Correction: Sports Shorts: Diablos To Take on Nation's Best Football Team on Live TV

Corrected on Friday, Sept. 2, 4:45 p.m.: Reader Joey Basso pointed out that Mission Viejo will be playing Don Bosco Prep, not Don Bosco Tech, another New Jersey school located in Paterson but one that closed a few years ago.This story has been changed to reflect that correction. Thanks for the help, Joey!

Here’s some great news! The Battle Royale between national high school football powers Mission Viejo and host Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, N.J., on Saturday, Sept. 10, will be televised live by Cox Channel 3 beginning at 4 p.m. (PST) for all Cox Communications subscribers in South Orange County.

Don Bosco Prep sits atop the national preseason rankings of most media, including USA Today/HighSchoolSports.net, SI.com, MaxPreps/CBS Sports, ESPNHS, Rivals.com/Yahoo! and PrepNation, heading into the 2011 season. The Ironmen finished 12-0 last season and have won 59 of their last 60 games, including their last 35 in a row.

Their “Fab Four,” led by defensive tackle Darius Hamilton and including cornerback Yuri Wright, wide receiver Leonte Carroo (Rutgers) and running back/safety Elijah Shumate, all have Division 1 scholarship offers from multiple schools, head up what many are calling the nation’s best senior class.

Mission Viejo is ranked as high as No. 5 nationally by ESPNHS, while USA Today has the Diablos at No. 11 and PrepNation has them at No. 17. They have been snubbed in the top 25 lists of SI.com and MaxPrep/CBS Sports.

Only Rivals.com didn’t have Don Bosco Prep at the No. 1 spot in its preseason poll, but after one week, the Ironmen replaced the previous poll-topper, Prattville (Ala.), after it lost its opener. However, Rivals.com has Mission Viejo ranked No. 59 in its preseason poll.

The Diablos, who open their season on Friday at 8 p.m. with a nonleague home game against Centennial (Bakersfield) have sort of a “Fab Four” of their own in running back Jahleel Pinner (USC), quarterback Alex Bridgford and offensive linemen Colby Cyburt and Austin Maass (San Diego State). Want a “Fab Five”? Simply add running back Buzzy Yokoyama, a transfer from Newport Harbor.

Check out this video profile of Yokoyama that's running on OC Varsity.

ESPNLA.com Disses Diablos Sort Of

And if you have a few minutes, here's ESPNLA.com's preseason ranking of the Southland's top 25.

Servite being the top-ranked team should be no suprise, considering they are the defending CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Divsion champions, but the third-ranked Diablos also find themselves behind No. 2 Centennial of Corona. 

OK, yes, their reporters did write, "Any of the top three teams in these preseason rankings could have been No. 1. On the surface, Mission Viejo might be the best of the lot...," so we'll excuse the slight slight.

Other Orange County Patch teams ranked are Santa Margarita at No. 6 and San Clemente at No. 22.

Hitting the Hardwood in Hawaii

Mission Viejo will be among five boys basketball teams from Southern California that will participate in the Maui Invitational, held Dec. 19-23 at Lahainaluna High School in Hawaii.

The Diablos, who reached the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA championship game last season, will be joined by Oaks Christian of Westlake Village (Division 4A champion), Inglewood (Division 3A finalist), Redondo Union and San Pedro.

Each will play four games, and teams from Alabama, Utah and Washington have also received invites Wonder where mine is.

Have some sports news or results you'd like to share? Send it to Bob.Rohwer@patch.com.