It's looking like a golden year for high school football at the national level after all five of our ranked teams from California came away victorious in their 2025 season openers last weekend.
That included a trio of Trinity League teams that emerged victorious in Florida with the No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs, No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves, and No. 13 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers all winning games on the road in the Sunshine State.
Comebacks were the theme of the weekend, and top-ranked Mater Dei had to hold off a determined No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] squad. The Raiders clawed back from a 26-3 halftime deficit to pull within three points late in the fourth quarter. Needing a first down to essentially end the game, the Monarchs converted and held on for a 26-23 victory in The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week.
But the real game of the week was another big comeback that was actually successful. American Heritage [Plantation, FL]'s rally was as good a comeback as you'll see in the high school ranks as the Patriots climbed out of a 28-0 hole in the final 16 minutes against the St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks. Ultimately, American Heritage prevailed on a late field goal to complete the comeback with a 31-28 win. In the process, they kept their name in the hat of potential national title contenders should one of the frontrunners stumble.
It's the rare game worth rewatching in its entirety to get a sense of just how unlikely the comeback was, following nearly three quarters of total domination by the Hawks.
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First things first, Mater Dei was scheduled to host the Bishop Montgomery [Torrance, CA] Friday night in Santa Ana, California. The Knights decided to forfeit that game, however, due to a lack of available players resulting from suspensions related to a bench-clearing skirmish near the end of the Knights' game at the St. Louis [Honolulu, HI] Crusaders last weekend.
Mater Dei has struggled in recent years to find opponents in the Golden State willing to play due to the competitive disadvantages most teams face in playing a program of the Monarchs' stature. That wasn't the case last weekend, however, when Mater Dei flew to Florida to play in the Broward County National Football Showcase and nearly blew a 26-3 halftime lead against the No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders.
The Raiders ultimately won three of the quarters and dominated the second half, outscoring Mater Dei, 20-0. The Monarchs' 26-point second quarter however, proved to be too big of a lead for the Raiders to overcome. The California kids ultimately slunk out of town with a 26-23 win despite not playing anywhere up to their usual standards.
A slew of careless penalties totaling more than 150 yards combined with multiple bad snaps on PAT tries left the impression that this Monarchs' unit isn't, yet, a disciplined, focused unit. It looked like a team that could be vulnerable down the stretch when it runs into even higher-ranked opponents than the Raiders if it doesn't clean things up quickly.
No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 1
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — vs. Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders (2-1)
Last Game: 8/23/2025 — Mater Dei 26, No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders 23 W/L Streak: 20 wins
As noted above, Mater Dei suddenly has an unexpected open date on the schedule one week prior to hosting the Kahuku Red Raiders. They could have used a game against a lower-level opponent like Bishop Montgomery, but instead, it's the Red Raiders that will serve as the final tune-up before heading into a four-week stretch that could determine the fate of the Monarchs' season. They'll head out on a three-game road trip in a four-week span to face the likes of the No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies, No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels, and No. 13 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers – a gauntlet that could challenge even a team like the top-ranked Monarchs.
Mater Dei's schedule is always a gauntlet of sorts, and they almost always manage to survive. But if last Saturday's struggles against No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas continue in the weeks to come, even the Monarchs could finally prove to be humans.
No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 2
Next Game: 8/30/2025 — at Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders (2-1)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Bishop Gorman 52, Centennial [Las Vegas, NV] Bulldogs 0
W/L Streak: 10 wins
Make it 152 wins out of 153 games against in-state foes for the Gaels.
Bishop Gorman's season opener against their Las Vegas neighbors from Centennial went the way these contests against intrastate opponents usually go, and to be honest, it could be pretty one-sided out in Hawaii this weekend, too. The Kahuku Red Raiders have been known to put up a fight at home before, even beating then Top 5 St. John Bosco, 30-23, two years ago at home.
But last weekend's 33-7 win against an outclassed Konawaena [Kealakekua, HI] Wildcats' squad aside, this Red Raiders' team has not looked up to its usual standards even failing to score against the archrival St. Louis [Honolulu, HI] Crusaders in a 20-0 loss in the season opener. As long as Gorman takes them seriously, they should be able to get out of the islands unscathed ready for a September 5 meeting with the Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights.
