News Summary
Mater Dei High School’s football team claimed the top position in the Orange County High School Football Rankings after a Week 0 victory against St. Thomas Aquinas. The team, led by senior quarterback Ryan Hopkins, triumphed with a score of 26-23, marking a solid start to the season. Mater Dei’s subsequent game against Bishop Montgomery has been cancelled due to a forfeit, solidifying their lead. Meanwhile, Mission Viejo and Orange Lutheran are also performing well in the rankings as the competitive season unfolds.
Santa Ana, CA – Mater Dei High School’s football team has decisively taken the top spot in the early Orange County High School Football Rankings after securing a win in Week 0. With a record of 1-0 and accumulating 75 points, Mater Dei triumphed over St. Thomas Aquinas from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with a close score of 26-23. The matchup featured standout performance from senior quarterback Ryan Hopkins, who made a notable debut by throwing three touchdown passes. Notably, wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. caught two of those touchdown passes, contributing to the team’s solid beginning to the season.
Despite their impressive start, Mater Dei’s upcoming game scheduled against Bishop Montgomery, who currently holds a record of 0-1, has been cancelled. Bishop Montgomery was forced to forfeit the match due to a lack of eligible players, further solidifying Mater Dei’s early edge in the rankings.
Ranked second in the poll is Mission Viejo, sitting at a record of 4-0 and accumulating 72 points. Mission Viejo secured a narrow victory over Santa Margarita, winning 7-3. In this game, quarterback Luke Fahey delivered the decisive moment with a touchdown pass to Jack Junker in the third quarter. Although Santa Margarita outgained Mission Viejo in rushing yards (94-29), the team struggled to convert those opportunities into points, ultimately leading to their defeat.
Orange Lutheran has maintained a respectable position, tying for third place with a record of 1-0 and 68 points. They achieved success against Miami Northwestern in Florida, securing a 17-13 victory. In that game, Reagan Loki showcased his skills by throwing two touchdown passes, one of which was received by Nico Bland.
Santa Margarita is also tied for third with a record of 0-1 following their loss to Mission Viejo. Meanwhile, Servite holds the fifth-ranked position with an 0-1 record after suffering a defeat to Centennial, falling 42-14. Servite’s coach, Matt Reinert, noted the team’s undoing was largely due to self-inflicted mistakes that proved costly in the game.
San Juan Hills stands at No. 6 with a record of 1-0, recently edging out Chaparral with a 38-33 score. Quarterback Timmy Herr led the charge with an impressive performance, throwing for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Edison and Tustin are tied for seventh place, with both teams starting their season with records of 1-0. Edison overcame Clovis West with a score of 20-13, while Tustin triumphed over San Clemente, winning 30-17, thanks to quarterback Ayden Edwards, who completed 11 of 15 passing attempts.
Yorba Linda enters the rankings in ninth place with a commanding 41-0 victory over Mayfair, signaling a strong beginning for their season. Crean Lutheran and Los Alamitos are tied for the tenth position with records of 1-0 each. Crean Lutheran defeated Mullen from Denver, Colorado, 30-14, with Caden Jones throwing for an impressive 288 yards, while Los Alamitos improved to 2-0 after a close 34-31 win against Kapolei in Hawaii.
In addition to these ranked teams, Aliso Niguel has made its debut in the rankings at No. 25 with a significant 38-3 victory over Beckman. The inaugural rankings are notable for having four sets of ties across multiple positions, resulting in a tightly contested start to the season. This year’s rankings reflect the competitive nature of high school football in Orange County, highlighting the great performances that occurred across various teams in the top 25.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Mission Viejo High School Wins Season Opener Against Santa Margarita
High School Football Week 1 Scores and Upcoming Games
Southern California High School Football Season Kicks Off
Carson Palmer Named Head Football Coach at Santa Margarita
Orange County High Schools Rank Among Best in the Nation
Orange County High School Football Season Kicks Off
California High School Football Season Kicks Off
Mater Dei High School Aims for Football Three-Peat in Orange County
California High School Football Begins with Key Matchups
Mission Viejo High School Football Team Secures Home Victory
Additional Resources
- OC Register: Orange County Football Top 25
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the United States
- OC Sports Zone: Final Scores Week Zero
- Google Search: High School Football
- OC Register: Week 1 Games Schedule
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Football (Sport)
- OC Sports Zone: Schedule for Week One
- Google News: High School Football Orange County
Author: STAFF HERE MISSION VIEJO WRITER
MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER The MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMissionViejo.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Mission Viejo, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Oso Fit 5K Fun Run and Community Health Fair, Walk Against Drugs & Community Fair, and National Night Out. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce and Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, plus leading businesses in retail and education that power the local economy such as The Shops at Mission Viejo, Capistrano Unified School District, and Amazon Delivery Station. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
