We said it here last week.
This Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs' team had not looked like the nation's No. 1 team, yet. They followed that by going out and digging themselves in a 28-0 first-quarter hole at the No. 20 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies last Friday night. By halftime, they had only closed that margin by a couple of points, trailing 33-7.
But the Monarchs rallied, and for at least one quarter, they finally did look worthy of their No. 1 ranking. Outscoring the Huskies 29-0 in the third stanza, they briefly surged into the lead at 36-33.
A lot of teams would have been overwhelmed at that point, and probably would have folded up camp, satisfied with giving the nation's top-ranked team a run for its money. But not these Huskies.
Centennial regained its first-half mojo, connecting on a fourth-quarter field goal to tie the game at 36-all before embarking on a game-winning touchdown drive that gave them the lead for good with under two minutes to play. The Huskies held off one last late drive by the Monarchs and escaped with a 43-36 win.
It broke a seven-game losing streak to the Monarchs and marked their first win over their rivals since 2015. They were rewarded by moving up from No. 20 to No. 13 this week while Mater Dei settles into the No. 7 spot. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they still have a home loss to the current No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles, holding them back a bit.
Mater Dei, meanwhile, gets a major opportunity to reassert themselves Friday in a trip to the new No. 1 – the Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels. It's The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week, and we still expect it to be a battle even if it is no longer No. 1 vs. No. 2.
MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES
- How the nation's top teams fared last week including the teams ranked in our composite rankings
- Streak Busters Week 5 – double-digit win streaks fall across the country
- Last week's Roadmap to the National Championship
- The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense
- The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense
The Sporting News High School Football Top 25
Mater Dei's loss to Centennial definitely reverberated through the rankings, leading to some reshuffling among our California contingent. Centennial was the biggest beneficiary moving up from No. 20 to No. 13, and this led to several teams actually moving backward in the middle of our rankings starting with previous No. 13 Chaminade-Madonna. Sierra Canyon was the biggest loser as a result of the Mater Dei loss, losing three spots to make room for Centennial, Santa Margarita (which beat Centennial earlier this season) and Edna Karr which won a big game against American Heritage of Florida.
No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 2
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (2-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Bishop Gorman 35, East St. Louis [IL] Flyers 10 (0-2)
W/L Streak: 13 wins
Bishop Gorman upheld its ends of the bargain when it came to the potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup with the Mater Dei Monarchs this Friday. But thanks to top-ranked Mater Dei's 43-36 loss to Centennial, it's now a No. 1 vs. No. 7 matchup —and it's the Gaels riding high into this one as the nation's newly-minted No. 1 team.
No. 2 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 3
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. St. Louis [Honolulu, HI] Crusaders (3-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — St. John Bosco 42, Junipero Serra [San Mateo, CA] Padres 0 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
St. John Bosco continued to roll through the early portion of its schedule in a 42-0 romp past Junipero Serra. They host Hawaii's top-ranked St. Louis Crusaders this Friday, but ultimately, they should be the better squad at home and emerge with a relatively comfortable win before it's said and done.
No. 3 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 4
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Mandarin [Jacksonville, FL] Mustangs (4-0)
Last Game: 9/13/2025 — IMG Academy 79, Coronado [Henderson, NV] Cougars 6 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
So far, this looks like one of IMG's better teams, and they returned from a trip to Nevada last weekend with a 79-6 win over the Coronado Cougars. Now, it's back to a higher-caliber opponent in the Sunshine State with the undefeated Mandarin Mustangs on deck. But we don't expect IMG to stumble in this one either.
No. 4 Duncanville [TX] Panthers
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 5
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Waxahachie [TX] Indians (2-0)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Duncanville 35, South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears 28 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 1 win
Duncanville's had two bye weeks in the first three weeks of the Texas season so they've only got one game under their belts. But it was a good win over the South Oak Cliff Bears, a team that joins our national rankings this week in the No. 25 position. The Panthers only have eight regular-season games scheduled, and this week's visit to Waxahachie is one of the bigger challenges.