No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 3
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — vs. Eastwood [El Paso, TX] Troopers (0-0)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — St. John Bosco 31, Manatee [Bradenton, FL] Hurricanes 0
W/L Streak: 1 win
In generic terms, St. John Bosco's first two games might sound challenging: a road trip to face a team in Florida followed by a home game against a team from Texas. Until you find out that the Florida team is the Manatee Hurricanes, and the Texas outfit is El Paso's Eastwood Troopers. Neither of those teams is anywhere close to being top tier in their respective states, and they are just fodder compared to the main course arriving on September 5 in the form of the No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers below.
No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 4
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — at No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (1-0)
Last Game: 8/23/2025 — St. Frances Academy 42, No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions 13
W/L Streak: 6 wins
The Panthers looked like an elite unit right out of the gate last weekend storming into the Sunshine State and wreaking as much havoc as the inclement weather in the area. The Panthers dismantled one of Florida's top programs in a 42-13 rout of the No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna Lions in their only tune-up prior to their September 5 visit to the No. 3 St. John Bosco Braves in California. That's when we'll find out if this edition of the Panthers can stay in the hunt for the program's first high school football national championship.
No. 5 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 5
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — at Winslow Township [Atco, NJ] Eagles (0-0) at Ocean City, NJ (The Battle at the Beach)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — IMG Academy 34, Hoover [AL] Buccaneers 13
W/L Streak: 2 wins
We got a hint of of what we might be in store for two weeks ago when IMG Academy thrashed The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals, 41-7, in one of Florida's kickoff classics. Officially a preseason game, that contest didn't officially count in the standings. But last week's 34-13 romp in Alabama against one of the state's traditional powerhouses, the Hoover Buccaneers, was the official opening salvo of the Ascenders' 2025 campaing. And it served notice that the boys from Bradenton might be ready to challenge for the program's second national championship and first since 2020.
This week's opponent, the Winslow Township Eagles, are New Jersey's defending NJSIAA state champions, and they will be making their season debut after last year's unblemished 14-0 run. But they aren't even considered to be the Garden State's top program, and as long as IMG takes them seriously, the Ascenders should get out of the Battle at the Beach unscathed.
No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 7
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — vs. South Oak Cliff [Dallas, TX] Bears (0-0)
Last Game: 12/14/2024 — North Crowley 36, Duncanville 34
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Duncanville has had trouble cobbling together a full 10-game schedule recently, playing just nine regular-season games a year ago. This season, there are only eight games showing on the docket, meaning their resume might look a little slight compared to other teams in our Top 10. At least until the postseason in Texas arrives.
The Panthers have one more week off before starting the 2025 season, but they've already eased up a spot from No. 7 to No. 6, taking the position vacated by the St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders after their loss to No. 1 Mater Dei last weekend.
No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: No. 8
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — vs. No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors (1-0)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Grayson 24, Rabun Gap [GA]-Nacoochee Eagles 19
W/L Streak: 16 wins
At first glance, Grayson's 24-19 close call at home over Rabun Gap-Nacoochee might seem like a cause for concern, and it still could be. But we've been high on the Eagles as one of Georgia's teams on the rise, and it's at least possible that they've quietly become the second-best program in Georgia at this point. We'll learn more about that as the season unfolds, but for the moment, there's no reason to panic. This Rams' unit is still an elite unit in the Peach State, and we'll start to find out this weekend if they are possibly one of the nation's elite teams when they take on a Thompson squad that was the best in Alabama a year ago.
No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 9
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — vs. No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (0-1)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — American Heritage 31, No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks 28
W/L Streak: 12 wins
American Heritage staged a comeback for the ages last week, rallying from a 28-0 deficit late in the third quarter against the St. Joseph's Hawks. The Patriots ended up winning on a field goal with just seconds to spare to complete the comeback in a 31-28 win. Now they'll take a break to prepare for a No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna squad that was overwhelmed in its 42-13 loss to No. 4 St. Frances Academy.
