Highly-ranked Catholic high school teams began the 2014 football season a largely positive note with season-opening victories on the Labor Day weekend.
Mater Dei, Bishop Alemany, Serra/Gardena, Chaminade and J. Serra, all top 10 Pac-5 Division teams in pre-season polling, recorded convincing victories, although Servite and St. Bonaventure were defeated.
Top-ranked St. John Bosco was idle after opening its campaign with an Aug. 22 thumping of St. Louis, 63-14.
In the Southeast Division, Salesian won its opener, while top-ranked St. Francis and Cathedral open their seasons Sept. 5 against Chino and Muir of Pasadena, respectively. The Golden Knights and Phantoms will meet Oct. 17; Salesian plays Cathedral Oct. 10 and St. Francis Nov. 6 in the regular season finale.
Last weekend’s results:
Mater Dei 38, Centennial 18.
Chaminade 70, Venice 23.
Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks 70, Mira Costa 43.
Loyola 48, Harvard-Westlake 6.
Bishop Alemany 44, Los Osos 15.
Villanova 41, East Valley 26.
J.Serra 40, Cabrillo 0.
St. Bernard 33, Mission (British Columbia) 13.
Crespi 42, Sylmar 0.
Serra 24, Lakewood 6.
Salesian 27, Muir 3.
St. Genevieve 58, Poly/Sun Valley 0.
St. Monica 21, Malibu 3.
Santa Margarita 26, Bishop Amat 21.
St. Paul 62, Firebaugh 0.
La Salle 34, Compton 0.
St. Joseph/Santa Maria 42, Santa Fe 20.
Bishop Diego 56, Oak Park 0.
Bishop Gorman 48, Servite 27.
Helix 24, St. Bonaventure 20.
Serrano 21, Paraclete 10.
Bellflower 40, Bishop Montgomery 0.
La Canada 13, Verbum Dei 12.
Polytechnic 63, Don Bosco Tech 0.
nPre-seasons polls
—Pac-5 Division: St. John Bosco (1), Mater Dei (2), Bishop Alemany (3), Serra (4), Servite (5), Chaminade (6), St. Bonaventure (8), J. Serra (10).
—Southeast Division: St. Francis (1), Salesian (4), Cathedral (7).
—Mid Valley Division: Paraclete (2).
—East Valley Division: Santa Clara (5), St. Anthony (9).
—Northern Division: St. Joseph/Santa Maria (9).
—Northwest Division: Verbum Dei (10).
