Let the countdown continue. 

California’s 2026 season is less than two weeks away with openers starting Aug. 20-21 in the Central, Southern, San Diego, Sac-Joaquin and Los Angeles City sections, and Aug. 27-28 in the Central Coast Section, North Coast, Oakland and San Francisco sections.  

Picking the Top 25 teams isn’t as difficult as it once was. Quite earnestly, the same teams largely resurface every year, built by cohesive coaching staffs that draw in top talent. If not the old fashion way of residing in circulation regions, blue chip athletes are finding ways to gain eligibility by legal bounds. 

The results are many of the titan programs battling year after year for winning programs, leading to section, if not regional and state titles. 

Over the next week, check back for the top 25 teams in the Golden State. 

See last season’s 2025 final rankings here and below check for the California 2025 in review section, featuring title game results, section champions and statistical leaders. 

Today are teams 16-20. Saturday look for teams 11-15, Monday 6-10 and Wednesday 1-5. All Southern Section team writeups are from Tarek Fattal and his Southern Section’s preseason football rankings. 

COUNTDOWN: Teams 21-25, 16-20

15. CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA

Last season: 11-2, 5-0 Redwood Empire Adobe League

Last 5 seasons: 48-15

Top offensive players: OL Josh Bunni, Sr.; WR Zion Cargill, Sr.; RB Kordel Strane, Sr.; QB Tino Retamoza, Jr.; 

Top defensive players: DL Kahlio Vaetoe, Sr.; DL King Pitts; DB Ka’vaughn Emoni Penney, Sr.; DL Eazy Crichton, Jr. 

Newcomer: RB James Curoso, Jr. (Clovis)

Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Vaetoe (No. 56), Bunni (No. 60, Cal), Cargill (No. 178, Eastern Washington). 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Caruso (No. 26), Crichton (No. 49).

14. CREAN LUTHERAN

Last season: 10-1, 5-0 Bravo League

Last 5 seasons: 38-19

Top Offensive Players: QB Caden Jones, Sr.; WR Ty Johnson, Sr.; RB Caleb Bey, Sr.; Slot Damari Hall, Sr.; OL Eric Cruz, Sr.; OL Demetrius Panapa, Sr.; OL Adonijah Moenoa, Jr.; OL Heinrik Shriver, Sr.; OL Ace Herman-Dawson, Sr.

Top Defensive Players: CB/S Evan Mack, Sr.; S Aidan Smith, Sr.; OLB Aaron Nicasio, Sr.; OLB Mateo Munoz, Sr.; DE/LB Ethan Haugsland, Sr.; DE Luke Smith, Sr.; CB Jacob Whitehead, Sr.; DE Nasir Walker, Jr.

Newcomers: LB Ahmeer Williamson, Sr. (St. John Bosco); WR Braylen Ross, Sr. (Lincoln); WR Troy Roberts, Sr. (Yorba Linda); OL Ace Herman, Sr. (Cal); OL Ezra Jordan, Sr. (Douglas County, GA)

Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Johnson (No. 26, Arizona commit), Mack (No. 34, Arizona commit), Jones (No. 42, Arizona commit), Whitehead (No. 50, Arizona commit), Hall (No. 67, North Texas), Herman-Dawson (No. 148, Cal), Williamson (No. 169), Ross (No. 172, Arizona), Bey (No. 223, Cal Poly SLO). 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Walker (No. 27).

Coach Rick Curtis says: "Our expectations are high as we have 26 seniors on this year's squad and they make up most of the starting lineup on both sides of the ball. Our goals are to win the newly formed Bravo league and to advance deep into the CIF playoffs. With our toughest schedule ever, we look to be battle tested for our league and for the CIF playoffs."

13. CHAPARRAL

Last season: 7-5, 3-2 Big West Upper League

Last 5 seasons: 36-23

Top Offensive Players: QB Dane Weber, Sr.; WR Eli Woodard, Sr.; WR Kiko Farinas, Sr.; WR Tycen Johnson, Sr.; WR Chase Bonta, Sr.; WR LJ Pierce, Jr..; LT Axton Lange, So.; RT Calvin Moala, Sr.; C Caeden Weaver, So.; RB Trevor Schneider, Sr.

Top Defensive Players: DE Kameron Payne, Sr.; DT Caleb Joy, Sr.; LB Logan Coleman, Sr.; LB Kayden Dominguez, Fr.; LB Connor Rios, So.

