Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 4

Two new teams made the cut, while two teams dropped out.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 4

The Stadium Top Talk 25 High School Football Rankings saw little movement toward the top as Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) remained No. 1 for the third week in a row following a 35-0 win over La Mirada (La Mirada, California).

Two teams in the Top 25 won to set up a ranked showdown this week as No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) defeated Central Catholic (Portland, Oregon) 49-0 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, and No. 18 Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii) defeated Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) 16-6. The two teams square off on Saturday in California.

Two new teams entered the Top 25 with No. 15 Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee) and No. 25 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) while two teams fell out with Jesuit (Tampa, Florida) and Saguaro (Scottsdale, Arizona).

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 3 Rankings (Sept. 5) I Week 2 (Aug. 30) l Week 1 (Aug. 23) l Preseason (Aug. 8)

25. Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Previous ranking: NR

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated Our Lady of Good Counsel 39-31

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. St. Xavier (2-2)

Bottom line: Archbishop Moeller running back Jordan Marshall ran for over 100 yards for the sixth consecutive game and accounted for four touchdowns as his team held off a late rally from Our Lady of Good Counsel to improve to 4-0 and join the Stadium Talk Top 25 for the first time this season.

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

Previous ranking: 24

Record: 2-1

Last game: Defeated Chatfield 28-5

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Arvada West (2-1)

Bottom line: Three-time defending Class 5A state champion Cherry Creek bounced back from a heartbreaking loss at No. 13 St. Edward (Ohio) for a convincing 28-5 win over Chatfield, the defending Class 4A state champion.

Carson Tann had two touchdowns for Cherry Creek, including a 73-yard run for a score.

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

Previous ranking: 23

Record: 2-1

Last game: Defeated Erasmus Hall (N.Y.) 14-7

Next game: Sept. 24 at Gonzaga (3-0)

Bottom line: St. Joseph's Prep held on for a 14-7 win over Erasmus Hall in a battle of East Coast prep football powers. Kaseem Phillips scored both touchdowns for St. Joseph's, including what proved to be the game-winner with just over one minute left in the third quarter.

St. Joseph's Prep gets a week off before traveling to Washington, D.C., to face another powerhouse East Coast program in Gonzaga.

22. American Heritage High School (Plantation, Florida)

American Heritage wide receiver Brandon Innis

Previous ranking: 22

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated Glades Central 56-0

Next game: Sept. 16 at Chaminade-Madonna (3-0)

Bottom line: American Heritage wide receiver and Ohio State commit Brandon Innis had two touchdown receptions in the first half as American Heritage cruised to a 56-0 win over Glades Central.

The win sets up a showdown game against defending state champion Chaminade-Madonna (3-0) this week.

21. Centennial High School (Corona, California)

Previous ranking: 21

Record: 3-1

Last game: Defeated JSerra Catholic 41-0

Next game: Sept. 16 at Temecula Valley (3-1)

Bottom line: Centennial bounced back from a disappointing loss to No. 1 Mater Dei last week for a shutout win over JSerra Catholic. It's the second shutout of the season for Centennial following an 85-0 win over Corona Santiago in the season opener.

20. Katy High School (Katy, Texas)

Previous ranking: 20

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Katy Tompkins 14-13

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Morton Ranch (2-1)

Bottom line: Katy running back and Mississippi State commit Seth Davis scored both touchdowns in a 14-13 win over rival Katy Tompkins to improve his team to 3-0 on the season. Davis scored the game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the Tompkins' 2-yard line late in the third quarter.

Katy's Micah Sweats sealed the win with an interception late in the fourth quarter.

19. Skyridge High School (Lehi, Utah)

Previous ranking: 19

Record: 5-0

Last game: Defeated Timpview 20-13

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Westlake (2-3)

Bottom line: Skyridge rallied from a 13-0 deficit for a gutsy 20-13 win over Timpview in a battle of top 5 teams in Utah after star quarterback and Utah State commit McCae Hillstead went out with an ankle injury just three plays into the game and was replaced by junior Trent Call.

Call threw for one touchdown pass and ran for another. The other Skyridge score came on a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown by Collin Sheffield to start the second half.

18. Kahuku High School (Kahuku, Hawaii)

Previous ranking: 18

Record: 5-0

Last game: Defeated Campbell 16-6

Next game: Sept. 17 at No. 2 St. John Bosco (3-0)

Bottom line: Kahuku High's defense did most of the heavy lifting by giving up just 78 yards of total offense in a 16-6 win over Campbell.

The win sets up a top 25 showdown as Kahuku, the reigning Open Division state champion, travels to Bellflower, California, to face No. 2 St. John Bosco (3-0).

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

Previous ranking: 17

Record: 3-1

Last game: Defeated Hamilton 45-0

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Brookwood (1-2)

Bottom line: Bishop Gorman quarterback Micah Alejado threw four touchdown passes, connecting with wide receiver Trech Kekehuna on three of them in a 45-0 blowout win over Hamilton.

Bishop Gorman's defense was just as sharp, giving up just 45 yards of total offense.

16. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Previous ranking: 16

Record: 2-1

Last game: Defeated Salt Lake City East (Utah) 63-13

Next game: Sept. 23 at Phenix City Central (3-1)

Bottom line: IMG Academy made the 2,400-mile trek west to Utah to take on Salt Lake City East and came away with a 63-13 win to improve to 2-1.

It was the second straight game IMG Academy scored more than 50 points, and the Ascenders now have a week off before traveling to Alabama to face Phenix City Central.

15. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tennessee)

Previous ranking: NR

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated Calvert Hall (Md.) 35-0

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. St. Xavier (2-2)

Bottom line: Lipscomb Academy's defense was stellar once again in a second consecutive home shutout win, this time against Calvert Hall Lipscomb Academy.

The team is coached by former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, has now won 12 straight games, and its starting defense is yet to give up a touchdown this season.

14. Grayson High School (Loganville, Georgia)

Previous ranking: 15

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated Spartanburg (S.C.) 51-24

Next game: Sept. 23 at Lowndes (2-1)

Bottom line: Grayson wasted little time against out-of-state foe Spartanburg, staking a 31-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter on the way to a blowout win.

Grayson got a defensive touchdown in that stretch as Tennessee commit Jalen Smith returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown.

After four consecutive weeks with games to start the season, Grayson finally gets a break and will return to action on Sept. 23 at Lowndes.

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

Previous ranking: 14

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated Cincinnati Elder 17-14

Next game: Sept. 16 at Massillon Washington (3-1)

Bottom line: Defending state champion St. Edward overcame four turnovers to survive a matchup between top 10 teams in Ohio, rallying for a 17-14 win over visiting Cincinnati Elder.

St. Edward relied heavily on defense for the win, racking up eight sacks against Elder, including four sacks from senior linebacker and Coastal Carolina commit Wyatt Gedeon.

12. Guyer High School (Denton, Texas)

Previous ranking: 13

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Lancaster 50-27

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Proper (3-0)

Bottom line: Guyer quarterback and Oklahoma commit Jackson Arnold continued to make his case as the best player in Texas, throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another touchdown in a 50-27 win over Lancaster.

Guyer has scored over 44 points in each of its three games this season.

11. Duncanville High School (Duncanville, Texas)

Previous ranking: 12

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Orlando Jones (Fla.) 44-21 (Sept. 3)

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Lake Ridge (1-2)

Bottom line: Duncanville had a week off after its convincing win over Orlando Jones (Fla.) on Sept. 3 and return to action on Friday against Lake Ridge.

10. Chandler High School (Chandler, Arizona)

Previous ranking: 10

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated Corona del Sol 50-0

Next game: Sept. 15 at Notre Dame Prep (2-0)

Bottom line: Chandler scored at least 50 points in its second consecutive game to start the season with a blowout win over Corona del Sol. Chandler has outscored its opponents 113-7 over its first two games.

Through his first two games, Chandler quarterback Dylan Raiola is 26-of-35 passing for 425 yards, four touchdowns and one interception despite being pulled early in the second half of two routs. Raiola also has two rushing touchdowns.

He is an Ohio State commit and the No. 1 player in the Class of 2024

9. Miami Central High School (Miami, Florida)

Previous ranking: 9

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Miami Booker T. Washington 36-19

Next game: Sept. 16 at Carol City (0-1)

Bottom line: Miami Central turned up the heat in a rivalry game against Miami Booker T. Washington in the fourth quarter. Leading 22-19 with 9:42 left in the game, the Rockets scored two touchdowns in three minutes.

