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Media Top 25 is Western Sizzler

The top three teams in the Week 5 Media Compilation Top 25 are all within a few hour drive of one another as Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV), Corona Centennial (CA), and St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) move to the top spots in the poll.

A round-robin of games separated the trio last year and those results appear to have stayed with the pollsters. Gorman is at the No. 1 spot after beating both teams in similar games — storming back to steal a win from Centennial, 42-41, and then holding on to down St. John Bosco as it attempted a late rally, 34-31 — and followed by Centennial which is ahead of St. John Bosco after winning its 48-41 thriller in the Pac5 finals.

Had Bishop Gorman renewed the series with that pair this year a similar settled-on-the-field scenario could have played out as it is quite likely that the two California programs will meet in the Pac5 finals for the second straight year.

Past Media Compilations:

As it is now perception and subjective analysis will win the day.

So far the gap at the top — if not dictated by the results from last year — is created by the early strength of schedule that is appropriately represented in the rankings.

Bishop Gorman has opened the year with five quality wins. The Gaels have defeated Chandler (AZ) — which climbs back into the compilation at No. 25 — as well as Bingham (South Jordan, UT), Bellevue (WA), Poly (Long Beach, CA), and Servite (Anaheim, CA). The lone game of relevence left on its schedule is against Don Bosco (Ramsey, NJ) and from there the team will hold on for the rankings ride as a buoy with Centennial and Bosco gaining weekly ground on the field.

Centennial has a win over Serra (Gardena, CA) and Orange Lutheran (CA) on its resume. As well as beatings of East (Salt Lake City, UT) and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, CA). It doesn’t have enough firepower on the regular season schedule to leapfrog Gorman but the Pac5 playoffs will add multiple wins and if it completes that journey by downing a combination of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA), St. John Bosco, and De La Salle (Concord, CA) it may propel to a national title.

Equally as likely to overtake the top spot is St. John Bosco. The strength of schedule has taken a big hit in the first month. Central Catholic (Portland, OR), Crespi (Encino, CA), and St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ) were not as good as expected when the contracts were signed. The Braves still have crossover games against Servite and Orange Lutheran. It also has Mater Dei, JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, CA) and Santa Margarita (CA) to go before the Pac5 playoffs and potential Centennial and De La Salle ending.

While there is no way to predict what will happen with the polls at this point, it would be logical to assume that the California winner — if it is Centennial or St. John Bosco — would make the leap over Bishop Gorman in multiple polls and gain big points in the computer algorithms.

The Media Compilation takes into account the four most respected human polls, the top computer model, and an emerging hybrid human-algorithm to make for the best rankings in the country.

Those under consideration are the NationalHSFootball.com HSFB100; USAToday Super 25; MaxPreps Xcellent25; PrepNation Top 25; Jeff Fisher’s Top 25 and the Freeman Computer Top 25.

For a mathematically sound compilation each team is given points from 40 to 16 for being inside the Top 25 of each of those six polls with no points awarded for any additional rankings due to the differing size of each poll.

Points are assigned in decreasing value starting with 40 being awarded for No. 1 and on down to 16 for No. 25 which will result in a more accurate representation of the polls. Assigning points starting at 1 point would skew the tally in the instance that a team received a single, high placement versus a team with lower placements in multiple polls, raising the baseline eliminates the outlier impact in the compilation.

The poll will be updated and released each Tuesday of the football season.

Here is the complete Media Compilation Top 25:

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No. (LW) PTS

TEAM (ST)

HSFB USAT MAX PN JFAM CPU
1 (1)

237

Bishop Gorman (NV) 2 1 1 2 2 1
Bishop Gorman gained a lot of yards but left a lot of points on the field in the first half against Servite, leaidng at the break just 10-7. It went on to cash in its drives in the second half and win 38-7. The Gaels didn’t move in any polls for the third week in a row and likely won’t until its game with Don Bosco.
2 (3)

223

Centennial (CA) 5 6 3 4 3 3
The Huskies were idle this week but still gained some points and a placement in the compilation as polls reacted negatively to sub-par performances of other teams. The Freeman Computer moved it three while the HSFB100 and MaxPreps each moved Centennial up a spot as St. Thomas Aquinas fell backwards in those polls.
3 (6)

220

St. John Bosco (CA) 1 2 5 1 5 12
St. John Bosco went to the east coast and cruised to a victory over St. Peter’s Prep, 56-14. The result was mostly expected and it registered minimal impact across the polls but the Braves also received some slide-up as Aquinas was moved backwards. The Freeman Computer pushed it up four, MaxPreps jumped it two spots while the USAToday and Fisher Algorithm were up one. The HSFB100 and PrepNation has had St. John Bosco as its No. 1 team since the preseason.
4t (5)

