Sierra Canyon survives Serra for Mission League title – (Updated) Top 10 Southern California football game roundup (10/20/2023)

Sierra Canyon, Rancho Cucamonga, Granite Hills (El Cajon), and Palisades were among the teams that won league titles in thrillers

Author:
Lance Smith, SBLive Sports
Updated:
Oct 21, 2023 5:33 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 21, 2023

For the second week in a row, a particularly highly-anticipated week of Southern California high school football delivered. Week Nine was filled with well-played league title matches that came down to the wire.

Here's a look at the results of the Top 10 games in Southern California for Week Eight (games Oct. 19-21). Check back throughout the night and weekend as we update the roundup with the sights, sounds, and scores from other big SoCal matchups. You can also track updated scores across SoCal at our scoreboards below.

Last update: 2:33 a.m. Saturday

SCORES Oct. 19-21:

LA City Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

San Diego Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Southern Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

10. Trabuco Hills 24, San Juan Hills 17

On the rare occasions that we describe a victory as "program-defining" in the regular season, this is what we're talking about. After playing second fiddle to San Juan Hills (or occasionally Capistrano Valley) in the Sea View League for seemingly generations, Trabuco Hills football – built from the ground up – is the new king of the hill.

The Mustangs stayed poised despite giving up a 49-yard pick-six to 4-star linebacker Weston Port not two minutes into the game, and rode a 17-0 second quarter to victory. Star receiver Ryan Luce, who entered the game with five total carries and over 90 receiving yards per game, ran for not one but two touchdowns for Trabuco Hills.

PREGAME: Trabuco Hills has nabbed second place in the Sea View League four out of the last five seasons. And it's almost a lock to finish top-two once again this season. However, the Mustangs haven't broken through to win the conference since 2009. In order to break through, they're tasked with disrupting what's been a magical season for 8-0 San Juan Hills. Only two teams have even played San Juan Hills close, and Trabuco Hills is a heavy underdog. But the Stallions can't afford to sleep on one of Trabuco Hills' strongest teams yet.

9. Palisades 28 Venice 24

With a 28-24 victory over rival Venice, Palisades is your 2023 Western League champion. And the streak of these two teams alternating for first and second in the conference now extends to its fifth year.

Palisades led 21-17 at halftime on a trio of touchdown passes from Roman La Scala, and quickly reached 28-17 on a La Scala keeper. Amir Smith scored his third touchdown of the game for Venice about four minutes into the fourth quarter, but neither team scored again.

PREGAME: In 2019, Palisades and Venice ended a Fairfax reign by finishing first and second in the Western League. The next season, they switched roles. Then they did it again and did it again. In 2023, the familiar foes are once again the teams to beat in the conference. While the trend obviously has no actual significance, recent history says that Palisades will defeat Venice, and indeed, Palisades enters as the higher-ranked team. Either way, whether you swim with the Dolphins or ride with the Gondoliers, someone's boat is going to have to sink.

8. El Modena 38, El Dorado 10

El Modena has run away with the North Hills League title for the second year in a row, thanks to a monster effort from quarterback Xzavior Guess. It was 14-10 early in the second quarter, but the Vanguards scored the last 24 points of the game and shut El Dorado out in the second half of their 38-10 victory.

PREGAME: Heading into these teams' meeting last year, El Modena was the clear favorite, but it also looked on paper like El Dorado at least had a real crack at a league title. El Modena ended up rolling to a 50-21 victory, and El Dorado got upset by Canyon (Anaheim) two weeks later to end up with third place in the North Hills League. This time, El Modena is still the favorite, but El Dorado likely has a better chance now with both teams at 4-4. The Golden Hawks just got major revenge over Canyon with a 41-0 beatdown, and their last game before that was a three-score win over Foothill (Santa Ana). Perfect time for a shot at dethroning the incumbent top dog.

7. Palos Verdes 34, Culver City 31

While Mira Costa's defense and Culver City's offense gave Palos Verdes all it could handle, the Sea Kings are officially Bay League champions for the third season in a row. The previous two title runs were clean sweeps, and Palos Verdes will be the overwhelming favorite in Week 10 to make it 5-0 again – which would cement an undefeated regular season.

