As the football season gets underway for most states across the country, here’s how the Super 25 ranked football teams fared for games Aug. 29-31.
MORE: Top 15 Games | National rankings | Regional rankings
* All Times ET (Eastern Standard Time)
1. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)
CANCELLED: Aug. 31 vs. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey)
2. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (0-1)
Result: Lost 24-21 to Katy (Texas)
Takeaway: North Shore was primed for a big opening game heading into the half with a 21-7 lead. But then the second half happened. Katy’s defense clamped down and blanked the Mustangs. The Tigers held the top ranked running back in the Chosen 25, Zachary Evans, to just one touch in the third quarter. North Shore should rebound, they are too talented, but more importantly, was Katy overlooked? This performance should be enough to get them strong consideration for a spot in next week’s Super 25 Rankings. Things We Learned>>
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, California (1-0)
Next: Aug. 31 vs. Villa Park (California), 9:30 p.m.
4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, California (2-0)
Result: Won 56-21 vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey)
Takeaway: Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei threw for 248 yards and had six total touchdowns as St. John Bosco ran to victory over Don Bosco. The Braves showed off their deep wide receiver corps; a week after Logan Loya went off, Kris Hutson had six catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Rayshon Luke had two rushing touchdowns. Once again, St. John Bosco looked unstoppable.
5. St. John’s College, Washington, District of Columbia (1-0)
Next: Aug. 31 vs. Deerfield Beach (Florida), 2 p.m.
6. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland (2-0)
Result: Won 55-0 vs. Simeon (Chicago, Illinois)
Takeaway: Simeon held close for one quarter. At the end of first, St. Frances led just 7-0. But in the blink of an eye, it was halftime, and the Panthers had taken a 42-0 lead. The main takeaway here is that the Panthers are who we thought they were, and though Simeon had a good first quarter, they couldn’t escape the running clock and shutout that St. Frances so often inflicts on opponents.
7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida (1-0)
CANCELLED: Aug. 30 vs. Norland (Miami, Florida)
8. Duncanville, Texas (1-0)
Result: Won 24-3 at Lancaster (Texas)
Takeaway: The Panthers 2018 season finished in the worst way possible: A Hail Mary to cost Duncanville a state title. The 2019 campaign got off to a similar sluggish start — interception, punt, fumble — but Ja’Quinden Jackson took care of business from there, passing for three touchdowns as Duncanville took control, holding Lancaster to a field goal and cruising to a deceptively one-sided 24-3 victory. What We Learned >>
9. Marietta, Georgia (2-0)
Result: Won 21-17 vs. 11 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
Takeaway: Quarterback Harrison Bailey and wide receiver Ricky White connected twice on the final drive of the game, including the game-winning touchdown, to lead a 1:18 drive to get the win. Marietta had led St. Joseph’s Prep 14-10 for most of the fourth quarter, but quarterback Kyle McCord led a masterful drive to take the 17-10 lead with 1:18 left. Then Bailey stepped up and Marietta won. Tennessee DE commit BJ Ojulari finished with four tackles for loss and 2022 cornerback Andre Stewart had an impactful fourth quarter. What we learned…
10. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Arizona (1-0)
Next: Aug. 31 at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, California), 10:30 p.m.
