SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25 national high school football rankings (9/11/2023)

Chandler (Arizona) moves into the national rankings after upsetting Orange Lutheran (California)

René Ferrán | Sep 11, 2023

The top four teams in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school football rankings are starting to separate from the pack.

No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 2 St. John Bosco, No. 3 IMG Academy and No. 4 Bishop Gorman all posted impressive victories over the weekend, further cementing their status atop the rankings.

The bottom half of the rankings saw substantial movement, with two teams — No. 20 Bergen Catholic (NJ) and No. 25 Corona Centennial (California) — suffering defeat at the hands of fellow Power 25 rivals.

Two teams enter the rankings for the first time. Chandler (Arizona) moved in at No. 22 following a dominant victory against former No. 24 Orange Lutheran (California), while Serra of San Mateo, California, jumped in at No. 24.

Here’s the complete breakdown of our Week 5 SBLive/SI Power 25 national high school football rankings.

SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (4-0)

Previous rank: 1. Last week: Def. Kahuku (Hawaii) 55-8.

Stanford-bound quarterback Elijah Brown erased any hopes the former No. 23 Red Raiders had of pulling the upset in their visit to the mainland, tossing four touchdown passes, and 5-star running back Jordon Davison added touchdown runs of 15 and 20 yards as the Monarchs built a 34-0 lead by late in the second quarter.

Next game: at St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), Sept. 22

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (4-0)

Previous rank: 2. Last week: Def. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 37-14.

Senior Caleb Sanchez threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with four different receivers for his scoring passes, and UCLA-bound Cameron Jones opened the scoring with a 2-yard run as the Braves heightened preseason No. 4 St. Frances Academy’s woes, dropping the Panthers to 0-4.

Next game: at Kahuku (Hawaii), Sept. 16

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 3. Last week: Def. Ben Davis (Indianapolis) 34-14.

David Stone and Alton Marks Jr. returned second-half interceptions for touchdowns — Stone’s return was a 95-yarder — and Jayden Bradford was 12 of 18 for 254 yards and two touchdowns as the Ascenders traveled north to the Hoosier State and knocked off the Giants. Junior Donovan Olugbode caught five passes for 163 yards and a touchdown for IMG.

Next game: vs. Glenville (Ohio), Sept. 15

4. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (4-0)

Previous rank: 4. Last week: Def. No. 25 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 56-28.

The Gaels earned another statement victory and are poised to take advantage should any of the teams ahead of them falter. They put away former No. 17 Centennial early, leading 28-7 early in the second quarter as Hawaii commit DeVon Rice ran for two scores and Micah Alejado tossed two touchdown passes.

Next game: vs. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), Sept. 14

5. Buford (Ga.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 5. Last week: Idle.

The Wolves got a week off to prepare for another in-state opponent.

Next game: vs. Carver (Atlanta), Sept. 15

6. Duncanville (Texas) (2-0)

Previous rank: 6. Last week: Idle.

The Panthers got the week off before they start 6A Region II District 11 play this week.

Next game: at Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas), Sept. 15

7. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 7. Last week: Def. No. 18 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 61-21.

The Lions dispatched the first of three consecutive Power 25 opponents with ease, dismantling then-No. 14 Bergen Catholic thanks to a monster night from Ohio State-bound receiver Jeremiah Smith, who caught 15 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of action.

Next game: at No. 15 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), Sept. 15

8. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) (4-0)

Previous rank: 8. Last week: Def. Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio) 34-33.

The Eagles survived an upset bid by Elder as Kellen Moyer drilled a 29-yard field goal with six seconds remaining. St. Edward was plagued by turnovers that allowed the Panthers to build an early 10-0 lead, but sophomore running back Brandon White led the Eagles back, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns and catching a touchdown pass.

Next game: at Washington Massillon (Ohio), Sept. 15

9. Miami (Fla.) Central (1-1)

Previous rank: 9. Last week: Def. Booker T. Washington (Miami, Fla.) 38-28.

The Rockets needed just six plays to score their first 21 points, and Armondo Blount’s 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown proved the backbreaker as they rebounded from their cross-country 39-35 loss to No. 4 Bishop Gorman to post an eighth consecutive victory over their crosstown rivals.

Next game: vs. Carol City (Miami), Sept. 16

10. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) (2-1)

Previous rank: 10. Last week: Def. Lakeland (Fla.) 45-24.

The Eagles rallied from a 17-16 deficit, taking advantage of several Dreadnaughts mistakes to score 22 consecutive points. SJP senior quarterback and Cincinnati commit Samaj Jones ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and Sean McNulty’s 65-yard fumble return pushed the Eagles’ lead to 38-17 with 10:02 left.

Next game: at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), Sept. 15

11. DeSoto (Texas) (2-0)

Previous rank: 11. Last week: Def. South Oak Cliff (Dallas) 54-14.

The Eagles picked up right where they left off in their season-opening win against Allen two weeks ago, needing just 28 seconds to get on the board on a 74-yard touchdown pass to Daylon Singleton, who recently announced his commitment to SMU. Later, Eagles receiver Ethan “Boobie” Feaster made an acrobatic 58-yard touchdown catch. Unfortunately, a fight in the stands led to the game being called with 6:29 remaining.

Next game: vs. Skyline (Dallas), Sept. 15

12. North Shore (Galena Park) (3-0)

Previous rank: 12. Last week: Def. Westfield (Houston) 45-9.

D’andre Hardeman Jr. ran for three first-half touchdowns, and Kaleb Bailey ran for one score and threw for another as the Mustangs romped to the non-district victory against SBLive Texas No. 15 Westfield.

