1. De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.) - (2-0) *1
Last week: Beat Marin Catholic High, 49-7.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Mater Dei High
Outlook: After winning its season-opener in closer-than-expected fashion, De La Salle responded with a resounding victory over Marin Catholic on Friday to win its 102nd straight game. But Marin Catholic was simply the appetizer to this week's main event: a showdown with No. 10 Mater Dei High on Saturday. This matchup could present the biggest threat yet to the Spartans' streak. Of course, that's what people thought last year, when De La Salle beat Mater Dei, 42-0.

Look for next-day coverage and analysis of the game on SchoolSports.com.

2. Lakeland HS (Lakeland, Fla.) - (3-0) *2
Last week: Beat Homestead High, 28-0.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Durant High
Outlook: Lakeland is now one game shy of the half-century mark after winning its 49th consecutive game on Friday. Lakeland posted its second shutout of the season and has surrendered just six points in three games. The offense hasn't been bad, either, averaging 32 points per game.

3. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) - (3-0) *3
Last week: Beat St. Francis High, 42-7.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Central High
Outlook: Cathedral Prep continued to distinguish itself as the best team in the state of Pennsylvania (Sorry, Central Bucks West), beating up on St. Francis High Friday. Prep still has a good shot at the national title, as De La Salle and Lakeland both have games left against Top 25 teams. The offense has been both dominant and consistent so far, scoring 47, 42 and 42 points in three games.

4. Midland Lee HS (Midland, Texas) - (2-0) *4
Last week: Did not play.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. West Monroe High (La.)
Outlook: If not for the big De La Salle vs. Mater Dei game this weekend, Lee's showdown against No. 17 West Monroe High would be the game of the week in high school football. The key, as always for the Rebels, will be whether running back Cedric Benson can control the ball and keep West Monroe's high-powered offense off the field.

5. Jenks HS (Jenks, Okla.) - (3-0) *5
Last week: Beat Tulsa Union High, 41-37.
Next game: Sept. 21 vs. Broken Arrow High
Outlook: In what may prove to be the best scholastic football game of the year, Jenks beat highly rated Tulsa Union High in dramatic fashion last Thursday. Union scored with 21 seconds left on a Tyler Gooch TD pass to take a 37-34 lead. But Jenks answered back when running back Kejuan Jones hauled in an 80-yard touchdown strike with eight seconds remaining to keep the nation's No. 5 team undefeated.

6. Poly HS (Long Beach, Calif.) - (2-0) *6
Last week: Beat Wilmington Banning High, 42-0.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Santa Barbara High
Outlook: Like No. 1 De La Salle, Poly struggled in Week 1 but bounced back with a solid victory in Week 2. Poly saw its offense improve from 20 points to 42 points and its defense went from giving up 14 points to not allowing a single point. That's a sure recipe for success.

7. St. Louis HS (Honolulu, Hawaii) - (5-0) *9
Last week: Beat Punahou High, 49-28.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Pac-Five
Outlook: Apparently, St. