Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 12

Two new teams entered the rankings, while the top 10 teams remained unchanged.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 12

Two new teams entered the Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings, while the Top 10 teams remained unchanged as the regular season ended in some states and state playoffs rolled on in others.

Liberty High School (Peoria, Arizona) entered the rankings at No. 22 after a 24-14 win over Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) improved its record to 9-0. Langston Hughes High (Fairburn, Georgia), entered the rankings at No. 25 after improving to 10-0 with a 56-23 win over Paulding County (Dallas, Ga.).

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) remained at No. 1 for the 11th consecutive week and opens the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on Friday against Orange Lutheran. Bixby High (Bixby, Oklahoma) dropped out of the Top 25 after a 38-35 loss to Jenks (Jenks, Okla.) snapped Bixby's 58-game winning streak. Grayson High (Loganville, Ga.) also dropped out of the Top 25 for the first time this season following a 28-21 loss to Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)

Twelve different states are represented in this poll, led by Texas and Florida with five teams each and California with four teams.

The Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings are released every Tuesday morning throughout the regular season with a national champion crowned following the final state championship games across the country. Check out The Stadium Talk Podcast, Season One: High School Football in America on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon.

25. Langston Hughes High School (Fairburn, Georgia)

Langston Hughes High quarterback Air Noland

Previous ranking: NR

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Paulding County 56-23

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. River Ridge (6-4)

Bottom line: Junior quarterback Air Noland (great name) had a monster game for Langston Hughes High, going 16-of-26 passing for 410 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 56-23 win over Paulding County to close out the regular season with a 10-0 record. It's the first time in the Stadium Talk Top 25 this season for the Panthers.

Noland, who's 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, has offers from Auburn, Miami, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Arkansas, among others. Noland now has 2,745 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.

24. Lehi High School (Lehi, Utah)

Previous ranking: 25

Record: 12-0

Last game: Defeated Box Elder 28-21

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Stansbury (12-0)

Bottom line: Lehi High improved to 12-0 and advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals with a 28-21 win over Box Elder, setting up a battle of unbeatens this week against Stansbury for a spot in the state championship game.

Lehi starting quarterback Jackson Brousseau struggled with turnovers, going 27-of-34 passing for 239 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Senior running back Carson Gonzalez had a huge game for Lehi with 16 carries for 130 rushing yards and three touchdowns to go with five receptions for 40 yards.

23. Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Archbishop Moeller running back Jordan Marshall

Previous ranking: 24

Record: 11-1

Last game: Defeated St. Xavier 28-7

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Mason (10-2)

Bottom line: Archbishop Moeller advanced to the Region 4 Division I semifinals with a 28-7 win over St. Xavier behind 263 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries from junior running back Jordan Marshall.

Marshall scored touchdowns on runs of 62 yards, 42 yards, 4 yards and 1 yard.

22. Liberty High School (Peoria, Arizona)

Previous ranking: NR

Record: 9-0

Last game: Defeated Centennial 24-14

Next game: Nov. 10 at Boulder Creek (5-4)

Bottom line: Liberty overcame three interceptions by starting quarterback Navi Bruzon to improve to 9-0 with a win over Centennial.

Liberty senior wide receiver Prince Zombo had a monster game with six receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown as the Lions made their first appearance in the Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings.

It was the third win for Liberty over a team ranked in the MaxPreps Top 100 this season.

21. American Heritage High School (Plantation, Florida)

American Heritage running back Mark Fletcher

Previous ranking: 23

Record: 9-1

Last game: Defeated Hallandale 63-0 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Inlet Grove (7-2)

Bottom line: American Heritage opens the Class 2M state playoffs on Friday with a first-round matchup in Region 3 against Inlet Grove. American Heritage is the No. 2 overall seed in the entire state.

All signs point to a regional final rematch between American Heritage and Cardinal Gibbons. American Heritage defeated a shorthanded Cardinal Gibbons squad 21-2 on Oct. 1.

The Patriots are led by a pair of Ohio State commits with wide receiver Brandon Innis (45 receptions, 822 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns) and running back Mark Fletcher (1,277 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns).

20. Long Beach Poly High School (Long Beach, California)

Previous ranking: 22

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Jordan 63-0 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 at Los Alamitos (8-2)

Bottom line: Long Beach Poly had a week off after its regular-season finale before Friday's CIF Southern Section Division I playoff opener at Los Alamitos.

