Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 2

Mater Dei (California) moves up to No. 1 in the Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings after a comeback win over No. 6 Bishop Gorman.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 2

There's a new No. 1 team in the latest Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings.

In its first loss to a Florida school since 2013, No. 1 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) fell at home to unranked Miami Central (Miami, Florida), 20-14.

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) leapfrogged up three spots to become the new No. 1 team after rallying for a 21-14 win on the road at No. 6 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada).

Three new teams joined the Top 25 with No. 24 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida.), No. 22 Katy (Katy, Texas) and No. 11 Miami Central (Miami, Florida).

Dropping out of the rankings after losses were No. 19 Cathedral (Indianapolis, Indiana), No. 21 Martin Luther King (Detroit, Michigan) and No. 25 Thompson (Alabaster, Alabama).

Texas and Florida led the way with five schools each in the Top 25. California had three schools in the rankings while Georgia and Arizona had two teams each. In all, 14 states were represented in the Top 25 for Week 2.

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.

- Week 1 Rankings (Aug. 23) l Preseason (Aug. 8)

25. St. Joseph's Preparatory School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

St. Joseph's Prep quarterback Samaj Jones

Previous ranking: 18

Record: 0-1

Last game: Lost to No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) 48-37

Next game: Sept. 3 at St. Peter's Prep (1-0)

Bottom line: St. Joseph's Prep had a 31-28 lead over No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas in the third quarter before faltering down the stretch at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

St. Joseph's was without one of the nation's top linebackers, West Virginia commit Josiah Trotter, who played the first defensive series but spent the rest of the game on the sideline on crutches.

St. Joseph's quarterback Samaj Jones was sharp, throwing two touchdown passes and running for another touchdown on a highlight-reel play.

24. American Heritage High School (Plantation, Florida)

American Heritage running back Mark Fletcher

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Los Alamitos (Calif.) 56-27

Next game: Sept. 2 at Lake Gibson (1-0)

Bottom line: American Heritage jumped into the rankings with a convincing 56-27 win over Los Alamitos (Calif.) behind running back Mark Fletcher, who ran for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries.

American Heritage racked up over 400 yards of offense in the win and also got a big outing from its defense as Los Alamitos quarterback Malachi Nelson, a USC commit and the No. 4-rated player in the nation, was just 19-of-33 passing for 213 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

23. Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village, Colorado)

Previous ranking: 24

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Ralston Valley 35-21

Next game: Sept. 3 at No. 19 St. Edward (2-0)

Bottom line: Cherry Creek opened its pursuit of a fourth straight Class 5A state title with a game against another top 10 team in Colorado, taking down No. 6 Ralston Valley.

The score was tied 21-21 midway through the fourth quarter before Cherry Creek scored two touchdowns over the final six minutes to seal the win.

Cherry Creek now hits the road for a top 25 showdown against No. 19 St. Edward in Lakewood, Ohio.

22. Katy High School (Katy, Texas)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Clear Springs 49-16

Next game: Sept. 2 vs. Atascocita (1-0)

Bottom line: Katy High running back and Mississippi State commit Seth Davis rushed for 270 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries to lead his team to a blowout win over Clear Springs in the season opener.

Davis, 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, rushed for 2,422 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior in 2021.

21. Skyridge High School (Leti, Utah)

Skyridge High defensive end/outside linbebacker Tausili Akana

Previous ranking: 23

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Herriman 43-0

Next game: Sept. 2 at Orem (2-1)

Bottom line: Skyridge posted its second consecutive shutout and improved to 3-0 with a 43-0 win over Herriman.

Skyridge got two sacks from five-star defensive end/outside linebacker Tausili Akana and a pair of interceptions by defensive back Smith Snowden. Skyridge quarterback McCae Hillstead threw for 183 yards while rushing for 73 yards and three touchdowns.

Skyridge has outscored opponents in its first three games by a combined score of 137-7.

20. Kahuku High School (Kahuku, Hawaii)

Previous ranking: 22

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Leilehua 57-14

Next game: Sept. 3 vs. Punahou (3-0)

Bottom line: Kahuku High running back Vaaimalae Fonoti scored touchdowns three different ways — rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return — as the Red Raiders improved to 3-0. All three wins have come via the mercy rule.

