SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25 national high school football rankings: St. John Bosco moves up to No. 2 (10/30/2023)

Top-ranked Bishop Gorman faces Coronado in the Nevada state playoffs this week

René Ferrán | Oct 30, 2023

The titanic showdown between Texas powers Duncanville and DeSoto rippled through this week’s SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 rankings.

The Eagles ended their five-game losing streak against their district rivals with a 49-35 victory that moved them up to No. 6 in this week’s rankings, while the Panthers tumbled five spots to No. 10 — just behind another Texas powerhouse in North Shore, which beat Atascoscita 61-35 in another matchup of undefeated teams.

St. John Bosco moves up one spot to No. 2 — leapfrogging IMG Academy — after completing an undefeated run through California’s always-difficult Trinity League with a 44-22 victory over Orange Lutheran. The Braves are the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Power 25 teams in Michigan, Ohio and Hawaii kicked off their playoff runs with dominant victories. No. 1 Bishop Gorman enters the Nevada state playoffs this week as the postseason rolls across the country with the calendar turning to November.

Here’s the complete breakdown of our Week 12 SBLive/SI Power 25 national high school football rankings.

SBLive/SI Power 25 – Week 12

1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (10-0)

Previous rank: 1. Last week: Idle.

The Gaels learned who their semifinal opponent in the Nevada 5A Division I playoffs will be after Coronado knocked off Desert Pines 35-12 in their first-round match. The teams met in the regular-season finale Oct. 20, with Bishop Gorman winning 49-7.

Next game: vs. Coronado, Nevada 5A Division I playoffs, Nov. 3

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (9-1)

Previous rank: 3. Last week: Def. Orange Lutheran (Calif.) 44-22.

Senior quarterback Caleb Sanchez was blazing early, tossing touchdown passes of 51 yards to Chauncey Sylvester Jr., five yards to Cameron Jones and 31 yards to Daniel Odom en route to a 23-of-31, 396-yard performance with six touchdowns and an interception as the Braves wrapped up their first outright Trinity League title since 2018 and earned the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Next game: vs. San Clemente (Calif.), Nov. 10.

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (8-0)

Previous rank: 2. Last week: Def. Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.) 1-0, forfeit.

The Ascenders received a forfeit win ahead of the final two weeks of their regular season.

Next game: vs. St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.), Nov. 3

4. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 4. Last week: Def. St. John Paul II Academy (Boca Raton, Fla.) 69-0.

Cedrick Bailey was 6 of 6 for 161 yards and four touchdowns, and seven players scored touchdowns for the Lions in the 1M District 6 victory.

Next game: at Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Nov. 3

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (8-1)

Previous rank: 6. Last week: Def. Santa Margarita (Calif.) 35-19.

The Monarchs didn’t have an easy time in their Trinity League finale, leading just 21-19 midway through the third quarter before Nathaniel Frazier scored his second rushing touchdown from 48 yards to give them some breathing room. Jeilani Davis’ interception return for a touchdown wrapped up the victory and the No. 2 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

Next game: vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Nov. 10

6. DeSoto (Texas) (8-0)

Previous rank: 7. Last week: Def. No. 10 Duncanville (Texas) 49-35.

The game of the year in Texas lived up to the hype a day after it was originally scheduled after wild weather pushed the Friday Night Lights to Saturday afternoon. Darius Bailey threw for four touchdowns and junior Daylon Singleton finished with a career-high 179 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns as the Eagles earned their first win in the series since 2016.

Next game: at Mansfield (Texas), Nov. 2

7. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) (8-1)

Previous rank: 8. Last week: at Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) 45-7.

Isaiah West’s 2-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter broke a 7-7 tie, and it was all Eagles from there. The St. Joseph’s Prep defense scored three times — twice on interceptions and once on a fumble return.

Next game: TBD, PIAA District 12 semifinals, Nov. 10

8. Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 9. Last week: Def. Dacula (Ga.) 41-0.