Long Beach Poly's defense is on a run for the ages after the Jackrabbits completed their first unbeaten regular season since 2008. Long Beach Poly's defense has posted five consecutive shutouts and hasn't given up any points since a 42-6 win over Lakewood on Sept. 16.

19. Belleville High School (Belleville, Michigan)

Belleville High linebacker Jeremiah Beasley

Previous ranking: 21

Record: 11-0

Last game: Defeated Saline 62-44

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Catholic Central (8-2)

Bottom line: Belleville broke a 28-28 halftime tie and outlasted Saline, 62-44, in a high-scoring affair in the Michigan Division I state playoffs to move on to the regional finals against Central Catholic.

No one showed up bigger for Belleville than 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior linebacker/running back Jeremiah Beasley, who rushed for 167 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries to go with 7.5 tackles and two sacks.

Beasley, who is ranked as the No. 17 linebacker in the Class of 2024, has offers from Michigan State, Boston College, Cincinnati and Indiana, among others.

18. Centennial High School (Corona, California)

Previous ranking: 18

Record: 9-1

Last game: Defeated Norco 42-0 (Oct. 27)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Mission Viejo (9-1)

Bottom line: After a week off, Centennial opens play in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs this week against Mission Viejo in arguably the toughest postseason bracket in the country, featuring four teams ranked in the Stadium Talk Top 25.

Centennial has won seven consecutive games since a 43-20 loss to No. 1 Mater Dei on Sept. 2. Mission Viejo has won seven consecutive games since a 35-30 loss to No. 20 Long Beach Poly on Sept. 2.

17. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

St. Joseph's Prep quarterback Samaj Jones

Previous ranking: 17

Record: 7-1

Last game: Defeated Roman Catholic 42-0 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 12 vs. La Salle College (4-5)

Bottom line: St. Joseph's Prep opens the postseason on Saturday in the District 12 Class 6A semifinals against La Salle College. St. Joseph's has won seven consecutive games since a season-opening loss to No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Joseph's Prep is back to being close to full speed with 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior linebacker Josiah Trotter back on the field after missing four games with a knee injury. Trotter, a West Virginia commit, had a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown in the regular-season finale win over Roman Catholic on Oct. 28.

16. St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)

Previous ranking: 16

Record: 11-1

Last game: Defeated Massilon Jackson 42-0

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. St. Ignatius (8-3)

Bottom line: St. Edward continued rolling through the Region 1 Division state playoffs with a shutout win over Massillon Jackson to set up a rematch with St. Ignatius in the regional semifinals. St. Edward won 48-6 in the first matchup on Oct. 1.

St. Edward jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead over Jackson thanks to a big game from quarterback Casey Bullock, who was 10-of-12 passing for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.

15. Katy High School (Katy, Texas)

Previous ranking: 15

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Katy Taylor 49-7

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Fort Bend Clements (5-5)

Bottom line: Katy closed out an unbeaten regular season with a blowout win over Katy Taylor behind another big game from senior running back Dallas Glass, who had 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. Katy quarterback Caleb Kroger was 5-of-7 passing for 126 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Katy opens the Class 6A Division II playoffs on Friday against Fort Bend Clements. Katy has won nine state championships dating back to 1959, with three of them coming in the last decade.

14. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Previous ranking: 14

Record: 7-1

Last game: Defeated West Toronto Prep 96-0

Next game: Nov. 12 vs. Goleman (5-5)

Bottom line: IMG Academy grabbed headlines with its blowout win over West Toronto Prep, scoring 96 points in the first half before the game was called at halftime.

IMG scored four defensive touchdowns and had three safeties in the win — a score so lopsided it garnered some attention from celebrity gossip website TMZ.

The Ascenders close out the season on Nov. 18 against No. 4 St. Frances Academy in Baltimore in a game that could have national championship implications.

13. Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Bishop Gorman wide receiver Trech Kekahuna

Previous ranking: 13

Record: 11-1

Last game: Defeated Desert Pines 41-3

Next game: Nov. 11 at Liberty (8-3)

Bottom line: Bishop Gorman advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals with a 41-3 over Desert Pines — the first points allowed by the Gaels to an in-state opponent this season.

Bishop Gorman quarterback Micah Alejado was 16-of-20 passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. Bishop Gorman wide receiver and Wisconsin commit Trech Kekahuna had a monster game with eight receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown.

