Washington retains the top spot with a huge road victory and McEachern, Serra, Pearland and Ensworth enter.
Washington kept its top spot in the Xcellent 25 and knocked out the Gaels by wrangling Bishop Gorman on Friday.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Booker T. Washington gained a little breathing room from the teams chasing it in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
The Miami power, which already scored an enormous victory by beating city rival Central, took to the road to defeat Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, 28-12. It was the worst home loss for Bishop Gorman since 2006.
The victory solidified Washington's spot at the top of the rankings -- at least for now -- as Allen, DeSoto and others continue to give chase.
Several new teams entered the rankings this week. Serra (Gardena, Calif.) and Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.), which have appeared in the rankings in previous weeks, make return appearances while McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Pearland (Texas) debut.
McEachern looks like Georgia's No. 2 team right now. It is 5-0 and continues to put up points at a prodigious rate. It features one of the country's more dangerous backfields with quarterback
Tymashian Clemons and running back
Taj Griffin.
Pearland cracks the list for a different reason -- its defense, which has allowed only nine points all season.
Although it has not played a challenging schedule so far, Pearland has been wildly dominant in each game it was played. There were questions about the team's schedule in 2010 also. That season culminated in Pearland beating Euless Trinity for the Class 5A-I state title.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (1) Washington (Miami), 6-0The nation's top team hung on for a big road victory against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
Story2. (2) DeSoto (Texas), 5-0Idle
3. (3) Allen (Texas), 5-0Idle
4. (4) St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 5-0The state's top-ranked team prevailed against Crenshaw (Los Angeles), 75-35.
Qwixcore5. (6) St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), 4-0There was no letdown following St. Joseph's big victory over Bergen Catholic. It defeated Wayne Hills 35-0.
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Mason Rudolph and Northwestern moved up a spot to No. 9.
Photo by Keith Coward
After a slow start, North Gwinnett turned it on to beat Duluth 52-21.
7. (7) Katy (Texas), 5-0Idle
8. (8) Central (Miami), 4-1The Rockets held off a very talented Homestead team, winning 37-20.
9. (10) Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 6-0In a Rock Hill showdown, Northwestern defeated rival South Pointe 27-0.
Qwixcore10. (9) Bellevue (Wash.), 5-0Bellevue allowed the most points it has all season long in a 38-14 win over Juanita.{PAGEBREAK}
De La Salle stuck it to Servite in a trip to Southern California, and moves up three spots.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Idle
12. (12) Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 7-0Mountain Pointe continues to dominate. It defeated Desert Vista 49-6.
13. (16) De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 6-0In a rematch of the 2010 CIF Open Division Bowl Game, De La Salle once again defeated Servite (Anaheim), 35-10.
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Photos14. (13) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 6-0Head coach Roger Harriott's squad continues to win. This week, North Broward Prep fell victim 63-0.
15. (14) Hoover (Ala.), 6-0Hoover remains the clear No. 1 team in Alabama, winning 48-7 over Bessemer City.{PAGEBREAK}
Joshua Meyer and Manatee moved up a spot to 18th.
Photo by Alik McIntosh
The Eagles rolled to a 41-14 victory over Cardinal Mooney.
17. (17) Folsom (Calif.), 5-0Idle
18. (19) Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), 6-0The Hurricanes continue to make it look easy, thwarting Riverview 47-0.
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19. (18) Colerain (Cincinnati), 6-0It didn't look good early, but Colerain prevailed in a shootout over Princeton, 56-38.
Qwixcore20. (21) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 5-0Idle{PAGEBREAK}
Ty Clemons and McEachern have crashed their way into the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Dennis Carter
Damon Cogdell's squad recorded its third shutout of the season in a 56-0 drubbing of McArthur.
22. (NR) Serra (Gardena, Calif.), 5-0Idle
23. (NR) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 5-0The No. 2-ranked team in AAAAAA, McEachern beat Campbell 48-35.
24. (NR) Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.), 6-0Ensworth scored one of its biggest wins of the season with a 35-21 victory over Montgomery Bell Academy.
Qwixcore25. (NR) Pearland (Texas), 5-0The 2010 Class 5A-I state champion appears to be poised for another deep playoff run. The Oilers beat Sam Rayburn 69-0.
Dropped out:Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
Alemany (North Hills, Calif.)
Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