The Hawks led just 3-0 at halftime before exploding in the second half to wrap up the Region 8-7A title with a week remaining in the regular season. Cam Robinson scored on runs of 5 and 55 yards in the third quarter to help Mill Creek pull away.

Next game: vs. Mountain View (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Nov. 3

9. North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) (9-0)

Previous rank: 10. Last week: Def. Atascocita (Humble, Texas) 61-35.

The Mustangs never trailed in the District 21-6A showdown, with quarterback Kaleb Bailey throwing for four touchdowns and running for another in the victory. Bailey finished with 251 yards on 16-of-21 passing and ran nine times for 95 yards.

Next game: at Kingwood Park (Texas), Nov. 2

10. Duncanville (Texas) (7-1)

Previous rank: 5. Last week: Lost to No. 6 DeSoto (Texas) 49-35.

Two second-half fumbles proved costly for the Panthers as they tried to keep up with the Eagles in a game that produced more than 900 yards of total offense. LSU commit Caden Durham rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns for Duncanville, which looks to regroup this week ahead of the 6A state playoffs, which kick off Nov. 10.

Next game: vs. Mansfield Legacy (Texas), Nov. 2

11. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 11. Last week: Def. Valdosta (Ga.) 44-28.

The Packers wrapped up a second consecutive Region 1-7A title and seventh in the past 10 seasons, getting scores in all three phases of the game — three passing touchdowns from Neko Fann, a rushing score from Landen Thomas, a 33-yard interception return by Ry’Sheed Fuller and Ty Lamar’s 95-yard kickoff return. Ny Carr caught seven passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 18 for the season and 41 for his career.

Next game: vs. Richmond Hill (Ga.), Nov. 3

12. Buford (Ga.) (8-1)

Previous rank: 12. Last week: Def. Mountain View (Lawrenceville, Ga.) 51-0.

Georgia five-star commit Dylan Raiola continued making his case as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024 by passing for four touchdowns and running for another in a stellar first-half display. The Wolves held Mountain View to 105 total yards in wrapping up the Region 8-7A No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Next game: vs. Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Nov. 3

13. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) (10-1)

Previous rank: 13. Last week: Def. Elyria (Ohio) 42-0.

In the first meeting between the programs, the Eagles kicked off their drive for a third consecutive Division I title with a dominant first-round victory. Junior quarterback Thomas Csanyi, making the start in place of the injured Casey Bullock, tossed two touchdown passes to help St. Edward build a 35-0 halftime lead.

Next game: vs. GlenOak (Canton, Ohio), Nov. 3

14. Saraland (Ala.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 14. Last week: vs. Theodore (Ala.) 42-13.

In a matchup of top-10 Alabama teams, the Spartans took control early, building a 35-0 halftime lead on the strength of big nights from junior quarterback KJ Lacey (15 of 28, 231 yards, three touchdowns) and five-star receiver Ryan Williams, who caught seven passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns and threw his third career touchdown pass.

Next game: at McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.), Nov. 3

15. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (8-1)

Previous rank: 15. Last week: Def. Paramus Catholic (N.J.) 42-13.

Kaj Sanders, a Rutgers commit on defense, ran for three touchdowns, and Dominic Campanile had two touchdown passes to Quincy Porter as the Crusaders tuned up for the state playoffs with a dominant victory. They have a first-round bye as they go for a third consecutive Non-Public Group A title.

Next game: TBD, NJSIAA Non-Public Group A playoffs, Nov. 10

16. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) (7-1)

Previous rank: 16. Last week: Def. Hallandale (Fla.) 55-0.

Sophomore quarterback Dia Bell was nearly perfect, going 12 of 14 for 115 yards and three touchdowns, and senior linebacker Omar Thornton had two sacks and a 46-yard interception return for a score as the Patriots eased into the postseason with their first shutout of the season.

Next game: TBA, FHSAA 2M state playoffs, Nov. 10

17. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (9-1)

Previous rank: 17. Last week: Def Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 58-0.

