SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25 national high school football rankings: Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco week is here

The biggest week of the 2023 high school football season has arrived

High school football fans from coast-to-coast will be treated to two tremendous matchups with national championship ramifications this week — No. 7 St. John Bosco vs. No. 1 Mater Dei in their annual Southern California Trinity League showdown, while Georgia neighbors No. 12 Mill Creek and No. 4 Buford meet for just the second time ever.

Two teams debut in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings this week after former No. 16 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and No. 20 Chandler (Ariz.) lost and dropped out of the rankings. 

Massillon (Ohio) enters the rankings at No. 21, while Cocoa (Fla.) moves in at No. 25. 

Here’s the complete breakdown of our Week 9 SBLive/SI Power 25 national high school football rankings. 

(Feature photo by Heston Quan)

SBLIVE/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED POWER 25 – WEEK 9

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 1. Last week: Def. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 42-0.

In the Monarchs’ final appetizer before the main course gets served at St. John Bosco this week, they dispatched JSerra Catholic as Stanford-bound quarterback Elijah Brown threw four touchdown passes.

Next game: at No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Oct. 13

2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (8-0)

Previous rank: 2. Last week: Def. Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas) 48-17.

It was only 7-3 at halftime before the Gaels exploded in the second half, scoring six touchdowns in a span of 19 plays. Quarterback Micah Alejado threw for five touchdowns, including three to Audric Harris (130 receiving yards) and another to Derek Meadows (103 receiving yards).

Next game: at Desert Pines (Las Vegas), Oct. 13

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (5-0)

Previous rank: 3. Last week: Def. Bartram Trail (St. Johns, Fla.), 49-20.

The Ascenders finally returned to action after three weeks off, playing the school’s 100th game but waiting until the second half to take control. They led 14-6 at halftime, and touchdown runs by Alabama recruit Anthony Rogers and Texas commit Jerrick Gibson within the first six minutes of the third quarter broke the game open.

Next game: vs. Pine Forest (Pensacola, Fla.), Oct. 13

4. Buford (Ga.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 4. Last week: Idle.

The Wolves and the Hawks each got the week off in preparation for their nationally televised (ESPN2) clash of Region 8-7A titans located less than 10 miles apart.

Next game: at No. 12 Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.), Oct. 13

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

Previous rank: 5. Last week: Def. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 55-20.

Miami commit Jo Jo Trader caught two touchdown passes for the Lions, including this one against tight coverage, and Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith also had a touchdown reception.

Next game: vs. Avant Garde Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.), Oct. 20

6. Duncanville (Texas) (5-0)

Previous rank: 6. Last week: Def. Waxahachie (Texas) 44-10.

LSU commit Caden Dunham had a big night for the Panthers, rushing for three touchdowns, and the defense held Waxahachie to 31 yards of total offense in the first half to build a 30-0 lead. SMU commit Keelon Russell threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns.

Next game: at Mansfield (Texas), Oct. 12

7. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (6-1)

Previous rank: 7. Last week: Def. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) 56-27.

Caleb Sanchez tossed four first-half touchdown passes and five in all, and UCLA-bound running back Cam Jones scored on runs of 20 and 8 yards as the Braves tuned up for this week’s massive showdown with top-ranked Mater Dei by defeating Servite.

Next game: vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Oct. 13

8. DeSoto (Texas) (5-0)

Previous rank: 8. Last week: Def. Mansfield Legacy (Texas) 64-3.

The Eagles led 50-0 at halftime despite losing four-star junior running back Deondrae Riden to an injury in the first quarter after he’d scored twice. Marvin Duffey and Kingstin McAdams combined for three rushing touchdowns in Riden’s absence, and Sam Houston State commit Darius Bailey had two touchdown passes.

Next game: at Mansfield Legacy (Texas), Oct. 6

9. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) (5-1)

Previous rank: 9. Last week: Def. La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) 42-6.

The Eagles overwhelmed La Salle College, which entered ranked No. 24 in the SBLive Pennsylvania Power 25, leading 35-0 at halftime as quarterback Samaj Jones threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

Next game: vs. Father Judge (Philadelphia), Oct. 13

10. North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) (6-0)

Previous rank: 10. Last week: Def. Summer Creek (Houston) 31-21.

Junior Kaleb Bailey accounted for four touchdowns, including a 14-yard run with 6:05 left that broke a 21-21 tie and enabled the Mustangs to win for the 39th consecutive District 21-6A game and hand Summer Creek its first loss of the season.

Next game: at West Brook (Beaumont, Texas), Oct. 13

11. Miami (Fla.) Central (3-2)

Previous rank: 11. Last week: Def. Northwestern (Miami) 17-10.

The Rockets survived a scare from their neighborhood rival, with University of Miami commit Armondo Blount registering four sacks and Florida State commit Lawayne McCoy intercepting Northwestern’s Hail Mary pass in the end zone to seal Central’s fifth consecutive win in the series.

Next game: at Norland (Miami), Oct. 13 

12. Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 12. Last week: Idle.

Mill Creek and Buford, two Georgia powerhouses situated less than 10 miles apart, had never met before last season, when Buford won 39-27.

Next game: vs. No. 4 Buford (Ga.), Oct. 13

13. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 13. Last week: Idle.

The Packers had the week off, but four-star receiver Ny Carr — who recently decommitted from the University Georgia — still made news with his comments about the Bulldogs offense during a visit to the University of Miami.