PREGAME: Like the first three games in the countdown, this one is a straight-up league title game with a clear favorite and underdog. Culver City (6-2) has a Bay League title-worthy squad – but the odds are stacked against it on the road against unbeaten Palos Verdes. The Centaurs' only losses were against Loyola in Week Two and Warren in Four, with the latter nearly being a big upset win. They've proven they can win in shootouts (72-63 over San Jacinto) or tense defensive battles (14-13 over Mira Costa). And they haven't lost in over a month. However, Culver City is a major long shot this week. Palos Verdes has only had one game this year in which it appeared mortal. However, that was was just two weeks ago, when the Sea Kings were held to nine points and nearly fell to (at the time) unbeaten Mira Costa. So an upset in this one isn't out of the question.

6. Kennedy (Granada Hills) 55, Panorama 20

It's official: Kennedy is a conference champion for the first time of the CalPreps era, which spans two decades. The Cougars clinched the Valley Mission League in style, rolling to a 55-20 win over Panorama led by sophomore quarterback Diego Montes.

PREGAME: No. 6 is the only game on this list representing a league race that comes down to more than two teams. And one of the teams, Panorama, has already lost a game in league play. But it's still juicy. Kennedy is on the verge of its first league title in at least 20 years, and possibly since the 90's. After knocking off San Fernando in Week Five, the Cougars have cemented at least a tie for first in the Valley Mission League, assuming they don't get stunned by Van Nuys next week. But they're not exactly the only team trying to make history – Panorama has never won a league title in its 16-season history. Panorama fell to San Fernando 35-15 last time out, but it can still grab at least a slice of the pie if it wins out from here.

5. Aquinas 50, Ontario Christian 30

One of a handful of incumbent league champions who preserved the status quo in this week's roundup, Aquinas was the only one besides El Modena to do it lopsidedly.

Still unbeaten in league play since 2016, the Falcons annihilated Ontario Christian 30-0 in the first half, and had plenty of padding for when Ontario Christian found a rhythm in the second half. Cal commit Jojo Solis dominated with 231 yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion on the ground to go with a touchdown catch for Aquinas.

PREGAME: Aquinas quietly owns one of the best league winning streaks in SoCal. The Falcons have not lost a conference game since 2016 despite moving around a few times and having to acclimate to new league foes during that time. That streak – and this year's Ironwood League title – will be on the streak on Thursday with Ontario Christian coming to town. At 7-1 with convincing wins, Ontario Christian has one of the best squads that Aquinas has had to face in league play during the last few years, so this is anyone's game.

4. Inglewood 27, Leuzinger 23

Still the top of the Ocean League, and still unbeaten in regular season play against CIFSS foes under Mil'Von James (2019-present). Inglewood outdueled Leuzinger in what was a close battle all night long.

The last time the Ocean League had an evenly matched title game? It was Oct. 11, 2019, when the conference looked very different, and was played in the smoke of the Saddleridge Fire blowing in from the San Fernando Valley. Culver City defeated reigning state champion Lawndale 32-27 in a thriller in that one.

PREGAME: Like the last game in the countdown, this is a league title game in a league that hasn't had competition at the top in recent years. Until this season, Inglewood still hadn't lost a regular season game since Mil'Von James took over in 2019 following a 0-10 campaign. And despite lopsided losses to the top two teams in the San Diego Section, Inglewood's streak still continues against Southern Section teams. That makes the Sentinels the favorite heading into Week Nine, but they're still searching for a signature win this regular season. With perennially battle-tested Leuzinger amped for its first real shot at an Ocean League title, it's time for everyone to pull the stops out.

3. Sierra Canyon 35, Serra (Gardena) 28

It's official: with a 35-28 win over Serra (Gardena), Sierra Canyon has won the Mission League in both of its first two years in the conference. And it's one win away from an undefeated regular season.

However, the Trailblazers were tested for four quarters for the first time since Week Zero, as Serra scored twice as many points against them as anyone else has this season. Sierra Canyon had to climb out of a 14-0 hole it fell in just a few minutes into the game, and appeared to turn the ball over on downs with the game tied at 28 with 2:37 left. But Serra was flagged for roughing the kicker on the field goal attempt of roughly 40 yards, and Dane Dunn scored the game-winning touchdown before regulation ended. Dunn ran for two touchdowns, and Wyatt Becker ran for one as well as throwing two touchdown passes.

PREGAME: Is anyone stopping the best Sierra Canyon team ever? If so, is it happening before one of the final rounds of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs? Serra is such an overwhelming underdog this week that the Trailblazers outright cruising to an undefeated regular season and Mission League title is a likely possibility. Transitive scores only mean so much – just ask Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. But the teams have four common opponents – Orange Lutheran, Oaks Christian, Bishop Amat, and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) – and Sierra Canyon's point differential against them is more than 100 total points larger than Serra's. And still, with all that said, Serra is way too good for this not to be one of the most intriguing games in the state this week.

