The high school football scene is heating up with Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) setting the stage for a thrilling No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup. These two Southern California giants are facing off for the sixth time since 2018, continuing their fierce rivalry as the top two teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.
Mater Dei, ranked No. 1, boasts an undefeated 7-0 record after last week’s 41-17 victory over JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano). Senior quarterback Dash Beierly was pivotal, contributing four touchdowns, while sophomore tight end Mark Bowman caught two touchdown passes. The Monarchs look formidable as they prepare to defend their top spot.
Meanwhile, St. John Bosco, ranked No. 2, also remains undefeated at 8-0 after a 27-17 win over Servite (Anaheim) at SoFi Stadium. Freshman quarterback Koa Malau’ulu led the charge, completing 17 of 25 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns. This latest installment of the Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco rivalry marks their 15th meeting since 2016, with Mater Dei holding a 9-5 advantage.
In Texas, another key clash in the MaxPreps Top 25 will see No. 8 North Shore (Houston) take on No. 16 Atascocita (Humble) this Friday. North Shore, with a 7-0 record and an average winning margin of 40.7 points per game, has dominated its opponents this season. Atascocita also holds an impressive 7-0 record, having secured a narrow 42-41 victory over Kingwood last week.
Elsewhere, No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) returns to the field after a hard-fought 21-16 win over No. 18 Venice (Fla.) on Oct. 4. The Ascenders face a tough road game against an undefeated 8-0 East St. Louis (Ill.) team, a rematch of their 2021 meeting where IMG dominated 49-8.
As the season continues, these high-stakes matchups will no doubt shape the landscape of high school football, with championship aspirations on the line for these powerhouse programs.
MaxPreps Top 25 Football Rankings
- Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) – Record: 7-0
- St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) – Record: 8-0
- Milton (Ga.) – Record: 8-0
- Duncanville (Texas) – Record: 6-0
- Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) – Record: 7-1
- IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) – Record: 5-1
- Carrollton (Ga.) – Record: 9-0
- North Shore (Houston, Texas) – Record: 7-0
- Mission Viejo (Calif.) – Record: 8-0
- North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) – Record: 7-0
- Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) – Record: 8-0
- Buford (Ga.) – Record: 7-1
- Boyle County (Danville, Ky.) – Record: 8-0
- Lakeland (Fla.) – Record: 6-0
- Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) – Record: 6-2
- Atascocita (Humble, Texas) – Record: 7-0
- Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) – Record: 7-2
- Venice (Fla.) – Record: 7-1
- Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) – Record: 9-1
- Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) – Record: 6-1
- St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Record: 7-2
- De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) – Record: 7-0
- Centennial (Corona, Calif.) – Record: 6-2
- DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) – Record: 6-1
- DeSoto (Texas) – Record: 5-2
Friday’s games will be critical in determining how the rankings shift, especially with so many powerhouse teams vying for top honors. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the world of high school football!