Newcomers: DB/WR/KR Kingston Hunter, So. (Orange); LB Tyler Roney, So. (Murrieta Valley); OL Caden Degnan, Fr. (Murrieta Valley); DE Steven Block, So. (Palm Desert)

Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Woodard (No. 14, Miami), Weber (No. 41, Cal), Johnson (No. 49, ASU), Farinas (No. 84, UCLA), Schneider (No. 127), Moala (No. 184, San Jose State), Coleman (No. 200), Payne (No. 206, Cal Poly SLO); 247Sports 2028 (Top 80) — Lange (No. 38), Pierce (No. 60). 

Coach Andrew Ramer says: "We want to win a Championship with this team. We have great chemistry, lots of multiple year starters, close games losses last year will be wins this year, hopefully."

12. PACIFICA/OXNARD

Last season: 15-1, 5-0 Miramonte League

Last 5 seasons: 51-15

Top Offensive Players: QB Taylor Lee, Sr.; WR Will Jones Jr., So.; Slot Alijah Royster, Sr.; WR Anthony Jacobs Jr., Sr.; OL Anthony Loreto, So.; RB Angel Sepulveda, Sr.; RB Isaiah Phelps, Sr.

Top Defensive Players: LB Isaiah Phelps, Sr.; LB Malaika Sione, Sr.; DB Philip "PeeWee" Wilson III, Sr.; CB Jamarcus Harmon, So.; DB Darius Smith, Sr.; CB Anthony Jacobs Jr., Sr.

Newcomers: CB Tadd Mitchell, Sr. (Carlsbad); OL Miguel Macias, Sr. (St. Bonaventure)

Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Phelps (No. 36, San Diego State), Lee (No. 121, Portland State), Wilson III (No. 196), Royster (No. 197). 

Coach Mike Moon says: "If we figure it out up front and stay healthy, we can make another long run in the playoffs."

11. CENTRAL EAST

Last season: 14-1, 5-0 Tri-River League

Last 5 seasons: 52-15

Top offensive players: QB Jelani Dippel, Sr.; WR Bayon Harris, Sr.; RB/DB Xavion Jones, Sr.; WR Relando Jefferson IV, Sr.; WR/FS Kevin Cooks, Jr. ; WR Titus Thomas, Jr.; ATH Carmine Guevara, Sr.; ATH Cash Boyd, So. 

 Top defensive players: FS Andrew Garcis, Sr.; DB Jontae Della, Sr.; DL Diallo McCoy, Sr.; LB Lonzo Jenkins, Sr.; DB Derreck Castro, Sr.; LB Zachary Goodwin, So.

Recruited/ranked players: 247Sports 2027 (Top 224) — Harris (No. 74, Fresno State), Jones (No. 176, San Diego State), Jefferson IV (No. 182, Fresno State). 

CALIFORNIA 2025 IN REVIEW

Not Mater Dei. Not St. John Bosco. 

For the first time since 2015, a California football team not named either of those two schools won the biggest prize — the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship — to finish off the 2025 season. 

Santa Margarita, a rapidly rising up-and-coming program that plays in the same Trinity League as national juggernauts Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, won the Open crown with a decisive 47-13 win over perennial Northern California power De La Salle-Concord at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. 

Santa Margarita senior WR Trent Mosley and USC commit had eight catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone when the Eagles raced to a 35-7 lead en route to a 47-13 win in the CIF State Open Division championship at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. | Photo by Todd Shurtleff

State Player of the Year, big-play receiver Trent Mosley had 11 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns and added a TD rushing as the Eagles, coached for the first season by former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback standout Carson Palmer, finished off a late-season flurry with a thoroughly decisive win over De La Salle (12-1), which was after its ongoing record eighth state title. 

The Spartans, who hadn’t played for 22 days due to early North Coast Section playoffs and a week off after being selected the top team from the North, were outgained 377-180 and sacked four times. Its star running back, state-champion sprinter Jaden Jefferson, scored both of De La Salle’s touchdowns. 

Tulsa-bound quarterback Trace Johnson threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, two also to Luke Gazzaniga. A 43-yard pick-6 by Siua Holani capped the lopsided win for Santa Margarita (11-3), which finished the season with lopsided wins over Orange Lutheran (28-7 and 31-6),  JSerra Catholic (41-14), Sierra Canyon (21-9) and Corona Centennial (42-7). 