219

DeMatha (MD) 3 7 3 6 4 4
DeMatha pounded St. Mary Ryken this week with a 49-0 final. The Stags gained three points in the process with the HSFB100, USAToday, and MaxPreps all sliding it up a placement. The game with St. John this week is more interesting after it downed Good Counsel. There is still some meat on the bone for a team that could be a national title threat.
4t (2)

219

Aquinas (FL) 6 3 4 3 6 5
The Raiders didn’t lead its game against Hallandale (FL) until inside of four minutes left in the fourth quarter before closing the deal with a 36-28 victory. The team stayed atop Florida but moved down three in the HSFB100, two on the Freeman Computer as well as MaxPreps, and one spot drops from USAToday and Fisher Algorithm. The lone game left on the schedule of consequence is against Flanagan, look for the program to buoy as it will cruise to a state title, too.
6 (4)

213

Allen (TX) 9 4 6 7 1 6
Allen had another battle with Marcus this year and despite not trailing did have a few tense moments while winning, 38-28. There may be a quarterback battle brewing as four-star Seth Green has been careless with the football and junior Mitchell Jonke manages the game well and let’s his offensive line and running backs do the work. The playoff path for Allen could give it three more solid wins. To date it only has one moderately relevent win against Denton Guyer.
7 (7)

186

IMG Academy (FL) 8 11 10 13 16 2
The lone change to the Ascender placement was a gain of two points as the team moved ahead of Allen and Cedar Hill (TX). IMG has a home game this week against No. 15 St. Joseph (Montvale, NJ) and it will be the first test for the offense since the kickoff classic against American Heritage (Plantation).
8 (8)

176

Colquitt County (GA) 4 5 7 5 8
Colquitt was unchanged its point total as it was idle this week in advance of Region 1-6A play. The Packers are a darkhorse candidate for a national title as its schedule is going to dramatically improve during Region play and the potential playoff path may add four major wins. It is unlikley but the formula isn’t hard to figure out.
9 (9)

175

Trinity (TX) 11 12 15 10 7 16
Trinity gained one spot in the HSFB100 but also moved to the No. 2 team in Texas this week. It also gained four points in the Freeman Computer as it bettered Colleyville Heritage. The combination of Tyler Natee and Ja’Ron Wilson continue to churn out yards and the three-year quarterback and running back should push the Trojans deep into the playoffs. It has Southlake Carroll on the horizon.
10 (10)

156

De La Salle (CA) 12 14 18 12 11 17
De La Salle was idle this week and was another team that gained points in a couple polls as others moved. A week after gaining entry to the Freeman Computer it moved up four spots. De La Salle also gained a point in the HSFB100 with Cedar Hill sliding.
11t (18)

145

La Salle (OH) 23 20 21 19 10 8
La Salle became a unanimous selection as the HSFB100 moved the team from No. 27 to No. 23. It slid up a spot at MaxPreps and down a spot in the Freeman Computer after blowing out Northwest, 56-19. The team has already bettered a Colerain team that is receiving votes and it has St. Xavier, Moeller, and Elder to play still.
11t (14)

143

American Heritage (FL) 7 13 9 9 22
The Patriots marched out to an early lead against Norland with a 27-0 advantage at halftime. It salted the game away with a final margin of 36-21 as it allowed two touchdowns in the closing minutes — when it didn’t matter. It gained two places in the HSFB100 and remained unchanged elsewhere.
13 (15)

142

Katy (TX) 18 10 11 15 9
After a four-week slide down the copilation poll the Tigers put the breaks on and moved back upwards. Katy allowed only its 10th point against it this week as Katy Taylor put a field goal on the board in a 41-3 contest. The team doesn’t have a relevant game until the third round of the playoffs, per its normal scheduling habits.
14 (13)

140

Cedar Hill (TX) 13 15 17 8 12
The Longhorns were punished by the HSFB100 a week late as it dropped five places despite being idle. The week before the USAToday dropped it four spots; MaxPreps one, and the Freeman moved it outside the Top 25 from No. 23 after having an uninspiring performance against Coppell. It was an odd timing from the HSFB100.
15 (24)

136

St. Joseph (NJ) 22 19 23 25 15 7
St. Joseph became a unanimous selection this week as the HSFB100 put the team in at No. 22, MaxPreps at No. 23, and PrepNation at No. 25. It was unchanged at the USAToday and Fisher Algorithm but moved up four placed into the Top 10 of the Freeman Computer — which hasn’t had a week this year without a New Jersey team in the Top 10, cycling through Paramus Catholic, Bergen Catholic, and now St. Joseph Regional at 7 and Don Bosco at No. 10.
16 (11)

