Sierra Canyon leaps to top of MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings

The Trailblazers, who dropped down to No. 7 two weeks ago and moved up to No. 4 last week, are back on top after a 13-7 win over Grace Brethren, which had been ranked No. 3. The win allowed Sierra Canyon to bump Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa) out of the No. 1 spot, a spot it had held for only one week.

Most impressive win: Eagles Landing Christian 63, Strong Rock Christian 0. The Chargers posted 400 yards rushing and had nearly 500 yards of total offense in notching their second straight game over 60 points. ELCA has outscored its last two opponents 130-0.

Game of the Week: Sierra Canyon 13, Grace Brethren 7. Ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the small school national rankings to start the season, Sierra Canyon and Grace Brethren met in a nonleague game. Sierra Canyon built a 13-0 lead behind Chayden Peery's 300-yard effort and held off a late push by the Lancers.

Game to watch: Coldwater vs. Marion Local. The two teams that rank No. 1 and No. 2 in MaxPreps' list of the best small school football dynasties in the nation tangle in a Midwest Conference showdown.

Best individual performance: Chayden Peery, Sierra Canyon. The junior quarterback came up big in Sierra Canyon's biggest game of the season as he threw for 338 yards in the 13-7 victory.

Dropped out: No. 22 Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio); No. 23 Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, Fla.)

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 4) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 8-1, 55.0
Results: Defeated Grace Brethren (Simi Valley), 13-7
Highlights: Chayden Peery was the difference in the showdown against Grace Brethren as he threw for 338 yards and a touchdown. DJ Harvey caught six of the passes for 128 yards and a score.
Next Game: Friday vs. Paraclete (Lancaster)

2. (1) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 10-0, 54.7
Results: Defeated Danville, 49-6
Highlights: Gaige Garcia ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries in the win. Julian Fleming added 150 yards on seven catches with two touchdowns.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Towanda.

3. (2) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 7-2, 54.0
Results: Defeated Pace Academy (Atlanta), 40-10
Highlights: Alvin Williams had five sacks to lead the defense against Pace Academy.
Next Game: Nov. 9 vs. Stone Mountain

4. (14) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 7-2, 50.6
Results: Defeated Central (Miami), 27-7
Highlights: Thaddius Franklin was the key for the Lions as he racked up 187 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns against Central (Miami).
Next Game: Friday vs. Everglades (Miramar)

5. (3) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.), 8-1, 50.5
Results: Lost to Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 13-7
Highlights: Mikey Zele threw for 110 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to keep the Lancers from dropping their first game of the season to Sierra Canyon.
Next Game: Friday vs. Camarillo

6. (10) Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 7-2, 49.8
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Crestview

7. (21) Lutheran North (St. Louis), 8-0, 49.2
Results: Defeated Chaminade (St. Louis), 43-14
Highlights: Brian Brown threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns and Ali Wells had 138 yards rushing along with a 93-yard kickoff return for Lutheran North.
Next Game: Friday vs. Grandview (Hillsboro)

8. (6) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 7-0, 49.0
Results: Defeated Wilcox County (Rochelle), 16-0
Highlights: The Indians racked up their fourth shutout of the season and their third in a row to stay unbeaten.
Next Game: Friday vs. Atkinson County (Pearson)

9. (7) McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.), 7-0, 48.0
Results: Defeated Fremont (Oakland), 70-0
Highlights: The Warriors have outscored opponents 311 to 41 after the big win over Fremont.
Next Game: Friday vs. Oakland

10. (5) Shiner (Texas), 9-0, 47.5
Results: Defeated Kenedy, 52-7
Highlights: Donyai Taylor returned a fumble 27 yards for a score and also had a 33-yard touchdown run for Shiner.
Next Game: Friday vs. Brazos (Wallis)

11. (15) Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta), 8-0, 47.1
Results: Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg), 41-7
Highlights: Michael Cox had a pair of touchdowns to lead the rout.
Next Game: Friday vs. Landmark Christian (Fairburn)

12. (9) Wall (Texas), 8-0, 46.9
Results: Defeated Eastland, 28-14
Highlights: Four different players had over 45 yards rushing for Wall, led by Chase Rios with 72.
Next Game: Friday vs. Breckendridge

13. (11) Penns Grove (Carneys Point, N.J.), 8-0, 46.9
Results: Defeated Glassboro, 40-0
Highlights: Nasir Robinson had another big game on the round, rushing for 186 yards with four touchdown.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Salem

14. (13) Coldwater (Ohio), 8-1, 46.1
Results: Defeated St. Henry, 49-14
Highlights: Zack McKibben had touchdown runs of 34 and 38 yards and also caught a 51-yard touchdown pass.
Next Game: Friday vs. Marion Local

15. (24) Wahoo (Neb.), 9-0, 45.7
Results: Defeated Scotus (Columbus), 49-0
Highlights: Trevin Luben rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns to lead Wahoo.
Next Game: Friday vs. Boys Town

16. (18) Dublin (Ga.), 9-0, 45.5
Results: Defeated Northeast (Macon), 56-21
Next Game: Friday vs. Suwanee (Live Oak)

17. (7) Anna (Ohio), 8-1, 45.2
Results: Defeated Parkway (Rockford), 49-28
Highlights: Bart Bixler threw for 109 yards and rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns for Anna.
Next Game: Friday vs. St. John's (Delphos)

18. (16) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 7-1, 45.2
Results: Defeated Strong Rock Christian (Locust Grove), 63-0
Highlights: Keaton Mitchell ran for 164 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries for ELCA.
Next Game: Friday vs. Mount Vernon (Atlanta)

19. (17) Shelby (N.C.), 7-1, 45.0
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. East Rutherford

20. (18) Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 5-5, 43.9
Results: Defeated Raines (Jacksonville), 17-14
Highlights: Kyjuan Herndon ran for 195 yards and a touchdown in the overtime win.
Next Game: Awaiting postseason matchup.

21. (11) Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), 7-1, 43.8
Results: Defeated Central (Macon), 57-20
Highlights: Jaydon Gibson threw for 231 yards and touchdowns for Peach County.
Next Game: Friday vs. Jackson

22. (NR) Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas), 7-1, 43.8
Results: Lost to Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill), 40-16
Highlights: Zack Haaland had 103 yards rushing and a touchdown in the loss.
Next Game: Friday vs. McKinney Christian Academy (McKinney)

23. (18) Kirtland (Ohio), 9-0, 43.7
Results: Defeated Hawken (Gates Mills), 45-0
Highlights: Luke Gardner carried just three times, but he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Kirtland.
Next Game: Friday vs. Berkshire (Burton)

24. (NR) Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 6-1, 43.3
Results: Defeated Astronaut (Titusville), 38-0
Next Game: Friday vs. Middleton (Tampa)

25. (25) Adams Central (Hastings, Neb.), 9-0, 43.0
Results: Defeated Cozad, 44-0
Highlights: Gabe Conan accounted for five touchdowns for the Patriots.
Next Game: Friday vs. Valentine