MORE STATE CHAMPIONS

Division 1-AA: Folsom 42, Cathedral Catholic-San Diego 28

Division 1-A: Central East 42, Pacifica-Oxnard 28

Division 2-AA: St. Mary’s-Stockton 27, Bakersfield Christian 24

Division 2-A: Sonora 35, Rio Hondo Prep 10

Division 3-AA: St. Ignatius 42, Ventura 35

Division 3-A: Kennedy-Delano 42, McClymonds-Oakland 25

Division 4-AA: Barstow 17, Sutter 7

Division 5-AA: Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 37, Christian-El Cajon 0

Division 5-A: San Andreas 42, Bishop Union 21

Division 6-AA: Valley Center 36, Lincoln-San Jose 35

Division 6-A: Winters 28, Morse 7

Division 7-AA: Redding Christian 16, Woodbridge-Irvine 0

Division 7-A: Balboa-San Francisco 42, South El Monte 8

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS | Game previews 

SECTION CHAMPIONS

Central Section — Central East (Division 1-AA), Bakersfield Christian (1-A), Arroyo Grande (D2), Kennedy (D3), Immanuel (D4), Bishop Union (D5), Minarets (D6), Fresno Christian (8-man)

Central Coast Section — Riordan (Open Division), Serra (Division 1), St. Ignatius (D2), Menlo-Atherton (D3), Lincoln-San Jose (D4), Piedmont Hills (D5)

LA City Section — Carson (Open Division), South Gate (D1), San Fernando (D2), Santee (D3), Sherman Oaks CES (8-person)

North Coast Section — De La Salle (Open Division), Pittsburg (D1), Monte Vista-Danville (D2), El Cerrito (D3), Miramonte (D4), Ferndale (D5), Bishop O’Dowd (D6), Middletown (D7), Stuart Hall (8-person D1), Elsie Allen (8-person D2).

Northern Section — Chico (Division 2), Gridley (D3), Winters (D4), Redding Christian (D5)

Oakland Section — McClymonds

San Diego Section — Cathedral Catholic (Open Division), Granite Hills (D1), Santa Fe Christian (D2), Christian (D3), Valley Center (D4), Morse (D5-A), Marantha Christian (D5-AA), St. Joseph Academy (D6)

Sac-Joaquin Section — Folsom (D1), St. Mary’s (D2), Woodcreek (D3), Roseville (D4), Sutter (D5), Sonora (D6), Calaveras (D7), Mira Loma (D8)

San Francisco Section — Balboa

Southern Section — Santa Margarita (D1), Los Alamitos (D2), Pacifica (D3), La Habra (D4), Rio Hondo (D5), Ventura (D6), Barstow (D7), Beckman (D8), Valley Christian (D9), Hillcrest (D10), Valley View (D11), Grace (D12), Woodbridge (D13), South El Monte (D14), Flintridge Prep (8-man D1), Lancaster Baptist (8-man D2). 

RETURNING STATE STAT LEADERS
(All via MaxPreps leaderboards)

Touchdowns

Eli Dukes (Palma) 37

Elijah Walker (Chavez) 36

Joe Lara (Liberty Ranch) 32

James Curso (Clovis) 30

Carson Tidwell (King City) 30

Elias Haynes (Downey) 30 

Passing yards 

Jelani Dipper (Central East) 4,583 yards

Taylor Lee (Pacifica-Oxnard) 4,059

Zachary Benitez (Granite Hills-Cel Cajon) 4,009

Deshawn Laporte (Burbank) 3,990

Michael Gonzalez (South Gate) 3,842

Touchdown passes

Dippel (Central East) 58

Wyatt Shaw (Redding Christian) 55

Laport (Burbank) 54

Lee (Pacifica) 53

Riley Williams (Grace) 46

Rushing yards

Eli Dukes (Palma) 2,420

Gage Jones (Live Oak) 2,207

Wyatt Gillett (Los Molinos) 2,187

Ma’Kahl Fields-Cook (Canyon Hills) 2,092

Carson Tidwell (King City) 2,076

Dvaughn Norwood (Bella Vista) 1,876

Receiving yards

Nicholas Fonseca (South Gate) 1,782 (99 catches, 20 touchdowns)

Bayon Harris (Central East) 1,768 (86, 26)

Demaje Riley (Tulare Union) 1,519 (72, 13)

Blake Wong (Norco) 1,479 (84, 20)

Jmari Garlington (Banning) 1,470 (76, 17)

Tackles

Isiah Phelps (Pacifica) 232

Madden Mayer (Linfield Christian) 180

Ryan Halversen (Middletown) 177

Jaret Bridwell (Red Bluff) 173

Kane Casani (Loyola) 166

Sacks

Brandon Garcia (La Puente) 21

Anthony Lara (Kennedy-Delano) 19

Juan Raygoza (McLane) 18

Kingston Sula (Carson) 16

Paul Pennson (North Hollywood) 15

Cody McCoard (Golden Sierra) 15

Interceptions

Jaden Walk-Green (Corona Centennial) 10

Raul Iniguez (Fall River) 9

Micah Skinner (Redding Christian) 9

Xavier Musselman-Cano (Beckman) 9

Taylor Sheriff (Canyon Hills) 8

Shane Anderson (Viewpoint) 8

Jayden Harris (Manteca) 8