record.
Previous ranking: 8
9. Tustin 8-3 (49)
The Tillers went 5-0 in the Delta League and won the league championship. They lost to Rancho Cucamonga 45-8 in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.
Previous ranking: 9
10. Yorba Linda 9-2 (46)
The Mustangs won the Bravo League championship. Yorba Linda lost to Los Alamitos 35-28 in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs.
Previous ranking: 10
11. San Juan Hills 2-10 (44)
Previous ranking: 11
12. Corona del Mar 9-2 (43)
Previous ranking: 12
13. Crean Lutheran 10-1 (41)
Previous ranking: 13
14. Edison 7-6 (38)
Previous ranking: 14
15. Huntington Beach 8-3 (31)
Previous ranking: 15
16. La Habra 11-3 (30)
Previous ranking: 17
17. Capistrano Valley 8-3 (29)
Previous ranking: 15
18. Laguna Beach 9-2 (24)
Previous ranking: 18
19. Dana Hills 10-2 (20)
Previous ranking: 19
20. Villa Park 8-5 (19)
Previous ranking: 20
21. Troy 10-2 (13)
Previous ranking: 21
22. Aliso Niguel 8-4 (12)
Previous ranking: 23
23. El Modena 6-5 (10)
Previous ranking: 23
24. Western 6-5 (7)
Previous ranking: 24
25. Orange 6-5 (3)
Previous ranking: 25