MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings

No. 2 Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.) scored a big win over the Lions last week while Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), the No. 1 team in the rankings, takes on Oaks Christian this week.


Game of the Week: Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 45, Godby 42. In a contest featuring two of the top programs in North Florida, the Conquerors needed an overtime field goal to defeat Godby.

Game to watch: Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.) vs. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Cedar Grove makes the trek to Colorado to meet Valor Christian, which went undefeated last year under first-year coach and former Denver Bronco Ed McCaffrey. Valor Christian has not failed to win less than 10 games in each of the past 10 seasons. Cedar Grove is a defending state champion as well.

Best individual performance: Isaiah Bess of Shelby (N.C.) threw for 403 yards and six touchdowns in a 58-21 win over A.C. Reynolds.

Dropped Out: No. 16 Tarboro (N.C.); No. 20 Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.); No. 22 McCombs (Ohio); No. 23. Mason (Texas); No. 24 Hasbrouck Heights (N.J.); No. 24 Grandview (Texas).

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. 1) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 2-0, 63.3
Results: Defeated Lawndale, 37-12
Highlights: JD Sumlin, Chayden Peery and Brendon Gamble each rushed for a touchdown in the win. Zach Thannum had three sacks on defense.
Next Game: Friday vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)

2. (2) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.), 2-0, 61.3
Results: Defeated Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), 54-28
Highlights: JD Henderson rushed for 134 yards and four touchdowns in the win while Soane Toia had two scores. Mikey Zele threw for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Muir (Pasadena).

3. (3) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 2-0, 50.8
Results: Defeated Mount Carmel, 48-0
Highlights: The Tigers defeated the winningest program in Pennsylvania history thanks for four touchdowns from Gavin Garcia and two touchdowns from Gaige Garcia.
Next Game: Friday vs. Selinsgrove

4. (5) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 2-0, 48.1
Results: Defeated Hallandale, 44-8
Highlights: Alexander Law threw for 135 yards and tossed three touchdowns while Thaddius Franklin rushed for 98 yards on 13 carries.
Next Game: Friday vs. Miami Christian

5. (4) Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 1-1, 46.4
Results: Defeated Godby (Tallahassee), 45-42
Highlights: Kyjuan Herndon rushed 25 times for 233 yards and five touchdowns, but Trinity Christian Academy needed a field goal by Clayton Roerig in overtime to beat Godby.
Next Game: Friday vs. Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.)

6. (7) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 1-1, 44.9
Results: Lost to Central (Phenix City, Ala.), 24-20
Highlights: Cedar Grove gave up a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes to fall in the Cam Newton C1N Classic.
Next Game: Friday vs. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)

7. (10) Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), 1-0, 42.5
Results: Defeated Northside (Warner Robins, Ga.), 21-13
Highlights: Tijah Woolfolk gained 100 yards on four carries with two touchdowns for Peach County.
Next Game: Friday vs. Lee County

8. (15) Lutheran North (St. Louis), 1-0, 41.4
Results: Defeated Trinity Catholic (St. Louis), 25-6
Highlights: Sophomore Ali Wells scored on runs of 66 yards and 67 yards in the win.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis)

9. (12) Blair Oaks (Jefferson City, Mo.), 1-0, 39.7
Results: Defeated Maryville, 23-14
Highlights: Freshman quarterback Dylan Hair completed 13-of-22 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score.
Next Game: Friday vs. Oak Grove

10. (NR) Trinity Catholic (St. Louis), 0-1, 38.9
Results: Lost to Lutheran North (St. Louis), 25-6
Highlights: Tam Williams caught a 69-yard pass from Xavier Cunningham for Trinity Catholic's only score in the loss.
Next Game: Saturday vs. East St. Louis.

11. (NR) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 2-0, 37.8
Results: Defeated Fitzgerald 35-8
Highlights: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Irwin outgained Fitzgerald 408-215.
Next Game: Friday vs. Mount Paran Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)

12. (8) Christian Academy-Louisville (Ky.), 2-0, 37.6
Results: Defeated Christian County (Hopkinsville), 36-0
Highlights: Luke Leeper had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 22-yard touchdown reception in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Eastern (Louisville)

13. (19) Abbeville (S.C.), 1-0, 34.9
Results: Defeated Newberry, 35-6
Highlights: Martico Jackson had a pair of 68-yard runs and gained 177 yards on 11 carries.
Next Game: Friday vs. Emerald (Greenwood)

14. (13) Penns Grove (Carneys Point, N.J.), 0-0, 34.1
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Pennsville Memorial in the Battle for the Boot

14. (16) Taylorsville (Miss.), 2-0, 34.1
Results: Defeated Raleigh, 36-8
Highlights: Ty Keyes threw for 266 yards and a touchdown while Travis Keyes rushed for 117 yards.
Next Game: Thursday vs. Jefferson Davis County (Bassfield)

16. (11) Orrville (Ohio), 1-0, 33.6
Results: Defeated Wooster, 39-27
Highlights: Marquael Parks ran 29 times for 256 yards and four touchdowns and Cooper Haley completed 16-of-22 passes for 166 yards and two scores.
Next Game: Friday vs. North (Akron)

17. (6) Shelby (N.C.), 2-0, 33.1
Results: Defeated A.C. Reynolds, 58-21
Highlights: Isaiah Bess completed 19-of-32 passes for 403 yards and six touchdowns with Ja'hari Mitchell catching 10 passes for 261 yards and five scores.
Next Game: Sept. 13 vs. Crest (Shelby)

18. (9) Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.), 2-0, 32.9
Results: Defeated Sutter, 21-7
Highlights: Jackson Pavitt completed 9-of-16 passes for 175 yards and a score and also ran 67 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. Tsion Nunnally caught three passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Placer (Auburn)

19. (NR) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 2-0, 32.7
Results: Defeated Pace Academy (Atlanta), 49-0
Highlights: Keaton Mitchell rushed 12 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns while Gabe Wright threw for 113 yards and one score.
Next Game: Friday vs. Heritage (Conyers, Ga.)

20. (18) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City), 0-0, 31.6
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Thursday vs. Millwood (Oklahoma City)

21. (NR) Clinch County (Homerville, Ga.), 1-0, 31.4
Results: Hebron Christian Academy (Dacula, Ga.), 46-28
Highlights: Clinch scored on three big plays: a 79-yard run by Michael Walker, a 70-yard interception return by Perry Williams and an 85-yard kickoff return by Tyler Morehead.
Next Game: Friday vs. Brooks County (Quitman)

22. (NR) Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.), 2-0, 30.1
Results: Defeated Taylor County (Perry) 52-12
Highlights: Willie Taggart Jr. threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 59 yards and a score.
Next Game: Friday vs. Chiles (Tallahassee)

23. (21) Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.), 0-0, 29.9
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Sept. 13 vs. Northside (Lafayette)

24. (NR) Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 2-0, 29.7
Results: Defeated Jefferson County (Monticello), 55-0
Highlights: Jacoleman Young had 93 yards rushing and two touchdowns and Derrion Staten caught a pair of touchdown passes.
Next Game: Thursday vs. Rickards (Tallahassee)

25. (NR) Reidsville (N.C.), 2-0, 29.6
Results: Defeated McMichael (Mayodan), 70-0.
Highlights: Kyle Pinnix completed 7-of-9 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns while Lionel Long rushed for two touchdowns.
Next Game: Friday vs. Morehead (Eden)