They'll face off on September 5 – the same day St. Frances visits No. 3 St. John Bosco in California – and those games will establish several points of comparison through this matchup. If it's close, then American Heritage might even prove to be overrated here at No. 8. But if they win big against the Lions, it might be a piece of evidence that this American Heritage squad is ready to enter the hunt for something more than just another Florida FHSAA Class 4A state title.
No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 11
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — at Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles (0-1)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Centennial 42, Servite [Anaheim] Friars 14
W/L Streak: 1 win
Centennial's 42-14 romp over the Trinity League's Servite Friars was a good start, but this matchup with the Santa Margarita Eagles is where we start to put some meat on the bones. The Eagles gave the No. 22 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos quite a fight last weekend, eventually succumbing in a 7-3 defensive slugfest.
At No. 9, Centennial is considered a legitimate threat to break into the national title conversation, and they play the kind of schedule that will afford them that opportunity, including an upcoming September 12 matchup with No. 1 Mater Dei at home. If this game is close, then it might signal that Centennial is better keeping company with the Mission Viejos of the Golden State. But a big win here might signal that the Huskies are top tier and, possibly, capable of going toe-to-toe with a Mater Dei squad that looked sloppy in its win over St. Thomas Aquinas last weekend.
No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders
2025 Record: 0-1
Last Week: No. 6
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — vs. Boyd Anderson [Lauderdale Lakes, FL] Cobras (1-0)
Last Game: 8/23/2025 — No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs 26, St. Thomas Aquinas 23
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Just how good this St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders' team is might still be an unanswered question even after a close 26-23 loss at home to No. 1 Mater Dei. They were helped out in their rally from a 26-3 deficit by an uncharacteristically undisciplined Monarchs' squad that was flagged for more than 150 yards, including several careless personal foul penalties.
This game against the Boyd Anderson Cobras won't tell us a whole lot unless the Raiders struggle, and the next best read on this squad will come in a September 5 visit to Miami to take on the Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers.
No. 11 Buford [GA] Wolves
2025 Record: 2-0
Last Week: No. 12
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — vs. Roswell [GA] Hornets (1-0)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Buford 42, Benedictine [Savannah, GA] Cadets 14
W/L Streak: 2 wins
Buford opened the season with a 20-13 win over the No.14 Milton [GA] Eagles who rebounded for a solid 24-17 win at The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals last weekend. Last week's 42-14 win by the Wolves came against a solid, but not great, Benedictine squad on the road in Savannah. They'll face a similar team at home in the Roswell Hornets this weekend, but it's really a September 12 visit by the Douglas County [Douglasville, GA] Tigers we've got our eyes on.
If this team is elite, they should win both of these next two games comfortably. If they struggle, then it's a sign that this team might not be ready to make a move into the upper tier of our rankings, and may, ultimately, even be overrated here at No. 11.
No. 12 North Crowley [TX] Panthers
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 13
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — vs. Lancaster [TX] Tigers (0-0)
Last Game: 12/21/2024 — North Crowley 50, Westlake [Austin] Chaparrals (UIL Class 6A D1 title game)
W/L Streak: 16 wins
The Lone Star State finally kicks off this weekend, and the North Crowley Panthers will be our highest-ranked team from Texas in action. They were 16-0 a year ago, a feat that would seem almost impossible to achieve again, but they kick off the season here partly based on that dominant run from a year ago. They were truly elite last year, and they don't figure to be seriously challenged by a Lancaster squad that was just 5-7 in 2024. This is just an appetizer for the following week's main course when they host the No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles in a game that should tell us a lot about each of these teams' long-term prospects.
No. 13 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 15
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — vs. Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (0-1)
Last Game: 8/23/2025 — Orange Lutheran 17, No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls 15
W/L Streak: 1 win
Orange Lutheran was considered a slight underdog heading into its game at No. 14 Northwestern in Miami, Florida, last weekend. Ranked just one spot back at No. 15, we expected the Lancers to play a close game while figuring the long trip from California to Florida might ultimately favor the hosts. But, ultimately, Orange Lutheran escaped with a 17-15 win, proving their mettle in a high pressure situation on the road against one of Florida's best.