The win sets up a showdown between unbeaten teams this week as Kahuku hosts 3-0 Punahou.

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

Previous ranking: 20

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Pittsburgh Central Catholic 42-10

Next game: Sept. 3 vs. No. 23 Cherry Creek (1-0)

Bottom line: St. Edward led 14-10 over Pittsburgh Central Catholic at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, before an interception by sophomore safety Bradley Eaton set up a 53-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Casey Bullock.

St. Edward scored 28 unanswered points starting with Bullock's big run, and the defense didn't allow a point in the second half. St. Edward has a huge game this week when they host No. 23 Cherry Creek, the three-time defending Colorado Class 5A state champion.

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

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 1-1

Last game: Lost to No. 4 Mater Dei (Calif.) 24-21

Next game: Sept. 2 at Honolulu St. Louis (1-1)

Bottom line: Bishop Gorman stumbled down the stretch against visiting No. 4 Mater Dei in Las Vegas, watching a 14-point third-quarter lead disappear in a 24-21 loss.

One of the highlights for Gorman was 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior tight end Elija Lofton, who had a breakout game, including a 64-yard touchdown reception. He should see his recruitment start to blow up following his big night. He currently has only three FBS offers.

Gorman now hops over the Pacific Ocean to face Hawaii powerhouse Honolulu St. Louis.

17. Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia)

Previous ranking: 17

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Eagle's Landing 44-14

Next game: Sept. 3 vs. Fort Dorchester (1-0)

Bottom line: Grayson High quarterback Jeff Davis II threw three touchdown passes in the first half as the Rams built a huge halftime lead and coasted to a 30-point win over Eagle's Landing, which didn't score any points until the fourth quarter.

Grayson senior outside linebacker Ravon Johnson had two sacks and two quarterback hurries against Eagle's Landing and has three sacks in the first two games.

16. Guyer High School (Denton, Texas)

Previous ranking: 16

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Rockwall Heath 47-14

Next game: Sept. 3 at Aledo (0-1)

Bottom line: Denton Guyer didn't make rookie head coach Reed Heim sweat much in his debut, scoring three defensive touchdowns in the first half on the way to a 47-14 win over Rockwall Heath. It was fitting for Heim, who was Guyer's defensive coordinator the last two seasons.

Guyer quarterback and Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns to go with 87 rushing yards and one touchdown.

15. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Previous ranking: 1

Record: 0-1

Last game: Lost to Miami Central 20-14

Next game: Sept. 3 at De Smet Jesuit (0-1)

Bottom line: Top-ranked IMG Academy was upset by Miami Central, losing its first game to in-state competition since 2013 with a little help from one of the worst high school officiating mistakes you'll probably see this season.

With the score tied 14-14 early in the fourth quarter, Miami Central cornerback LaWayne McCoy intercepted IMG Academy quarterback Ryan Downes at the IMG 34-yard line. Cruising in for a touchdown, McCoy flipped the ball into the air in celebration at the 3-yard line, and it bounced out of the back of the end zone. It should have been a touchback for IMG, but the trailing referee signaled a touchdown for Miami Central.

Brutal.

14. Duncanville High School (Duncanville, Texas)

Previous ranking: 15

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated South Oak Cliff 23-10

Next game: Sept. 3 at Orlando Jones (1-0)

Bottom line: Duncanville and South Oak Cliff were tied 7-7 at halftime and Duncanville led just 9-7 headed into the fourth quarter before the defending state runner-up scored two touchdowns to seal the season-opening win.

Five-star defensive end Colin Simmons was huge for Duncanville with two sacks. Duncanville running back Caden Durham stole the show with a 99-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7, including a Karate Kid/Cobra Kai-inspired touchdown celebration.

Duncanville hits the road for its next game, leaving Texas to face Jones High School in Orlando, Florida.

13. Bergen Catholic High School (Oradell, New Jersey)

Previous ranking: 14

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) 49-14

Next game: Sept. 2 at No. 9 Saguaro (0-0)

Bottom line: Bergen Catholic started its season in the coolest way we can think of, with 6-foot-5, 335-pound senior defensive lineman and Texas commit Sydir Mitchell returning a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown for the first score of the season.

