High school football rankings: Buford climbs to No. 5 in MaxPreps Top 25 after dominant win over St. Frances Academy

Five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola throws for two touchdowns as Georgia powerhouse improves five spots in this week's rankings.

No. 4 IMG Academy overpowers No. 19 Lipscomb Academy 420,000 views 1:54

Buford (Ga.) was the biggest mover in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings after an impressive 18-0 shutout victory against St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). The Georgia program jumped from No. 10 to No. 5 while the Panthers dropped six spots to No. 12.

Dylan Raiola, regarded by 247Sports as the top-rated prospect in the Class of 2024, completed 14 of 26 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in his Buford debut. Tyshun White was on the receiving end of one of the scoring strikes while K.J. Bolden had the other plus snagged an interception on defense. 

St. Frances Academy will look to bounce back Saturday against No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) Buford travels to North Carolina to face Mallard Creek (Charlotte) on Friday.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) opened its 2023 season with a 28-14 win over No. 15 Centennial (Corona, Calif.). It was the fifth straight win for the Monarchs against the Huskies. Up next for the top-ranked Monarchs is Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) on Saturday. 

In a showdown between Georgia state championship contenders, Langston Hughes (Fairburn) beat Carrollton (Ga.) 39-34 in a thriller to move up three spots to No. 11. Air Noland led the defending AAAAAA state champs on a game-winning drive, connecting with Jovanni McGee for a 25-yard touchdown with just over two minutes remaining.

Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) moved up four spots to No. 16 after a 48-17 out-of-state win over Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.). It was the worst loss for the South Carolina program since Tom Knotts became head coach in 2011.

No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) beat Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 42-22 as Caleb Sanchez shined in his first start under center. The senior quarterback completed 21 of 25 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Up next for the defending national champions is a huge road test at No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) dominated Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) 35-10, snapping a 21-game win streak for the Tennessee power. IMG faces No. 10 St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) in New Jersey at the Battle at the Beach on August 26.

After making the move from Arizona to Georgia, Dylan Raiola threw for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his triumphant debut at Buford. (Photo: Michael Mixon)

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 1

Last week: Beat Centennial (Corona) 28-14

This week: Saturday at Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)

2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) 63-42

This week: Friday vs. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)

3. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 42-22

This week: Saturday at No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

4. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 4

Last week: Beat Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) 35-10

This week: Saturday vs. No. 10 St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)

5. Buford (Ga.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 10

Last week: Beat St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) 18-0

This week: Friday at Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)

6. Central (Miami)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 5

Season opener: Sept. 1 at No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

7. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 7

Last week: Idle

This week: Saturday vs. No. 12 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)

8. Duncanville (Texas)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

9. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 9

Last week: Idle

This week: Saturday vs. No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

10. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 11

Last week: Idle

This week: Saturday vs. No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

11. Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 14

Last week: Beat Carrollton 39-34

This week: Friday vs. McEachern (Powder Springs)

12. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 6

Last week: Lost 18-0 to Buford (Ga.)

This week: Saturday at No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

13. North Shore (Houston)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 13

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at The Woodlands

14. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 16

Last week: Beat Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) 27-10

This week: Sunday vs. No. 21 Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

15. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 15

Last week: Lost 28-14 to Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

This week: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)

16. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 20

Last week: Beat Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) 48-17

This week: Friday vs. Stockbridge

17. DeSoto (Texas)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 17

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Allen

18. Carrollton (Ga.)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 12

Last week: Lost 39-34 to Langston Hughes (Fairburn)

This week: Friday vs. South Paulding (Douglasville)

19. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 18

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Westwood (Mesa)

20. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 21

Last week: Idle

This week: Saturday vs. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)

21. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 22

Last week: Idle

This week: Sunday at No. 14 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

22. Columbus (Miami)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Clearwater Academy International (Clearwater)

23. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 24

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank)

24. Belleville (Mich.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 25

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. River Rouge

25. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 19

Last week: Lost 35-10 to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

This week: Friday at Saraland (Ala.)