Tri-Valley League football games are going to be more like the CIF playoffs. The league is incredibly loaded it will be quite a feat to finish the circuit with an undefeated record.
As play begins this weekend, all five teams are ranked in the top 10 and four hold down the top four positions in the CIF Northwest Division. The teams have a combined record of 26-2.
Bishop Diego has held down the No. 1 spot since the preseason. The Cardinals put their ranking on the line Saturday when they host No. 4 Carpinteria in the league opener. The teams not only enter the rivalry game with unbeaten records, but they’ve been beating their opponents convincingly. The other league tilt this weekend is No. 3 Oak Park against No. 8 Santa Paula. Second-ranked Nordhoff faces a challenge, taking on Sierra Canyon in a non-league game.
San Marcos remained in the top 10 of the Western Division after suffering its first loss at Nordhoff last week. The No. 10 Royals open Channel League play against Ventura, which despite a 1-5 record, received some votes this week.
In 8-man football, Cate is ranked fourth and Laguna Blanca is eighth in this week’s Division 1 poll. Laguna plays No. 3 Thacher on Saturday while Cate takes on Desert Chapel, the top-ranked team in Division 2.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
1, Bishop Diego (Tri-Valley) 5-0
2, Nordhoff (Tri-Valley) 5-0
3. Oak Park (Tri-Valley) 5-1
4, Carpinteria (Tri-Valley) 6-0
5, Lawndale (Pioneer) 4-1
6, La Salle (Del Rey) 3-2
7, La Puente (Montview) 4-1
8, Santa Paula (Tri-Valley) 5-1
9, Whittier Christian (Olympic) 3-2
10, El Segundo (Pioneer) 2-3
Others: Verbum Dei (Del Rey), 4-2; Maranatha (Olympic), 4-2.
WESTERN DIVISION
1, Serra (Mission) 5-0
2, Chaminade (Mission) 4-1
3, Lompoc (Los Padres) 4-1
4, St. Francis (Mission) 5-0
5, Cathedral (Mission) 5-0
6, Camarillo (Pacific View) 4-1
7, Santa Monica (Ocean) 2-3
8, Harvard-Westlake (Mission) 4-1
9, Morro Bay (Los Padres) 3-3
10, San Marcos (Channel) 5-1
Others: Ventura (Channel) 1-5.
NORTHERN DIVISION
1, Hart (Foothill) 5-0
2, West Torrance (Bay) 5-0
3, Palos Verdes (Bay) 3-2
4, Atasacdero (PAC-7) 4-2
5, Valencia/Valencia (Foothill) 4-1
6, Canyon/C.C. (Foothill) 3-2
7, Palmdale (Golden) 3-2
8, St. Joseph (PAC-7) 3-2
9, Arroyo Grande (PAC-7) 3-2
10, West Ranch (Foothill) 4-1
Others include: Others: Redondo Union (Bay), 4-1; Paso Robles (PAC-7), 4-1.