11. St Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-1)
Result: Lost 21-17 at Marietta (Georgia)
Takeaway: Kyle McCord is not a normal junior. The quarterback is cool under pressure and led St. Joseph’s Prep to a go-ahead touchdown with 1:18 left, but Marietta managed to drive down field and score the game-winning touchdown. St. Joseph’s Prep was narrowly defeated in what will possibly be one of the more exciting games of the season. What we learned…
12. St. Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii (3-0)
Result: Won 31-19 vs. 13 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Takeaway: St. Louis is among the cream of the crop nationally. Quarterback Jayden de Laura was phenomenal, completing 23 of 30 passes, and Koali Nishigaya had 10 receptions for 103 yards. St. Louis jumped to a 21-0 lead, but when Bishop Gorman gained momentum, Nick Herbig and the defense took advantage of an offensive miscue to force a fumble, score a touchdown off it and reign control back in. St. Louis controlled the whole game. What we learned…
13. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nevada (1-1)
Result: Lost 31-19 at 12 St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Takeaway: After falling behind 21-0 in the first half, it seemed like Bishop Gorman was toast. But the team scored consecutive touchdowns to get back into it — then, a backward pass resulted in a fumble and St. Louis got control. Wide receiver Rome Odunze was once again a star, recording six receptions for 107 yards and scored two touchdowns. But Bishop Gorman needed more to take down this Hawaii powerhouse. What we learned…
14. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (1-0)
Result: Won 34-21 vs. Winter Park (Florida)
Takeaway: Winter Park proved to be a worry opponent for the No. 14 team in the country, taking a four point lead at the half, 21-17. But the Tigers defense stepped up in the second half, shutting out the Wildcats. Behind quarterback Demeatric Crenshaw, Pickerington Central scored 17 unanswered points to win its first game of the season.
15. Narbonne, Harbor City, California (1-0)
Next. Aug. 31 at Lone Peak (Utah), 4 pm
16. Gonzaga, Washington, District of Columbia (1-0)
Result: Won 33-14 vs. American Heritage (Plantation, Florida)
Takeaway: American Heritage jumped out to an early 14-0 lead but they were no match for Eagles. Gonzaga 5-star Caleb Williams showed why he is the top ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2021, rushing for three touchdowns. What We Learned >>
17. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (0-0)
Next: Aug. 31 vs. Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), Noon
18. Lakeland, Florida (2-0)
Result: Won 55-13 vs. American Collegiate (Clearwater, Florida)
Takeaway: With about five minutes left in the first half, quarterback Mason Martin hit Arian Smith for a 45-yard touchdown. They connected for another touchdown less than three minutes later. Then Lakeland scored one more time in the half for good measure as five-star running back Demarkcus Bowman putting home his second touchdown of the game. At halftime, Lakeland led 49-0. The Dreadnaughts won 55-13, but somehow, that huge point spread doesn’t show just how thoroughly they commanded both sides of the ball.
19. Hoover, Alabama (2-0)
Result: Won 37-23 vs. Cocoa (Florida)
20. De La Salle, Concord, California (1-1)
Result: Won 49-14 at Central Catholic (Modesto, California)
Takeaway: Going back to the championship game last season, De La Salle lost two games in a row entering this week. It wasn’t going to lose a third. The Spartans went up 42-0 in the third quarter before letting off the gas and removing its starters, and eclipsed the 500-yard mark in the game. Quarterback Dorian Hale had three total touchdowns and running back Shamar Garrett had two.
21. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Washington (0-0)
Next: Sept. 6 vs. Grant (Sacramento, California), 11 p.m.
22. Aledo, Texas (0-1)
Result: Lost 57-60 vs. Guyer (Texas)
Takeaway: Guyer did what few teams in Texas have been able to do in recent seasons: they outscored Aledo, which entered as the nation’s No. 22 team. The Bearcats struggled to stop Guyer’s offense, and the two teams traded touchdowns throughout the second half. In the end, the difference between the two teams was two-point-conversions, with Guyer consistently attempting and executing two-point attempts and Aledo initially settling for single PATs until it was too late. Aledo’s 5-star running back Jace McClellan ran for four touchdowns in the loss, providing some cold comfort for Bearcat fans. What we learned…
23. Martin Luther King, Detroit, Michigan (0-0)
Next: Aug. 31 at Catholic Central (Novi, Michigan), 7 p.m.
24. John Curtis, River Ridge, Louisiana (0-0)
Next: Sept. 5 at Edna Karr (New Orleans, Louisiana), 8 p.m.
25. Highland Springs, Virginia (1-0)
Result: Won 38-13 vs. Avalon (Wheaton, Maryland)
Takeaway: With a 7-0 lead, Highland Springs three-star quarterback Jamaareh Jones hit wide receiver Kerry King for a touchdown. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled and Highland Springs recover. They then scored.
Suddenly, a close game had blossomed into a deficit that was insurmountable for Avalon to overcome. Welcome to the Super 25, Highland Springs. Looks like you’ll be sticking around.
