Preps: No. 1 Mater Dei cruises in opener
Defending National Champ eyes No. 2 Bishop Gorman Sept. 6
By: Jeff Fisher, From HSFA
After a big weekend of games, the 2024 High School Football America national championship chase is shaping up as we release our first in-season HSFA 300, powered by NFL Play Football. Let’s start at the top where the highly-anticipated showdown between No. 1 Mater Dei (California) and No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) is set. After a bye week for both teams, Gorman travels to Southern California to play the Monarchs September 8 at Santa Ana, Stadium. Both teams picked up impressive wins this past weekend. Mater Dei‘s defense of its 2023 High School Football America national title began with a 42-25 win over No. 12 Corona Centennial (California). Gorman won its 27th straight with a come-from-behind 29-21 win over No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida). The Gaels last loss came at the hands of Mater Dei on August 26, 2022. Mater Dei owns four HSFA national championships (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023), while BG won the national crown in 2016. St. John Bosco (California), owner of national titles in 2019 and 2022, is again in the thick of the national championship conversation after beating three-time defending Florida state champ Chaminade-Madonna. The win moves the Braves up two spots to No. 3 in the latest rankings. C-M drops from No. 3 to No. 5. Milton climbs five spots to No. 4 this week after taking down Preseason No. 24 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida). Utah’s Corner Canyon soars from No. 35 to No. 9 this week after its 35-34 upset of Preseason No. 4 IMG Academy (Florida). Two-time defending state champ Lakeland also makes a huge jump from No. 47 to No. 24 after beating Preseason No. 22 Miami Central (Florida) 16-8. here are 35 head-to-head matchups this weekend with four of those contests inside the Top 25. Reviewing First Weekend Saturday games No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) won its 27th straight with a come-from-behind 29-21 win over No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida). The win sets up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown between Mater Dei (California) and the Gaels. Bishop Gorman’s last loss came at the hands of Mater Dei on August 26, 2022. No. 5 St. John Bosco (California) won a back-and-forth game against No. 3 Chaminade-Madonna (Florida). The winning score came on a 71-yard run from Maliq Blackwell-Allen. No. 18 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) rolled by Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pennsylvania) 44-16. In another interstate game, unranked Arbor View (Nevada) won a 45-44 shootout with No. 40 Lincoln (San Diego, California). Friday games No. 9 Milton (Georgia) took down No. 24 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida) in a game that was broadcast to a national television audience on ESPN. Miami Hurricane-recruit Luke Nickel tossed two touchdowns. Eastern Kentucky-recruit TJ Lester led the way on the ground with 147 yards. In Florida, No. 47 Lakeland will be making a move when the ranking come out Sunday. The Dreadnaughts beat No. 22 Miami Central. The two-time reigning state champs used a stout defense and got three field goals from Calum Muldoon in the victory. Like Lakeland, No. 64 Archbishop Spalding (Maryland) doubled-up No. 28 Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) 28-14. Maryland-recruit Malik Washington was 23-of-27 for 239 yards with three touchdowns. All of those scores went to Myles McAfee. It was the first time in seven years that Hoban lost a season opener. In Southern California, No. 92 JSerra rolled by No. 27 Sierra Canyon 35-7.
