MORNING BRIEFING

The Times’ high school football rankings by Ben Bolch:

*--* Rk. Team (Rec., Sec.-Div.) Comment (Last week’s ranking) 1 CRENSHAW (8-0, City-Division I) Throw out the records during rivalry week? Not when Cougars and Dorsey are a combined 15-1. (1) 2 OAKS CHRISTIAN (8-0, SS-Northwest) Proposed show about inner circles of Montana, Gretzky and Smith tentatively called “Entourages.” (2) 3 EDISON (8-0, SS-Pac 5) At this rate, game against Fountain Valley will be moved to the Coliseum by Friday. (3) 4 LAKEWOOD (8-1, SS-Pac-5) Lancers confess their favorite James Bond was Roger Moore. (4) 5 SERVITE (7-1, SS-Pac-5) Friars are bidding to become first outright champion of Trinity League since, well, ever. (5) 6 GARDENA SERRA (8-0, SS-Northwest) Cavaliers’ air attack is so potent that it requires FAA clearance. (6) 7 MISSION VIEJO (8-0, SS-Pac 5) Because of their nondescript schedule, Diablos could be either the best team in Southland or merely pretty good. (8) 8 MOORPARK (8-0, SS-Northern) Rankings committee could think of a Thousand (Oaks) reasons to drop Musketeers in poll but needs only one. (7) 9 REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (8-0, SS-Inland) Just when it seemed as if the Citrus Belt League could be a cakewalk, it’s Miller time. (9) 10 BISHOP AMAT (8-0, SS-Pac 5) Lancers almost went from unblemished to severely tarnished against Loyola. (10) 11 ST. BONAVENTURE (7-1, SS-Northern) Seraphs’ chances of appearing in a state championship bowl game on par with USC’s shot at a BCS bowl. (11) 12 S.O. NOTRE DAME (7-1, SS-Pac 5) And to think, game against Loyola (3-5) once looked as if it might be a clash of top-10 teams. (12) 13 CORONA CENTENNIAL (7-1, SS-Inland) The battle of coaching minds -- Matt Logan versus Norco’s Todd Gerhart -- may trump what players do. (13) 14 VALENCIA (8-0, SS-Northern) Just asking: Is running back Steven Manfro’s favorite sandwich a Manwich? (14) 15 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (8-0, SS-Pac-5) Last time “Battle for the Bell” was this big, skateboards were still popular in O.C. Oh, wait. (15) 16 NORCO (7-1, SS-Inland) With ground and air attacks canceling each other out against Corona Centennial, battle of sea could be decisive. (16) 17 RANCHO CUCAMONGA (7-1, SS-Central) This spot could easily be taken by Upland a week from today. (18) 18 CARSON (6-2, City-Division I) If Colts meet Dorsey in playoffs, game would feature five quarterbacks. (19) 19 VISTA MURRIETA (8-0, SS-Inland) Great Oak coaches might utter “Good Lord!” when they get first glimpse of Broncos’ stout defense. (20) 20 LOS ALAMITOS (6-2, SS-Pac 5) With apologies to Beavis and Butt-Head, Griffins’ special teams weren’t very special against Edison. (17) 21 DANA HILLS (7-1, SS-Pac-5) Dolphins want to upstage Mission Viejo by dropping 71 points on Aliso Niguel. (21) 22 RANCHO VERDE (8-0, SS-Inland) Vista del Lago, Montego, baby why don’t Mustangs go down to Kokomo? (23) 23 WESTLAKE (8-0, SS-Northern) A trip to tony Westlake Village might be a little too rich for first-round playoff opponent’s blood. (24) 24 CHARTER OAK (8-1, SS-Southeast) Brigham Harwell should try to pose as a 10th-year senior for Los Altos against Chargers. (25) 25 VENICE (7-1, City-Division I) If Gondoliers get bumped early from playoffs they can soothe themselves with a trip to the Venetian. (NR) *--*