High school football rankings: St. John Bosco new No. 1 in MaxPreps Top 25 after beating Mater Dei 24-22

The biggest high school football game of the year lived up to the hype as St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) moved up to No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 after handing previous No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) its first loss in three years. The Braves snapped the Monarchs' 29-game winning streak with a 24-22 win in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and the two teams swapped spots in the rankings.

Senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns. DeAndre Moore and Jahlil McClain both had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. Five-star Matayo Uiagalelei added a touchdown reception and had a big night on defense as well. The Braves face Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) on Dec. 10 at Saddleback College in the CIF Open Division state championship. The Padres are one of the first five teams out of the MaxPreps Top 25 and check in at No. 27 in our expanded top 100.

The only new team to join the MaxPreps Top 25 is Carrollton (Ga.). The Trojans improved to 13-0 with an impressive 52-27 win over Walton (Marietta) to advance to the AAAAAAA semifinals. Up next is a road trip against No. 21 Colquitt County (Moultrie). Star freshman quarterback Julian Lewis has thrown for 3,339 yards and 41 touchdowns this season while completing nearly 67 percent of his passes. They replace Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) in the MaxPreps Top 25 after the Fighting Crusaders dropped out with a 28-24 loss against Springfield (Ohio) in the Division 1 semifinals.

Springfield faces No. 20 St. Edward (Lakewood) on Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium for the Division 1 state title. The Eagles beat Springfield 23-13 in last year's state championship.

The only other MaxPreps Top 25 team playing for a state title this week is No. 15 Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.). The Mustangs take on Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville) on Thursday at Finley Stadium. They've won 20 in a row and this is the third straight year these two lock horns in the state championship. Lipscomb won 27-0 last season and the Lions won 35-28 in 2020.

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 24-22

Next week: Idle

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 1

Last week: Lost 24-22 to St. John Bosco (Bellflower)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Norland (Miami) 34-20

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Lakewood (St. Petersburg)

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 4

Record: 11-0 | Last week: 5

Last week: Beat Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) 49-16

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. True North Classical Academy (Miami)

Record: 8-1 | Last week: 6

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 7

Last week: Beat Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) 35-7

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Jesuit (Tampa)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Beat Cinco Ranch (Katy) 49-21

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Atascocita (Humble)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 9

Last week: Beat San Benito 44-7

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. Brennan (San Antonio)

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 10

Last week: Beat Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 31-20

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Bolles (Jacksonville)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 11

Last week: Beat The Woodlands 35-7

Next week: Dec.3 vs. Westfield (Houston)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 12

Last week: Beat Byron Nelson (Trophy Club) 59-41

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. No. 23 Southlake Carroll (Southlake)

Record: 9-1 | Last week: 13

Record: 11-0 | Last week: 14

Last week: Beat O'Connor (Phoenix) 56-26

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 15

Last week: Idle

Next week: Dec. 1 vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 16

Last week: Beat Lake Minneola (Minneola) 41-6

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Osceola (Kissimmee)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 17

Last week: Beat Summer Creek (Houston) 35-7

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. King (Houston)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 18

Last week: Beat Woodward Academy (College Park) 56-28

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Rome

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 19

Last week: Beat Westlake (Atlanta) 38-14

Next week: Dec. 2 at Milton

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 20

Last week: Beat Lincoln (Gahanna) 31-7

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. Springfield

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 21

Last week: Beat North Gwinnett (Suwanee) 52-17

Next week: Dec. 2 vs. No. 25 Carrollton

Record: 10-1 | Last week: 22

Last week: Beat American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek) 31-25

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. Chandler

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Beat McKinney 42-35

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. No. 12 Guyer (Denton)

Record: 10-1 | Last week: 25

Last week: Beat Parkland (Allentown) 52-21

Next week: Dec. 3 vs. Garnet Valley (Glen Mills)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Walton (Marietta) 52-27

Next week: Dec. 2 at No. 21 Colquitt County (Moultrie)