MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

By Stephen Spiewak Oct 30, 2011, 10:00pm

Top teams avoid upset bids while three new teams enter the rankings.

Westlake can celebrate its first foray into the Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings.
Westlake can celebrate its first foray into the Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings.
Photo by Gary Jones
In a week where upsets were a distinct possibility for several ranked teams, most prevailed.

However, there was still a good deal of shake-up in the rankings, as three new teams entered the Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

No. 2 Trinity and No. 3 Armwood each won big games and looked impressive in the process, giving fans of both schools ammunition for arguments to be No. 1.

Grayson also staved off an upset bid by overcoming a tough Brookwood squad.



One of the more impressive teams this weekend was University. It blasted previously unbeaten Chaminade-Madonna and looks like it could hang with any team in South Florida.

Entering the rankings this week are Bentonville (Ark.), Westlake (Calif.) and Manatee (Fla.)

Bentonville has simply dominated in-state competition and looks like it could be as strong as any team from Arkansas over the past few seasons. Westlake continues to roll over California competition. Its season-opening win over Del Oro combined with dominance over Southern California competition gives it a solid resume as a Top 25 team. Manatee has two losses, but both have come against Top 10 schools: No. 1 Don Bosco Prep and No. 7 Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Since those games, it has posted impressive victories over Southeast, Cypress Bay, Venice and Palmetto.

Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

1. (1) Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 7-0
After a slow start offensively, Don Bosco Prep dialed it up in the second half to overcome Paramus Catholic 45-0. QwiXcore

2. (2) Armwood (Seffner, Fla.), 9-0
Matt Jones rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown while Armwood's defense did the rest in the Hawks' 21-0 win over rival Plant. Story

3. (3) Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 9-0
Trinity dismantled Archbishop Moeller, 49-14. Dalyn Dawkins rushed for three touchdowns. QwiXcore, Story

4. (4) Miramar (Fla.), 7-0
Game vs. Miramar postponed until today at 6 p.m.

5. (5) Katy (Texas), 9-0
Katy has not been tested all season. This time, it blasted Taylor 52-14 behind three Ricky Bickham touchdowns.
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Shaq Powell and No. 8 Bishop Gorman keep punishing Nevada opponents.
Shaq Powell and No. 8 Bishop Gorman keep punishing Nevada opponents.
Photo by Jann Hendry

6. (6) Gaffney (S.C.), 10-0
C.J. Miller rushed for three touchdowns as Gaffney beat Northwestern 49-20. QwiXcore

7. (7) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 9-0
Four touchdowns from Wes Brown allowed Good Counsel to cruise to a 54-19 victory over Bishop O'Connell.

8. (8) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 10-1
Shaquille Powell gained 117 yards on the ground and scored twice for Bishop Gorman in a 56-0 win over Bonanza.

9. (9) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 6-1
In a game shortened by lightning, Aquinas downed Plantation 9-0.

10. (10) Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), 10-0
Behind four touchdowns from Jela Duncan, Mallard Creek defeated Hough 51-14.
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DeSoto stays at No. 11 after its ninth victory of the season.
DeSoto stays at No. 11 after its ninth victory of the season.
Photo by Jamie Harms

11. (11) DeSoto (Texas), 9-0
DeSoto's defense played well and the offense once again dominated. It beat Mesquite 41-16.

12. (14) Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), 9-0
Thanks to a late defensive touchdown, Grayson got by local rival Brookwood 14-7. Story

13. (13) Buford (Ga.), 9-0
Idle. Next game: Nov. 4 vs. Blessed Trinity.

14. (15) Trinity (Euless, Texas), 9-0
Idle. Next game: Nov. 3 vs. McArthur.

15. (16) Warren Central (Indianapolis), 11-0
Warren Central advanced in the 5A playoffs by beating Arsenal Tech 61-14. MaxPreps Indiana football playoff brackets
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16. (17) Central (Miami), 7-0
Joe Yearby came up big in arivalry game for Central.
Joe Yearby came up big in arivalry game for Central.
Photo by Lou Novick
Against city rival Northwestern, Joe Yearby rushed for 126 yards and two scores as Central won 37-18.

17. (18) Bellevue (Wash.), 9-0
The Wolverines dominated Liberty 38-0. QwiXcore

18. (19) Lake Travis (Texas), 9-0
Lake Travis jumped out to a 36-0 halftime lead and never looked back, knocking off Marble Falls 57-0.

19. (20) Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.), 9-0
Coach Jeff Herron's squad continues to dominate regional foes. This week, Camden County hammered Johnson 55-0.

20. (24) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 10-0
In a showdown between unbeaten teams, University trounced Chaminade-Madonna 45-16. Story
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Westlake has supplanted Servite as the California team in the rankings.
Westlake has supplanted Servite as the California team in the rankings.
Photo by Gary Jones

21. (12) Allen (Texas), 9-0
As it has made a habit of doing lately, Allen came from behind yet again, this time beating Hebron 28-21.

22. (21) Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.), 10-0
Jake Vento tossed two touchdown passes as Harrison beat Seaholm 35-0.

23. (NR) Bentonville (Ark.), 9-0
It's hard to overlook the dominance of Bentonville in the state of Arkansas this season. It blanked Springdale 48-0. QwiXcore



24. (NR) Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.), 8-0
Having defeated top competition from Northern and Southern California, Westlake looks like the state's top team. It overwhelmed Newbury Park 49-3.

25. (NR) Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), 7-2
It's unusual for a two-loss team to crack the rankings. However, Manatee has won several big games since its early-season setbacks to Don Bosco Prep and Good Counsel. QwiXcore

Dropped out:
Hamilton (Ariz.)
Servite (Calif.)
Mentor (Ohio)