Bergen Catholic added a kickoff return for a touchdown in the first half of a season-opening blowout win over Cardinal Gibbons (North Carolina). Bergen Catholic now heads west to face No. 9 Saguaro High, the reigning Arizona Open Division state champion.

12. Chandler High School (Chandler, Arizona)

Previous ranking: 13

Record: 0-0

Next game: Sept. 2 at San Diego Cathedral Catholic (1-1)

Bottom line: All eyes will be on Chandler this week as the Wolves make their highly anticipated season debut on the road at San Diego Cathedral Catholic, which is coming off a blowout loss to No. 8 Centennial last week.

Chandler head coach Rick Garretson is 34-2 since taking over before the 2019 season.

11. Miami Central High School (Miami, Florida)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated No. 1 IMG Academy 20-14

Next game: Sept. 9 vs. Miami Booker T. Washington (1-0)

Bottom line: Miami Central pulled off the early-season upset with a 20-14 win over No. 1 IMG Academy, becoming the first Florida team to beat IMG since 2013 and did it on the road to boot, traveling to Bradenton for the victory.

IMG Academy star quarterback Jayden Bradford lasted just one offensive play before exiting the game with an injury, and backup quarterback Ryan Downes threw two interceptions, including one to LaWayne McCoy early in the fourth quarter that was returned 34 yards for a touchdown and proved to be the game winner.

No one shined brighter for Miami Central than 6-foot-2, 250-pound senior defensive lineman Rueben Bain, a University of Miami commit who racked up three sacks against IMG.

10. Jesuit High School (Tampa, Florida)

Previous ranking: 12

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Wharton 24-13

Next game: Sept. 2 vs. Treasure Coast (0-1)

Bottom line: Jesuit opened the second half with 17 unanswered points on the way to a 24-13 win over Wharton in the season opener for both teams. Senior running back Joquez Smith was the anchor for Jesuit, rushing for 185 yards and 1 touchdown on 27 carries.

Junior quarterback Luke Knight was efficient, going 5-of-6 passing for 137 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

9. Saguaro High School (Scottsdale, Arizona)

Previous ranking: 11

Record: 0-0

Next game: Sept. 2 vs. No. 13 Bergen Catholic (1-0)

Bottom line: Saguaro opens its quest for a second consecutive Open Division state title with a huge home game against No. 13 Bergen Catholic (N.J.).

Saguaro senior quarterback Devon Dampier racked up 1,429 yards of total offense and 17 touchdowns (10 rushing, seven passing) in 2021 after sitting out the first five games of the season per transfer rules and not taking over as full-time starter until late in the season.

8. Centennial High School (Corona, California)

Centennial High running back Cornell Hatcher

Previous ranking: 10

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated San Diego Cathedral Catholic 42-7

Next game: Sept. 2 vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (2-0)

Bottom line: Cornell Hatcher scored four touchdowns for Centennial in a 42-7 rout of San Diego Cathedral Catholic to set up a top 10 showdown against No. 1 Mater Dei this week.

Against Cathedral, Centennial led 28-0 at halftime and scored on six of its first seven possessions.

7. Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Charlotte Mallard Creek (N.C.) 56-7

Next game: Sept. 2 vs. North Cobb (1-0)

Bottom line: Buford won its second consecutive game against out-of-state competition, and it did it with another rout, this time trouncing Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek by 49 points. Buford has outscored its first two opponents 94-14.

Buford's defense was the star of the game, allowing just 55 yards of total offense. Charlotte Mallard's only points came with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter after Buford's offense fumbled at its own 1-yard line.

6. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated East St. Louis (Ill.) 20-13

Next game: Sept. 3 at DeSoto (2-0)

Bottom line: St. Frances Academy rallied for a win over East St. Louis late in the fourth quarter at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Mike Van Buren to Mehki Workman with 1:27 left to play.

