By Mark Tennis & Ronnie Flores
(Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Harold Abend)

Note: All teams listed with win-loss record from last year. These rankings also represent the official start of our coverage for the 2008-09 school year, which is our 30th year under the name Cal-Hi Sports, CalHighSports.com or CalHiSports.com. Tell your friends that all content is free on the new home for CalHiSports.com at ESPN. No more subscriptions and our California high school sports content is superior to any subscription-based site on top of that.

16. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 11-3
Eight starters return on both sides of the ball for the Lions, who still might be a year away from being at the truly elite status of the state's top teams. All summer, Oaks Christian has been generating media attention due to the several sons of famous fathers on the roster. This team, though, begins and ends with the powerful play of junior Malcolm Jones. He has been the CalHiSports.com state freshman and sophomore player of the year and should be among the top college prospects nationally next season. Among the seniors who look like solid Division I college prospects are TE-DE Chris Coyle (6-3, 220) and WR-DB Brian Owusu. Other juniors besides Jones who should shine include LB Zach Stout (6-2, 215), OT Erik Kohler (6-6, 270) and DT Cassius Marsh (6-6, 265).

17. St. Mary's (Stockton) 12-2
The Rams two-point loss to Napa in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship game not only cost them a section title but a potential bowl game selection and state title. Oregon St. commit Cody Vaz returns for his senior season after throwing for 3,265 yards and 33 touchdowns as the offense averaged 42 points a game last season and should once again be explosive this year. Junior Josh Harper is one of just three returnees on the defensive side of the ball but he was named all-state underclass along with Vaz and will be key in the secondary while Josh Banks anchors the defensive line. While the Rams offense will be filled with experience, their defense will be young but should be talented with newcomers from a junior varsity team that lost just one game last season.

	Mark Tennis
	Oak Grove's Jabari Carr always gives the Eagles' fans their money's worth.

18. Oak Grove (San Jose) 12-1
Jabari Carr is the highlight reel player for the Eagles, and came up with at least two or three jaw-droppers in every game a year ago. The senior was all-state underclass as a corner and also figures to see the ball more on offense. The defending CCS Open Division champions lose some top performers on both sides of the ball, but return strength up front and on defense. Bruce Leaupepe (6-4, 265) is back to lead the offensive line, along with Gerard Everette (6-2, 255). Junior Paul Schwnke (6-1, 205) was one of the team's leading tacklers as a sophomore while senior Manny Rodriguez (6-1, 210) had one of the top sack totals. Head coach Ed Buller has his usual task of developing a quarterback, but that usually hasn't been that big of a problem for him. If that happens again, Oak Grove will be a definite threat to repeat.

19. Clovis West (Fresno) 9-4-1
New coach Gary Kinne would seem to be inheriting a tough situation as the Golden Eagles need to replace graduated standouts such as QB Beau Sweeney and RB Matt Jelmini. But if you were to have watched new QB Jeff Tuel (6-2, 180) and new RB Nate Fellner (6-0, 200) at the Stanford Nike Camp you know that the offense shouldn't lose much steam. The situation on defense is much different. Clovis West is loaded on that side of the ball with seven returning starters, a unit that will be led by three-year starter and all-state underclass linebacker Travis Brown (6-2, 225, Sr.). One newcomer who could make a difference is dazzling sophomore RB Gerald Nutt.

20. Merced 11-1
The Bears are similar in the Sac-Joaquin Section to Edison in the Central Section in that they have without question the most talent of any team in the section but need to replace a graduating quarterback. Merced's cast of standouts includes RB Stephon Mathis (5-9, 185, Sr.), DB-KR Bernard Bolden (5-10, 175, Sr.), TE Kenny Cooper (6-4, 230, Sr.) and DE Nathan Mayfield (6-4, 215, Sr.). All are D1 recruits and Bolden is among the most dynamic players in Northern California. DB Allen Huddleston (5-11, 175, Sr.) is another D1 prospect who also averaged nearly 20 ppg in basketball. Huddleston took over at QB late in last year's section playoff game against St. Mary's and nearly rallied the Bears to a win. Merced and Edison face off early in the season and whichever team finds its quarterback first will probably win.

