High school flag football rankings: JSerra Catholic locks down No. 1 spot in MaxPreps Top 25 after capturing section title, extending win streak to 56

Montgomery Catholic of Alabama, Granite Bay of California enter rankings for first time.

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Nov 9, 2026, 11:00am
Can anyone beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)?

The answer to that question won't be answered until at least next fall. The No. 1-ranked Lions wrapped up their second consecutive 28-0 campaign with a 40-14 victory Saturday over No. 3 Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) in California's Southern Section Open Division championship game.

JSerra Catholic was led by the sophomore dynamic duo of quarterback Kate Meier and receiver Tessa Russell. Meier completed 28 of 35 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns with another 59 yards and two scores on the ground. Russell caught 12 passes for 153 yards and three scores.

Meier finished the season with 7,390 passing yards and 99 touchdowns with 830 rushing yards and 25 scores. Russell, meanwhile, finished with 2,452 receiving yards and 36 TDs.

JSerra Catholic will carry a 56-game win streak into the 2027 season.
Sophomore Tessa Russell caught 12 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's section final to help JSerra Catholic finish 28-0. Though the fall season continues for several weeks in other states, the Lions have cemented their position at No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25. (PHOTO: John Luciano)
Sophomore Tessa Russell caught 12 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's section final to help JSerra Catholic finish 28-0. Though the fall season continues for several weeks in other states, the Lions have cemented their position at No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25. (PHOTO: John Luciano)
Montgomery Catholic, Granite Bay among newcomers

Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery, Ala.) makes its MaxPreps Top 25 debut at No. 20 with a 16-1 record. The Knights have reached the last three state championship games, winning it all in Division 1A/5A in 2024. The team's only loss this season has come against No. 6 Central (Phenix City).

Hayden Fitts has 2,398 passing yards with 37 touchdowns and 861 rushing yards with 17 scores. Haley Ishman has 675 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns to lead Montgomery Catholic.

The state playoffs are underway with finals taking place Dec. 1.

Granite Bay (Calif.) also makes its first appearance in the MaxPreps Top 25 after securing its first Sac-Joaquin Section championship Saturday. The Grizzlies defeated fellow Sierra Foothill League rival St. Francis (Sacramento, Calif.) 39-6 in the Division II final.

Sophomore Paige Smith went 14 of 18 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. She also rushed for three touchdowns while junior Leilani Teaupa ran 15 times for 215 yards and a score. Sophomore Molly Palmer added four sacks for the Grizzlies, who finished at 21-2 overall.

North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia next to crown champions

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association will crown its inaugural sanctioned flag football champions Saturday in three divisions.

The 8A final four features Wakefield (Raleigh) vs. Apex and Providence (Charlotte) vs. Palisades (Charlotte). Wakefield quarterback Quinn Pope is the reigning MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year. 


All NCHSAA semifinals will be played Wednesday.

Maryland will also have sanctioned flag football champions for the first time. Semifinal action across three divisions begins Wednesday with state finals happening Nov. 17.

In the Class 4A/3A bracket, top-seeded Urbana (Ijamsville) takes a 15-0 record into its semifinal matchup with Whitman (Bethesda), while North Point (Waldorf) takes on Clarksburg. In Class 3A/2A, unbeaten Poly (Baltimore) faces Northern (Owings) while Linganore (Frederick) takes on Glenelg. The bottom seeds remain in the Class 2A/1A bracket as fifth-seeded Forest Park (Baltimore) hosts No. 8 Middletown and six-seed Calvert (Prince Frederick) hosts No. 7 Dunbar (Baltimore).

The Georgia Independent Athletic Association state championships will also take place Saturday. St. Anne-Pacelli (Columbus) has won the last four GIAA titles. The Vikings were once ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 after wins over key out-of-state opponents Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.) and aforementioned Wakefield of North Carolina.

Read on for a complete look at this week's rankings.

MaxPreps Top 25

1. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Record: 28-0 | Last week: 1

2. St. Charles North (St. Charles, Ill.)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 2

3. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Record: 23-5 | Last week: 3

4. Greenbrier (Evans, Ga.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 4

5. Legend (Parker, Colo.)
Record: 17-2 | Last week: 5

6. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 14-2 | Last week: 9

7. Woodbridge (Irvine, Calif.)
Record: 24-5 | Last week: 7

8. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 17-5 | Last week: 8

9. Milton (Ga.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: 20

10. North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: 15

11. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 6

12. Moody (Ala.)
Record: 19-1 | Last week: 10

13. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 22-6 | Last week: 11

14. Prospect (Mt. Prospect, Ill.)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 12

Record: 19-0 | Last week: 16

16. Campo Verde (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Record: 15-2 | Last week: 17

Record: 14-2 | Last week: NR

18. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 15-1 | Last week: NR

19. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 19-7 | Last week: 13

20. Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery, Ala.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: NR

Record: 17-2 | Last week: 21

22. Chaparral (Parker, Colo.)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: 22

23. Glenbrook South (Glenview, Ill.)
Record: 19-1 | Last week: 23

24. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Record: 15-3 | Last week: 24

Record: 21-2 | Last week: NR

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