The Lancers were rewarded by climbing two spots, and they shouldn't have any problem with the Rancho Cucamonga Cougars this weekend. We're already looking ahead to their visit to Chandler, Arizona, to take on the Basha Bears, Arizona's state finalist in the AIA's Open Division a year ago. As long as the Lancers themselves aren't looking too far ahead, they should get there undefeated to help us get an even better read on their long-range prospects.
No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 16
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (2-0)
Last Game: 8/21/2025 — Thompson 37, Carver Montgomery [AL] Wolverines 6
W/L Streak: 6 wins
For one half, Thompson looked overrated at No. 16, heading to the lockers deadlocked with Carver Montgomery at six points apiece. The second half was a different story as the Warriors went on 31-point rampage to win comfortably. This week is one of their biggest opportunities to make an impact on a national level when they pay a visit to the No. 7 Grayson Rams – one of three teams to beat the Warriors in 2014.
All three of those losses were one-point affairs in overtime, and Thompson still went on to win Alabama's AHSAA Class 7A state championship. It seems unlikely that Thompson can find a pathway into the national title conversation this season, but an upset here on the road would signal that another Alabama state title is very much in play.
No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 17
Next Game: 8/30/2025 — at Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles (2-0)
Last Game: 12/7/2024, Longview [TX] 50 Lobos, DeSoto 14
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Sorting out the order of our Texas contingent was one of our biggest challenges heading into the season, and DeSoto settled into the third position of the four Texas teams ranked in our preseason Top 25 rankings. The Eagles, however, are the only team that gets to play those two squads ranked above them, so they have a clear path to establish themselves as the best of the bunch. Whether that ultimately means they are the best in the entire state of Texas remains to be seen, but it would be a good start.
But first they have to navigate a potentially deadly trip to Georgia to take on a Creekside Seminoles' squad that has already played two games. Creekside was 10-3 a year ago in Georgia's GHSA Class 4A ranks, and they're already 2-0 before DeSoto even hits the field. As long as the Eagles don't mess this up, they'll have an opportunity to take a big leap forward when they pay a visit to No. 12 North Crowley on September 5.
No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions
2025 Record: 0-1
Last Week: No. 10
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (0-0)
Last Game: 8/23/2025 — No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers 42, Chaminade-Madonna 13
W/L Streak: 1 loss
If a Top 25 team ever needed a breather, it's the No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna Lions. The Florida squad was dominated in a 42-13 loss to the No. 4 St. Frances Academy Panthers in the season opener last weekend. Fortunately, they'll get that breather in the form of the McArthur Mustangs who were just 2-8 a year ago. The Mustangs didn't even score last September, losing in four straight shutouts, so they won't offer much resistance against the defending Florida FHSAA Class 1A champion Lions.
Instead, we're looking ahead to Chaminade-Madonna's September 5 visit to face No. 8 American Heritage in a game that could determine whether the Lions even remain in the Top 25.
No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 18
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — vs. No. 18 Bergen Catholic [NJ] Crusaders at Ocean City, NJ (The Battle at the Beach) (0-0)
Last Game: 11/30/2024, East St. Louis 48, Geneva [IL] Vikings 28
W/L Streak: 5 wins
With the top teams from New Jersey (Bergen Catholic), Nevada (Bishop Gorman), and Florida (IMG Academy) on their 2025 slate, the East St. Louis Flyers have the kind of schedule that could propel them into the national title conversation. They finally get a chance to make their initial statement of 2025 in the first game against that high-ranked trio.Thursday's trip to New Jersey to face No. 18 Bergen Catholic in "The Battle at The Beach" will either send the Flyers' stock soaring or send them plummeting out of the Top 25.
