Defending state champion Laney opens 2019 on top of JC Athletic Bureau and CCCSIA polls

Official JC Athlete Bureau release l Rankings

SAN MATEO – The spotlight focuses on defending California Community College Athletic Association champion Laney College (11-2) at the outset in 2019, according to the annual preseason poll of California Community College football coaches conducted by the JC Athletic Bureau. Laney also holds down the top position in the CCCSIA poll of sports information directors.

Laney defeated No. 2 choice Ventura College (11-2) for the 2018 championship, 40-35, at Sacramento City College. It was the first time the two at-large state qualifiers played in the title game.  

No. 3 pick Riverside had the best percentage record (11-1) in 2018. Ventura eliminated both Riverside and No. 6 pick Canyons (10-1) to reach the 2018 championship. Laney toppled a pair of NCFC league champions: No. 4 pick College of San Mateo (8-3) and No. 11 Fresno (9-3), to get there. Laney has the longest National (state championship) Division win streak, six games, since a Bay 6 loss to San Mateo, which has won three straight league titles and was the 2017 state "runner-up" (although Fullerton later vacated that title).

The CCCAA continues to have the majority of all USA 2-year college football teams (68) and crowns a "National" division champion and two regional "American" division champions. There were no CCCAA unbeatens in 2018, with the last trio of "perfect" teams falling in the post season: Canyons, Riverside, and Reedley (No. 25 in the preseason poll).

Season openers are the weekend of Sept. 6, with 33 non-league games (involving all but No. 20 Hancock and San Jose). Laney is featured on Friday night, hosting No. 10 Modesto.

Top Games Saturday (Sept. 7): Orange Coast at #2 Ventura; #9 El Camino at #3 Riverside; #4 San Mateo at #17 Siskiyous; #5 Butte at Delta; #12 Saddleback at #6 Canyons; #7American River at Sacramento; #8 CCSF at #15 Sierra;  #11 Fresno at #22 Santa Rosa; #13 Cerritos at East LA; #14 Southwestern at SD Mesa; #21 Mt. SAC at #16 Bakersfield; Golden West at #18 Fullerton;

AMERICAN DIVISION Openers (with overall state rank): #19 Chaffey at LA Harbor; #23 De Anza at #25 Reedley. Chaffey and De Anza have the state's longest overall win streaks, ten games, since losing their 2018 openers.