Maxpreps Top Twenty Football Poll Released - Southwestern League Teams top the Polls

How tough is Southwestern League Football?

Five of the six teams from the league are ranked in the Top Twenty of the 200 teams that comprise the CIF Southern Section.

USA Today High School Sports has Vista Murrieta ranked as the No. 2 football team in California. Coley Candaele’s Broncos are 91-23 in his nine seasons, He has won six Southwestern League titles and one CIF-Southern Section divisional crown.

The Broncos have played in the Inland Division title game each of the last four seasons. Last year Vista Murrieta was 13-1 , losing to Corona Centennial, 30-28, in the Inland final.

Murrieta Valley is ranked second in league and seventh in the division. Murrieta was 10-2 last year, loosing only to Centennial and Vista Murrieta.

The Nighthawks have a new coach and a bring new attitude as they head into the new season. "Our kids have done a great job to put themselves in a position to compete at a really high level. I am very excited about our potential and so proud of the way they have handled the transition to our staff" said Coach Vinny Fazio.

Murrieta Mesa is finally gaining respect in the polls. The Rams are the league’s youngest program are ranked third in league and 14th in the Division. They finished 2012-13 with a 6-4 record.

Coach Justin Schaeffer says it’s a little early to get excited. “I doesn’t mean a thing. I am not sure who or how these polls are compiled, but I find it odd that we would be ranked over two teams we’ve never beaten, a year after we graduated 32 seniors, 9 of whom were 3-year starters. I hope they are soothsayers!”

“We believe in our kids and our current team and have never been too concerned with the outside opinion. However, I think this is probably the highest we been raned in the preseason, We have outperformed our preseason prediction each year, so I’d have to say that this is the first time ever, I’m hoping they’re accurate.”.

Chaparral and Great Oak are ranked 5th and 6th in league and 16th and 17th in the Division.

“They probably ranked us correctly based on what the current players on our roster have proven at the varsity level” said Chaparral Head Coach Ryan Tukua. “We have a lot to work on during the preseason so we are ready for league”.

Chaparral was 7-4 while the Wolfpack finished at 5-6 last season. The remaining team in the Southwestern League is Temecula Valley, ranked 176th in the Division.

Nighthawk Coach Fazio is quick to remind us that it’s still very early and not one ball has been snapped yet. "It's always nice to be considered among the best teams in the area but we put almost no emphasis on preseason rankings” said Fazio.

“The most important thing right now is that we continue to improve and prepare at a really high level so we are ready to play when the time comes. It is very clear how competitive the Southwestern League looks again. It's a slugfest every week down here."

1. Centennial

2. Vista Murrieta

3. Norco

4. Upland

5. Charter Oak

6. Santiago

7. Murrieta Valley

8. Rancho Cucamonga

9 Eisenhower

10. Chino Hills

11. Redlands East Valley

12. Los Osos

13. Yucaipa

14. Murrieta Mesa

15. South Hills

16. Chaparral

17. Great Oak

18. Ayala

19.Glendora

20. Redlands

176. Temecula Valley

200 Teams