The latest national HS football rankings continue to show St. John Bosco’s dominance as they maintain their perfect 6-0 record atop the leaderboard. We’ve been tracking these powerhouse programs closely, and it’s clear the Braves from Bellflower, California are controlling their own destiny in pursuit of a potential third national championship, having previously claimed titles in 2019 and 2022.
Currently, the competition for best high school football teams remains fierce with IMG Academy (7-0) holding strong at second place, while Georgia programs make their presence felt with Grayson (7-0) and Buford (6-0) securing spots in the top five. Additionally, traditional California powerhouse Mater Dei sits at sixth with a 6-1 record, though other ranking systems place them as high as first overall. Notably, this week’s high school football rankings were shaken up by Alabama’s Clay-Chalkville, who soared into the rankings after an impressive 28-24 upset over reigning Alabama 7A champion Thompson.
St. John Bosco retains No. 1 spot in national high school football rankings
St. John Bosco has firmly established itself as the undisputed number one team in the national high school football rankings after another commanding victory. The Braves demolished JSerra Catholic with an overwhelming 70-21 win, further cementing their position atop the rankings.
California powerhouse continues undefeated streak
The Bellflower-based powerhouse has maintained perfect form through six games, accumulating impressive statistics along the way. Against JSerra, sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu delivered a near-flawless performance, completing 15 of 17 passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns. This remarkable efficiency helped the Braves amass a staggering 618 total yards of offense.
Carson Clark emerged as Malau’ulu’s primary target, hauling in six receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Maliq Allen bolstered the ground attack with 84 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Furthermore, the Braves have been overwhelming opponents throughout the season. Their potent offense has averaged 46.5 points per game. Even more impressively, they’ve won five of their six matchups by 29 points or more.
Key wins that solidified their top position
The Braves’ dominance extends beyond just their offensive firepower. Defensively, they’ve been equally imposing, with Matthew Muasau leading the charge against JSerra with six tackles, including two sacks and two forced fumbles. The defense collectively recorded five sacks in that game alone.
St. John Bosco’s consistency has been remarkable – they are the only program in the country to finish ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 every season since 2014. Their sustained excellence includes four Open Division state titles (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022).
The team now looks ahead to their next challenge against Orange Lutheran on October 10. This matchup holds particular significance as both of last season’s contests against the Lancers were closely contested, with the Braves securing narrow victories of 28-24 during regular season and 20-17 in the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.
Consequently, Coach Jason Negro’s program continues to set the standard in high school football. Their disciplined approach and balanced attack have earned them recognition as the top team in virtually every national high school football ranking system.
Who are the top 10 teams in the Oct. 7 national HS football rankings?
Behind St. John Bosco’s continued dominance, the remaining top 10 spots in the national high school football rankings showcase exceptional talent from across the country.
IMG Academy, Grayson, and Mater Dei hold strong
IMG Academy has solidified its #2 position with an unblemished 7-0 record. The Ascenders have been utterly dominant, outscoring recent opponents by a staggering 212-41 margin. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Wade delivered a perfect performance against Phenix City Central, completing all 11 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns.
Georgia powerhouse Grayson maintains its position despite losing quarterback Travis Burgess for the season. Nevertheless, the Rams continue to impress at 7-0, outscoring opponents 304-61. Their defense posted its second shutout in a 41-0 victory over Heritage. Texas five-star commit Tyler Atkinson has been exceptional, recording 37 tackles, 10 for loss, and five sacks.
Mater Dei (5-1) has rebounded impressively after a mid-season stumble. The Monarchs defeated former #1 Bishop Gorman on the road before downing Orange Lutheran 25-10, propelling them back into the top 10.
Buford and Bishop Gorman climb the ladder
Buford continues its ascent at 6-0, certainly looking like a championship contender. The Wolves dismantled Discovery 71-7 and recently defeated Collins Hill 34-3. Quarterback Dayton Raiola scored twice in the first half of that contest. Their defense remains formidable, featuring four-star Texas A&M commit Bryce Perry-Wright and Clemson commit Dre Quinn.