21. San Ramon Valley (Danville) 12-1-1
The Wolves came from behind in the second half to defeat Cardinal Newman by a 38-28 score in the North Coast Section Class 3A championship game with an offensive explosion in the postseason that saw the Wolves score 194 points in their final four games. Key to their success once again this season will be the return of Joe Southwick (6-2, 180, Sr.) at the quarterback position. He had a sensational second-half in SRV's championship win over Cardinal Newman, rallying them back for the win and finishing with 240 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 88 yards and another score. Two-way monster Mark Huntley, who scored the final two touchdowns of the season, will be back and may have an increased role on offense to go along with his role in the secondary. Southwick doesn't have many other starters coming back on offense with him, but two receivers that should step up are Byron Greundl (6-2, 200, Sr.) and Bryce Peterson (5-11, 175, Sr.). Defense should be strong once again as it allowed just 172 points while holding the opposition to single-digit point totals in nine of the 14 games. The top player back on that side is LB Garrison Goodman (6-1, 200, Sr.).

22. Bakersfield 13-1
The Drillers capped a sensational season last year by rallying from 10 points behind in the last quarter with a last-second 43-yard field goal to defeat Clovis West, 19-16, in the CIF Central Section Division I championship game. With the departure of QB Pete Mitchell, the Drillers will have a new quarterback this season but should have success running the ball as junior Alfonso Jackson (5-11, 185) rushed for 816 yards and nine touchdowns last season while senior Jerek Johnson rushed for over 500 yards with eight touchdowns. Bakersfield's defense also should be strong against the pass as Alex Mitchell and George Ming return in the secondary after 50-plus tackle seasons last year while Johnson had over 50 tackles at the linebacker position. Head coach Paul Golla has definitely restored much respect and a championship tradition at Griffith Field and there's enough returning strength to keep Bakersfield ranked somewhat high to start 2008.

23. Poway 12-0
A 21-7 victory over Rancho Buena Vista in the CIF San Diego Section Div. I title game not only wrapped up a perfect season for the Titans, but secured the school's first-ever section title. Poway lost more than half of its starters to graduation, but there are enough key veterans to justify its position as the top-rated CIFSDS Div. I team to start the season. Many area coaches do feel the Titans will still be formidable as RB Nick Ricciardulli (5-7, 160) leads the holdovers from last year's club. All he did was rush for 1,503 yards and 20 TDs, including six in three post-season games. The graduation of standout DB Nick Milani will hurt, but the secondary will remain strong with the return of Michael Sowadski (5-9, 160, Sr.) and Brett Thomas (6-0, 175, Jr.). Thomas was one of 22 sophomores and freshman that played on the varsity last season and many of them will be ready to replace the graduated seniors. Poway's second game against Trinity League opponent Santa Margarita should be a good gauge of just how much rebuilding head coach Damian Gonzalez actually has to do.

24. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) 8-3
The Knights have the potential to remain one of the top teams in the San Fernando Valley even with the departure of QB Dayne Crist from last year's 8-3 team that without Crist was upset in the opening round of the Pac-5 Division playoffs by Newport Harbor. Defense should once again be a strength for the Knights with a pair of returning all-league linebackers in Jordan Barrett (6-3, 220, Sr.) and Tom Drachkovitch. They helped hold the opposition to single-digit scoring in almost half of their games last year. The offense does not have a lot of experience, but there are several talented newcomers, including QB Ryan Kasdorf and RB Kenny Boggs, from an undefeated junior varsity squad. Kasdorf actually played varsity football at Canyon of Canyon Country in his freshman year before moving on to Notre Dame. It's also tough to go against head coach Kevin Rooney from starting out too low. He's posted a 238-88-5 record in his career and knows how to mold the talent he has to work with.

25. Hart (Newhall) 12-1-1
Losing Mr. Football State Player of the Year finalist Delano Howell to Stanford may not be as great a blow to the Indians as you might think. Demitri Diamond (6-2, 205, Sr.) could be a similar player but with more size. Diamond, who plays defensive back and running back, figures to shine in Hart's one-back offense. He'll also benefit being behind an outstanding offensive line, led by Chris Anderson (6-4, 240, Sr.). Head coach Mike Herrington needs to find another quarterback, and his success rate in that area is excellent. The Indians have made the playoffs every year since 1981 and under center they've had a quality QB nearly every season of that streak. Expect both of them to continue this as the Indians are expected to be a much more physical club than the one that lost to St. Bonaventure in the CIFSS Northern Division final.

26. Edison (Huntington Beach) 8-4
Similar to the San Diego Chargers, Edison could have its own version of a lights out defense that could lead them to a successful season. Division I prospects Preston Spence (6-3, 200, Sr.) and Will Andrew (6-2, 215, Sr.) are a terrific tandem at linebacker and return along with five other starters from last year's defense that allowed just 13 points per game. Despite some concern on offense, especially at the QB position, Edison has several young and talented players from last year's undefeated junior varsity team looking to step in and get the offense rolling. It should be a nice battle with Los Alamitos, Newport Harbor and Esperanza for the Sunset League title.