No. 5 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 6
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Grovetown [GA] Warriors (3-1)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Grayson 63, Mallard Creek [Charlotte, NC] Mavericks 13 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 18 wins
Grayson comes off a bye, looking to pick up where they left off on September 5 with a big 63-13 win over the Mallard Creek Mavericks. This week's opponent, Grovetown, is 3-1 so far, but we don't expect the Rams to have much trouble at home against the Warriors. The unbeaten march toward the playoffs should continue.
No. 6 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: No. 7
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Hewlett Sports Academy [Waldorf, MD] Eagles (1-2)
Last Game: 9/13/2025 — St. Frances Academy 34, St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks 26 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 1 win
St. Frances Academy got a tough win over a hardluck St. Joseph's Prep squad that has played three straight games against nationally-ranked opponents. The Panthers should get a breather this weekend against a Hewlett Sports Academy team coming off a 64-0 loss to the Hun [Princeton, NJ] Raiders.
No. 7 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: No. 1
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (4-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 43 (3-1), Mater Dei 36
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Mater Dei's 21-game win streak finally came to an end in a 43-36 loss to Centennial. The Monarchs have looked ragged compared to their usual standards, and it won't get any easier with a trip to Vegas this Friday to take on the new No. 1 – the mighty Gaels of Bishop Gorman.
No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: No. 8
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (2-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — St. Thomas Aquinas 45, Western [Davie, FL] Wildcats 6 (0-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Aquinas should be pretty much in cruise control now until an October 24 visit to American Heritage. This week's game against McArthur doesn't figure to present much of an obstacle, and the Raiders should roll as they cross the midway point of the regular season.
No. 9 Buford [GA] Wolves
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 9
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Discovery [Lawrenceville, GA] Titans (0-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Buford 34, Douglas County [Douglasville, GA] Tigers 26 (3-2)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
Douglas County figured to be one of Buford's stiffest challenges in the regular season, and the Tigers definitely made the Wolves work for everything in a 34-26 decision. The victory kept Buford undefeated at 4-0, and they continue to steadily climb the national rankings. They won't have any problem with a winless Discovery squad on Friday night.
No. 10 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX] Panthers
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 10
Next Game: 9/18/2025 — vs. Rockwall [TX] Yellowjackets (1-2)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — North Crowley 28, Guyer [Denton, TX] Wildcats 27 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 19 wins
Rockwall is just 1-2, but they've played respectably in back-to-back losses to the Lake Travis [Austin, TX] Cavaliers (28-20) and the Lewisville [TX] Farmers (28-21). North Crowley is 3-0 and they've kept their long win streak alive which has now reached 19 games. But they'd be wise not to underestimate the visiting Yellowjackets Thursday night.
No. 11 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 11
Next Game: 9/19/25 — at McCallie [Chattanooga, TN] Blue Tornado (3-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Mission Viejo 34, Lincoln [San Diego, CA] Hornets 24 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
This is one of the more intriguing games on the schedule this weekend as the high-flying Diablos of Mission Viejo travel across county to Tennessee to take on one of the Volunteer State's top programs. McCallie is coming off a 20-10 loss to the Ensworth [Nashville, TN] Tigers, but this certainly has the feel of a "trap" game even if we expect the Diablos to ultimately find a way to get the win.
No. 12 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 12
Next Game: 9/19/25 — vs. Pope John XXIII [Sparta, NJ] Lions (1-2)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Bergen Catholic 41, Winslow Township [Atco, NJ] Eagles 14 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 14 wins
Bergen Catholic has quietly put together one of the better resumes so far, and they've done enough to hold off a hard-charging Centennial squad that jumped seven spots after beating No. 1 Mater Dei last weekend. The Crusaders won't have any problems this weekend against a Pope John XXIII squad that is 1-2.
No. 13 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: No. 20
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (1-3)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Centennial 43, TSN No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs 36 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
The Huskies served up the season's biggest upset, taking down the No. 1 Mater Dei Monarchs, 43-36. The win broke a seven-game losing streak against California's kingpins and marked their first win against Mater Dei in 10 years. They should beat Rancho Cucamonga comfortably this weekend to continue their climb back toward the Top 10.
