Here’s this week’s Whittier Daily News Elite 13 football rankings, which as St. Paul at the top for the second consecutive week:
Note: Rankings include rank, last week’s ranking and record.
1. (1) St. Paul (5-0) — How good are the Swordsmen? We get a better barometer this week when they open up Mission League play with a trip to Chaminade in a battle of the top two teams in the CIF-SS Western Division. St. Paul has won its five against teams that are a combined 6-22.
2. (2) La Habra (2-3) — The Highlanders should be well rested after one of their worst efforts in recent years — a 41-6 loss to St. John Bosco. I don’t expect them to lose for a while, especially in Freeway League play, which begins Friday against Sunny Hills.
3. (4) California (4-1) — The Condors, with a defense that has yielded just 56 points in 5 games, might be the frontrunner in the Del Rio League title chase. They get Pioneer this week before facing Santa Fe next week at Pioneer High School in what might be a championship decider.
4. (5) La Serna (4-1) — Don’t sleep on the Lancers, who will definitely be in the mix with running back OJ Medina and linebacker Craig Jones leading the defense.
5. (6) Cantwell (3-2) — The Cardinals had their best offensive production of the season in a 45-21 victory over Whittier Christian last week. They will need it in the coming weeks as they get into the meat of their Del Rey League schedule.
Others: 6. (7) La Mirada (2-4), 7. (8) El Rancho (4-1), 8. (3) Whittier Christian (3-3), 9. (9) Santa Fe (1-4). 10. (10) Montebello (2-3), 11. (11) Whittier (3-2), 12. (12) Pioneer (0-5), 13. (13) Schurr (0-5).

This season, I will give my predictions for all the area games from week to week. Want to play? Just add your projections and keep your tally and see how you match up.
Record (season total, last week): Ramirez (38-20, 6-1).
Last Week: I had my best week of the season, with my lone setback going for Whittier, which was hammered by Salesian.
This week: The week is highlighed by the game of the week in the CIF-SS Western Division with No. 1 St. Paul visiting No. 2 Chaminade, plus the opening of Del Rio League play. The Swordsmen are 5-0 for the first time in recent memory, but Chaminade is coming a monster 36-32 victory over rival Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. I’m going against the local, and picking Chaminade, which will be a home and has a bigger signature win than the Swordsmen. The first week of Del Rio League play features league favorite Santa Fe calling on El Rancho. As good as El Rancho (4-1) has played and as bad as the Chiefs (1-4) have played, it’s hard to pick against Jack Mahlstede’s boys, so I won’t. Chiefs in a close one. I also like La Serna over Whittier and CalHi over Pioneer.
This week’s predictions
St. Paul at Chaminade, 7:30 p.m. – Chaminade
Santa Fe at El Rancho, 7 p.m. – Santa Fe
Whittier vs. La Serna at California, 7 p.m. – La Serna
California at Pioneer, 7 p.m. – California
Bishop Montgomery at Cantwell-Sacred Heart, 7 p.m. – Cantwell
La Habra vs. Sunny Hills at Buena Park, 7 p.m. – La Habra
Los Angeles Baptist vs. Whittier Christian at Whittier College, 7
p.m. – Whittier Christian
Bell Gardens at Schurr, 7 p.m. – Bell Gardens
Montebello at San Gabriel, 7 p.m. – Montebello
La Mirada vs. Glenn at Excelsior Adult School, 7 p.m. – La Mirada

What have we learned from week 6? That California is very good. The Condors, who started 0-5 start last season, dominated Montebello, which after a once promising start has dropped three consecutive games. Also around the area, St. Paul stayed unbeaten with a 28-6 win over Schurr, and how about Cantwell rolling over Whittier Christian.

Here’s Friday night’s recap:
No. 1 St. Paul 28, Schurr 6 — This sets up No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle in the Western Division next week when the Swordsmen travel to Chaminade, which beat Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks Friday. St. Paul, without its three top running backs, got 135 yards passing and three TDs from QB Paul Telles.
Cantwell 45, No. 3 Whittier Christian 21 — Who woke up the Cardinals? Cantwell finally put a complete game together. All-everything Corey Collins accounted for four TDs, rushing for 137 and three and also throwing a 46-yard score to Adam Aguirre.
No. 4 California 28, Montebello 7 — You can put the Condors in the Del Rio League title-chase talk after they totally dominated Montebello, which was held to 138 yards, 54 of which came on one TD pass. The Oilers were held to 15 yards rushing. Drew Castro threw two TDs and Gabriel Lozano rushed for 100 and a TD.
La Mirada 42, Artesia 0 — No surprise here as the Mats rolled easy to improve to 2-4 and 1-1 in the Suburban League. Kevin Dillman passed for two first-half TDs and ran for a third as La Mirada led 21-0.
El Rancho 35, Fontana 0 — The Dons, getting 160 yards rushing and two first-half TDs from Josh Lopez cruised. They open up league play vs. Santa Fe next week.
Salesian 41, Whittier 6 — Suddenly the Cardinals have a two-game losing streak after being overwhelmed by the Mustangs.
Rancho Alamitos 23, Pioneer 7 — The Titans are still in search of their first win.