27. Carson 11-3
The Colts are gunning for their 12th L.A. City Section title, which would tie them with Marine League rival Wilmington Banning for most all-time section titles, and have good reason for optimism. There is little doubt defending section champion Birmingham will not be as strong and closer to the pack of six or seven teams with a realistic shot of winning the title. The city runner-ups lose standout Jack Sula, but return TE Morrell Presley (6-4, 215, Sr.), the top-rated tight end in the state, who finished 2007 with 31 catches for 498 yards and 6 TDs. QB Daniel Torres (5-10, 200, Jr.) wasn't a full-time starter but got valuable experience filling in for Dominique Blackmon at the beginning of the season. Of the four starters returning on defense, DB Chris Hill (5-9, 170) was noted by head coach Mike Christensen as a top honors candidate. Christensen is excited about this team, which opens against No. 4 Mater Dei on ESPNU next Wednesday, because of the young talent on the way up from a 8-0-2 BEE team and his players buying into his system.

28. Helix (La Mesa) 8-2-1
Troy Starr takes over the Helix program after an administrative stint at the University of Florida and his first team in the San Diego Section should be very good. Starr, who previously coached for 14 years at Taft of Woodland Hills where his team made it to the L.A. City Section final seven times, steps into a situation in which most of the roster and many standouts are returning. Helix, which handed Oceanside its only loss last year but lost in the first-round of section playoffs to Mission Hills, figures to be led by QB Ty Culver (6-2, 185, Sr.) and RB Travon Van (5-11, 190). Both are capable of breakout seasons. The team's leading recruit is TE-DE Levine Toilolo (6-7, 245, Sr.), who has committed to Stanford. Anthony Larceval, a 6-1, 255-pound linebacker, is yet another notable returnee.

29. Crenshaw (Los Angeles) 8-5
The Cougars got off to a slow start against a tough non-league slate last season, but rebounded to finish unbeaten in Coliseum League play for the second time in three seasons. As has been the case in recent seasons, head coach Robert Garrett sent a handful of players to the Div. I college ranks, but he's got at his disposal arguably the best underclass talent in the L.A. City Section. QB Marques Thompson, up from the BEE team, had a fantastic summer and will rely on the multitude of talented skill position players at his disposal while he gets comfortable facing state-ranked foes Lakewood and Norco to open the season. Noel Grisby (5-10, 160, Sr.) is a returning all-city wide receiver and Marcus Andrews (6-0, 175, Sr.) is a two-way threat. Cougar fans are also ecstatic abut the speed and play-making ability of WR Geno Hall (5-9, 160, Jr.). RB De'Anthony Thomas (5-9, 170, Soph.) is another young player with loads of potential, but the underclassman that is a proven commodity is LB Hayes Pullard (6-1, 200, Jr.), the Coliseum League defensive MVP as a 10th-grader. Line play and limiting third and long situations for Thompson will be key for the Cougars as they attempt to capture a second city title in four seasons.

30. J.W. North (Riverside) 13-1
The Huskies have compiled a 27-1 record over the past two seasons against less than stellar competition but some big changes are in store. The two-time defending CIFSS Eastern Division champions have moved over from the Ivy League to the new Big VIII League, along with state-ranked foes Centennial of Corona, Norco and Santiago of Corona, and will now compete in the much tougher Inland Division playoffs. North is also going through a coaching change from Lou Randall, who led the program to three CIFSS divisional titles and the state's No. 2 overall ranking in 2003, to 34-year Scott Pearne, who moves over from Yucaipa. The pieces are in place for Pearne to have a successful first season, as veteran Jamar Calhoun (6-0, 175, Sr.) returns as one of the best dual-threat QBs in the entire Southern Section. Calhoun can also play in the secondary, where Lester White (6-1, 190, Sr.) and Marquis Cox (5-10, 160, Jr.) are the standouts. Marquis' older brother Maurice (5-11, 215, Sr.) was selected the Ivy League's defensive MVP last season and spearheads the front seven. RB Sedale Foster (5-7, 160, Jr.) is set to take over as the top ball-carrier in replace of older brother Cedric and Jamar's brother, James. The talent level remains high, but the players must be prepared for a more physical brand of ball on a weekly basis in the newly-formed league.

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