Orange Lutheran becomes fourth Trinity League team to join MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings

Lancers join rankings after road victory in Florida against previously-ranked Miami Northwestern; American Heritage climbs a spot after remarkable 28-point comeback victory.

By Zack Poff

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Aug 25, 2025, 8:30am

MaxPreps Top 25 Football Rankings | 2025 Regular Season Update #2 49,898 views 1:29

Orange Lutheran (Orange) capped an impressive weekend for Southern California's Trinity League in Florida as it took down previously-ranked Northwestern (Miami) 17-15. The Lancers, who check in at No. 20, were one of two new teams to join this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. 

Reagan Toki connected with Nico Bland for two scores and Class of 2028 standout Marcus Fakatou led the way on defense as Orange Lutheran held an explosive Northwestern offense to 13 points. The Lancers took a safety in the fourth quarter as time expired.

Orange Lutheran joins No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and No. 21 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) as ranked teams from the Trinity League. 

St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) moved up one spot to No. 4 after a dominant 42-13 win in Florida against previously-ranked Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.). The Panthers are idle next week and face No. 2 St. John Bosco on Sept. 5 in the MaxPreps Game of the Week. 

American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) moved up one spot to No. 7 after erasing a 28-0 deficit to pull out a 31-28 win over St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia). Jonathan Bueno rushed for three scores and five-star quarterback Dia Bell had a strong second half, leading the offense to 31 points. 

East St. Louis (Ill.) joins Orange Lutheran as the other new team to join this week's MaxPreps Top 25. The Flyers take the last spot in the rankings and have an opportunity to make a big jump next week as they face No. 17 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) on Thursday.

Jonathan Bueno Jr. (2) and Michael Stringer (15) celebrate a score in No. 7 American Heritage's incredible comeback victory over St. Joseph's Prep. (PHOTO: Jeff Klein)

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings 

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 1

Last week: Beat St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 26-23

This week: Friday vs. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance)

2. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) 31-0

This week: Friday vs. Eastwood (El Paso, Texas)

3. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Centennial (Las Vegas) 52-0

This week: Saturday at Kahuku (Hawaii)

4. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 5

Last week: Beat Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) 42-13

This week: Idle

5. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 4

Last week: Beat Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap) 24-19

This week: Friday vs. No. 19 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)

6. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 6

Last week: Beat Hoover (Ala.) 34-13

This week: Thursday vs. Winslow Township (Atco, N.J.)

7. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Beat St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) 31-28

This week: Idle

8. Duncanville (Texas)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 9

Season opener: Sept. 5 vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

9. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 12

Last week: Beat Servite (Anaheim) 42-14

This week: Thursday vs. No. 21 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)

10. Buford (Ga.)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 13

Last week: Beat Benidictine (Savannah) 42-14

This week: Idle

11. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 10

Last week: Lost 26-23 to Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

This week: Friday vs. Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes)

12. Mission Viejo (Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 14

Last week: Beat Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) 7-3

This week: Friday at St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)

13. Edna Karr (New Orleans)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 15

Season opener: Sept. 5 vs. Archbishop Shaw (Marrero)

14. Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 19

Last week: Beat West Broward (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) 38-13

This week: Friday at Fremont (Plain City)

15. North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 18

Last week: Idle

This week: Thursday vs. Lancaster

16. Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 17

Last week: Beat West Charlotte (Charlotte) 28-27

This week: Friday at West Forsyth (Clemmons)

17. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 20

Last week: Idle

This week: Thursday vs. No. 25 East St. Louis (Ill.)

18. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 21

Last week: Beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) 35-0

This week: Friday at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)

19. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Beat Carver Montgomery (Montgomery) 37-6

This week: Friday at No. 5 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

20. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)

Record: 1-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Northwestern (Miami) 17-15

This week: Friday vs. Rancho Cucamonga

21. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Record: 0-1 | Last week: 16

Last week: Lost 7-3 to Mission Viejo

This week: Thursday vs. No. 9 Centennial (Corona)

22. Cass Tech (Detroit)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 23

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday vs. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)

23. North Shore (Houston)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: 24

Last week: Idle

This week: Friday at South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

24. Carrollton (Ga.)

Record: 2-0 | Last week: 25

Last week: Beat Columbia (Decatur) 41-7

This week: Friday at Rome

25. East St. Louis (Ill.)

Record: 0-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Idle

This week: Thursday vs. No. 17 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

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