Next game: at Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.), Oct. 13

14. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) (7-1)

Previous rank: 14. Last week: Def. Clarkson North (Mississauga, Ontario) 35-15.

The Eagles used big plays on both sides of the ball to win the annual international matchup. Casey Bullock’s 26-yard pass to Zach Hackleman opened the scoring for St. Edward, and his 26-yard touchdown pass to Brian Sullivan with five minutes left sealed the victory.

Next game: vs. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), Oct. 14

15. Saraland (Ala.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 15. Last week: Def. Blount (Eight Mile, Ala.) 59-20.

The dynamic duo of KJ Lacey (Texas) and Ryan Williams (Alabama) were at it again in the Spartans’ rout of Blount, with Lacey throwing for 242 yards and seven touchdowns, including three to Williams, who finished with five catches for 136 yards.

Next game: vs. Baldwin County (Bay Minette, Ala.), Oct. 13

16. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (5-1)

Previous rank: 17. Last week: Def. Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) 58-0.

The Raiders led 21-0 after one quarter and 42-0 at halftime as they were never threatened against the Cobras.

Next game: at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.), Oct. 13

17. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) (4-1)

Previous rank: 18. Last week: Def. Western (Davie, Fla.) 28-14.

It was a struggle most of the night for the Patriots, who trailed 7-6 at halftime but used two big plays on defense to get going. Xavier Lucas’ 25-yard interception return for a touchdown gave them the lead for good late in the third quarter, and a fumble recovery on the ensuing possession led to a 1-yard Byron Louis touchdown run and a 21-7 lead.

Next game: vs. Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Oct. 13

18. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (5-1)

Previous rank: 19. Last week: Idle.

The Crusaders got the week off to prepare for the Garden State’s game of the year — a matchup with St. Joseph Regional, No. 3 in the SBLive Northeast regional rankings and No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20.

Next game: vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), Oct. 14

19. Belleville (Mich.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 21. Last week: Def. Wayne (Mich.) Memorial 63-0.

Standout junior quarterback Bryce Underwood had a relatively easy night (8 of 13, 154 yards, two touchdowns), and Ray-Mond Smith ran for a season-high 100 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers cruised to their 32nd consecutive victory.

Next game: at Fordson (Dearborn, Mich.), Oct. 13

20. Westlake (Austin, Texas) (6-0)

Previous rank: 22. Last week: Def. Anderson (Austin, Texas) 67-14.

Senior receiver Heath McRee, a University of Houston commit, had six catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Chaparrals overcame a slow start, scoring 54 consecutive points to close the 6A District 26 contest.

Next game: vs. Dripping Springs (Texas), Oct. 13

21. Massillon (Ohio) (8-0)

Previous rank: NR. Last week: Def. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio) 42-7.

The Tigers announced themselves in Week 5 when they knocked off St. Edward (which was without injured starting quarterback Casey Bullock), and they’ve kept rolling. Their first road game of the season was no problem, as Ja’Meir Gamble ran for 233 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback DaOne Owens ran for a touchdown and threw for another.

Next game: vs. Harding (Warren, Ohio), Oct. 13

22. Walton (Marietta, Ga.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 23. Last week: Def. North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.) 35-27.

The Raiders trailed 21-0 early in the second quarter before roaring back with 28 consecutive points. Jeremy Hecklinski started the rally with a 75-yard touchdown pass, then hit Cameran Loyd for a 73-yard touchdown. He and Loyd connected again just before halftime for a 30-yard touchdown to put Walton ahead 28-21 at the break.

Next game: vs. Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.), Oct. 13

23. Kahuku (Hawaii) (9-1)

Previous rank: 25. Last week: Def. Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) 38-7.

The Red Raiders were without starting quarterback Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa because of an ankle injury, but senior Sitani Suguturaga filled in and went 6 of 6 for 58 yards and a touchdown, and Va’aimalae Fonoti ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns against the Sabers. With Leilehua already forfeiting their Week 10 matchup, Kahuku will now wait to see who it’ll match up with in the HHSAA Open Division tournament.

Next game: TBD, Hawaii state playoffs

24. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 24. Last week: Def. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 42-0.

The Padres posted their third shutout (they’ve allowed 38 points all season), and Joseph Latu, Jaden Green and Kyon Loud scored on short runs as they built a 21-0 lead en route to their 11th consecutive victory against their West Catholic Athletic League rival.

Next game: vs. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose, Calif.), Oct. 14

25. Cocoa (Fla.) (5-1)

Previous rank: NR. Last week: Def. Seminole (Sanford, Fla.) 28-3.

When last we heard from the Tigers, they were on the losing end of a controversial finish against St. Thomas Aquinas. Cocoa didn’t sulk following the defeat — it has won three consecutive games to vault into the Power 25 over fellow Florida teams Columbus (which lost 32-16 to Homestead) and Norland following a dominant defensive effort against Seminole. The Tigers overcame the loss of head coach Ryan Schneider — who was ejected midway through the third quarter — scoring three touchdowns after his removal.

Next game: at Titusville (Fla.), Oct. 13

Dropped out

16. Columbus (Miami, Fla.)

20. Chandler (Ariz.)

Honorable mention

Aledo (Texas)

Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Bixby (Okla.)

Carrollton (Ga.)

Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)

Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)

Long Beach Poly (Calif.)

McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.)

Norland (Miami, Fla.)

Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

-- René Ferrán | rferran.scorebooklive@gmail.com | @sblivesports