2. Granite Hills (El Cajon) 44, Helix 43 (2OT)

It "only" took two overtimes this year, but you can still call it the San Diego Section (regular season) game of the year. And call the Eagles Grossmont Hills League champions for the second season in a row while you're at it.

After last year's meeting went to four extra periods, Granite Hills recovered from blowing a 23-7 third quarter lead to defeat Helix 44-43 in double overtime. Kevin Allen's third touchdown run of the game cut Helix's deficit to three points with 4:42 left, and the Highlanders scored a field goal to end regulation 30-30. Like Rancho Cucamonga in the previous game in the countdown, Granite Hills won the game by one point after stopping a two-point conversion attempt.

PREGAME: Quite a few of the teams featured in this week's countdown are still unbeaten. In the top two games, both teams are unbeaten – which means they're playing for even more than an undisputed league title. Granite Hills went under the radar last year en-route to a Grossmont Hills League title, CIFSDS Division 2 title, and CIF State 2-A title. Entering the 2023 season on a nine-game winning streak with all those accolades, Granite Hills was no longer under-the-radar. But that hasn't stopped the Eagles from building on 2022. At 8-0, they're on a 17-game winning streak entering their shot to win a second consecutive conference title. However, Helix appears to be just as formidable, and is also two wins away from a 10-0 campaign. The Highlanders haven't been tested in a while, but they were tested plenty during non-league play, and should be ready for perhaps their toughest challenge yet. Now throw in the fact that this game went to four overtimes last year, and you might be looking at the game of the year.

1. Rancho Cucamonga 36, Damien 35

It's always nice when the No. 1 game in the weekly countdown lives up to the hype. Especially when there was so much hype going into this one.

In the long-awaited battle of unbeaten Baseline League powers, Rancho Cucamonga survived Damien 36-35 on a last-minute end zone interception from Dakota Mendoza. Damien had just scored a touchdown with 38 seconds left in the game, and opted to go for two.

READ: RANCHO CUCAMONGA EDGES DAMIEN, CEMENTS D1 PLAYOFF SPOT

PREGAME: With all the chaos of a usual Baseline League title race combined with the fact that this might be the strongest Baseline League ever, it's rather remarkable that there's a clear-cut championship. And this is it. Reigning champion Rancho Cucamonga is the favorite here, but don't expect Damien to show any fear in the midst of one of the best seasons in its history. A Cougars win would just about cement a CIFSS Division 1 appearance for Rancho Cucamonga, and the reciprocal could land Damien in Division 1 instead. However, if Damien wins, there's also a good chance that these teams wind up at the top of the Division 2 bracket. If so, then this league title game could prove to be a preview of a section title game as well. Either way, one team is getting its heart broken on Friday, and the other will be one more expected win away from a league title and undefeated campaign.

(Feature photo by Nick Koza)

MORE NOTABLE RESULTS

St. John Bosco 42, JSerra 20

With a 42-20 win against JSerra, St. John Bosco is one win away from sweeping the Trinity League for its first league title in five years.

Ayala 45, Charter Oak 10

Last year, Charter Oak edged out Ayala by one point in a light upset for a Mountain West League title. But this year, Ayala was not to be denied. After the Bulldogs held off Bonita 29-26 last week, they officialized a league title with a 45-10 rout of Charter Oak. Marquis Monroe was dominant once again with eight carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns and two catches for 63 yards and another TD.

Diamond Bar 35, Walnut 12

The Brahmas rolled as expected in one of the San Gabriel Valley's top rivalry games. Only winless Ontario stands in the way of Diamond Bar and an undisputed Hacienda League title after its 35-12 victory over Walnut.

Servite 50, Santa Margarita 42

With 513 yards of offense, Servite snapped a 10-game Trinity League losing streak for its first conference win in over two calendar years. Leo Hannan threw four touchdown passes for the Friars in a win that takes them out of the league's cellar.

Newport Harbor 21, Corona del Mar 20

We talked about program-defining wins earlier in the roundup, and here's another one. Newport Harbor rode a 14-0 start it achieved early in the second quarter to defeat crosstown rival Corona del Mar 21-20. The win marks the Sailors' first in the Battle of the Bay since 2012.