High school flag football rankings: JSerra Catholic holds down No. 1 spot in MaxPreps Top 25 after 8-0 start

Newport Harbor rising after five straight shutouts to start season.

By
Aug 25, 2026, 11:00am
Two weeks into the 2026 high school flag football season, JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) is holding strong as the top team in the country.

The Lions – No. 1 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 – have started 8-0, extending their win streak to 36 in a row after a 28-0 campaign in 2025.

Sophomore quarterback Kate Meier has already thrown for 1,891 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 219 yards and six scores. Tessa Russell and G.G. Szczuka have combined for more than 1,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Sophomore Sterling Flores leads the team with four interceptions.
Newport Harbor quarterback Ally Shaw has helped the Sailors rise in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a 5-1 start to 2026. (PHOTO: John Luciano)
Newport Harbor quarterback Ally Shaw has helped the Sailors rise in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a 5-1 start to 2026. (PHOTO: John Luciano)
The Lions have a tough challenge Wednesday against San Diego Section Division 1 champion Torrey Pines (San Diego).

Central (Phenix City, Ala.) remains No. 2 after an impressive 38-0 win over Alabama state runner-up Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery). The Red Devils had five interceptions, including two from Kennedi Ellis, in the team's 58th consecutive win.

Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.) and Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) haven't hit the field yet but remain Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Maine South opens with three games this week while Hamilton begins its season Sept. 15.

Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.) made the biggest leap from its original position, jumping 20 spots to No. 5 after five straight shutouts to begin the season. The Sailors' only loss came against JSerra Catholic.

Read on for a complete look at this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school flag football rankings.

MaxPreps Top 25 flag football rankings

1. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Record: 8-0 | Previous ranking: 1

2. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Record: 1-0 | Previous ranking: 2

3. Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 3

4. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 4

5. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.)
Record: 5-1 | Previous ranking: 25

Record: 3-1 | Previous ranking: 5

7. North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 6

8. Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Record: 1-0 | Previous ranking: 8

9. Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 7

10. Greenbrier (Evans, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 9

11. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 11

12. Moody (Ala.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 12

13. Willowbrook (Villa Park, Ill.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 13

14. The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Record: 2-0 | Previous ranking: 22

Record: 7-0 | Previous ranking: NR

Record: 4-1 | Previous ranking: 14

17. Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Record: 5-2 | Previous ranking: NR

Record: 4-2 | Previous ranking: NR

19. Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 6-2 | Previous ranking: NR

20. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 3-2 | Previous ranking: 10 

Record: 3-0 | Previous ranking: 16

22. McClatchy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 2-1 | Previous ranking: 15

23. Southeast Bulloch (Brooklet, Ga.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 17

Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 20

25. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Previous ranking: 18

Related Content