In a Northern California vs. Southern California battle, No. 61 Folsom rolled by No. 76 Long Beach Poly 63-20. Junior quarterback Ryder Lyons, who has 31 college scholarship offers, carried the ball on the ground for 82 yards while completing 11 of 18 passes for 182 yards with two touchdowns. In another big SoCal battle, No. 71 Orange Lutheran opened with a 21-13 win over No. 102 Serra (Gardena). High School Football America 300 Ranking/Team/State Record Preseason Ranking No. 1 Mater Dei (California) (1-0) 1 No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) (2-0) 2 No. 3 St. John Bosco (California) (1-0) 5 No. 4 Milton (Georgia) (2-0) 9 No. 5 Chaminade-Madonna (Florida) (0-1) 3 No. 6 DeSoto (Texas) (0-0) 6 No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) (0-1) 7 No. 8 Duncanville (Texas) (0-0) 8 No. 9 Corner Canyon (Utah) (2-0) 35 No. 10 IMG Academy (Florida) (0-1) 4 No. 11 Bergen Catholic (New Jersey) (0-0) 10 No. 12 Massillon Washington (Ohio) (1-0) 11 No. 13 Corona Centennial (California) (0-1) 12 No. 14 St. Edward (Ohio) (1-0) 13 No. 15 Cocoa (Florida) (1-0) 14 No. 16 Good Counsel (Maryland) (0-0) 15 No. 17 St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) (0-0) 16 No. 18 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) (1-0) 18 No. 19 North Shore (Texas) (0-0) 17 No. 20 DeMatha (Maryland) (0-0) 19 No. 21 Liberty (Arizona) (0-0) 20 No. 22 Central (Phenix City, Alabama) (1-0) 21 No. 23 Colquitt County (Georgia) (2-0) 23 No. 24 Lakeland (Florida) (1-0) 47 No. 25 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida) (0-1) 24 No. 26 Miami Central (Florida) (0-1) 22 No. 27 Buford (Georgia) (1-1) 26 No. 28 Venice (Florida) (1-0) 29 No. 29 Mission Viejo (California) (2-0) 33 No. 30 Archbishop Spalding (Maryland) (1-0) 64 No. 31 Carrollton (Georgia) (2-0) 43 No. 32 Loyola Academy (Illinois) (0-0) 31 No. 33 Westlake (Austin, Texas) (0-0) 32 No. 34 Norland (Florida) (1-0) 34 No. 35 Toledo Central Catholic (Ohio) (1-0) 36 No. 36 Kahuku (Hawaii) (2-1) 30 No. 37 Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) (0-1) 28 No. 38 Centennial (Arizona) (0-0) 37 No. 39 Mount Carmel (Chicago, Illinois) (0-0) 38 No. 40 Columbus (Miami, Florida) (1-0) 39 No. 41 Walton (Georgia) (2-0) 49 No. 42 East St. Louis (Illinois) (0-0) 41 No. 43 Folsom (California) (1-0) 61 No. 44 McCallie (Tennessee) (1-0) 44 No. 45 Mill Creek (Georgia) (2-0) 58 No. 46 Orange Lutheran (California) (1-0) 71 No. 47 JSerra (California) (1-0) 92 No. 48 Clearwater Central Catholic (Florida) (1-0) 88 No. 49 North Crowley (Texas) (0-0) 45 No. 50 Saraland (Alabama) (1-0) 46 No. 51 Clay-Chalkville (Alabama) (1-0) 48 No. 52 Serra (San Mateo, California) (0-0) 51 No. 53 Mililani (Hawaii) (2-0) 50 No. 54 Thomas County Central (Georgia) (2-0) 53 No. 55 Aledo (Texas) (0-0) 52 No. 56 St. John’s College HS (Washington, DC) (0-0) 54 No. 57 Southlake Carroll (Texas) (0-0) 55 No. 58 Imhotep Charter (Pennsylvania) (1-0) 56 No. 59 Edgewater (Florida) (0-0) 57 No. 60 Jones (Orlando, Florida) (0-0) 59 No. 61 Servite (California) (1-0) 69 No. 62 Summer Creek (Texas) (0-0) 60 No. 63 Atascocita (Texas) (0-0) 62 No. 64 De La Salle (California) (0-0) 63 No. 65 Weddington (North Carolina) (1-0) 73 No. 66 Providence Day (North Carolina) (1-1) 65 No. 67 Baylor (Tennessee) (1-0) 83 No. 68 Bixby (Oklahoma) (0-0) 67 No. 69 Basha (Arizona) (0-0) 68 No. 70 Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Georgia) (1-1) 