MaxPreps Xcellent 25 high school football rankings

High school football is officially underway, as several key states kicked off over the weekend.

The marquee game featured Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) in a showdown featuring two teams ranked in the Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard.

Bishop Gorman, behind running back Shaquille Powell, used a dominant third quarter to bust open a tight game en route to a 42-22 victory.

Last year's No. 1 team, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.), showed some signs of inexperience but still won easily, 37-17 over West Point.



Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) was also in action. The Shamrocks looked very impressive in a 45-7 over Brentwood Academy (Tenn.), and could be climbing in the rankings soon.

No. 25 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) eked out a 7-0 victory over Kell (Marietta, Ga.). The Rams will need to improve offensively to remain ranked.

Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

1. (Preseason ranking: 1), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 10 vs. Mission Viejo (Calif.)

2. (2) Armwood (Seffner, Fla.), 0-0
First game: Aug. 26 vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
The Hawks will be without injured running back Matt Jones when they open up against a very impressive Gaels squad.

3. (3) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Bellarmine (San Jose, Calif.)

4. (4) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Prattville (Ala.).

5. (5) Allen (Texas), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Cedar Hill (Texas).



6. (6) Prattville (Ala.), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
Prattville avoided major sanctions from the AHSAA and will be about full strength against Aquinas.

7. (7) Trinity (Euless, Texas), 0-0
First game: Aug. 26 vs. Lee (Tyler, Texas).

8. (8) Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove, Calif.)

9. (10) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 1-0
Bishop Gorman handily beat previously ranked Chaparral 42-22 and looked impressive in the process.

10. (9) St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Glenville (Cleveland).

11. (11) Katy (Texas), 0-0
First game: Aug. 26 vs. North Shore (Houston).

12. (12) South Panola (Batesville, Miss.), 1-0
Antonio Connor and Tevis Flowers helped lead a young Tigers squad over West Point, 37-17.

13. (13) Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 9 vs. St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.).

14. (15) Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.).

15. (16) Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Cass Tech (Detroit).

16. (17) Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.).

17. (18) Warren Central (Indianapolis), 1-0
Kevin Davis caught three touchdowns passes in a dominant 64-13 victory over Merrillville (Ind.).

18. (19) St. Xavier (Cincinnati), 0-0
First game: Aug. 27 vs. Springfield (Ohio).

19. (20) Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 1-0
With the offensive firepower the Shamrocks displayed in a win 45-7 over Brentwood Academy (Tenn.), it looks like it could be a special season for Trinity. Upcoming games against Elder and St. Xavier will be very telling.

20. (21) Aledo (Texas), 0-0
First game: Aug. 26 vs. Stephenville (Texas).

21. (22) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 3 vs. Bellevue (Wash.).

22. (23) Bellevue (Wash.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 3 vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.).

23. (15) Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.), 0-0
First game: Sept. 2 vs. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
The Raiders are still very talented, but were disappointing in the spring. The team will enter its Sept. 2 showdown with Dwyer as an underdog.

24. (NR) Buford (Ga.), 1-0
The nation's top small school surges into the rankings following 42-0 blowout over Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.) in which the Wolves allowed less than 60 yards. Though it's an AA squad, Buford could be the top team in Georgia this season.

25. (25) Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), 1-0
Grayson's defense played very well against a resilient Kell squad, but the Rams struggled offensively in a 7-0 victory. The team's offensive line needs to show improvement heading into its next matchup, vs. Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.).



Dropped out:
No. 24 Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.).