Next game: vs. Beaumont United, Sept. 22

13. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) (4-0)

Previous rank: 13. Last week: Def. Lee County (Ga.) 37-20.

The Trojans tried a little pregame intimidation against the Packers, lining up at midfield and staring down the home team. Big mistake. The Packers built a 24-7 lead late in the second quarter and improved to 12-0 against Lee County, with Brett Fitzgerald kicking three field goals and Ramsey Dennis scoring on runs of 1 and 24 yards. Neko Fann was 19 of 29 for 200 yards and a touchdown to Georgia commit Ny Carr, who had seven catches for 113 yards.

Next game: vs. Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), Sept. 22

14. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) (2-0)

Previous rank: 15. Last week: Idle.

The Patriots’ scheduled game at Glades Central of Belle Glade, Fla., was canceled, giving them an extra week to prepare for their highly anticipated showdown with No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna.

Next game: vs. No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), Sept. 15

15. Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 16. Last week: Idle.

The Hawks got the week off before taking on Cedar Grove, which has back-to-back games against the Nos. 15 and 13 teams in the nation.

Next game: vs. Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), Sept. 15

16. Saraland (Ala). (3-0)

Previous rank: 19. Last week: Def. St. Paul’s Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.) 47-3.

The Spartans recorded five sacks and 20 tackles for loss in overwhelming the Saints. Texas commit K.J. Lacey was 11 of 17 for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and the state’s reigning Mr. Football, Ryan Williams, warmed up for his upcoming visit to the University of Texas with three catches for 89 yards and two scores.

Next game: at Spanish Fort (Ala.), Sept. 15

17. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 21. Last week: Def. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) 42-14.

Alberto Mendoza’s touchdown pass to Jose Leon midway through the second quarter broke a 14-14 tie, and Jeff Bandy returned a fumble 98 yards for a backbreaking score in the final minute of the first half as the Explorers thwarted an upset bid by the Tigers.

Next game: vs. Palmetto (Miami, Fla.), Sept. 16

18. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (2-1)

Previous rank: 18. Last week: Def. Cocoa (Fla.) 37-36.

The Raiders survived a huge scare under questionable circumstances, getting several breaks in the final 88 seconds and scoring the winning points on a 19-yard field goal by Francesco Pileggi with six seconds remaining. The Palm Beach Post reported Sunday that Cocoa will appeal the outcome of the game to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

Next game: at Western (Davie, Fla.), Sept. 15

19. Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.) (2-1)

Previous rank: 20. Last week: Idle.

The Panthers got an extra week to lick their wounds following a 30-27 loss to Butler (Matthews, N.C.).

Next game: at New Manchester (Douglasville, Ga.), Sept. 15

20. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (2-1)

Previous rank: 14. Last week: Lost 61-21 to No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.).

Little went right for the Crusaders during their trip to the Sunshine State, as they allowed the most points in a game since Mater Dei hung 62 on them in a 62-14 defeat on Sept. 16, 2017. One bright spot was junior quarterback Dominic Campanile, who threw for two touchdowns — both to four-star receiver Quincy Porter — and ran for another, but he also threw a pick-six that gave Chaminade-Madonna a 20-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Next game: at Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.), Sept. 16

21. Belleville (Mich.) (3-0)

Previous rank: 22. Last week: Def. Churchill (Livonia, Mich.) 56-0.

The Chargers entered Friday’s game undefeated, but the Tigers made quick work of their hosts, scoring 42 points in the first quarter. Jeremiah Beasley ran for touchdowns of 66, 38 and 6 yards during the barrage, and Adrian Walker Jr. capped the period with a 68-yard interception return for a score.

Next game: vs. Dearborn (Mich.), Sept. 15

22. Chandler (Ariz.) (3-0)

Previous rank: NR. Last week: Def. Orange Lutheran (Calif.) 35-10.

The Wolves nearly made the Power 25 last week but left no doubt they belonged this week by handling then-No. 24 Orange Lutheran, knocking the Lancers out of the rankings. Quarterback Blake Heffron and three-star Illinois commit Ca’Lil Valentine each ran for two touchdowns, and Wolves coach Rick Garretson (a former offensive coordinator at Servite, a league rival of Orange Lutheran) remained undefeated against the Lancers in his career.

Next game: at Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), Sept. 15

23. Westlake (Austin, Texas) (3-0)

Previous rank: 25. Last week: Def. Akins (Austin, Texas) 64-0.

The Chaparrals prepared for their idle week by blowing out their 6A Region IV District 26 rivals, leading 44-0 by halftime. Senior quarterback Paxton Land threw for two first-half touchdowns, and junior Elliott Schaper led the defensive effort with eight tackles and a sack as Westlake held the visitors to 75 yards of total offense.

Next game: at Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), Sept. 22

24. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) (3-0)

Previous rank: NR. Last week: Def. Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.) 38-7.

The Padres enter the rankings fresh off a third consecutive impressive victory, breaking open a 10-7 game by scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half. SBLive California’s No. 1 team in Northern California took control on the opening drive of the second half, with Maealiuaki Smith tossing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Cole Harrison. Smith added a 36-yard scoring pass to Braden Agosta late in the third quarter.

Next game: at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco), Sept. 22

25. Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (2-2)

Previous rank: 17. Last week: Lost 56-28 to No. 4 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

The Huskies haven’t shied from taking on some of the West’s top powers, but while they hung with No. 1 Mater Dei in their opener, they were blown out of the water early by the Gaels in this matchup. Four first-half turnovers put them in a 35-7 hole. The one bright spot was running back Cornell Hatcher II, who continued his hot start with four touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.), Sept. 22