Bishop Gorman is the defending Class 5A state champion and has won 11 of the last 12 state championships, with the only blip in that stretch coming against this week's opponent, Liberty, which beat the Gaels in overtime in 2019.

12. Guyer High School (Denton, Texas)

Previous ranking: 12

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Rock Hill 31-3

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Flower Mound Marcus (6-4)

Bottom line: Guyer closed out an unbeaten regular season with an easy win over Rock Hill and will open the Class 6A Division II state playoffs against Flower Mound Marcus on Friday. Guyer hasn't won a state title since winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013 in Class 4A Division II.

Guyer senior quarterback and Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold was sharp against Rock Hill, going 11-of-16 passing for 154 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 53 rushing yards and one touchdown on six carries.

Guyer wide receiver Josiah Martin had a huge game with eight receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown.

11. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee)

Previous ranking: 11

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Boyd Anderson 44-0 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Silverdale Academy (8-3)

Bottom line: Lipscomb Academy earned a bye in the first round of the Division II Class AA state playoffs and will face Silverdale Academy this week in the state quarterfinals.

Lipscomb Academy is led by 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior quarterback Hank Brown, who has thrown for 2,783 yards and 36 touchdowns this season despite missing big chunks of game action in blowout wins. Lipscomb has won five games this season by at least 40 points.

10. Chaminade-Madonna High School (Hollywood, Florida)

Chaminade-Madonna quarterback Cedrick Bailey

Previous ranking: 10

Record: 9-0

Last game: Defeated Treasure Coast 45-6

Next game: Nov. 18 vs. Avant Garde Academy (6-3)

Bottom line: Chaminade-Madonna junior quarterback Cedrick Bailey continued to establish himself as one of the most intriguing prospects in the Class of 2024, throwing for six touchdowns in a blowout win over Treasure Coast in the regular-season finale.

Bailey, 6-foot-6 and 195 pounds, currently has Power Five offers from Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Indiana.

Chaminade-Madonna opens the Class 1M state playoffs on Nov. 18 against Avant Garde Academy.

9. Duncanville High School (Duncanville, Texas)

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 9-0

Last game: Defeated Mansfield Legacy 42-6

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Bryan (6-4)

Bottom line: Duncanville held Mansfield Legacy to 66 rushing yards and 193 yards of total offense to close out the regular season with a 9-0 record.

Duncanville sophomore wide receiver Dakorien Moore, a top 10 prospect in the Class of 2025, had two receptions for 39 yards and one touchdown in the win.

Duncanville opens the Class 6A Division I state playoffs on Thursday against Bryan.

8. Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Central Gwinnett 49-7

Next game: Nov. 12 vs. Peachtree Ridge (6-4)

Bottom line: Buford closed out a perfect regular season with a blowout win over Central Gwinnett and another big game from senior running back and Alabama commit Justice Haynes, who had 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just four carries.

Senior K.J. Bolden added 191 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game and a 90-yard touchdown reception. It's the first unbeaten regular season for Buford since 2014.

Buford opens the Class 7A state playoffs on Friday at home against Peachtree Ridge.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 9-0

Last game: Defeated Boyd Anderson 44-0 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Coconut Creek (6-4)

Bottom line: St. Thomas Aquinas opens the Class 3M Region 3 state playoffs this week against Coconut Creek . Aquinas is trying to win its fourth consecutive state championship and eighth state title since 2012.

6. North Shore High School (Houston, Texas)

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Kingwood 56-7

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Houston Dobie (4-6)

Bottom line: North Shore closed out a perfect regular season with a 56-7 win over Kingwood and will open its Class Division I state championship defense on Thursday against Houston Dobie.

North Shore has won 23 consecutive games. And three Texas teams are ranked in the Stadium Talk top 10 in the UIL Class 6A Division I state playoffs — North Shore, No. 2 Westlake and No. 9 Duncanville.

5. St. John Bosco High School (Bellflower, California)

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 9-1

Last game: Defeated Santa Margarita 56-14 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Orange Lutheran (7-4)

Bottom line: St. John Bosco opens the postseason this week, taking on Orange Lutheran on Friday in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

St. John Bosco has won three CIF state championships in the last decade, in 2013, 2016 and 2019, including two national championships in 2013 and 2019. The only loss for the Braves this season came against No. 1 Mater Dei on Oct. 7.

