High school football rankings: St. Frances Academy takes over No. 1 spot in MaxPreps Top 25

St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) takes over the No. 1 spot in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings after Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) knocked off previous No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 36-31. 

St. John Bosco, which led 24-3 in the first half Friday against Mater Dei, dropped to No. 4 in this week's rankings. 

St. Frances Academy has won seven in a row since a 21-14 setback against Bosco in early September. 

Of all the teams in the mix for the No. 1 spot, St. Frances Academy (8-1) has the strongest resume. The Panthers put a running clock on No. 20 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), led wire-to-wire against St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) and shutout The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) and The St. James Performance Academy (Springfield, Va.). They also dominated a talented NEPSAC post-grad program in The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.). Several other programs are in position to make a run at the No. 1 ranking entering the last seven weeks of the season.

No. 2 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) has breezed through the regular season as the defending AAAAAA state champs enter the playoffs 10-0. Potential matchups against No. 9 Buford and No. 13 Carrollton could be on the horizon as the Rams look to become the first team to repeat in Georgia's largest classification since Colquitt County (Norman Park) in 2014 and 2015.

No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) improved to 9-0 with a 31-13 win over aforementioned Hun School. The Ascenders notched big wins over Central (Phenix City, Ala.) and East St. Louis ( Ill.) but are still looking for their first win against a MaxPreps Top 25 opponent. In what will be a pivotal showdown, IMG is scheduled to face St. Frances Academy on Nov. 7 but that matchup is likely being pushed back to December. 

St. John Bosco is still in the conversation despite the loss to Mater Dei. Emerging as champion in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs and Open Division would give the Braves an overall resume tough to beat, especially if St. Frances Academy knocks off IMG Academy because they have a head-to-head win over the Panthers. 

No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) is another team to keep an eye on. The Trailblazers, who have outscored opponents 445-43 en route to a 10-0 record, could meet St. John Bosco in the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Their best win came in a 41-9 victory over Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) but the postseason presents a big opportunity for head coach Jon Ellinghouse's program.

 

Record: 8-1 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat The St. James Performance Academy (Springfield, Va.)

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Archer (Lawrenceville) 37-12

This week: Idle

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 4

Last week: Beat Hun (Princeton, N.J.) 31-13

This week: Idle

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 1

Last week: Lost 36-31 to Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

This week: Idle

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 5

Last week: Beat Chaparral (Temecula) 60-29

This week: Idle

Record: 7-2 | Last week: 12

Last week: Beat St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 36-31

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 7

Last week: Beat Loyola (Los Angeles) 52-3

This week: Idle

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 6

Last week: Idle

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Beat Mill Creek (Hoschton) 35-3

This week: Idle

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 9

Last week: Beat John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) 48-26

This week: Thursday at Archbishop Rummel (Metairie)

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 10

Last week: Beat Keller Central (Keller) 49-3

This week: Idle

Record: 7-3 | Last week: 11

Last week: Beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) 41-14

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 13

Last week: Beat Douglas County (Douglasville) 55-22

This week: Idle

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 14

Last week: Beat Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 27-21

This week: Idle

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 15

Last week: Beat Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 42-14

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 16

Last week: Beat Ben L. Smith (Greensboro) 45-8

This week: Idle

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 18

Last week: Beat California (San Ramon) 52-14

This week: Friday vs. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord)

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 19

Last week: Beat Deer Creek (Edmond) 79-15

This week: Friday at Norman

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 20

Last week: Beat Cesar Chavez (Mesa) 63-0

This week: Friday at Chandler

Record: 7-2 | Last week: 17

Last week: Lost 27-21 to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 21

Last week: Beat Northville 46-3

This week: TBD vs. Fordson (Dearborn)

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 22

Last week: Beat Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville) 49-28

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. Jackson-Olin (Birmingham)

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 24

Last week: Idle

This week: Idle

Record: 9-0 | Last week: 25

Last week: Beat St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) 31-6

This week: Idle