No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 19
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — vs. No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers at Ocean City, NJ (The Battle at the Beach) (0-0)
Last Game: 11/29/2024, Bergen Catholic 25, Don Bosco Prep [Ramsey, NJ] Ironmen 7
W/L Streak: 11 wins
As noted above, Bergen Catholic will take on No. 17 East St. Louis in "The Battle at the Beach," a game that could launch one of these teams into the Top 15 and onto the fringe of the national title picture. They'll both need a lot of help from that point, but none of that will even matter for the loser of this game. This is as big as it gets an opener for two programs interested in raising their national profile.
No. 19 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 22
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at St. Paul [Santa Fe Springs, CA] Swordsmen (0-1)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Mission Viejo 7, Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 3
W/L Streak: 1 win
The Diablos had a devil of a time against the scrappy Santa Margarita Eagles last weekend, finally emerging victorious, 7-3, in a hard-fought defensive struggle. The game was the highly-touted debut for Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL All-Pro quarterback Carson Palmer as the head coach of Santa Margarita.
Mission Viejo gets a bit of a reprieve this week against the unheralded St. Paul Swordsmen before taking on a Folsom Bulldogs' squad on September 5 that will be looking to play its way into the Top 25 in the coming weeks.
No. 20 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 21
Next Game: 9/5/2025 — Archbishop Shaw [Marrero, LA] Eagles (0-0)
Last Game: 12/14/2024, Edna Karr 53, Alexandria [LA] Trojans 8
W/L Streak: 14 wins
After cruising through the Louisiana prep ranks to the tune of a perfect 14-0 season last fall, Edna Karr is going the national route this year. The Cougars will host No. 8 American Heritage on September 12 with an opportunity to raise their profile across the country. Win, and the Cougars likely vault into at least the Top 15 with a chance to climb the ranks from there. They finally get going next weekend in their season opener against Archbishop Shaw on September 5.
No. 21 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: No. 24
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at Fremont [Plain City, UT] Silverwolves (2-0)
Last Game: 8/22/25 — Corner Canyon 38, West Broward [Pembroke Pines, FL] Bobcats 13
W/L Streak: 13 wins
Corner Canyon has looked really good in back-to-back blowouts over the Bingham [South Jordan, UT] Miners (45-0) and the West Broward Bobcats (38-13). Last week's win came on a national stage as one of the feature games of the Broward County National Football Showcase, and the Chargers have already moved up four spots to start the season. Fremont is 2-0 but shouldn't ultimately prove to be in Corner Canyon's class. It's really the following game on September 5 against the No. 24 Liberty [Peoria, AZ} Lions that we can't wait to see.
No. 22 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: No. 23
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at Midland [TX] Bulldogs (0-0)
Last Game: 12/21/2024, Vandegrift [Austin TX] Vipers 24, Southlake Carroll 17
W/L Streak: 1 loss
With eight state championships and three national titles to their credit, the Southlake Carroll Dragons are a name everybody in Texas knows.They'll finally kick off their campaign for a ninth state title Friday night when they pay a visit to Midland to take on the hometown Bulldogs. Carroll doesn't have a lot of opportunities to make noise on the national scene early, but if they can get through the regular season unscathed, they'll climb steadily with an opportunity to enhance their resume later in the Texas UIL Class 6A playoffs. They've already moved up one position before hitting the field in 2025.
No. 23 Milton [GA] Eagles
2025 Record: 0-1
Last Week: No. 25
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at Alpharetta [GA] Raiders (0-1)
Last Game: 8/22/25 — Milton 24, The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals 17
game)
W/L Streak: 1 win
Milton bounced back nicely after losing to No. 12 Buford in the opener last week. The Eagles earned a tough win against a stubborn squad representing The First Academy in Orlando last weekend. Milton hasn't looked great in either game, yet, but Alpharetta shouldn't present too many problems this weekend. A home game against the Blessed Trinity [Roswell, GA] Titans on September 12 feels like a better test to determine whether this Eagles' squad is likely to keep trending back upward as we move toward an even bigger matchup against the Gainesville [GA] Red Elephants on October 10.
