High school football top 25 rankings: DeMatha, Southlake Carroll in after impressive wins

By Zack Poff Sep 1, 2025, 9:00am

Stags surge in the second half to beat St. Joseph's Prep 45-17 while Dragons shutout Midland 49-0.

DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) had one of the most impressive wins in high school football last week beating St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) 45-17. After trailing 10-3 at halftime, the Stags outscored the three-time defending Pennsylvania state champion 42-7 in the second half. 

DeMatha goes from unranked to No. 15 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. 

Junior safety Kynair Crumb had a huge night with two interceptions, including one returned for a score. Senior running back Elijah Lee rushed for nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns while junior quarterback Tristan Sabb accounted for over 150 yards of total offense and one score. 

Head coach Riley Dodge's Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) program joins the Stags as the only other new team in this week's MaxPreps Top 25. The Dragons check in at No. 18 after a 49-0 shutout win over Midland. Last year's Conference 6A Division 2 state runner-up is led by Angelo Renda, who completed 16 of 24 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and Brock Boyd, who hauled in six grabs for 88 yards and a score.
After throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior, Angelo Renda opened his senior season at Southlake Carroll with 248 yards and three scores in a big win for the Dragons. (FILE PHOTO: Alex Garza)
After throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns as a junior, Angelo Renda opened his senior season at Southlake Carroll with 248 yards and three scores in a big win for the Dragons. (FILE PHOTO: Alex Garza)
No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) cruised to a 66-7 win over Eastwood (El Paso, Texas) to improve to 2-0. The Braves will be featured in our MaxPreps Game of the Week as they host No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) on Friday at 7 p.m. You can watch it live and free on MaxPreps



Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) was a big mover this week, jumping six spots to No. 12. The Trailblazers handed Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) its worst loss in school history with a 63-0 victory. It was the second-straight shutout win for the Los Angeles-area school, which has one of the best defenses in the country led by Havon Finney Jr. (LSU), Brandon Lockhart (USC), Madden Riordan (USC) and Richard Wesley (Texas). 

No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) posted its second straight shutout with a 38-0 win in Hawaii against Kahuku. The Gaels face a gauntlet over the next four weeks with matchups against Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)East St. Louis (Ill.), No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 17 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.).

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 1
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. Kahuku (Hawaii)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 2
Last week: Beat Eastwood (El Paso, Texas) 66-7
This week: Friday vs. No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Kahuku 38-0
This week: Friday vs. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)



Record: 1-0 | Last week: 4
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 3-0 | Last week: 5
Last week: Beat Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) 24-23
This week: Friday vs. Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 6
Last week: Beat Winslow Township (Atco, N.J.) 35-14
This week: Idle

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 7
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 9
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 10
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. Roswell

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 11
Last week: Beat Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) 72-6
This week: Friday at Columbus (Miami)



Record: 2-0 | Last week: 12
Last week: Beat St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs) 59-14
This week: Friday vs. Folsom

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 18
Last week: Beat Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) 63-0
This week: Saturday vs. Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 13
Last week: Idle
This week: Friday vs. Archbishop Shaw (Marrero)

Record: 3-0 | Last week: 14
Last week: Beat Fremont (Plain City) 67-21
This week: Friday vs. Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) 45-17
This week: Friday vs. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 17
Last week: Beat East St. Louis (Ill.) 22-21
This week: Friday at West Boca Raton (Boca Raton, Fla.)



Record: 1-1 | Last week: 21
Last week: Beat Centennial (Corona) 33-27
This week: Friday at Highland (Palmdale)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Midland 49-0
This week: Friday vs. Pebble Hills (El Paso)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 16
Last week: Beat West Forsyth (Clemmons) 31-17
This week: Friday. vs. East Forsyth (Kernersville)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 15
Last week: Beat Lancaster 22-18
This week: Friday vs. DeSoto

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 9
Last week: Lost 33-27 to Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)
This week: Saturday vs. Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)

Record: 1-1 | Last week: 19
Last week: Lost 24-23 to Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
This week: Friday vs. Tuscaloosa County (Northport)



Record: 2-0 | Last week: 20
Last week: Beat Rancho Cucamonga 27-24
This week: Friday at Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 22
Last week: Beat Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) 28-27
This week: Friday vs. Grandville

25. Carrollton (Ga.)
Record:
3-0 | Last week: 24
Last week: Beat Rome 28-21
This week: Friday vs. Lithia Springs