The biggest battle in the West this past weekend, Basha (Chandler, AZ) vs. Orange Lutheran (CA), resulted in an upset and a shift in the regional rankings.
A second-quarter pick-six by Lancers safety King Rich Johnson shifted the game's momentum and Basha's offense could not recover as Orange Lutheran took a 23-16 victory over the then-No. 6 team in the West. The Lancers jumped up from No. 15 into the top 10, shifting the rankings and placing a new Arizona team at pole position in the Grand Canyon State.
Less than 30 miles away, Folsom (CA) was in the process of taking down Mission Viejo (CA). The 35-21 Bulldogs win added another northern California team into the ranking.
Meanwhile, Corner Canyon (Draper, UT) couldn't overcome its toughest matchup
of the season, picking up its first loss of the year. Liberty (Peoria, AZ) now gets a shot in the Super 15, and through two games looks just as good as any other team in Arizona.
Here are USA TODAY Sports' Week 4 West Region Super 15 rankings.
1. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)
Record: 3-0
Santa Margarita got a break after pair of difficult opponents to start the season and rolled by Highland. The Eagles led 34-0 at the end of the first half and finished the game with 17 TFLs, four sacks and five rushing touchdowns. They maintain their spot atop the West.
Next game: Saturday, Sept. 12, vs. Inderkum (CA), 8:10 PST
2. Centennial (Corona, CA)
Record: 1-1
Centennial had a bye ahead of its matchup against Mater Dei.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, at Mater Dei (CA), 7 p.m. PST
3. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)
Record: 3-1
Bishop Gorman bounced back with a good win against Lone Peak (Highland, UT), forcing turnovers against the Knights, and senior LB Tamatoa Gaoteote scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery. The team gets a week off before playing Mater Dei in mid-September.
Next game: Idle
4. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA)
Record: 2-1
St. John Bosco unexpectedly trailed at the half to Pittsburg (CA) but scored 13 unanswered points in the third quarter to pick up its second win of the season. Running back Maliq Allen had 204 total yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Kahuku (HI), 7 p.m. PST
5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
Record: 3-0
Mater Dei had its most convincing win of the season, taking down the top Colorado team 38-22. These first three games have been a good warmup ahead of the gauntlet of a schedule that will dictate where Mater Dei stands in the California and national landscape.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Centennial (CA), 7 p.m. PST
6. Hamilton (Chandler, AZ)
Record: 2-0
A 44-0 win over Arbor View (Las Vegas), along with a Basha (Chandler, AZ) loss, elevates Hamilton to the No. 1 spot among Arizona teams. The Huskies have rolled without ALL-USA WR Roye Oliver III, but they'll face a tougher challenge against the high-powered offense of Perry (Gilbert, AZ) this week.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Perry (AZ), MT
7. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
Record: 2-0
Coming off a bye week, Sierra Canyon will face a Hawaii program that has only scored 12 points on the year. Anything less than a blowout would be surprising.
Next game: Thursday, Sept. 10, vs. St. Louis (HI), 7 p.m. PST
8. Orange Lutheran (CA)
Record: 2-1
Orange Lutheran had an impressive victory over reigning Arizona champion Basha, getting vengeance from a loss to the Bears last season. The Lancers are a Week 1, final-minute quarterback TD scramble away from being 3-0, and they're on the rise.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, at Serra, 7 p.m. PST
9. Basha (Chandler, AZ)
Record: 1-1
Basha's defense has been great, forcing five turnovers against Chandler and holding Orange Lutheran's offense to just 14 points, but the offense has been more sluggish than expected. Three-star Pittsburgh WR commit Jaden Baldwin was a bright spot in the loss to Orange Lutheran.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, at Pinnacle (AZ), 7 MT
10. Chandler (AZ)
Record: 1-1
Chandler bounced back with a 42-13 win over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA), with Oregon QB commit Will Mencl throwing for 358 yards and 4 TDs. Turnovers and penalties continue to impact the Wolves, though.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, at Salpointe Catholic (AZ), 7 p.m. MT
11. De La Salle (Concord, CA)
Record: 2-0
QB Jaxon Loftin and WR Damari Dean connected three times for 110 yards and two touchdowns in De La Salle's 42-3 victory this weekend. The Spartans have now scored 77 points across two weeks.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Saint Francis, 7:30 p.m. PST
12. Liberty (Peoria, AZ)
Record: 2-0
Liberty's come-from-behind victory over top Utah team Corner Canyon elevates the Lions into the Super 15. Sophomore Jason Haines had four total touchdowns, and safety Kaden Miller had 10 tackles and a pick-six.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, vs. Highland (AZ), 7 p.m. MT
13. Desert Edge (Goodyear, AZ)
Record: 2-0
Through two games, Desert Edge has scored 72 points and has yet to allow a point. QB Blake Roskopf has over 700 passing yards and seven touchdowns, and junior Jhaheem Brown has nearly 300 receiving yards and two TDs.
Next game: Thursday, Sept. 10, vs. Notre Dame Prep (AZ), 7 p.m. MT
14. Mililani (HI)
Record: 4-0
Mililani's 34-3 win over Foothills (Henderson, NV) was marred by a fight that resulted in the cancelation of the game in the third quarter. Nevertheless, the Trojans continue to roll.
Next game: Saturday, Sept. 12, vs. Leilehua (HI), 6 HST
15. Folsom (CA)
Record: 2-0
Folsom enters the rankings following a 35-21 victory over previously ranked Mission Viejo (CA). Cal QB commit Brody Rudnicki showed up big while missing key offensive weapons, throwing for two touchdowns and running for three.
Next game: Friday, Sept. 11, at Sacred Heart Cathedral (CA), 7 p.m. PST
Who dropped out
- Corner Canyon (Draper, UT)
- Mission Viejo (CA)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA TODAY Sports Super 15 West region football rankings, Week 4