81 No. 71 Catholic (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) (0-0) 70 No. 72 Collins Hills (Georgia) (2-0) NR No. 73 South Oak Cliff (Texas) (0-0) 72 No. 74 Grayson (Georgia) (1-1) 170 No. 75 Coffee (Georgia) (2-0) 74 No. 76 Thompson (Alabama) (0-1) 42 No. 77 Gainesville (Georgia) (2-0) 78 No. 78 St. Thomas More (Louisiana) (0-0) 75 No. 79 Chandler (Arizona) (0-0) 77 No. 80 Brownsburg (Indiana) (1-0) 80 No. 81 Highland (Arizona) (0-0) 79 No. 82 Berkeley Prep (Florida) (0-1) 66 No. 83 Trinity (Kentucky) (1-0) 84 No. 84 Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) (1-0) 91 No. 85 Douglas County (Georgia) (2-0) 105 No. 86 Westfield (Indiana) (1-0) 217 No. 87 Rome (Georgia) (0-0) 89 No. 88 Cathedral (Indiana) (1-0) 166 No. 89 Long Beach Poly (California) (0-1) 76 No. 90 Santa Margarita (California) (0-1) 82 No. 91 Cibolo Steele (Texas) (0-0) 87 No. 92 Center Grove (Indiana) (0-1) 25 No. 93 Sierra Canyon (California) (1-1) 27 No. 94 Cardinal Hayes (New York) (0-0) 93 No. 95 St. Augustine (Florida) (1-0) 99 No. 96 Buchholz (Florida) (1-0) 103 No. 97 Avon (Ohio) (1-0) 104 No. 98 John Curtis (Louisiana) (0-0) 96 No. 99 Delbarton (New Jersey) (0-0) 98 No. 100 Serra (Gardena, California) (0-1) 102 No. 101 Lake Travis (Texas) (0-0) 100 No. 102 Port Neches-Grove (Texas) (0-0) 101 No. 103 Booker T. Washington (Miami, Florida) (1-0) 110 No. 104 Oakland (Tennessee) (1-0) 111 No. 105 Mandarin (Florida) (1-0) 116 No. 106 Houston (Tennessee) (1-0) 113 No. 107 Palmetto (Miami, Florida) (1-0) 177 No. 108 Homestead (Florida) (0-1) 90 No. 109 Iona Prep (New York) (0-0) 106 No. 110 Dripping Springs (Texas) (0-0) 107 No. 111 Ruston (Louisiana) (0-0) 108 No. 112 Vandegrift (Texas) (0-0) 109 No. 113 Grimsley (North Carolina) (1-0) 129 No. 114 Westside (Anderson, South Carolina) (1-0) 140 No. 115 Creekside (Georgia) (0-1) 86 No. 116 Zachary (Louisiana) (0-0) 115 No. 117 Glenville (Ohio) (1-0) 124 No. 118 Northwestern (Miami, Florida) (1-0) 212 No. 119 Woodward Academy (Georgia) (0-2) 117 No. 120 Los Alamitos (California) (1-0) 131 No. 121 Northwestern (South Carolina) (1-0) 137 No. 122 Lake Mary (Florida) (1-0) 234 No. 123 Rolesville (North Carolina) (1-0) 232 No. 124 Archbishop Stepinac (New York) (0-0) 118 No. 125 Destrehan (Louisiana) (0-0) 119 No. 126 Coppell (Texas) (0-0) 120 No. 127 Red Bank Catholic (New Jersey) (0-0) 126 No. 128 Belleville (Michigan) (0-0) 127 No. 129 Seminole (Sanford, Florida) (0-0) 128 No. 130 Southfield A&T (Michigan) (0-0) 130 No. 131 Monarch (Florida) (1-0) 136 No. 132 Byron Nelson (Texas) (0-0) 133 No. 133 Hewitt-Trussville (Alabama) (1-0) 141 No. 134 Liberty North (Missouri) (0-0) 135 No. 135 Male (Kentucky) (1-0) 151 No. 136 Armwood (Florida) (1-0) 155 No. 137 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey) (0-0) 138 No. 138 Fayetteville (Arkansas) (0-0) 139 No. 139 Lone Peak (Utah) (2-0) NR No. 140 Timpview (Utah) (1-1) 181 No. 141 Dutch Fork (South Carolina) (0-0) 142 No. 142 Skyridge (Utah) (1-1) 123 No. 143 Bryant (Arkansas) (0-0) 144 No. 144 Saguaro (Arizona) (0-0) 145 No. 145 Pittsburg (California) (0-0) 145 No. 146 East Central (Indiana) (1-0) 147 No. 147 Arbor View (Nevada) (1-0) NR No. 148 Lincoln (San Diego, California) (0-1) 40 No. 149 Lehi (Utah) (2-0) 162 No. 150 Liberty (Nevada) (0-1) 132 No. 151 Lee County (Georgia) (2-0) 159 No. 152 South Florence (South Carolina) (1-0) 149 No. 153 Lafayette