No. 14 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: No. 13
Next Game: TBD
Last Game: 9/11/2025 — vs. Edison [Miami, FL] Red Raiders (1-2)
W/L Streak: 2 wins
There are a handful of reports indicating that Chaminade-Madonna beat Edison 28-6 last Thursday night, but on their MaxPreps' schedule, the game against the Red Raiders has been moved to September 22. We're continuing efforts to try and verify whether this result is correct, but either way, the Lions check in at No. 14 this week. That game report is here.
No. 15 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers
2025 Record: 5-0
Last Week: No. 14
Next Game: 9/19/25 — vs. Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Corner Canyon 56, Brighton [Salt Lake City, UT] Bengals 14 (1-4)
W/L Streak: 16 wins
Corner Canyon has looked like one of the nation's best teams in 2025, so far, and now they enter the most difficult stretch of their in-state Utah schedule with back-to-back games against Lone Peak and the Skyridge [Lehi, UT] Falcons. The Chargers will have to maintain their focus, but ultimately, should win at home against the Knights to start the second half of their regular-season schedule.
No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: No. 17
Next Game: 9/27/2025 — vs. No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (4-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Santa Margarita 44, at Oaks Christian [Westlake Village, CA] Lions 14 (1-3)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Santa Margarita gets a week off to prepare for its big home game against the new No. 1 Bishop Gorman Gaels. They won comfortably, 44-14, over Oaks Christian last Friday night in their final tune-up for one of their biggest games of the year.
No. 17 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 15
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Trinity [Euless, TX] Trojans (3-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Southlake Carroll 52, Byron Nelson [Trophy Club, TX] Bobcats 3 (1-2)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Southlake Carroll doesn't have as many big matchups on its regular-season schedule as some of the other programs in the Lone Star State, but they do host an undefeated Trinity Trojans' squad Friday night. These are the kinds of tests the Dragons need to keep passing to continue climbing the rankings as they approach the midway point of the 2025 season.
No. 18 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: No. 19
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. McDonogh 35 [New Orleans, LA] Roneagles (1-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Edna Karr 24, SN No. 18 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots 17 (1-2) [OT]
W/L Streak: 16 wins
Edna Karr got a huge win in the Caesars Superdome last Friday night over the No. 18 American Heritage Patriots of Florida. Now, they get back to their bayou business against a homestate opponent, and they should roll against the McDonogh 35 Roneagles.
No. 19 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers
2025 Record: 4-0
Last Week: No. 16
Next Game: 9/18/2025 — at Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (3-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Sierra Canyon 49, Downey [CA] Vikings 7 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 4 wins
This is Sierra Canyon's big test on its regular-season schedule, and after dropping three spots here to account for the upsets by Centennial and Mater Dei, the Trailblazers finally get a chance to make a statement against Orange Lutheran. They need it to be a winning statement if they want to get headed back in the right direction here.
No. 20 Milton [GA] Eagles
2025 Record: 3-1
Last Week: No. 21
Last Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Chattahoochee [Alpharetta, GA] Cougars (1-3)
Next Game: 9/12/25 — Milton 21, Blessed Trinity [Roswell, GA] Titans 10 (3-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Milton hasn't really looked great in any of their wins so far, but the important thing is, they are still wins. The Eagles are 3-1 with only a one-touchdown loss to Top 10 Buford, so they continue to earn their keep. They shouldn't have any difficulties against this Chattahoochee squad Friday night.
No. 21 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 22
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — at Southwest Guilford [High Point, NC] Cowboys (1-3)
Last Game: 9/5/2025 — Grimsley 48, East Forsyth [Kernersville, NC] Eagles 21
W/L Streak: 19 wins
Grimsley will be back in action vs. Southwest Guilford this Friday, and we expect the Whirlies will still be without their 5-star Class of 2026 quarterback Faizon Brandon. That hasn't phased them, yet, however, and they should be able to handle a 1-3 Cowboys' squad without their star.
No. 22 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 23
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs. Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors (0-4)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — DeMatha 44, Roman Catholic [Philadelphia, PA] Cahillite 7 (2-2)
W/L Streak: 13 wins
DeMatha might be way better than their ranking, but they won't get much of a chance to prove it against an 0-4 Mt. Zion Prep Academy squad that doesn't bring much to the table. There are bigger challenges coming where the Stags can prove their worth.
