HS: Winter FAB 50 rankings, Feb. 27

by Sheldon Shealer

February 27, 2018

The Florida-North girls soccer teams came within one result of a complete state title sweep in Florida, which helps validate St. Johns Country Day's place atop the Winter FAB 50.

While the perennial 1A champ had no problem dispatching its inferior playoff opponents, the fact that the Spartans had regular-season, multi-goal wins over the eventual 2A, 3A and 4A champs -- in consecutive contests -- leave no doubt the Spartans, with a 70-match win streak, have earned their place at No. 1.

Beyond that, it was quite a mess for boys and girls soccer this week.

Playoff surprises all around the country, led by a rash of upsets in San Diego, led to a re-ordering of programs. A total of 22 teams -- boys and girls -- debut in the FAB 50 this week, and on the boys side that includes four teams jumping from unranked to the Top 25, which is extremely rare this late in the season.

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BIG MOVERS: BOYS: De La Salle (Concord, Calif.). De La Salle was put on the national athletic map by its blockbuster football program. The school's boys soccer team is making sure their "futbol" team is recognized, as well. The Spartans captured a section title over the weekend and advances to next week's inaugural NorCal Regional Championships. De La Salle jumps from No. 37 to No. 24 this week. ... GIRLS: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Santa Margarita was the runner-up to JSerra in league place and the only team to beat that national power this season. Now, the Eagles are back in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals, and could face JSerra for the title if both teams win semifinal contests. Santa Margarita's recent run helps the team jump from No. 41 to No. 19 this week.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 19 Frisco Centennial (Frisco, Texas), No. 20 JJ Pearce (Richardson, Texas), No. 22 El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.), No. 25 Montgomery (Santa Rosa, Calif.), No. 26 Los Gatos (Calif.), No. 40 Warren (Downey, Calif.), No. 42 New Orleans Jesuit (New Orleans, La.), No. 44 Brownsville Veterans Memorial (Brownsville, Texas), No. 45 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), No. 47 Redlands East Valley (Redlands, Calif.), No. 49 Burlingame (Calif.). ... GIRLS: No. 33 Centennial/Corona (Corona, Calif.), No. 34 [Academy of Our Lady of Peace ca-w] (San Diego, Calif.), No. 36 Pacifica/Garden Grove (Garden Grove, Calif.), No. 37 Sunny Hills (Fullerton, Calif.), No. 39 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.), No. 40 Branson School (Ross, Calif.), No. 41 Chino Hills (Calif.), No. 48 Grapevine (Grapevine, Texas), No. 49 St. Scholastica (Covington, La.), No. 50 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.).