Los Alamitos beats Edison for Sunset League four-peat– Top 10 Southern California football game roundup (10/27/2023)

Los Alamitos, Gardena, Tustin, and Oaks Christian were among the big winners of the weekend

Author:
Lance Smith, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Oct 28, 2023 1:47 AM EDT

By the time Saturday ends, the 2023 regular season will already be finished in Southern California high school football.

Here's a look at the results of the Top 10 games – and many others – in Southern California for Week 10 (games Oct. 26-28). Check back throughout the night and weekend as we update the roundup, and track updated scores across SoCal by visiting our scoreboards below.

Last update: 10:47 p.m. Friday

SCORES Oct. 26-28:

LA City Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

San Diego Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Southern Section: Thursday, Friday, Saturday

10A. Carson 13, Banning (Wilmington) 0

10B. Gardena 28, Narbonne 3

In the span of less than a month, Gardena went from the trendy dark horse pick in the Marine League to seemingly having its hopes dashed by losing to Banning to actually winning the conference. In their 28-3 win over Narbonne, the Panthers left no doubt as they made program history. And Carson showed its ability to bounce back as well, stuffing Banning 13-0 after last week's loss to Gardena to also finish tied at the top.

PREGAME: For what's far from the first or last time, it's just one of those years in the Marine League. After Gardena's upset of Carson last week, a double entry is the only appropriate option here. Carson seemed poised to run away with the conference title and an undefeated regular season until last week. After beating Narbonne 27-7 and San Pedro 48-7, the Colts fell 27-7 to Gardena last week – a tremendous bounce back game for Gardena after getting upset by Banning. So, if Carson and Gardena both win on Friday, they finish tied atop the standings at 3-1, with Gardena holding the head-to-head advantage if relevant. If only one of them wins, they're the undisputed champion. And if Banning and Narbonne both pull off the upset tonight, then guess what – every team in the Marine League finishes 2-2.

9. Colony 22, Glendora 21

The Citrus 4 League title game lived up to the billing as running back Kekoa Josiah led Colony to a one-point win in a thriller. Glendora got back within striking distance of a league championship in 2022, but Colony is your back-to-back undisputed champion.

PREGAME: After dealing with an uncharacteristic rebuilding year in 2022, Glendora is already back in the Citrus 4 League title hunt after outlasting South Hills and Los Osos. However, even with home field advantage, it's still an underdog this week against reigning champion Colony, which won this matchup by 30 points last year. Colony has to like its odds at completing its first back-to-back conference title run since 2014 and 2015 in the Mt. Baldy League, but it'll need to bring its A-game.

8. Central (El Centro) 14, Brawley 7

Central remains one small step ahead of Brawley, pulling out a 14-7 win. Which means it's the Imperial Valley League champion for the second year in a row. Will 2023 be like 2022, when the rivals met again in the San Diego Section Division 2 playoffs?

PREGAME: San Diego Section football fans are accustomed to getting outstanding title races in the Imperial Valley League, and 2023 is business as usual. While it probably doesn't need additional motivation, Brawley is likely extra motivated after losing narrowly to Central in back-to-back games to end 2022 – one in the league championship, and the other in the playoffs. Central's last league loss came in Week 10 of 2021 to Brawley, so both these teams are accustomed to dealing with playoff atmospheres against each other in the final game before the playoffs actually start.

7. Oaks Christian 13, St. Bonaventure 10

Back on top at last. It wasn't Oaks Christian's most convincing win of the season but it may have been its most meaningful one, as the Lions are Marmonte League champions for the first time in five years after beating St. Bonaventure 13-10.

PREGAME: The last time Oaks Christian won the Marmonte League? It's been longer than most would think – five years. And in every one of those seasons, it came up just short. Oaks Christian was considered the favorite by many last year entering Week 10 against St. Bonaventure, but it fell 40-28. The Lions get a repeat situation this year, and are a heavier favorite to seal the deal this time around. But St. Bonaventure is not to be counted out after overcoming an injury-afflicted start to the season and entering 7-2 on a six-game tear.

6. Orange Vista 36, Rancho Verde 27

Like most of Orange Vista's other opponents, Rancho Verde just couldn't contain Sire Gaines. The 3-star Arizona State commit ran for three touchdowns and returned a fumble for a touchdown as well as Orange Vista won 36-27 to sweep the Ivy League for the second consecutive year.

PREGAME: The theme of undisputed league title games continues. Orange Vista (6-3) might be on the verge of its second straight undisputed Ivy League title, and has done nothing but roll after playing a tough non-league slate and opening 1-3. However, Rancho Verde is too good to count out. Rancho Verde (8-1) didn't lose a league game from 2015 through the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season, and it would only be a minor upset if it got back on top in 2023.

5. Tustin 49, Cypress 17

It really was Tustin's year all along. Quarterback Jack Stupin, running back Eimesse Essis, and wide receiver MacKenzie Alleyne all accounted for multiple touchdowns as Tustin locked up the Empire League title and undefeated regular season in style beating Cypress 49-17.

PREGAME: It's felt like Tustin's year all season long. The Tillers are one win away from running the table throughout not only Empire League play but the whole regular season. And since reaching peak form in a Week Four 40-19 win over Trabuco Hills, Tustin hasn't allowed one opponent to play them closely. However, all of that could change in Week 10 against battle-tested Cypress, which outdueled Crean Lutheran 30-24 last week to set up an undisputed conference title game. Despite entering as a multi-score underdog this week, Cypress hasn't come up short of a league title since 2018, and its experienced senior class is surely ready to give Tustin its best shot on Friday.

