High school football rankings: How high does Mater Dei climb in MaxPreps Top 25 after 35-7 win over St. John Bosco?

Forty-two days after St. John Bosco (Bellflower) handed Mater Dei (Santa Ana) its first shutout loss since 2011 with a 28-0 victory, the Monarchs returned the favor with a 35-7 win in California's Southern Section Division 1 championship. It was Bosco's most lopsided defeat under head coach Jason Negro and the first time the program lost by 28 points or more since 2009.

Mater Dei climbs to No. 3 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. The Monarch defense dominated, scoring two touchdowns. Abduall Sanders started the scoring with a 52-yard pick-six and Zabien Brown finished it with a 12-yard interception return for a score. Next up is No. 20 Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) in the CIF Open Division state championship Dec. 9.

No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) wrapped up its season with an emphatic 56-11 win over Liberty (Henderson) in Nevada's Class 5A Division I state championship. Four-star tight end Elija Lofton finished the game with two touchdown receptions, a rushing score and a TD pass. Micah Alejado accounted for four scores and ended the year with 35 touchdowns passes without an interception.

In Georgia, Walton (Marietta) was one of the biggest movers in this week's MaxPreps Top 25, jumping up four spots to No. 8 after beating previously-ranked Carrollton (Ga.) 56-35. The Raiders snapped the Trojans' 11-game win streak and clinched a spot in the AAAAAAA semifinals. Jeremy Hecklinski completed 22 of 24 passes for 354 yards and accounted for four touchdowns. Up next is Camden County (Kingsland) after the Wildcats upset the defending AAAAAAA state champ Mill Creek (Hoschton).

There were plenty of upsets last week that made room for six new teams in the rankings.

Grayson (Loganville) checks in at No. 17 after beating Buford 19-14 to advance to the Georgia AAAAAAA semifinals. Class of 2026 standout Tyler Atkinson led the way for a dominant defense. The Rams face Milton next with a spot in the state championship on the line. Grayson has won seven in a row and is playing its best football of the season.

Cocoa becomes the sixth team from Florida in the MaxPreps Top 25. The Tigers are 12-1 with the lone loss being a controversial one against No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The 21st-ranked Tigers have won 10 in a row heading into their 2S semifinal matchup against Booker (Sarasota).

Ben Davis (Indianapolis) won its first Class 6A state championship since 2017 capping a 13-1 season with a 38-10 win over Crown Point. The only blemish came against No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and the 22rd-ranked Giants ended the year winning 10 in a row.

Westlake (Austin) is now the fourth team from Texas in the MaxPreps Top 25, checking in at No. 23. The Chaparrals improved to 13-0 with a 59-14 win over United (Laredo) to advance to the Class 6A Division 1 quarterfinals. They face district rival Lake Travis (Austin) on Saturday.

Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) is in at No. 24 after beating DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 7-0 in the WCAC championship. It was the Falcons first WCAC title since 2019. Good Counsel reeled off 10 straight wins after a season-opening loss at No. 19 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).

Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) takes the final spot at No. 25 after clinching a berth in the Ohio Division II state championship with a 17-14 win over Avon. The Knights improved to 13-1 and have won five in a row since a 14-7 loss against St. Edward. They are going for their sixth state title since 2015 against No. 12 Massillon (Ohio) on Thursday.

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 1

Last week: Beat Liberty (Henderson) 56-11

Season complete

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) 40-0

This week: Friday vs. Archbishop Carroll (Miami)

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 5

Last week: Beat St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 35-7

This week: Idle

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 4

Season complete

Record: 11-2 | Last week: 3

Last week: Lost 35-7 to Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

Season complete

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 6

Last week: Beat Cy-Fair (Cypress) 45-9

This week: Saturday vs. Atascocita (Humble)

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 7

Last week: Beat Willis 65-31

This week: Friday vs. Cedar Hill

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 12

Last week: Beat Carrollton 56-35

This week: Friday vs. Camden County (Kingsland)

Record: 11-1 | Last week: 9

Last week: Beat Nazareth Area (Nazareth) 59-21

This week: Saturday vs. Central Bucks South (Warrington)

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 10

Last week: Beat Coconut Creek 28-0

This week: Friday vs. Gaither (Tampa)

Record: 13-0 | Last week: 13

Last week: Beat Central (Miami) 31-28

This week: Friday vs. Bolles (Jacksonville)

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 14

Last week: Beat Anderson (Cincinnati) 55-7

This week: Thursday vs. No. 25 Archbishop Hoban (Akron)

Record: 11-1 | Last week: 15

Last week: Beat The Woodlands 49-21

This week: Saturday vs. Westfield (Houston)

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 18

Season complete

Record: 10-1 | Last week: 20

Last week: Beat Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 47-35

This week: Friday vs. Berkeley Prep (Tampa)

Record: 9-3 | Last week: 19

Season complete

Record: 11-2 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Buford 19-14

This week: Friday vs. Milton

Record: 11-1 | Last week: 21

Last week: Beat Highland (Gilbert) 54-12

This week: Saturday vs. Centennial (Peoria)

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 22

Last week: Beat Hilliard Bradley (Hilliard) 26-3

This week: Friday vs. Springfield

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 25

Last week: Idle

This week: Idle

Record: 12-1 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat South Sumter (Bushnell) 34-14

This week: Friday vs. Booker (Sarasota)

Record: 13-1 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Crown Point 38-10

Season complete

Record: 13-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat United (Laredo) 59-14

This week: Saturday vs. Lake Travis (Austin)

Record: 10-1 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat DeMatha (Hyattsville) 7-0

Season complete

Record: 13-1 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Avon 17-14

This week: Thursday vs. No. 12 Massillon