SBLive/Sports Illustrated Top 25 national high school football rankings: Bishop Gorman new No. 1 team (10/16/2023)

Mater Dei, Buford losses shake up the national football rankings

Author:
René Ferrán
Publish date:
Oct 16, 2023 1:08 PM EDT

There is a new No. 1 in this week’s SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school football rankings after St. John Bosco’s 28-0 victory over former No. 1 Mater Dei on Friday night.

Bishop Gorman takes over the top spot in the rankings as the Las Vegas school continues to reap the rewards of its grueling opening stretch.

St. John Bosco jumps four spots to No. 3 behind the Gaels and IMG Academy, which figures to get a stern test this week against Gray Collegiate Academy of West Columbia, S.C. Mater Dei falls five spots to No. 6.

The other marquee matchup of Week 9 was in Georgia, where Mill Creek held off Buford 31-24. The Hawks move up three spots to No. 9 this week, while the Wolves drop eight spots to No. 12.

That wasn’t the most precipitous drop of the week, though. Miami Central fell from No. 11 to No. 25 following its third defeat to a Power 25 team this season — this time to debutant Miami Norland, which rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Rockets 29-26 in overtime and enter the rankings at No. 23.

Miami Norland’s big win dropped in-state rival Cocoa out of the rankings.

Here's the complete breakdown of our Week 10 SBLive/SI Power 25 national high school football rankings.

SBLIVE/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED POWER 25 - WEEK 10

1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (9-0)

Bishop Gorman football — Photo by Jann Hendry

Previous rank: 2. Last week: Def. Desert Pines (Las Vegas) 56-12.

The new No. 1 team in the land continues to ease its way through the second half of its schedule after surviving a brutal first half unscathed. The Gales handled crosstown rival Desert Pines as reigning Nevada player of the year Micah Alejado went 9 of 11 for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and DeVon Rice ran for 105 yards and two scores on six carries.

Next game: vs. Coronado (Las Vegas), Oct. 20

2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (6-0)

Previous rank: 3. Last week: Def. Pine Forest (Pensacola, Fla.) 55-14.

The Ascenders dominated their in-state opponent, building a 48-0 halftime lead as Jayden Bradford tossed two touchdown passes and Jerrick Gibson ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Next game: vs. Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.), Oct. 19

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

Previous rank: 7. Last week: Def. No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 28-0.

Mitch Stephens, take a bow. He was the only SBLive staffer to pick the Braves — albeit by a narrower margin than what eventually happened in a dominant performance by St. John Bosco. The Braves handed their Trinity League rival its first shutout loss in the past 12 years, and UCLA commit Cameron Jones rushed for 134 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Next game: at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Oct. 20

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

Previous rank: 5. Last week: Idle.

The Lions have a favorable schedule for their final three regular-season games before their sights turn toward defending their Class 1M state championship.

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

5. Duncanville (Texas) (6-0)

Previous rank: 6. Last week: Def. Mansfield (Texas) 51-0.

SMU commit Keelon Russell was nearly perfect through the air, completing 18 of 20 passes for 285 yards and five touchdowns with an interception as the Panthers built a 44-0 halftime en route to the District 11-6A victory.

Next game: vs. Skyline (Dallas), Oct. 19

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

Previous rank: 1. Last week: Lost to No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 28-0.

The news wasn’t all bad for the Monarchs this week. Five-star defensive lineman Aydin Breland announced his commitment to the University of Oregon on Saturday, picking the Ducks over Georgia and Miami. On the field, the vulnerability they displayed in wins against Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) finally bit them against their Trinity League rivals.

Next game: at Orange Lutheran (Calif.), Oct. 19

7. DeSoto (Texas) (6-0)

Previous rank: 8. Last week: Def. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) 64-3.

Big nights from the Eagles’ trio of senior quarterback Darius Bailey (15 of 23, 247 yards, four touchdowns), senior running back Marvin Duffey (166 yards, three touchdowns) and junior receiver Daylon Singleton (five catches, 121 yards, three touchdowns) were more than enough against their winless opponent.

Next game: at Cedar Hill (Texas), Oct. 20

8. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) (6-1)

Previous rank: 9. Last week: Def. Father Judge (Philadelphia) 55-19.

University of Cincinnati commit Samaj Jones got the Eagles going with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah West, and Kahseim Phillips added a 42-yard touchdown run and 46-yard touchdown catch as St. Joseph’s Prep cruised to its 14th consecutive victory over its Philadelphia Catholic League rival.

Next game: at Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), Oct. 20

9. Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 12. Last week: Def. No. 12 Buford (Ga.) 31-24.

The second all-time meeting between the Georgia 7A powers came down to the final minute before the Hawks secured the victory. Junior Shane Throgmartin hit Justin Content for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining for the winning score.

Next game: at Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.), Oct. 20

10. North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) (7-0)

Previous rank: 10. Last week: Def. West Brook (Beaumont, Texas) 62-14.

D’Andre Hardeman Jr. ran for touchdowns of 40 and 2 yards to open the scoring, and Kaleb Bailey tossed two touchdown passes as the Mustangs led 56-0 at halftime against their winless District 21-6A rival.

Next game: vs. Humble (Texas), Oct. 19

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

Previous rank: 13. Last week: Def. Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) 37-16.

The Packers opened Region 1-7A play with a 10th consecutive victory over the Wildcats, limiting their wing-T to 157 yards on 40 carries. Freshly minted University of Miami commit Ny Carr caught two more touchdown passes, giving him 14 this season and a school-record 37 for his career.

Next game: at Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.), Oct. 20

12. Buford (Ga.) (6-1)

Previous rank: 4. Last week: Lost to No. 9 Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) 31-24.

