St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) snapped IMG Academy’s (Bradenton, Fla.) 19-game win streak with a 34-24 victory and made the biggest jump in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. The Panthers moved up 10 spots to No. 5 and finished the season riding an eight-game win streak.
The Baltimore power is 42-2 since 2017 and the win over the Ascenders assures that the Panthers will finish inside the top 10 for the fourth consecutive year. The loss dropped the Ascenders to No. 16.
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game for the fifth straight year with a 21-16 win over Centennial (Corona). Oklahoma-bound running back Raleek Brown rushed for two scores while the team’s defense made huge plays all night.
No. 4 Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) knocked off St. John Bosco (Bellflower) for the first time since 2011 in the other Southern Section Division 1 semifinal with a 40-21 win. Trailing 21-20 in the third quarter, the Friars scored the final 21 points over the last 15 minutes. Arizona-bound quarterback Noah Fifita rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns.
Friday’s section championship game is the first for Servite since 2010. The regular-season meeting between the Friars and Mater Dei was one of the best games of the year as the Monarchs won 46-37.
No. 18 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) clinched a spot in its fourth consecutive 7A state championship with a 35-10 win over Hoover. Hoover snapped the Warriors’ 27-game win streak in the regular season, but the Warriors dominated the rematch. Conner Harrell made his first start since suffering a hand injury in the first meeting against Hoover and threw for four touchdowns in the 25-point victory. Five-star edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander added a 55-yard pick-6. The Warriors face Central (Phenix City) on Dec. 1 in the 7A championship.
No. 15 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) won its 12th state title since 2007 with a dominant 56-7 win over McQueen (Reno) in the Nevada 5A championship. The Gaels ended the season riding a nine-game win streak and had notable wins against Central (Miami), Liberty (Henderson), Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) and St. Louis (Honolulu).
No. 22 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) finished its perfect season with a 30-14 WCAC championship win over Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) for the Cadets’ first WCAC title since 2017.
No. 6 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) and No. 9 Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) each play for a state championship this week. The Crusaders face Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) at MetLife Stadium and the Trojans will battle Westfield at Lucas Oil Stadium.
MaxPreps Top 25 High School Football Rankings
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 1
Last week: Beat Centennial (Corona) 21-16
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. No. 4 Servite (Anaheim)
2. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 3
Last week: Beat New Braunfels 70-7
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North (Pharr)
3. Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 5
Last week: Beat Pebblebrook (Mableton) 48-6
Next week: Nov. 26 at Lowndes (Valdosta)
4. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 7
Last week: Beat St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 40-21
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
5. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 15
Last week: Beat IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 34-24
Next week: Season over
6. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 6
Last week: Beat St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) 35-10
Next week: Nov. 27 vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey)
7. Katy (Texas)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 8
Last week: Beat Stratford (Houston) 59-7
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. King (Houston)
8. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 4
Last week: Lost to Servite (Anaheim) 40-21
Next week: Season over
9. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 9
Last week: Beat Ben Davis (Indianapolis) 45-6
Next week: Nov. 27 vs. Westfield
10. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Midland Legacy (Midland) 42-7
Next week: Nov. 27 vs. Lewisville
11. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 12
Last week: Idle
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek)
12. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 13
Last week: Beat Braden River (Bradenton) 49-9
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Hillsborough (Tampa)
13. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 14
Last week: Beat Miramar 42-12
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Homestead
14. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 11
Last week: Lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 21-16
Next week: Season over
15. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 16
Last week: Beat McQueen (Reno) 56-7
Next week: Season over
16. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 2
Last week: Lost to St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) 34-24
Next week: Season over
17. Chandler (Ariz.)
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 17
Last week: Idle
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Queen Creek
18. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 24
Last week: Beat Hoover 35-10
Next week: Idle
19. Bixby (Okla.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 19
Last week: Beat Stillwater 48-6
Next week: Idle
20. Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 21
Last week: Beat Sumter 49-21
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Fort Dorchester (North Charleston)
21. Milton (Ga.)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 22
Last week: Beat Marietta 38-21
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Mill Creek (Hoschton)
22. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 23
Last week: Beat Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 30-14
Next week: Season over
23. Central (Miami)
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 25
Last week: Beat American Heritage (Plantation) 41-28
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Killian (Miami)
24. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Mesquite 52-2
Next week: Nov. 27 vs. Spring
25. Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Record: 13-0 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Lebanon 45-20
Next week: Nov. 26 vs. Maryville