No. 23 Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 24
Next Game: 9/19/2025 — vs, Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros (2-1)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Basha 42, Williams Field [Gilbert, AZ] Black Hawks 14 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 3 wins
Basha opened their visit to the Top 25 with a 42-14 win over Williams Field. A similar result against the visiting Mountain View Toros this Friday wouldn't be a surprise either.
No. 24 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions
2025 Record: 3-0
Last Week: No. 25
Next Game: 9/18/2025 — vs. Fort Bend Marshall [Missouri City, TX] Buffalos (2-0)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — Randle 56, Fort Bend Travis [Richmond] Tigers 29 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 19 wins
Randle handled a 2-0 Fort Bend Travis squad with ease in a 56-29 win in their Top 25 debut last Friday. Now, it's another 2-0 Fort Bend squad – the Marshall Buffalos – and the Lions should be up to the task once again.
No. 25 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears
2025 Record: 2-1
Last Week: The NEXT 25 No. 1
Next Game: 9/18/2025 — vs. Spruce [Dallas, TX] Timberwolves (1-2)
Last Game: 9/12/2025 — South Oak Cliff 20, at SN NEXT No. 23 Longview [TX] Lobos 17 (2-1)
W/L Streak: 2 losses
South Oak Cliff's schedule was heavily front-loaded with games against North Shore, Duncanville, and Longview. They ran the gauntlet admirably, and having emerged with a 2-1 record against three of the best current programs in Texas, they find themselves in the Top 25 this week. It's all Dallas-area district games from here out so they should be pretty much in cruise control until the playoffs.
Weekly Top 25 Schedule
NR – Not ranked
Thursday, September 18, 2025
- NR Rockwall [TX] Yellowjackets (1-2) at SN No. 10 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX] Panthers (3-0 — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- SN No. 24 Randle [Richmond, TX] Lions (3-0) at NR Fort Bend Marshall [Missouri City, TX] Buffalos (2-0)
- SN No. 25 South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears (2-1) at NR Spruce [Dallas, TX] Timberwolves (1-2) — 8:15 p.m. EST (7:15 p.m. CST local)
- SN No. 19 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (4-0) at NR Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (3-1) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
Friday, September 19, 2025
- SN No. 3 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (3-0) at Mandarin [Jacksonville, FL] Mustangs (4-0) — 6:30 p.m. EST local
- NR Hewlett Sports Academy [Waldorf, MD] Eagles (1-2) at SN No. 6 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (2-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- SN No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (3-1) at McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (2-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- SN No. 11 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos at McCallie [Chattanooga, TN] Blue Tornado (3-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
- SN No. 21 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies (3-0) at NR Southwest Guilford [High Point, NC] Cowboys (1-3) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Mt. Zion Prep Academy [Lanham, MD] Warriors (0-4) at SN No. 22 DeMatha [Hyattsville, MD] Stags (3-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
- NR Grovetown [GA] Warriors (3-1) at SN No. 5 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (4-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- NR Discovery [Lawrenceville, GA] Titans (0-3) at SN No. 9 Buford [GA] Wolves (4-0) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- NR Chattahoochee [Alpharetta, GA] Cougars (1-3) at SN No. 20 Milton [GA] Eagles (3-1) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
- SN No. 4 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (1-0) at Waxahachie [TX] Indians (2-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Trinity [Euless, TX] Trojans (3-0) at SN No. 17 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (3-0) —8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR McDonogh 35 [New Orleans, LA] Roneagles (1-1) at SN No. 18 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (2-0) — 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST local)
- NR Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights at SN No. 15 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (5-0) — 9 p.m. EST (8 p.m. MST local)
- SN No. 7 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (2-1) a SN No. 1 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (4-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
- NR St. Louis [Honolulu, HI] Crusaders (3-0) at SN No. 2 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (4-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
- SN No. 13 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies at Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (1-3) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
- NR Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros (2-1) at SN No. 23 Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears (3-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
Saturday, September 20, 2025
- NR Pope John XXIII [Sparta, NJ] Lions (1-2) at SN No. 12 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders (3-0) — 1 p.m. EST local
IDLE
SN No. 14 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (2-1); SN No. 16 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles (3-1)
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