Five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola finished 18 of 45 for 274 yards and two touchdowns, but the University of Georgia commit saw two touchdowns wiped out by a procedure penalty and a drop in the end zone — one of 10 drops on a rainy evening. Still, he drove the Wolves to the Mill Creek 5-yard line with five seconds left before his final pass under pressure fell incomplete to seal their fate.

Next game: at Dacula (Ga.), Oct. 20

13. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) (8-1)

Previous rank: 14. Last week: Def. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) 28-21.

The game had a playoff feeling between two SBLive Ohio Power 25 programs, and the Eagles saw a resurgence of their run game, as sophomore Brandon White ran for 262 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.

Next game: at Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), Oct. 20

14. Saraland (Ala.) (8-0)

Previous rank: 15. Last week: Def. Baldwin County (Bay Minette, Ala.) 56-7.

The Spartans enter their open week off yet another dominant performance — since their season-opening win against Lipscomb Academy, their average margin of victory is 48.3 points. University of Texas commit KJ Lacey was 10 of 13 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for another score as the hosts racked up 426 yards of total offense.

Next game: vs. Theodore (Ala.), Oct. 27

15. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (6-1)

Previous rank: 18. Last week: Def. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) 28-23.

The Crusaders won the Garden State’s game of the year — a rare Sunday high school matchup between the top two teams in the NJ.com Top 20. Junior quarterback Dominic Campanile had two third-quarter touchdown passes to give Bergen Catholic a two-score cushion, and sophomore linebacker Mason Marck’s sack on fourth-and-3 with 13 seconds left clinched the victory.

Next game: at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.), Oct. 20

16. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) (5-1)

Previous rank: 17. Last week: Def. Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 63-16.

Before sophomore quarterback Dia Bell trekked to LSU over the weekend, he led the rising Patriots to the dominant victory, throwing for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Another promising sophomore, receiver Malachi Toney, caught seven passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Next game: vs. Naples (Fla.), Oct. 20

17. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (7-1)

Previous rank: 16. Last week: Def. Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) 42-0.

With Ohio State commit Jordan Lyle making plays like this one for the Raiders, they’ll be a tough out in next month’s Class 3M state playoffs.

Next game: at Monarch (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Oct. 20

18. Belleville (Mich.) (8-0)

Previous rank: 19. Last week: Def. Fordson (Dearborn, Mich.) 40-0.

The Tigers wrapped up the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East Division title as five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns. Next up is undefeated Northville, which won the Baseline Jug against rival Novi to secure the KLAA West title.

Next game: vs. Northville (Mich.), Oct. 20

19. Westlake (Austin, Texas) (7-0)

Previous rank: 20. Last week: Def. Dripping Springs (Texas) 27-14.

The Chaparrals have won 41 consecutive regular-season games and grabbed sole possession of first place in District 26-6A by rallying from a 14-7 halftime deficit. Sophomore quarterback Rees Wise led the comeback, throwing for 224 yards and rushing for 58 and three touchdowns, and Heath McRee returned Judson Crockett’s blocked punt 30 yards for the clinching score.

Next game: at Austin (Texas), Oct. 20

20. Washington Massillon (Ohio) (9-0)

Previous rank: 21. Last week: Def. Harding (Warren, Ohio) 48-14.

The Tigers didn’t get caught looking ahead to their annual rivalry game against McKinley, rolling to their eighth consecutive victory over Harding and 14th consecutive home win. Emy Louis Jr. returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, and quarterback DaOne Owens threw three touchdown passes while finishing 16 of 22 for 277 yards.

Next game: at McKinley (Canton, Ohio), Oct. 21

21. Walton (Marietta, Ga.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 22. Last week: Def. Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) 49-0.

The Raiders held Kennesaw Mountain to 107 yards of total offense and posted their first shutout since 2020 as they continue pointing toward their Week 9 showdown with fellow unbeaten Osborne.

Next game: vs. Cherokee (Canton, Ga.), Oct. 20

22. Kahuku (Hawaii) (9-1)

Previous rank: 23. Last week: Def. Leilehua 2-0, forfeit.

After receiving a forfeit in their season finale, the Red Raiders will be the top seed from Group A in the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) Open Division playoffs.

Next game: TBD, Hawaii state playoffs

23. Norland (Miami, Fla.) (7-0)

Previous rank: NR. Last week: Def. No. 25 Miami (Fla.) Central 29-26 (OT).

The Vikings leapfrog in-state rivals Miami Central and Cocoa, taking Cocoa’s spot in the Power 25 after sophomore Noah Sidan’s 35-yard field goal in overtime lifted them to the Class 2M-District 13 victory. Norland trailed 20-0 at halftime but tied the score late in the third quarter on Anthony Mattison’s 90-yard interception return. After Miami Central retook the lead, Ennio Yapoor’s second touchdown pass — a 20-yarder to Jade Card — tied the score at 26-26 and set the stage for overtime.

Next game: at North Miami Beach (Fla.), Oct. 27

24. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) (7-0)

Previous rank: 24. Last week: Def. Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose, Calif.) 54-16.

The Padres remained in cruise control in the West Catholic Athletic League, building a 41-9 halftime lead. They have defeated their first four WCAL opponents this season by an average score of 51-8 as they seek a third consecutive berth in the CIF Open Division state championship game.

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

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

Previous rank: 11. Last week: Lost to No. 23 Norland (Miami, Fla.) 29-26 (OT).

The Rockets’ three losses are to the No. 1 (Bishop Gorman), No. 4 (Chaminade-Madonna) and now No. 23 teams in the Power 25, which is why they keep a Power 25 spot despite a .500 record. They will rue a second-half lapse that cost them a 20-0 halftime lead against Norland as well as an injury midweek that cost them their primary kicker.

Next game: at Monsignor Pace (Miami, Fla.), Oct. 27