Keyone Jenkins threw three touchdown passes for Miami Central, which was without senior defensive end Rueben Bain in a precautionary move due to an offseason knee surgery.

8. Buford High School (Buford, Georgia)

Previous ranking: 8

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated North Cobb 21-14 (Sept. 2)

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Carver (3-0)

Bottom line: Buford had the week off following a hard-fought win over North Cobb and returns to acton Friday in a showdown between unbeaten teams against Carver.

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

Previous ranking: 7

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Delbarton 21-6

Next game: Sept. 17 vs. Seton Hall Prep (2-0)

Bottom line: Bergen Catholic held off a scrappy Delbarton squad to improve to 3-0, thanks in no small part to a stifling defense and a 69-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-1 from star defensive end/outside linebacker D.J. Samuels.

The win extended Bergen Catholic's consecutive win streak to 16 games.

6. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Maryland)

Previous ranking: 6

Record: 2-0

Last game: Defeated DeSoto 47-7 (Sept. 3)

Next game: Sept. 15 at Venice (1-1)

Bottom line: St. Frances Academy had a week off following a convincing 47-7 win at DeSoto (Texas). They will need the rest with a big week of travel to face defending Florida Class 8A state champion Venice.

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

Previous ranking: 5

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Cocoa 42-14

Next game: Sept. 16 at Western (2-0)

Bottom line: Cocoa didn't put up much of a fight against St. Thomas Aquinas, which rolled to a 42-14 win and had a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Aquinas opened its scoring with an interception return for a touchdown by Nicholas Rodriguez in the first quarter and led 35-7 at halftime.

4. North Shore High School (Houston, Texas)

Previous ranking: 4

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Westfield 55-25

Next game: Sept. 23 at Beaumont United (2-1)

Bottom line: North Shore won its 16th consecutive game and avenged its last defeat with a blowout win over Westfield. North Shore, the defending Class 6A Division I state champion, led 48-11 at halftime.

3. Westlake High School (Austin, Texas)

Previous ranking: 3

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Akins 56-6

Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Lake Travis (1-2)

Bottom line: Westlake pushed its winning streak to 43 games with a 50-point blowout win over Akins.

Westlake returned two punts for touchdowns in the first half, including a punt return for a touchdown in the second consecutive game for senior wide receiver and Notre Dame commit Jaden Greathouse.

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

Previous ranking: 2

Record: 3-0

Last game: Defeated Central Catholic (Ore.) 49-0

Next game: Sept. 17 vs. No. 18 Kahuku (5-0)

Bottom line: St. John Bosco continued its domination this season, this time traveling to play at the University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium for a 49-0 win over perennial Oregon power Portland Central Catholic.

St. John Bosco has yet to trail in a game this season and should get its first real test of the year this week when No. 18 Kahuku, the defending Open Division state champion in Hawaii, comes to California for a top 25 showdown.

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

Previous ranking: 1

Record: 4-0

Last game: Defeated La Mirada 35-0

Next game: Sept. 16 vs. Mililani (4-1)

Bottom line: Mater Dei kept its grip on No. 1 in the Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings for the third consecutive week with a 35-0 win over La Mirada, scoring all of its points in the first half.

Nathaniel Frazier had two rushing touchdowns in the first half on a 41-yard run and a 98-yard run, and linebacker Leviticus Su'a returned an interception for a touchdown.

Stadium Talk Top 25 High School Football Rankings: Week 4

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 1
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 2
Westlake (Austin, Texas), Previous Ranking: 3
North Shore (Houston, Texas), Previous Ranking: 4
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 5
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.), Previous Ranking: 6
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), Previous Ranking: 13
Buford (Buford, Ga.), Previous Ranking: 7
Miami Central (Miami, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 11
Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), Previous Ranking: 11
Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas), Previous Ranking: 14
Guyer (Denton, Texas), Previous Ranking: 16
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), Previous Ranking: 19
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Previous Ranking: 17
Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), Previous Ranking: NR
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Previous Ranking: 16
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Previous Ranking: 17
Kahuku (Kahuku, Hi.), Previous Ranking: 18
Skyridge (Lehi, Utah), Previous Ranking: 19
Katy (Katy, Texas), Previous Ranking: 20
Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Previous Ranking: 21
American Heritage (Plantation, Florida), Previous Ranking: 22
St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), Previous Ranking: 23
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.), Previous Ranking: 24
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio), Previous Ranking: NR