Main Story: High school football’s Top 25 enters a pivotal week, led by a Southern California showdown between No. 11 St. John Bosco and No. 18 Mater Dei, with a likely No. 3 playoff seed at stake. No. 2 Santa Margarita, No. 4 Sierra Canyon and unbeaten No. 22 Edna Karr also face important tests, while several ranked teams have already posted decisive wins.

By the Numbers
  • Santa Margarita’s defense allows 6.2 points per game; the Eagles have won 15 straight.
  • Sierra Canyon has outscored opponents 391-54 and won all nine games by at least 17 points.
  • Edna Karr and St. Augustine are both 8-0; Edna Karr has won 35 straight.
  • North Crowley has scored at least 70 points in three consecutive games and averages 50.4 points per game.
  • Central Catholic is 9-0 and has outscored opponents 445-71.
Yes, But

St. John Bosco-Mater Dei is the week’s only Top 25 head-to-head matchup, but both teams have already lost to Santa Margarita and Bishop Gorman. The winner likely earns a better playoff position, though Santa Margarita’s strong form makes the Southern Section title picture more complicated.

State of Play
  • St. John Bosco visits Mater Dei in a rivalry game with playoff-seeding stakes.
  • Edna Karr-St. Augustine pits Louisiana’s top two teams against each other; Edna Karr won last year’s state title matchup, 28-14.
  • Brownsburg opened Indiana’s Class 6A playoffs with a 48-10 win as it pursues a third consecutive state championship.
  • Prattville rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Opelika 20-17 on a field goal as time expired.
What's Next

The Bosco-Mater Dei and Edna Karr-St. Augustine games will provide major tests of playoff readiness and could reshape their teams’ postseason paths. Santa Margarita’s Friday matchup with Orange Lutheran will also show whether the Eagles can extend their winning streak through Trinity League play.

Bottom Line

Late-season rankings are only part of the story: head-to-head results and playoff positioning are taking center stage, with several unbeaten teams facing their toughest tests yet.