4. Los Alamitos 21, Edison (Huntington Beach) 10

As many expected, Edison was indeed able to push heavily-favored Los Alamitos, but couldn't put up enough points to pull the upset. With its fourth straight sweep of the Sunset League, it's time to call this a Los Alamitos dynasty if it wasn't already.

PREGAME: Unlike almost every other game on the list, this one would be a massive upset if the underdog pulls it off. Los Alamitos has swept the Sunset League the last three seasons, and is the overwhelming favorite here. In fact, on paper, its perceived advantage is so large that this game might not even make the countdown without context. But, the context is that Edison is one of those teams that nobody would dare count out. After outdueling Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor in close games, the Chargers again find themselves in the de facto Sunset League championship with an opportunity to shock the world.

3. Upland 17, Rancho Cucamonga 14

From the "cardiac Cougars" to heartbroken. Rancho Cucamonga's narrow loss couldn't have been much more anticlimactic after last week's dramatic win over Damien, but they still sit in a great spot at 9-1 if they can regroup in time for their playoff opener. For Upland, the win means tying atop the Baseline League standings, and its first win over one of its top rivals since 2017.

PREGAME: Call them the cardiac Cougars. Rancho Cucamonga's high-profile crusade to win arguably the best Baseline League race ever has been an ongoing storyline followed by fans from much farther than just the Inland Empire. After starting 2023 by winning six consecutive nail-biters, Rancho Cucamonga got two blowout wins (against Etiwanda and Chino Hills) to open Baseline League play, and then played its closest game yet to knock off Damien last week. Now, the Cougars are just one win away from cementing an undefeated regular season. Nobody would be surprised if it were another blowout – or another instant classic that came down to the end. Upland, which nearly upset Damien earlier in league play, is a formidable foe that's also comfortable in tight games. And the Highlanders have undoubtedly been looking forward to their opportunity at crashing Rancho Cucamonga's parade.

2. San Marcos (San Marcos) 21 Del Norte (San Diego) 6

With yet another defensive gem, San Marcos completes the breakthrough season by beating Del Norte for a Palomar League title. After four losing seasons in a row, San Marcos enters the playoffs with eight wins, its first share of a conference title since 2013, and its first undisputed conference title since 1981.

MORE: TAKEAWAYS AND PHOTOS

PREGAME: Another week, another thrilling league title game in San Diego Section territory that fans from other sections might be sleeping on. Last week's highly-anticipated matchup between Granite Hills and Helix lived up to the hype, and we're expecting a memorable battle this week between San Marcos and Del Norte as well. Both of these teams have only lost in non-league play against Avocado League heavyweights, and enter the Palomar League title game with lots of momentum. San Marcos has made quicker work of its conference foes than Del Norte, but with only one loss, Del Norte is considered the favorite by some as it has home field advantage and an edge in CalPreps rankings. Either way, there's not much between these two sides, so get your popcorn.

1. Dorsey 20, King/Drew 12

After playing a formidable non-league slate and starting 0-5, Dorsey was just getting ready to show what it could really do. The Dons clinched a share of the Coliseum League title with a 20-12 rivalry win over King/Drew at L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

PREGAME: To think that both of these teams were winless a month ago, and are now playing for a league title in one of the most hyped-up iterations of the South L.A. Classic in generations. Both teams are tied at 3-1 in Coliseum League play, along with Crenshaw, which rolled King/Drew to open conference play but fell a week later to Dymally. With Crenshaw nearly a lock to beat Fremont this week, whomever wins this one is almost assured a tie atop the standings. So yes, this is a Coliseum League title game, and it's part of one of the most historic rivalries in California and beyond. That alone makes it must-see TV. Now throw in the fact it's also at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, and that the halftime show includes multi-platinum rappers Warren G and Xzibit, and you have what might be the top spectacle of the entire regular season in California. To make it even better, tickets are just $15. The football gods are truly smiling down on this one.

MORE NOTABLE RESULTS:

Yorba Linda 45, Foothill (Santa Ana) 29

Per Dan Albano of OC Register/OC Varsity, Yorba Linda and Foothill got first and second in the coin flip, which means Villa Park will need to receive an at-large bid.

Apple Valley 24, Serrano 6

With a 24-6 win over Serrano, Apple Valley clinched a top-three finish in the Mojave Desert League, a playoff spot, and its eight consecutive winning (regular) season.

Bishop Amat 34, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 23

By beating Notre Dame to clinch yet another top-three finish in the Mission League, Bishop Amat ensured that its playoff streak isn't going anywhere. Ryan Salcedo ran for 164 yards and three touchdowns for the Lancers, which overcame a 20-7 deficit.

Etiwanda 51, Damien 36

Rancho Cucamonga losing wasn't the only big shakeup in the Baseline League. Etiwanda came out of the gate infernally to hand Damien, which was 8-0 eight days ago, its second consecutive loss. Conference play was a disappointment for Etiwanda in 2023, but the Eagles ended the regular season on a high note.

Diamond Ranch 36, Northview 28

With a light upset over Northview, Diamond Ranch has forced a three-way tie atop the Valle Vista League with San Dimas as the third team. D'mariya Thomas caught three touchdowns for Diamond Ranch.

Chaparral 59, Roosevelt (Eastvale) 57

Talk about an unforgettable battle. Chaparral made headlines by winning 59-57 against Roosevelt on an Ezra Johnson free kick invoked by taking a fair catch as time expired. And the win guarantees the Pumas a playoff birth to boot.