MaxPreps 2017 CIF Los Angeles City Section preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Recap - Narbonne vs. Cathedral Catholic 2016
See the City Section's top team in action last season.


1. Narbonne (Harbor City)
2016 record: 14-1
Head coach: Manuel Douglas

Narbonne was one win away last season from playing in the Division 1-AA CIF state championship game, but fell short, 35-28, to Cathedral Catholic. The Gauchos have a lot of talent coming back from last year's 14-win squad, led by 3-star quarterback Jalen Chatman and 4-star USC commit Raymond Scott.

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2. Dorsey (Los Angeles)
2016 record: 11-3
Head coach: Charles Mincy

Nobody will fault the Dons for their nonleague schedule this season, as they face a murderer's row: Calabasas, St. John Bosco and Serra in the first three weeks.

While they might come out of that with some losses they still have a roster with legitimate college talent. Four 3-star recruits will be leading the way in an effort to do better than last year's performance that ended with a city title game loss to Narbonne.

Safety Joseph Williams, safety Dion Bascom, tight end Isaiah Smalls and defensive end Timothy Mosley are all the top recruits on the team, with Smalls and Mosley garnering a little interest from Pac-12 programs.

See the MaxPreps California football stat leaders 3. Los Angeles
2016 record: 1-14
Head coach: Ted Baker

The Romans had to forfeit all but one win from last season due to an ineligible player. Still there is good reason to believe that the team can experience success on the field this season.

They are moving up to Division I, which will definitely be a postseason test. But the Romans also have an easier nonleague schedule this season.

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4. Hawkins (Los Angeles)
2016 record: 1-13
Head coach: Richard Dax Sanchies

Hawkins faced Los Angeles in the D-II city title game and both ended up having to forfeit away almost their entire seasons. A coaching upheaval and the defection of star receiver Jalen Hall defintely hurt the program, which along with Los Angeles High is on probation for two years.

Big man Bryson Blackmon (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) is back on the defensive line and is getting some major college looks. Eric Fuller (5-9, 145) will look for more grabs to offset Hall's departure.

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5. Venice (Los Angeles)
2016 record: 6-5
Head coach: Angelo Gasca

The Gondoliers have tied for first in the Western League each of the last two seasons, and they've got a quarterback who should only get better.

Luca Diamont is back for his sophomore season after getting ample experience as a freshman. The younger brother of Xander Diamont, who went on to play at Indiana University, will have the keys to the offense after passing for 2,066 yards and 21 touchdowns. But it was revealed over the weekend that he was injured after falling off a golf cart.

Senior Justin Cauley is back at running back and will help lead the way. Dion Moore is taking reps at quarterback in case Diamont can't come back for the season opener, according to the Los Angeles Times.