Bishop Gorman (6-1) briefly claimed the #1 spot in USA Today’s poll after Mater Dei’s earlier loss to Centennial. The Gaels have since stabilized at #6 following their own defeat to Mater Dei. They rebounded with a dominant 51-0 victory over Palo Verde.
Notable shifts in the top 10
St. Thomas Aquinas holds firmly at #7, indeed proving their elite status with a 63-0 win over Hollywood Hills. Sierra Canyon has surged into the #9 position in some polls after an impressive 30-0 shutout of Serra.
Specifically, different ranking systems show variation in their top 10. The High School Football America rankings list Corona Centennial at #10, whereas USA Today’s Super 25 places Edna Karr in that spot. Despite minor differences between polls, the top seven teams have remained relatively stable.
Which teams made the biggest jumps or drops this week?
Dramatic shifts rocked this week’s national HS football rankings as several underdogs delivered statement victories against established powerhouses.
Clay-Chalkville’s historic leap after upset win
Clay-Chalkville produced the most remarkable ascent, soaring from No. 11 to the top spot in Alabama’s statewide rankings after knocking off former No. 1 Thompson 28-24. Nationally, the Cougars made an extraordinary jump of 264 positions, climbing from No. 303 to No. 39. After trailing 21-7 at halftime, Clay-Chalkville orchestrated an impressive 21-3 second-half run. The victory marked their third consecutive win against Thompson. Currently maintaining a perfect 7-0 record, the Cougars demonstrated their dominance by following up with a 49-0 rout of Mountain Brook.
Bergen Catholic and Thompson fall after losses
Thompson tumbled 29 positions to No. 41 nationally and dropped to No. 2 in Alabama rankings following their defeat. Simultaneously, Bergen Catholic suffered their first loss in three years when they fell 14-9 to Don Bosco Prep. This defeat ended their impressive 28-game winning streak against in-state opponents. The Crusaders, previously ranked No. 16 nationally, now find themselves at No. 25.
Don Bosco Prep surges into Top 25
Initially sitting at No. 50, Don Bosco Prep catapulted to No. 24 in the national rankings. The Ironmen’s upset victory over Bergen Catholic propelled them to New Jersey’s No. 1 position for the first time in three years. Don Bosco built a 14-0 lead behind touchdowns from Ca’Si Thomas and Dante DeLuca. Subsequently, they validated their new ranking with an emphatic 47-15 win over No. 3 DePaul.
How do state and league trends shape the national football rankings?
State representation patterns throughout the national HS football rankings reveal clear geographic concentrations of elite talent.
California and Florida dominate the Top 25
A geographic analysis of the rankings confirms California’s overwhelming presence, with seven teams occupying spots in the national Top 25. Florida maintains its reputation as a football powerhouse, claiming four positions. According to team distribution data, these two states account for nearly half of America’s elite high school football programs. Within the latest HSFA 300 national rankings, Florida leads all states with 52 teams represented, followed by Texas (38), Georgia (28), and California (27).
Trinity League’s continued national impact
America’s most competitive high school football conference, Southern California’s Trinity League, possesses extraordinary influence with four of its six members ranked between No. 1 and No. 21. Besides top-ranked St. John Bosco, the league features Mater Dei (No. 12), Santa Margarita (No. 10), and Orange Lutheran (No. 21). The league’s competitiveness was highlighted when Corona Centennial defeated Mater Dei, marking the first time since 2015 a non-Trinity League team accomplished this feat.
Georgia’s rising presence in elite rankings
Georgia has emerged as a major factor in national rankings, primarily through Grayson’s consistent top-five presence across six national polls. Additionally, Buford continues its ascent, currently ranked between No. 5-10 in most national polls. Alongside these powerhouses, Carrollton has climbed to No. 14 in multiple rankings. Remarkably, Georgia now places 15 teams within various national Top 100 lists.