It was the first of seven road games this season for St. Frances, which will travel 8,000 miles and play in seven states and Canada. St. Frances' next three games are at DeSoto (Texas), at Venice (Florida) and at Dutch Fork (S.C.).

5. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated No. 18 St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.) 48-37

Next game: Sept. 2 at Fort Myers (0-1)

Bottom line: St. Thomas Aquinas held off visiting No. 18 St. Joseph's Prep (Pa.) 48-37.

St. Joseph took a brief 31-28 lead in the third quarter at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, but that didn't last long as the Raiders outscored them 20-6 the rest of the way.

Jordan Lyles came up huge for St. Thomas Aquinas with 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

4. North Shore High School (Houston, Texas)

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated The Woodlands 49-21

Next game: Sept. 3 at Spring (1-0)

Bottom line: Defending Texas state champion Houston North Shore staked itself to a 42-7 halftime lead against The Woodlands on the way to a blowout win in the season opener for both teams.

Sophomore quarterback Kaleb Bailey was sharp in the opener, going 12-of-14 passing for 225 yards and one touchdown while adding 34 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

North Shore also scored on defense, with a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Jacoby Davis, and on special teams with an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Evan Jackson.

3. Westlake High School (Austin, Texas)

Previous ranking: 3

Record: 1-0

Last game: Defeated Ridge Point 44-14

Next game: Sept. 2 at Judson (1-0)

Bottom line: Austin Westlake trailed 14-7 early in the second quarter of its season opener against Ridge Point before coming alive and rolling to a 30-point win in the first game for new head coach Tony Salazar.

Salazar kept things simple for junior quarterback Paxton Land in his first start for Westlake, with Land going 9-of-13 passing for 103 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Westlake's defense didn't give up a point over the final 34 minutes.

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

Previous ranking: 2

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Allen (Texas) 52-14

Next game: Sept. 2 at Bishop Amat (2-0)

Bottom line: St. John Bosco handed Texas powerhouse Allen its first home opener loss since 2009 and did so in dramatic fashion, routing the Eagles by 38 points in front of a packed house of 18,000 fans at $60 million Eagle Stadium.

St. John Bosco returns to California to face Bishop Amat this week before traveling to Oregon to face Portland Central Catholic at Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon on Sept. 9.

In an interesting twist, The Los Angeles Times reported the game between St. John Bosco and Allen was the first high school football game in California history where players were paid via a name, image and likeness deal with a Texas sports performance company. Fifty-seven Bosco players were given checks for $200 each on Thursday night before the game.

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

Previous ranking: 4

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated No. 6 Bishop Gorman (Nev.), 24-21

Next game: Sept. 2 at No. 8 Centennial (2-0)

Bottom line: Prep football teams across the country will be hard-pressed to match the instant classic between Mater Dei and No. 6 Bishop Gorman last week in Las Vegas. Mater Dei ended up on top with a 24-21 win and leapfrogged to No. 1 in the Week 2 Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings.

Mater Dei, the defending national champion, rallied from 14 points down in the third quarter for the victory and got a huge game from 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore linebacker Nasir Wyatt, who had two sacks in the first half and ended up with 7 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

Mater Dei's win streak now stands at 19 games.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 2

Stadium Talk Top 10 High School Football Rankings: Week 2

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 4
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 2
Westlake (Austin, Texas), Previous Ranking: 3
North Shore (Houston, Texas), Previous Ranking: 5
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 8
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), Previous Ranking: 7
Buford (Buford, Ga.), Previous Ranking: 9
Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 10
Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Previous Ranking: 11
Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 12
Miami Central (Miami, Fla.), Previous Ranking: NR
Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), Previous Ranking: 13
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), Previous Ranking: 14
Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas), Previous Ranking: 25
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 1
Guyer (Denton, Texas), Previous Ranking: 16
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Previous Ranking: 17
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Previous Ranking: 6
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), Previous Ranking: 21
Kahuku (Kahuku, Hi.), Previous Ranking: 22
Skyridge (Lehi, Utah), Previous Ranking: 23
Katy (Katy, Texas), Previous Ranking: NR
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), Previous Ranking: 24
American Heritage (Plantation, Florida), Previous Ranking: NR
St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), Previous Ranking: 18