High school football rankings: No. 5 North Shore, No. 12 Duncanville climb in MaxPreps Top 25 ahead of state championship showdown in Texas

For the fifth time in six years, North Shore (Houston) and Duncanville are set to square off for a high school football state title in Texas. The Class 6A Division 1 championship is set for Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Both programs improved a spot in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 after semifinal wins.

No. 5 North Shore took down No. 24 Westlake (Austin) in one semifinal while No. 12 Duncanville cruised to a 52-10 win over North Crowley (Fort Worth).

North Shore beat Duncanville in the 2018, 2019 and 2021 championship games. Duncanville won last year 28-21 to grab the school's first title since 1998.

In California, No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) captured its fourth CIF Open Division state title since 2017 with a 35-0 win over Serra (San Mateo). Senior quarterback Elijah Brown completed 18 of 23 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns in his final high school game. He finished his career 42-2 and became the first Monarch quarterback to win multiple state championships.

Jeremiah Smith and No. 2 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) won their third consecutive state title with a dominant 56-0 victory against Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater) in the Florida 1M championship. Smith hauled in 11 receptions for 170 yards and a score. Cedrick Bailey completed 17 of 23 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns to go with a TD reception.

Three other Florida teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 won state titles last week.

No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) won its fifth straight state title beating Homestead 31-28 in the 3M championship while No. 18 Cocoa took home the 2S state title with a 20-6 win over Bradford (Starke).

Berkeley Prep (Tampa) is one of three new teams to join the MaxPreps Top 25 after upsetting previously-ranked Norland (Miami) 28-20 in the 2M state championship. Dallas Golden and Joseph Troupe combined for 292 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help the Buccaneers earn the No. 23 spot after beating American Heritage (Plantation) and Norland in back-to-back weeks.

The other two newcomers are both from Alabama, who jumped in the MaxPreps Top 25 after they won state titles.

Clay-Chalkville (Pinson) checks in at No. 22 after beating Saraland 31-28 in the 6A championship. Alabama-bound athlete Jaylen Mbakwe threw for 152 yards and a score to go with 26 carries for 130 yards and three more touchdowns. The win clinched a 14-0 season for the Cougars as they won their second state title since 2021. They also had a notable 36-33 win over Thompson (Alabaster) earlier in the season.

Central (Phenix City) takes home the final spot at No. 25 after a 21-19 win over Thompson in the 7A state championship. Five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman closed out his career with another impressive game, hauling in five receptions for 143 yards and a score. Junior running back Tristan Williams had a big night on the ground rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 9 St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) also won a state crown last week. The Hawks rolled to a 45-23 win over North Allegheny (Wexford) in the 6A championship. It was the second consecutive state title and eighth since 2013.

MaxPreps Top 25 football rankings

Record: 12-0 | Last week: 1

Season complete

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 2

Last week: Beat Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater) 56-0

Season complete

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 3

Last week: Beat Serra (San Mateo) 35-0

Season complete

Record: 10-0 | Last week: 4

Season complete

Record: 15-0 | Last week: 6

Last week: Beat Westlake (Austin) 23-14

This week: Saturday vs. No. 12 Duncanville

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 7

Last week: Beat Southlake Carroll (Southlake) 45-38

This week: Saturday vs. Summer Creek (Houston)

Record: 11-2 | Last week: 5

Season complete

Record: 14-0 | Last week: 8

Last week: Idle

This week: Wednesday vs. No. 17 Milton

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 9

Last week: Beat North Allegheny (Wexford) 45-23

Season complete

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 10

Last week: Beat Homestead 31-28

Season complete

Record: 16-0 | Last week: 12

Season complete

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 13

Last week: Beat North Crowley (Fort Worth) 52-10

This week: Saturday vs. No. 5 North Shore (Houston)

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 14

Season complete

Record: 9-3 | Last week: 15

Season complete

Record: 12-1 | Last week: 16

Season complete

Record: 15-1 | Last week: 17

Season complete

Record: 12-2 | Last week: 18

Last week: Idle

This week: Wednesday vs. No. 8 Walton (Marietta)

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 20

Last week: Beat Bradford (Starke) 20-6

Season complete

Record: 13-1 | Last week: 21

Season complete

Record: 10-1 | Last week: 23

Season complete

Record: 11-1 | Last week: 24

Season complete

Record: 14-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Saraland 31-28

Season complete

Record: 14-1 | Last week: 22

Last week: Lost 23-14 to North Shore (Houston)

Season complete

Record: 13-0 | Last week: NR

Last week: Beat Thompson (Alabaster) 21-19

Season complete