Christian Academy (Louisiana) (0-0) 150 No. 154 Conway (Arkansas) (0-0) 152 No. 155 Cardinal Ritter (Missouri) (0-0) 154 No. 156 Denton Guyer (Texas) (0-0) 156 No. 157 Hamilton (Arizona) (0-0) 158 No. 158 Clovis North (California) (1-0) 168 No. 159 Norcross (Georgia) (1-1) 164 No. 160 Murrieta Valley (California) (1-0) 294 No. 161 Highland Park (Texas) (0-0) 160 No. 162 Parkview (Arkansas) (0-0) 163 No. 163 Oaks Christian (California) (1-0) 171 No. 164 Allen (Texas) (0-0) 165 No. 165 Tampa Bay Tech (Florida) (0-1) 169 No. 166 Acadiana (Louisiana) (0-0) 167 No. 167 Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tennessee) (1-0) 179 No. 168 Camden County (Georgia) (2-0) 190 No. 169 Brentwood (Tennessee) (1-0) 184 No. 170 Langston Hughes (Georgia) (2-0) NR No. 171 Oak Grove (Mississippi) (0-0) 172 No. 172 St. Anthony’s (Melville, New York) (0-0) 173 No. 173 Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) (0-0) 174 No. 174 Lincoln-Way East (Illinois) (0-0) 175 No. 175 Benedictine (Georgia) (0-2) 176 No. 176 Ravenwood (Tennessee) (1-0) NR No. 177 Katy (Texas) (0-0) 178 No. 178 Rancho Cucamonga (California) (0-1) 143 No. 179 Bearden (Tennessee) (1-0) NR No. 180 West (Knoxville, Tennessee) (0-1) 125 No. 181 Edna Karr (Louisiana) (0-0) 182 No. 182 Alcoa (Tennessee) (0-1) 122 No. 183 North Cobb (Georgia) (2-0) 199 No. 184 North Gwinnett (Georgia) (1-0) 195 No. 185 Highland Springs (Virginia) (0-0) 186 No. 186 Westlake (Atlanta, Georgia) (1-1) 183 No. 187 Christian Brothers College (Missouri) (0-0) 187 No. 188 Maury (Virginia) (0-0) 188 No. 189 De Smet (Missouri) (0-0) 189 No. 190 Hough (North Carolina) (0-1) 193 No. 191 Vanguard (Florida) (0-1) 196 No. 192 Roswell (Georgia) (1-0) 197 No. 193 Prosper (Texas) (0-0) 191 No. 194 Valdosta (Georgia) (2-0) 209 No. 195 St. Bonaventure (California) (1-0) 202 No. 196 Independence (North Carolina) (1-0) 206 No. 197 Granite Hills (El Cajon, California) (1-0) 204 No. 198 Lake Wales (Florida) (1-0) 205 No. 199 Cardinal Gibbons (North Carolina) (1-0) 208 No. 200 Chaparral (Temecula, California) (1-0) NR No. 201 San Clemente (California) (0-1) 85 No. 202 Westfield (Texas) (0-0) 198 No. 203 Bishop Chatard (Indiana) (1-0) 203 No. 204 Rockwall (Texas) (0-0) 200 No. 205 Gonzaga (Washington, DC) (0-0) 201 No. 206 Raines (Florida) (1-0) 278 No. 207 Longview (Texas) (0-0) 207 No. 208 Apopka (Florida) (1-0) 214 No. 209 Houston County (Georgia) (2-0) 224 No. 210 Bolles School (Florida) (0-1) 210 No. 211 Lakota West (Ohio) (1-0) 247 No. 212 St. Xavier (Ohio) (0-1) 211 No. 213 Cardinal Gibbons (Florida) (0-1) 112 No. 214 Bishop Manogue (Nevada) (2-0) NR No. 215 St. Mary’s (Stockton, California) (0-1) 194 No. 216 Manatee (Florida) (1-0) 225 No. 217 Winton Woods (Ohio) (1-0) NR No. 218 Hamilton Southeastern (Indiana) (1-0) 221 No. 219 Lincoln (Gahanna, Ohio) (1-0) 227 No. 220 Mallard Creek (North Carolina) (1-0) 230 No. 221 Elder (Ohio) (1-0) 228 No. 222 Bartram Trail (Florida) (1-0) 229 No. 223 Miramar (Florida) (0-1) 216 No. 224 Springfield (Ohio) (0-1) 94 No. 225 University (Orange City, Florida) (1-0) NR No. 226 Mainland (Florida) (0-1) 97 No. 227 Davison (Michigan) (0-0) 218 No. 228 Fort Bend Hightower (Texas) (0-0) 219 No. 229 Holy Cross (Louisiana) (0-0) 220 No. 230 Lamar (Houston, Texas) (0-0) 222 No. 231 Rockhurst (Missouri) (0-0) 223 No. 232 Hoover (Alabama) (1-0) NR No. 233 Eau Gallie (Florida) (1-0) NR No. 234 Auburn (Alabama) (1-0) 