153

Ocean Lakes (VA) 20 9 8 11 23
Ocean Lakes was cast its line as a buoy last week and took a major hit this week despite a 60-6 victory. The HSFB100 moved the team back nine spots and the Freeman Computer slid it backwards 10 as both begin to have a better handle on strength of schedule now that the season is at the one-third point. The Dolphins are the heavy favorite to win a state title — and do so almost unchallenged.
17 (12)

130

Spartanburg (SC) 10 16 12 14 23
The Vikings cruised to an expected victory against Riverside and only saw movement in two polls. It climbed four spots in the HSFB100 and fell outside the Top 25 from No. 17 last week in the Freeman Computer. The Freeman Computer has just two teams from the southeast in its Top 25 this week. Spartanburg plays a Byrnes program that is receiving votes this coming week. It hasn’t defeated Byrnes since the turn of the century.
18 (17)

125

Mater Dei (CA) 14 22 17 13 13
Mater Dei freshman quarterback JT Daniels nearly topped 300 yards passing, coming in at 293 and three touchdowns. Running back Brandon LaMarche gained 146 on the ground as the team pushed towards 500 yards of offense in a 42-26 win against Edison. Trinity League opens after a bye this coming week and the expectations for Mater Dei continue to rise. Its placement in the compilation will be determined in the coming weeks.
19 (21)

116

Mainland (FL) 20 25 13 23 17
Mainland had a solid showing against a quality Dr. Phillips team, winning 28-7. While most expected more offensive production from both sides it was the defense that came to play. Mainland limited Dr. Phillips to just 119 yard and forced three turnovers. The performance was somehow made more impressive as it was done in spite of being flagged for 14 penalties. The Bucs will travel to Ohio and take on current No. 22 St. Edward in a few weeks
20 (19)

108

South Panola (MS) 25 14 23 14 22
The Tiger slid backwards another eight spots in the Freeman Computer after falling five last week. It dropped out of the HSFB100 from No. 25 as well. It gained the No. 25 ranking back from the USAToday and saw minor movement in the other three polls after defeating an overmatched Horn Lake squad, 50-20.
21 (22)

103

Clay-Chalkville (AL) 7 16 16 21
The Cougars were unchanged in its point total, moving up one spot at MaxPreps and PrepNation but losing two in the Fisher Algorithm while on an idle week. There is a loud rumble from Alabama that Spanish Fort may be the best team in Class 6A and could dethrown Clay-Chalkville in the playoffs. Until then it should maintain its current polling placements as it will not lose.
22 (–)

87

St. Edward (OH) 25 24 15 7
St. Edward made a jump into the bottom rungs of the HSFB100 and USAToday with its win over previously-ranked Bergen Catholic — handing the Crusaders a second straight loss. The two computer formulas rate the Eagles higher, presumably due to its ties with New Jersey teams St. Joseph — a two-point loss — and Bergen — a three-point win.
23 (23)

86

Male (KY) 17 21 20 20
Male has beat the last two teams it has faced 120-0. The needle isn’t moved much as Seneca last week and Butler this week are not formidable foes. Another check the box game is coming against Pleasure Ridge Park. The playoff rematch against Louisville Trinity may be the next relevant game as Male is becoming a buoy.
24 (–)

85

Chandler (AZ) 19 24 25 11
The top team in Arizona is getting back to full strength and is gaining more polls because of it. The team lost to Bishop Gorman to open the year and all but the HSFB100 and Freeman Computer abandoned ship but MaxPreps and PrepNation put the Wolves back in at No. 24 and No. 25, respectively. Games with Basha, Brophy, and Hamilton — prior to a playoff path that may also see Mountain Pointe, Centennial and a Hamilton rematch — could push the team higher.
25 (–)

70

Grayson (GA) 16 19 18
The Rams destroyed a tremendously outmanned Berkmar team, 70-6. It was 49-0 after the first quarter and played with a running clock. Grayson has found itself a quarterback and with it a passing game that makes it one of the more complete teams in the state and a threat to win the title. This game was not as meaningful as its win over Archer two weeks ago.
Dropped From the Media Compilation Top 25:
Previous No. 16 Bergen Catholic (Oradel, NJ), No. 20 Rummel (Metairie, LA), and No. 25 Jenks (OK).
Others Receiving Votes:
Jenks (68); Colerain (57); Westfield (43); Center Grove (43); Bynres (32); Don Bosco (31); Hamilton (26); Webb City (24); Bergen Catholic (21); Bishop Amat (20); Saline (19); Gilman (17), and Wayne (16).
Stopped Receiving Votes:
Archer (Lawrenceville, GA); Steele (Cibolo, TX); Poly (Long Beach, CA); Maryville (TN), and Rummel.

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