High school football rankings: Labor Day weekend upsets make way for four new teams in MaxPreps Top 25

By Zack Poff Sep 2, 2024, 9:00am

Lone Peak, Archbishop Spalding, Massillon and Lakeland earn a spot in rankings; Mater Dei-Bishop Gorman set for No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown.

Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) is one of four new teams to join this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. The Knights check in at No. 17 after beating then-No. 6 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) 28-21.

Joining Lone Peak as a new entrant to the rankings is Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), which went from unranked to No. 20 on the heels of wins over DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio).

Massillon (Ohio) and Lakeland (Fla.) are the other two newcomers in this week's MaxPreps Top 25.

Now all eyes turn to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), who will square off in the 14th meeting between No. 1 and No. 2 since 2000. Both are coming off bye weeks.



Mater Dei opened its season with a 42-25 win over Centennial (Corona, Calif.). Bishop Gorman is 2-0 with wins over No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Hawaii power Kahuku.

The same two programs also met as the top two teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 in 2017 when No. 1 Mater Dei snapped No. 2 Bishop Gorman's 55-game win streak with a 35-21 victory. JT Daniels threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns while Bru McCoy and Nikko Remigio combined for 12 receptions for 257 yards and two scores.

Carrollton (Ga.) was the only new team to join the top 10 after improving to 3-0 with a 44-22 win over Rome (Ga.). Julian Lewis had his best game of the season, completing 30 of 35 passes for 352 yards and five scores to go with a rushing touchdown. Lewis moved to 12th all-time in career touchdown passes in Georgia history with 108, surpassing Nick Marshall, Brock Vandagriff and Jeremy Hecklinski after his five-touchdown performance.

The biggest mover this week was St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), which climbed 13 spots to No. 12 after a 35-21 win over St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia). Junior running back Brandon White rushed for 104 yards and a score on 19 carries while also reaching the end zone on a 15-yard reception. Senior safety Bradley Eaton made a huge impact on defense and special teams with an interception, blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown and a 93-yard kickoff return for a TD.
Senior quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu ran for a touchdown and threw for another in Lone Peak's win over Lone Peak. The Knights are one of four new teams in the rankings this week. (File photo: Dave Argyle)
Senior quarterback Kepa Niumeitolu ran for a touchdown and threw for another in Lone Peak's win over Lone Peak. The Knights are one of four new teams in the rankings this week. (File photo: Dave Argyle)
MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 1
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 2
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)



Record: 2-0 | Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Eastwood (El Paso, Texas) 71-14
This week: Saturday at Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

Record: 3-0 | Last week: 4
Last week: Beat Alpharetta 58-0
This week: Idle

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 5
Last week: Beat Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.) 70-0
This week: Friday vs. North Crowley (Fort Worth)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 7
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday at South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 8
Last week: Beat South Oak Cliff (Dallas) 38-0
This week: Friday at Crowley

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 9
Last week: Beat Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) 51-0
This week: Friday vs. Columbus (Miami)

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 27-14
This week: Friday vs. No. 11 Cocoa

Record: 3-0 | Last week: 12
Last week: Beat Rome 44-22
This week: Friday vs. Lithia Springs

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 13
Last week: Beat Mainland (Daytona Beach) 51-0
This week: Friday at No. 9 IMG Academy (Bradenton)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 25
Last week: Beat St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) 35-21
This week: Saturday vs. Boyle County (Danville, Ky.)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 14
Last week: Beat St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) 31-21
This week: Friday at No. 19 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 20
Last week: Beat Western (Davie) 51-12
This week: Friday at Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 24
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.)



Record: 3-0 | Last week: 18
Last week: Beat Newton (Covington) 35-15
This week: Friday vs. Langston Hughes (Fairburn)

Record: 3-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Corner Canyon (Draper) 28-21
This week: Friday at Mountain Ridge (Herriman)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 19
Last week: Beat Lutheran North (St. Louis) 30-12
This week: Friday at Smiths Station (Smiths)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 22
Last week: Beat Rancho Cucamonga 45-14
This week: Friday vs. No. 13 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat DeMatha (Hyattsville) 26-10
This week: Friday vs. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)

Record: 2-1 | Last week: 6
Last week: Lost 28-21 to Lone Peak (Highland)
This week: Friday vs. Farmington

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 21
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday at Roswell



Record: 0-1 | Last week: 17
Last week: Lost 27-14 to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
This week: Friday at No. 24 Massillon (Ohio)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat GlenOak (Canton) 45-0
This week: Friday vs. No. 23 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday at Lake Mary