233 No. 235 The Woodlands (Texas) (0-0) 226 No. 236 Western (Davie, Florida) (0-1) 114 No. 237 Ben Davis (Indiana) (0-1) 95 No. 238 Vero Beach (Florida) (0-1) 157 No. 239 Phoebus (Virginia) (0-0) 231 No. 240 Bishop Verot (Florida) (1-0) NR No. 241 White Knoll (South Carolina) (1-0) 235 No. 242 Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Florida) (1-0) 236 No. 243 Germantown (Tennessee) (1-0) 240 No. 244 Jesuit (Florida) (0-1) 180 No. 245 Cartersville (Georgia) (2-0) 245 No. 246 Montgomery Bell Academy (Tennessee) (1-0) NR No. 247 El Camino (Oceanside, California) (1-0) NR No. 248 Union (Oklahoma) (0-0) 237 No. 249 Louisville (Mississippi) (0-0) 238 No. 250 Summerville (South Carolina) (0-0) 239 No. 251 C.E. King (Texas) (0-0) 241 No. 252 Cary-Grove (Illinois) (0-0) 242 No. 253 Princeton (Ohio) (0-1) 243 No. 254 Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) (0-0) 244 No. 255 Warner Robins (Georgia) (1-1) 249 No. 256 Pickerington North (Ohio) (0-1) 248 No. 257 McKinney (Texas) (0-0) 250 No. 258 Ridge Point (Texas) (0-0) 252 No. 259 Brandon (Mississippi) (0-0) 253 No. 260 Jenks (Oklahoma) (0-0) 254 No. 261 Boyle County (Kentucky) (1-0) 256 No. 262 Ware County (Georgia) (1-1) 258 No. 263 Douglass (Kentucky) (1-0) 259 No. 264 Clovis West (California) (1-0) NR No. 265 Edison (Huntington Beach, California) (0-1) 257 No. 266 Crest (North Carolina) (0-0) 261 No. 267 Rocklin (California) (1-0) 262 No. 268 Muskegon (Michigan) (0-0) 263 No. 269 Argyle (Texas) (0-0) 264 No. 270 Teurlings Catholic (Louisiana) (0-0) 265 No. 271 Malvern Prep (Pennsylvania) (0-0) 266 No.272 Pearl-Cohn (Tennessee) (0-1) 251 No. 273 Monsignor Farrell (New York) (0-0) 268 No. 274 American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek, Arizona) (0-0) 269 No. 275 Lewisville (Texas) (0-0) 270 No. 276 Cherry Creek (Colorado) (0-0) 271 No. 277 Lovejoy (Texas) (0-0) 273 No. 278 Gaffney (South Carolina) (0-0) 273 No. 279 Higley (Arizona) (0-0) 274 No. 280 San Ramon Valley (California) (0-0) 275 No. 281 De La Salle Collegiate (Michigan) (0-0) 276 No. 282 Brother Martin (Louisiana) (0-0) 277 No. 283 Osceola (Kissimmee, Florida) (1-0) NR No. 284 Palm Beach Central (Florida) (1-0) 282 No. 285 Enterprise (Alabama) (1-0) 283 No. 286 Treasure Coast (Florida) (0-1) 185 No. 287 College Station (Texas) (0-0) 279 No. 288 Archbishop Shaw (Louisiana) (0-0) 280 No. 289 Dickinson (Texas) (0-0) 281 No. 290 Plant (Florida) (1-0) 291 No. 291 Carencro (Louisiana) (0-0) 284 No. 292 St. Xavier (Kentucky) (1-0) 285 No. 293 Alexandria (Louisiana) (0-0) 286 No. 294 Cardinal Newman (Florida) (1-0) 287 No. 295 DePaul Catholic (New Jersey) (0-0) 288 No. 296 West Jones (Mississippi) (0-0) 289 No. 297 Red Oak (Texas) (0-0) 290 No. 298 Cleveland Heights (Ohio) (1-0) 295 No. 299 Perry (Georgia) (2-0) 296 No. 300 Anderson (Ohio) (1-0) 297 Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm. Dropped-out: No. 121 Coconut Creek (Florida), No. 134 Butler (North Carolina), No. 148 Helix (California), No. 153 American Fork (Utah), No. 161 Carlsbad (California), No. 192 Newton (Georgia), No. 213 Cedar Grove (Georgia), No. 215 Parkview (Georgia), No. 246 Hoggard (North Carolina), No. 255 Punahou (Hawaii), No. 260 Gulf Shores (Alabama), No. 267 Oak Ridge (California), No. 293 Hilliard Bradley (Ohio), No. 294 Melissa (Texas), No. 298 Benjamin (Florida), No. 299 Cedar Hill (Texas), No. 300 St. Charles Catholic (Louisiana)