HSFA Editor-in-Chief
There are two newcomers to this week’s High School Football America Top 25.Overall, it was a fairly easy weekend for the Top 25 teams with only #11 Allen (Texas) and #21 Bolingbrook (Illinois) losing. #16 Narbonne (California) was challenged by Mater Dei, one of the top teams in Southern California.
With Allen and Bolingbrook falling out of the poll, two teams with one loss make their debut.
Grayson (Georgia), which opened the season with hopes of claiming a national championship, enters our poll at #24, while defending national champ Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) takes over the #25 slot.
This week, the nation’s #1 team, Santa Margarita, will receive its first test since losing quarterback Johnny Stanton to season-ending knee surgery. The Eagles, who had a bye week, will face Servite in their Trinity League opener.
Two other ranked teams will be challenged by strong opponets this week when #21 Good Counsel hosts DeMatha in a Maryland showdown and #23 North Allegheny squares-off with fellow western Pennsylvania-power Gateway.
High School Football America Top 25
1. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) 5-0
Santa Margarita opens Trinity League play this week, one of the toughest leagues in the country. It will be the Eagles first game without quarterback Johnny Stanton (Nebraska verbal), who had successful knee surgery Friday. Next up: Servite Last Week: #1
2. Manatee (Bradenton, FL) 4-0
QB Cord Sanberg (Mississippi St. verbal) accounted for 4 TDs in 52-13 win over Southeast. Win was 270th of head coach Joe Kinnan’s career. Next up: Braden River on Friday. Last Week: #2
3. DeSoto (Texas) 5-0
Eagles defense stuffed South Grand Prairie in 40-7 win Friday. DeSoto has a bye this week. Last week #3
4. John Curtis (River Ridge, LA) 5-0
The Patriots top the 50 point mark for the second straight game in 59-0 win over Riverside. It was also JC’s second straight shutout. Next up: Carver on Saturday. Last Week: #4
5. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 6-0
Another big game for Rebels QB Shuler Bentley with 375 yards and 5 TDs in 49-7 win over Spartanburg. Next up: Riverside on Friday. Last Week: #5
6. Bellevue (Washington) 5-0
The Wolverines roll with their third straight shutout. Bellevue beat Juniata 49-0. Next up: Interlake on Friday. Next Week: #6
7. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 5-0
The Spartans defense limited Livermore, who was averaging 313 yards per game on the ground, to just 53 yards rushing in 57-0 victory. Next up: Foothill on Friday. Last Week: #7
8. Trinity (Louisville, KY) 6-0
Over 30,000 watched Trinity beat its arch-rival St. Xavier 34-7. The Shamrocks win streak reaches 31 straight. Next up: DuPont Manual on Friday. Last week: #8
9. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 6-0
Wildcat head coach Charles Kyle wins #296 in 35-7 victory over Glenville. Next up: John Adams on Saturday Last Week: #9
10. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) 3-1
The Crusaders rebound from one-point loss to St. Joseph with a 62-20 win over previously undefeated Passiac Tech. 5 TDs passes for BC QB Jon Germano. Next up: DePaul on Saturday Last Week: #10
11. Camden County (Kingsland, GA) 4-0
The Wildcats Wing-T offense picked-up 278 yards on the ground to beat Valdosta 43-6. Next up: Coffee on Friday Last Week: #12
12. Hoover (Alabama) 6-0
Hoover wins the battle of unbeatens topping Vestavia Hills 35-15. Next up: Bessemer City on Friday Last Week: #12
13. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, CA) 5-0
The Broncos scored on its first six possessions to beat Palisades 42-6. Next up: Temecula Valley on Friday Last Week: #14
14. Ensworth (Nashville, TN) 7-0
The Tigers raced-out to a 42 point halftime lead on the way to a 49-0 win over Pope John Paul II. Next up: Montgomery Bell Academy. Last Week: #15
15. Narbonne (Harbor City, CA) 5-0
For the second straight week the Gauchos knocked-off an unbeaten SoCal power. This time it was Mater Dei 18-17. Next up Carson on Friday. Last Week: #16
16. Butler (Matthews, NC) 6-0
Bulldog back-up QB Zach Gross continues to play well while Riley Ferguson heals from a broken hand. Gross had 2 TD passes in 60-0 win over East Mecklenberg. Next up: Ardrey Kell on Friday. Last Week: #17
17. Katy (Texas) 4-0
The Tigers handed Morton Ranch its first loss of the season 62-24. Next up: Mayde Creek on Saturday Last Week: #18
18. University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 3-0
University’s has now gone three weeks with playing a football game. This week they will be tested against unbeaten Chaminade-Madonna in a 3A District 8 showdown. Last Week: #19
19. Colerain (Cincinnati, OH) 6-0
Cardinals’ junior running back Detuan Smith rushed for 200 yards and three 3 TDs in 35-0 shutout of Mason. Next up: Middletown on Friday. Last Week: #20
20. Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 4-1
The Gaels played their first Nevada opponent and had to problems in a 70-0 shutout of Legacy. Next up: Cimarron-Memorial on Friday. Last Week: #22
21. Good Counsel (Maryland) 4-1
The Falcons were idle last week. Two weeks to focus on arch-rival DeMatha on Friday. Last Week: #23
22. Steele (Cibolo, TX) 5-0The offense, averaging 43 points a game this year, continued to click in 42-14 win over San Marcos. This week is a bye week for Steele. Last Week: #24
23. North Allegheny (Wexford, PA) 5-0
Mack Leftwich tossed 4 TD passes as the Tigers beat Butler 49-0. Next up: unbeaten Gateway on Friday. Last Week: #25
24. Grayson (Loganville, GA) 4-1
The Rams have won two straight since its 22-7 loss to Parkview. The defending AAAAA champs beat Shiloh on Friday 45-27. Next up: Central Gwinnett on Friday. Last Week: NR
25. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NY) 3-1
The defending national champs enter the poll after another solid road interstate win. The Ironmen beat Utah-power Alta 53-24. DBP also beat Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas on the road on September 14. Next up: Fair Lawn. Last Week: NR
Dropping out: #11 Allen (Texas) lost to Coppell 27-24 in OT and #21 Bolingbrook (Illinois) lost to Lincoln-Way East 42-19
Others receiving consideration in alphabetical order:
Allen (Texas), American Heritage (Florida), Bentonville (Arkansas), Carmel (Indiana), Coppell (Texas), Lassiter (Georgia)
*Through games of September 30, 2012