No. 24 Liberty [Peoria, AZ] Lions
2025 Record: 0-0
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 8/28/2025 — vs. Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros (0-0)
Last Game: 12/7/2024 — Liberty 35, Basha [Chandler, AZ] Bears (AIA Open Division championship game)
W/L Streak: 9 wins
Liberty opens its 2025 campaign against Mountain View Thursday night as Arizona's defending AIA Open Division state champions. The visiting Toros were 12-2 last season so Liberty can't get caught looking ahead to next week's big game at No. 24 Corner Canyon of Utah.
No. 25 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies
2025 Record: 1-0
Last Week: Unranked
Next Game: 8/29/2025 — at West Forsyth [Clemmons, NC] Titans (1-0)
Last Game: 8/22/2025 — Grimsley 28, West Charlotte [NC] Lions 27 (OT)
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Grimsley debuts in the Top 25 after dispatching the most difficult opponent it is likely to see in 2025 in last weekend's season opener. The Whirlies escaped in overtime against West Charlotte with a 28-27 win after stopping the Lions' 2-point conversion attempt in overtime. It won't necessarily be smooth sailing all the way, but with the No. 1 player in the entire Class of 2026 leading the way in quarterback Faizon Brandon, they should be poised to make another run at a state title in 2025.
Weekly Top 25 Schedule
UNR – Unranked
Rankings below reflect last week's rankings; the next edition of The Sporting News High School Football Top 25 will be released at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 19.
Bottom teams are the hosts; neutral site games are noted
Thursday, August 28, 2025
4 p.m. EST local
No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers (0-0)
No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders (0-0)
at Ocean City, NJ
BATTLE AT THE BEACH
__________
7 p.m. EST local
No. 5 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (1-0)
UNR Winslow Township [Atco, NJ] Eagles (0-0)
at Ocean City, NJ
BATTLE AT THE BEACH
__________
8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST local
UNR Lancaster [TX] Tigers (0-0)
No. 12 North Crowley [TX] Panthers (0-0)
at Fort Worth, TX
__________
9 p.m. EST/7 p.m. MST local
UNR Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros
No. 24 Liberty [Peoria, AZ] Lions (0-0)
at Peoria, AZ
10 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. PST local
No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies (1-0)
UNR Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles (0-1)
at Mission Viejo, CA
Friday, August 29, 2025
6 p.m. EST local
No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors (1-0)
No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (2-0)
at Loganville, GA
__________
7 p.m. EST local
UNR Boyd Anderson [Lauderdale Lakes, FL] Cobras (1-0)
No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (0-1)
at Fort Lauderdale, FL
No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (0-1)
UNR McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (0-0)
at Hollywood, FL
__________
7:30 p.m. EST local
No. 23 Milton [GA] Eagles (1-1)
UNR Alpharetta [GA] Raiders (0-1)
at Alpharetta, GA
No. 25 Grimsley [NC] Whirlies (1-0)
UNR West Forsyth [Clemmons, NC] Titans (0-1)
at Clemmons, NC
__________
8 p.m. EST local
No. 22 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (0-0)
UNR Midland [TX] Bulldogs (0-0)
at Midland, TX
__________
9 p.m. EST/7 p.m. MST local
No. 21 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (2-0)
UNR Fremont [Plain City, UT] Silverwolves (2-0)
at Plain City, UT
__________
10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST local
UNR Eastwood [El Paso, TX] Troopers (0-0)
No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (1-0)
at Bellflower, CA
UNR Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (0-1)
No. 13 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (1-0)
at Orange, CA
No. 19 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos (1-0)
UNR at St. Paul [Santa Fe Springs, CA] Swordsmen (0-1)
at Santa Fe Springs, CA
Saturday, August 30, 2025
4 p.m. EST local
No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles (0-0)
UNR Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles
at Fairburn, GA
Sunday, August 31, 2025
1 a.m. EST/7 p.m. HST local
No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (1-0)
UNR Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders (2-1)
at Kahuku, HI
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IDLE
No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (1-0), No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (0-0), No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots (1-0), No. 11 Buford [GA] Wolves (2-0), No. 20 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (0-0)
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