As the football season gets underway for many states across the country, here’s how the Super 25 ranked football teams fared for games Aug. 23-24.
RANKINGS: Super 25 Preseason Football Rankings
* All Times EST
1. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)
Result: Won 24-14 at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Takeaway: De La Salle is really good, but St. Thomas Aquinas just has more depth and prevented De La Salle from scoring when the Spartans got close on multiple opportunities. St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore quarterback Zion Turner looks to have a live arm that can get the ball down the field to four-star wide receiver Marcus Rosemy, which connected for a 71-yard touchdown. What we learned…
2. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas
Idle. Next: Aug. 29 vs. Katy, Texas, 8 pm
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.
Result: Won 42-12 vs. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Takeaway: Mater Dei doesn’t look like it’s taken a step back from last season as it took down Centennial 42-12 in an affair as one-sided as last year’s CIF-SS semifinals. Chosen 25 quarterback Bryce Young went 19-for-26 with 191 yards and three touchdowns, according to the LA Times’ Eric Sondheimer, and offensive lineman Myles Murao limited Korey Foreman. The Monarchs ran to a 42-0 lead before allowing any points. What we learned…
4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.
Next: Aug. 24 vs. 20 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 9 pm
5. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C.
Result: Won 48-0 vs. Southridge (Miami, Fla.), 2 pm
Takeaway: The first touchdown of the season was one we’ll see plenty more of this year. Quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava connected with Chosen 25 wide receiver Rakim Jarrett for 33 yards and St. John’s College didn’t look back. Sophomore Xavier Terry had two first-half interceptions, sophomore Jamar Curtis had a 78-yard run and later scored on a 25-yard rush, Antwain Littleton had two touchdowns and Maiava and Jarrett connected again for a score. It was a blowout. It was a typical St. John’s performance.
6. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md.
Result: Won 49-13 vs. No. 13 Central (Miami, Fla.)
Takeaway: The defense was stifling, Michigan commit Blake Corum had 155 total yards and four touchdowns — two on the ground, two receiving — and sophomore quarterback John Griffith looked stellar and showed off his ability to throw in the pocket and on the move. St. Frances passed its first test of the season with flying colors and extended its winning streak to 24. What we learned…
7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (1-0)
Result: Won 46-7 at Venice (Fla.)
Takeaway: IMG is one of the most well-rounded teams in the country. As usual. The transfer of five-star defensive back Elias Ricks pays off immediately with a pick six for IMG’s first points of the game. What we learned…
8. Duncanville, Texas
Idle. Next: Aug. 30 at Lancaster (Texas), 8:30 pm
9. Marietta, Ga. (1-0)
Result: Won 48-14 vs. Rome (Ga.)
Takeaway: Get used to hearing Harrison Bailey to Arik Gilbert for a touchdown. Bailey threw for 367 yards and five touchdowns – two of which were to Gilbert.
10. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Result: Won 63-0 vs. Poston Butte (San Tan Valley, Ariz.)
Takeaway: Saguaro started its 2019 season the same way it’s handled the competition over the last several years: beating up lesser Arizona schools. The Sabercats took down Poston Butte 63-0 and didn’t punt until there were under two minutes remaining in the game, according to Pinal Central’s Tyler Drake.
11. St Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia, Pa.
Idle. Next: Aug. 30 at 9 Marietta (Ga.), 7 pm
12. St. Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii (1-0)
Result: Won 48-27 vs. Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii)
13. Central, Phenix City, Ala.
Result: Lost 17-14 vs. Hoover (Ala.)
Takeaway: Tied at 14 with less than five minutes remaining, Hoover recovered a fumble and Robby Ashford led the team 90 yards down the field. Constantine Hontzas won the game with a 30-yard field goal. Read more…
14. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif.
Next: Aug. 24 at Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 10:30 pm
15. Miami (Fla.) Central
Result: Lost 49-13 to St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)
Takeaway: St. Frances was simply too talented and too deep for Miami Central to stand a chance in the opening game of the season. The Rockets couldn’t stop running back Blake Corum or break through the Panthers’ defense. They’ll return to Miami and try to get back to its winning ways next week.
16. Pickerington (Ohio) Central
Idle. Next: Aug. 30 at Winter Park (Fla.), 5 pm
17. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C.
Idle. Next: Aug. 30 vs. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 6:30 pm
18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nev.
Result: Won 40-7 vs. Orem (Utah)
Takeaways: The new Jordan uniforms Bishop Gorman wore are sick and it must have had an affect. The Gaels jumped on Orem early and often, leading 27-0 in the first quarter. And that was without four key transfers that had to sit out. What we learned…
19. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio
Idle. Next: Aug. 31 vs. Harrisburg (Pa.), Noon
20. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md.
Next: Aug. 24 at 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 9 pm
21. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash.
Idle. Next: Sept. 6 vs. Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), 11 pm
22. Lakeland, Fla. (2-0)
Result: Won 45-0 vs. Manatee (Fla.)
Takeaway: Lakeland had 325 yards of offense and 31 points in the first half alone as they raced to a 45-0 win over Manatee to open the season. Chosen 25 running back Demarkcus Bowman started his senior season with a bang, scoring an 80-yard touchdown, and Arian Smith returned a kickoff 90 yards to the house.
23. Aledo, Texas
Idle. Next: Aug. 30 vs. Guyer, 7 pm
24. Martin Luther King, Detroit, Mich.
Idle. Next: Aug. 31 at Catholic Central (Novi, Michigan), 7 pm
25. John Curtis, River Ridge, La.
Idle. Next: Sept. 5 at Edna Karr, 8 pm