The Raiders wrapped up the 3M-District 11 championship with their fourth shutout of the season. They didn’t allow a point in three district games and held the Panthers to 164 yards of total offense while forcing three turnovers.

Next game: TBA, FHSAA 3M state playoffs, Nov. 10

18. Belleville (Mich.) (10-0)

Previous rank: 18. Last week: Def. Huron (Ann Arbor, Mich.) 48-7.

The Tigers opened their quest for a third consecutive Division 1 state title by overpowering Huron in a District 2 semifinal. Five-star junior quarterback Bryce Underwood threw for three first-half touchdowns, and Desmon Yharbrough returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter to give Belleville a 48-0 lead.

Next game: vs. Saline (Mich.), Nov. 3

19. Westlake (Austin, Texas) (9-0)

Previous rank: 19. Last week: Def. Bowie (Austin, Texas) 62-0.

Sophomore quarterback Rees Wise threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and the Chaparrals held a Bowie offense that came in averaging 313 yards per game to just 19 yards, forcing 12 punts and not allowing a first down until the second half.

Next game: at Johnson (Buda, Texas), Nov. 2

20. Washington Massillon (Ohio) (11-0)

Previous rank: 20. Last week: Def. Central Crossing (Grove City, Ohio) 41-6.

The Tigers opened the Ohio Division II Region 7 playoffs with a flourish as quarterback DaOne Owens had a career night, throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-27 passing, and the hosts outgained Central Crossing 458-47.

Next game: vs. Westerville South (Ohio), Nov. 3

21. Walton (Marietta, Ga.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 21. Last week: Def. Osborne (Marietta, Ga.) 35-0.

The Raiders scored on their first five possessions, with Jeremy Hecklinski throwing two long touchdown passes to Hunter Teal while Makari Bodiford ran for touchdowns of 1 and 22 yards, and they held the Cardinals to 77 yards of total offense.

Next game: at Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), Nov. 3

22. Norland (Miami, Fla.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 22. Last week: at North Miami Beach (Fla.) 54-7.

Ennio Yapoor finished 12-of-22 passing for 255 yards and three touchdowns, and Anthony Mattison led a dominant defensive effort with three tackles for loss as the Vikings held the Chargers to 106 yards of total offense and five first downs.

Next game: at Killian (Miami, Fla.), Nov. 2

23. Kahuku (Hawaii) (10-1)

Previous rank: 23. Last week: Def. Kapolei (Honolulu) 49-7.

The Red Raiders are one win from a third consecutive OIA Open Division championship after Tulilele Tagovailoa-Amosa went 23 of 27 for 338 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score. They rolled up 471 yards of total offense and held the Hurricanes to 210. Kahuku bids for an 11th state championship.

Next game: vs. Mililani (Hawaii), Nov. 4

24. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) (9-0)

Previous rank: 24. Last week: Def. Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.) 24-13.

The Padres clinched the No. 1 seed in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs by grinding out a victory against the Warriors, leading just 14-13 after Joseph Stephens hit Jerod White on a 16-yard score for Valley Christian. Maealiuaki Smith tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyon Loud with 1:27 left in the third, and Thomas Gooch made a 31-yard field goal with 8:18 remaining to allow Serra to avoid the loss.

Next game: vs. St. Ignatius (San Francisco), Nov. 3

25. Miami Central (Fla.) (6-3)

Previous rank: 25. Last week: Def. Carol City (Miami, Fla.) 50-0; def. Monsignor Pace (Miami, Fla.) 62-0.

It was a rare two-game week for the Rockets, who made up a postponed game from Sept. 15 against Carol City on Monday before ending the week Friday against Monsignor Pace. Their defense pitched a couple of shutouts, recording 17 tackles for loss (four by Jayvin Tilghman and three sacks by Randy Adirika) against Carol City and getting a fumble return for a score against Monsignor Pace.

Next game: TBA, FHSAA 2M state playoffs, Nov. 10