Northwest Division Top Ten: 11/3/2015

By Joe Torosian

The big game this week actually happens in the South Catholic. I know what you’re thinking, ‘can anything big happen in the South Catholic?’ It’s unlikely, but Bishop Montgomery can have everything derailed if they crash and burn against Verbum Dei this week. Good news for the Knights is Akeem Ayers is playing linebacker for the St. Louis Rams and not the Dei.

1.) Notre Dame/Riverside (4-0, 9-0): Get an improved Aquinas team this week. Should be a good playoff tune up.

2.) Linfield Christian (3-1, 8-1): Stay healthy, stay focused, keep your eye on the prize.

3.) Twentynine Palms (5-0, 9-0): Came close to moving them to number two. Our advice is, no matter the score, play your starters until, at least, the fourth quarter.

4.) Mission Prep (3-0, 7-2): Bryce Fledderman throws four more touchdown passes, he could throw another four this week against Morro Bay.

5.) Bishop Montgomery (2-0, 8-1): Note to HC Ed Hodgkiss…Don’t return any calls from the Los Angeles KISS…Keep your thoughts on beating Verbum Dei.

6.) Valley Christian (4-0, 8-2): I said it last week, I’ve said it for the last month: Gianni Hurd! The super-soph rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. The Crusaders are Olympic League champs.

7.) Rancho Mirage (5-1, 8-2): It wasn’t pretty but the Rattlers 20-14 victory over Shadow Hills wrapped up second place for the very young program.

8.) Nipomo (3-1, 5-5): Really good win for the Titans against Templeton. Again, they are not winning the Northwest this season but will be a tough out for somebody in the first round.

9.) Templeton (1-2, 5-4): It’s hard to punish anybody for losing to Nipomo. The Eagles are going to beat Santa Maria this week and go into the playoffs as a third place team. It might mean a bus ride to Bishop Montgomery. The Knights are tough, the traffic getting there will be worse.

10.) Aquinas (3-1, 6-3): The Falcons have won five of their last six, and if they beat Notre Dame/Riverside this week they’ll get a share of the Ambassador League title…and force a coin flip to see who goes as the league’s number one team (since they’ll have an identical league record with NDR & Linfield). Is any of this possible? Well, when you have a running back like Branden Rankins, it is. Rankin’s rushed for over a thousand yards as a freshman a year ago, he’s rushed for 1,370 yards this season (2,383 career) and 14 touchdowns (25 career).

Dreaming (because dreaming is free) of the Top Ten: Maranatha (2-1, 5-4);
Shadow Hills (3-2, 4-5); Pasadena Poly (2-0, 6-3); Rio Hondo Prep (2-0, 5-3); Verbum Dei (2-0, 4-5); Ontario Christian (2-1, 6-2): 5.9

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