Saddleback retains No. 1 National position, undefeated LA Valley tops American Division poll heading into final week
CCCAA/CCCFCA Regional State Football Poll
The Saddleback College Gauchos are back in the top spot in the National Division while the undefeated Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs hold steady at No. 1 in the American Division in this week's California Community College Regional State Football Poll.
After a three-week absence, Saddleback (8-1) has moved back atop the National Division poll thanks to the loss suffered by previous No. 1 Riverside City College at the hands of No. 5 Long Beach City College. The Gauchos received four of six first-place votes and totaled 87 points after their 39-27 Southern League win at Palomar College.
Fullerton College picked up the remaining two first-place votes (8-1, 85 points) and moved up a spot to No. 2 with a 35-14 Southern League win at Orange Coast College. Riverside (8-1, 79 points) was handed its first loss of the season, a 38-31 setback in overtime at LBCC, that dropped the Tigers down to No. 3. Ventura College (7-2, 68 points) wrapped up a Northern League championship with a win over Bakersfield College and holds steady at No. 4, followed by Long Beach (7-2, 67 points) who moved up a spot to No. 5 after its crucial Central League victory.
There are plenty of big games in the National Division this weekend with playoff implications. In the Central League, a pair of huge rivalry games will decide the league champion and possible playoff berths. No. 6 Mt. San Antonio College is at No. 3 Riverside and No. 5 Long Beach travels to No. 9 El Camino College. Mt. SAC enters the final week of play at 4-0, but wins by Riverside and Long Beach would once again create a three-way league championship.
In the Southern, No. 15 Orange Coast looks to upset No. 1 Saddleback and No. 11 Golden West and No. 2 Fullerton will battle for at least a share of the league championship. Saddleback, Fullerton, and Golden West all enter the final weekend with 3-1 league records.
In the American, LA Valley (9-0) is the lone unbeaten team in the SCFA after College of the Desert stunned previously undefeated Southwestern College. After rolling to a 61-27 rout over Citrus College, LA Valley picked up all five first-place votes and 50 points. East Los Angeles College (7-2, 42 points) continued its climb and moved up a spot to No. 2 followed by Southwestern (8-1, 41 points) at No. 3.
LA Valley will look to make history by going 10-0, but will face a tough No. 4 Santa Barbara City College this Saturday at SBCC. A win by Santa Barbara would give the Vaqueros a share of the Pacific League championship. In the Metro League, East Los Angeles controls its own fate as a win vs. Glendale would complete an undefeated 5-0 league schedule.
Things are more complicated in the Mountain League as Southwestern, Victor Valley College, and Desert enter the final weekend of play with 3-1 league marks. Victor Valley and Desert will face off at COD while Southwestern plays county rival San Diego Mesa College.
Final rankings, playoff brackets, and bowl pairings will be announced on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 13) by the California Community College Athletic Association.
The 2016 California Community College Football Poll is a service of the California Community College Athletic Association and the California Community Colleges Football Coaches Association. The poll is recognized as the official regional state ranking and will be used for selection of post-season and bowl game participants.
