MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings

One week after a big win over Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.), Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.) moves into the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Small Schools National Football Rankings thanks to an Oaks Christian victory.

Oaks Christian knocked off previous No. 1 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 21-14, knocking the Trailblazers down to No. 2 and moving Grace Brethren up one spot to No. 1.


Game of the Week: Cedar Grove 27, Valor Christian 17. Traveling over 1,400 miles to Colorado, Georgia's Cedar Grove got a game-saving pick-six from Tee Denson to beat the defending Colorado Class 5A state champions.

Game to watch: Trinity Christian Academy vs. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.). The Patriots have a loss to Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), but are ranked one spot higher in the Florida computer rankings than Venice (Fla.). The Conquerors lost to Venice last week 50-49 in double overtime.

Best individual performance: Lucas Coley had 357 total yards for Cornerstone Christian, including 234 passing and 123 yards rushing in a win over Fort Worth Christian. He threw four TD passes and had one on the ground.

Dropped out: No. 12 Christian Academy-Louisville (Ky.), No. 13 Abbeville (S.C.), No. 18 Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), No. 22 Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.), No. 23 Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.), No. 24 Madison County (Madison, Fla.).

The Small Schools Top 25 is open to schools that generally play in enrollment divisions with less than 1,000 students. Some California schools with under 1,000 students that play in competition-based playoff divisions that mostly include large enrollment schools (such as Sierra Canyon and Grace Brethren) are also included. Teams are ranked based on their MaxPreps computer ranking, which is listed along with their current record.

MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings
1. (last week No. 2) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.), 2-0, 58.8
Results: Defeated Muir (Pasadena, Calif.), 38-18
Highlights: Julien Stokes ran 21 times for 248 yards and one touchdown for Grace Brethren.
Next Game: Friday vs. Oak Hills (Hesperia, Calif.)

2. (1) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 2-1, 54.5
Results: Lost to Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.), 21-14
Highlights: Chayden Peery threw for 232 yards (24 of 39) with two touchdowns in the loss to Oaks Christian.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Valencia.

3. (7) Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), 2-0, 53.0
Results: Defeated Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.), 40-17
Highlights: Jaydon Gibson riddled the Lee County defense through the air by completing 9-of-11 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns while Noah Whittington had 140 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
Next Game: Friday vs. Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.)

4. (6) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 2-1, 50.1
Results: Defeated Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), 27-17
Highlights: Tee Denson sealed the win for Cedar Grove when he returned an interception for a touchdown in the final minute with Valor Christian in the red zone.
Next Game: Friday vs. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)

5. (3) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 3-0, 48.8
Results: Defeated Selinsgrove, 76-0
Highlights: Gaige Garcia set a state record with his 130th career touchdown in the win, breaking the state mark held by Dominic Bragalone. Garcia had 84 yards rushing and two scores. The Tiger defense limited Selinsgrove to negative 28 yards of total offense.
Next Game: Friday at Shamokin Area (Coal Township, Pa.)

6. (NR) Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis), 2-0, 48.1
Results: Defeated Lutheran North (St. Louis), 27-13
Highlights: Bill Jackson rushed for 147 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown to lead Cardinal Ritter to its second win. Last week, the Lions defeated defending Illinois Class 7A state champion Nazareth Academy.
Next Game: Friday vs. St. Dominic (O'Fallon)

7. (4) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 3-0, 43.1
Results: Defeated Miami Christian (Miami), 34-13
Highlights: Thaddius Franklin rushed 22 times for 162 yards and a touchdown while Alexander Law completed 8-of-16 passes for 114 yards and two scores in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Carol City (Miami)

8. (5) Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 1-2, 41.8
Results: Lost to Venice, 50-49 2OT
Highlights: Jacory Jordan completed 9-of-18 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns while Kyjuan Herndon ran 25 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to Venice.
Next Game: Friday vs. American Heritage (Plantation)

9. (11) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 2-0, 40.5
Results: Did not play.
Next Game: Friday vs. Mount Paran Christian (Kennesaw)

