MaxPreps Top 25 high school football scores: No. 8 American Heritage comes back from 28-point deficit to beat St. Joseph's Prep 31-28

Jonathan Bueno rushed for three touchdowns and Kade Bailey drilled 40-yard game winning field goal for Patriots.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
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Aug 22, 2025, 10:00pm
No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) trailed St. Joseph's Prep 28-0 in the second half before roaring back to win 31-28. Running back Jonathan Bueno led the way with three rushing touchdowns while Dia Bell threw a touchdown to Jamar Denson, who had more than a dozen catches. With the game tied up 28-28, American Heritage senior kicker Kade Bailey drilled a 40-yard field goal to complete the comeback.

Nineteen MaxPreps Top 25 teams are in action this week headlined by No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) makings its first-ever trip out to Florida to face No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). This is one of three head-to-head MaxPreps Top 25 matchups. 

No. 14 Mission Viejo (Calif.) narrowly defeated No. 16 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 7-3 in the MaxPreps Game of the Week. 

Mission Viejo trailed 3-0 in the second half when Ohio State commit Luke Fahey hit three-star junior Jack Junker for a 33-yard touchdown with 1:32 left in the third quarter to take a 7-3 advantage. 

Santa Margarita had a chance to win in the final minute of Carson Palmer’s debut as head coach of the Eagles. 

The Mission Viejo defense dominated all game, including in that final minute when Santa Margarita had a first down in the redzone. The Diablos defense stopped Santa Margarita on four straight plays to force a turnover on downs to win the game.

No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) opened its season at Hoover (Ala.) with a 34-13 victory. Senior running back Le'Khy Thompkins scored three rushing touchdowns, including a 60-yard run. Jayden Wade, the top prospect in the Class of 2028 threw a touchdown to fellow five-star sophomore Eric McFarland.

No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) takes on No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) Saturday while No. 11 Northwestern (Miami) faces Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) in another California vs. Florida showdown as Jaquatin Victrum makes his head coaching debut for the Bulls. 

Five-star Faizon Brandon and No. 17 Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.) narrowly defeated West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) at Bank of America Stadium on Friday in overtime 28-27. Brandon ran in the game winning touchdown and has a record of 30-1 as a starter with a 4A state title last season.

MaxPreps Top 25 National Scoreboard

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (All times local)

No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. 

No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at Centennial (Las Vegas)

No. 4 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, 8 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas

No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at Hoover (Ala.)
Friday, 8 p.m.

No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) vs. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
Friday, 6 p.m. 

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

No. 11 Northwestern (Miami) vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Saturday, 7 p.m.

No. 12 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) vs. Servite (Anaheim)

No. 13 Buford (Ga.) at Benedictine (Savannah)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. 


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

No. 17 Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.) vs. West Charlotte (Charlotte)
Friday, 8 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium - Watch live on NFHS Network

Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. Lancaster

No. 19 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) at West Broward (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Friday, 4 p.m.

Season opener: Aug. 28 vs. East St. Louis (Ill.)

No. 21 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)

Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)

No. 23 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) vs. Carver Montgomery (Montgomery)
Thursday, 7 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS Network

Season opener: Aug. 29 at South Oak Cliff (Dallas)

No. 25 Carrollton (Ga.) vs. Columbia (Decatur)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS Network

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