The two teams could meet again in the CIF Southern Section Division I finals on Nov. 25.

4. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)

Previous ranking: 4

Record: 7-0

Last game: Defeated St. Thomas More (Connecticut) 41-18

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Clarkson North (3-5)

Bottom line: St. Frances Academy led 12-11 at halftime, then put its pedal to the floor in the second half on the way to a 41-18 win over St. Thomas More.

It was the second consecutive win for St. Frances after not playing for a month following a win over then-No. 22 Kahuku (Hawaii). Since 2017, St. Frances is 49-2 and will close out its season on Nov. 18, hosting No. 14 IMG Academy from Florida.

St. Frances is 2-0 against IMG, with wins in 2019 and 2021.

3. Miami Central High School (Miami, Florida)

Previous ranking: 3

Record: 9-0

Last game: Defeated Monsignor Pace 50-14 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. St. Brendan (7-2)

Bottom line: Miami Central will begin its pursuit of a fourth consecutive state championship when it opens the Class 2M state playoffs on Friday against St. Brendan.

Miami Central owns one of the signature wins of any team in the nation after it opened the season with a 20-14 win over No. 14 IMG Academy on Aug. 26.

No Miami Central player has dominated more than senior defensive end Rueben Bain, who has an amazing 46 sacks over the last two seasons.

2. Westlake High School (Austin, Texas)

Westlake High wide receiver Jaden Greathouse

Previous ranking: 2

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Johnson 70-10

Next game: Nov. 10 vs. Cedar Ridge Round Rock (5-5)

Bottom line: Westlake now owns the longest winning streak in the nation at 50 games following its 70-10 win over Johnson and a loss by then-No. 19 Bixby (Okla.) to Jenks (Okla.) that snapped a 58-game winning streak.

Westlake is trying to win its fourth consecutive state championship and first under rookie head coach Tony Salazar. The Chaparrals open the Class 6A Division I state playoffs on Thursday against Cedar Ridge Round Rock.

1. Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)

Previous ranking: 1

Record: 10-0

Last game: Defeated Servite 48-17 (Oct. 28)

Next game: Nov. 11 vs. JSerra Catholic (6-5)

Bottom line: Mater Dei opens the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on Friday against JSerra Catholic after a first-round bye.

Mater Dei swept almost every mythical high school national championship in 2021 and is led by junior quarterback Elijah Brown, who has thrown for 2,214 yards, 25 touchdowns and three interceptions while being pulled early in the second half in a majority of his team's contests.

Sophomore running back Jordon Davison, one of the top recruits in the nation for the Class of 2025, is having a breakout season with 1,143 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on just 127 carries for a whopping 9.0 yards per carry.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 12

Stadium Talk High School Football Top 10: Week 12

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 1
Westlake (Austin, Texas), Previous Ranking: 2
Miami Central (Miami, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 3
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), Previous Ranking: 4
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 5
North Shore (Houston, Texas), Previous Ranking: 6
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 7
Buford (Buford, Ga.), Previous Ranking: 8
Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas), Previous Ranking: 9
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 10
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), Previous Ranking: 11
Guyer (Denton, Texas), Previous Ranking: 12
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Previous Ranking: 13
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 14
Katy (Katy, Texas), Previous Ranking: 15
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), Previous Ranking: 16
St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), Previous Ranking: 17
Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 18
Belleville (Belleville, Mich.), Previous Ranking: 21
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, California), Previous Ranking: 22
American Heritage High School (Plantation, Florida), Previous Ranking: 23
Liberty High School (Peoria, Arizona), Previous Ranking: NR
Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), Previous Ranking: 24
Lehi High School (Lehi, Utah), Previous Ranking: 25
Langston Hughes High School (Fairburn, Georgia), Previous Ranking: NR

Week 11 Rankings (Oct. 31) I Week 10 (Oct. 25) I Week 9 (Oct. 18) I Week 8 (Oct. 11)I Week 7 (Oct. 4) I Week 6 (Sept. 27) I Week 5 (Sept. 20) I Week 4 (Sept. 13) I Week 3 (Sept. 6) I Week 2 (Aug. 30) l Week 1 (Aug. 23) l Preseason (Aug. 8)

Check outThe Stadium Talk Podcast, Season One: High School Football in America on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Amazon.