10. (14) Penns Grove (Carneys Point, N.J.), 1-0, 40.4
Results: Defeated Pennsville Memorial (Pennsville), 68-7
Highlights: Nasir Robinson ran for three touchdowns and had a kickoff return for a score in Penns Grove's win in the Battle for the Boot.
Next Game: Friday vs. Woodstown

11. (8) Lutheran North (St. Louis), 1-1, 38.8
Results: Lost to Cardinal Ritter (St. Louis), 27-13
Highlights: Jerrell Carter caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Smith and Ali Wells had a two-yard scoring run in the loss.
Next Game: Sept. 21 vs. Westminster Christian (St. Louis)

12. (tie) (14) Taylorsville (Miss.), 3-0, 38.5
Results: Defeated Davis County (Bassfield), 46-14
Highlights: Ty Keyes went over 9,000 career passing yards by throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Jeffery Pittman added 172 yards on seven carries with two touchdowns.
Next Game: Friday vs. Seminary

12. (tie) (17) Shelby (N.C.), 2-0, 38.5
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Crest (Shelby)

14. (19) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 3-0, 37.3
Results: Defeated Heritage (Conyers), 42-0
Highlights: Keaton Mitchell rushed 20 times for 169 yards and four touchdowns for ELCA.
Next Game: Sept. 20 vs. Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta)

15. (16) Orrville (Ohio), 2-0, 37.1
Results: Defeated North (Akron), 54-7
Highlights: Marquael Parks ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass in the win for Orrvlle.
Next Game: Friday vs. West Holmes (Millersburg)

16. (21) Clinch County (Homerville, Ga.), 2-0, 36.5
Results: Defeated Brooks County (Quitman), 38-14
Highlights: Tyler Morehead scored three rushing touchdowns for Clinch County in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Dooly County (Vienna)

17. (tie) (20) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City), 1-0, 35.7
Results: Defeated Millwood (Oklahoma City), 34-0
Highlights: Jackson Jobe completed 11-of-16 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns for Heritage Hall.
Next Game: Friday vs. Clinton

17. (tie) (NR) Hapeville Charter (Atlanta), 1-1, 35.7
Results: Defeated Heard County (Franklin), 61-7
Highlights: Defending Class AA champion Heard County was no match for Hapeville Charter.
Next Game: Sept. 20 vs. Therrell (Atlanta)

19. (9) Blair Oaks (Jefferson City, Mo.), 2-0, 35.4
Results: Defeated Oak Grove, 44-21
Highlights: Riley Lentz ran for 138 yards on 20 carries while Dylan Hair completed 10-of-15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown for Blair Oaks.
20. (NR) Athens Academy (Athens, Ga.), 2-0, 34.3
Results: Defeated Stephens County (Toccoa), 49-19
Highlights: Palmer Bush threw touchdown passes for 37 and 31 yards to Deion Colzie for Athens.
Next Game: Friday vs. Cherokee Bluff (Flowery Branch)

21. (NR) Newton (Texas), 2-0, 34.1
Results: Defeated Silsbee, 52-21
Highlights: Newton won its 32nd straight game against Silsbee. Kevin Watson Jr. led the offense with 115 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Next Game: Friday vs. West Orange-Stark (Orange)

22. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 2-0, 32.7
Results: Defeated Fort Worth Christian (North Richland Hills), 45-14
Highlights: Lucas Coley threw for 234 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 123 yards and a score in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Hearne

23. (tie) (10) Trinity Catholic (St. Louis), 0-2, 32.6
Results: Lost to East St. Louis (Ill.), 32-0
Highlights: Trinity Catholic gave up a 200-yard rushing performance and rushing performance in the loss to the Flyers.
Next Game: Friday vs. Bishop DuBourg/Hancock (St. Louis)

23. (tie) (25) Reidsville (N.C.), 3-0, 32.6
Results: Defeated Morehead (Eden), 42-0
Highlights: Kyle Pinnix completed 15-of-22 passes for 256 yards and six touchdowns for Reidsville. Demontez Canada caught three of the scoring tosses.
Next Game: Friday vs. Rockingham County (Wentworth)

25. (NR) Dublin (Ga.), 3-0, 32.4
Results: Defeated Swainsboro, 35-13
Next Game: Sept. 20 vs. Brooks County (Quitman)