High school football rankings: Miami Central one of three new teams to join MaxPreps Top 25

There was plenty of movement this week as three new teams join the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings led by No. 22 Central (Miami). The Rockets were on the fringe of joining the national rankings and slide in after Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) and Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) dropped out.

Miami Central (3-0) notched its biggest two weeks ago against American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) 31-21. The Rockets have a huge matchup this week against rival Northwestern (Miami) on Saturday.

Joining Central in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 are No. 23 Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and No. 24 Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.). Baylor (5-0) is coming off a 45-18 victory over previously-unbeaten Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.). The Red Raiders will be featured in the MaxPreps Game of the Week vs. No. 25 McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT. The action will be streamed free on MaxPreps, the NFHS Network and the MaxPreps YouTube channel. 

Clay-Chalkville got a huge win last Thursday taking down Thompson (Alabaster) 28-24. The Cougars (6-0) were led by four-star wide receiver Corey Barber, who continued his stellar senior campaign hauling in seven catches for 135 yards and a touchdown to go with nine carries for 87 yards and two more scores. 

No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) cruised to a 49-14 win over Central (Phenix City, Ala.), handing the Alabama program its first loss of the season. Five-star sophomore quarterback Jayden Wade completed all 11 passes for 350 yards and four scores. He added a 47-yard rushing touchdown. The Ascenders improved to 5-0  and travel to Venice on Friday. 

No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) bounced back with a big win over Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). The defense dominated as the Gaels posted their third shutout of the season with a 14-0 victory. Junior cornerback Kamil Loud had a 40-yard pick-six on the Eagles opening possession and sophomore running back Noah Cole punched it in right before halftime for a 14-0 lead. 

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 1

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)

Record: 4-1 | Last week: 2

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. The First Academy (Orlando)

Record: 6-0 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Newton (Covington) 50-3

This week: Friday at Heritage (Conyers)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 4

Last week: Beat Central (Phenix City, Ala.) 49-14

This week: Friday at Venice

Record: 4-1 | Last week: 5

Last week: Idle

This week: Thursday vs. Roosevelt (Eastvale)

Record: 3-1 | Last week: 6

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Orange Lutheran (Orange)

Record: 5-1 | Last week: 7

Last week: Beat Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 14-0

This week: Friday vs. Palo Verde (Las Vegas)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. Serra (Gardena)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 10

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Collins Hill (Suwanee)

Record: 4-0 | Last week: 11

Last week: Beat Holy Cross (New Orleans) 42-3

This week: Friday vs. St. Augustine (New Orleans)

Record: 4-1 | Last week: 12

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. Hollywood Hills (Hollywood)

Record: 4-0 | Last week: 13

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 15

Last week: Beat Timber Creek (Fort Worth) 55-13

This week: Friday vs. Keller

Record: 6-0 | Last week: 16

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at Westlake (Atlanta)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 17

Last week: Beat Western Guilford (Greensboro) 66-6

This week: Friday vs. Varina (Richmond, Va.)

Record: 3-2 | Last week: 9

Last week: Lost 14-0 to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

This week: Friday at Servite (Anaheim)

Record: 4-1 | Last week: 18

Last week: Beat Western (Davie) 56-0

This week: Friday vs. Monarch Coconut Creek)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Beat Queen Creek 35-13

This week: Friday at Westwood (Mesa)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 24

Last week: Beat St. Mary's (Stockton) 36-7

This week: Friday vs. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)

Record: 4-0 | Last week: 25

Last week: Beat Jenks 66-35

This week: Friday vs. Moore 

Record: 5-0 | Last week: 22

Last week: Beat Mumford (Detroit) 56-6

This week: Friday at Western International (Detroit)

Record: 3-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Idle

This week: Saturday vs. Northwestern (Miami)

Record: 5-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville)

This week: Friday at No. 25 McCallie (Chattanooga)

Record: 6-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Thompson (Alabaster) 28-24

This week: Friday at Mountain Brook (Birmingham)

Record: 5-1 | Last week: 21

Last week: Beat Heidelberg (Miss.) 21-18

This week: Friday vs. No. 23 Baylor (Chattanooga)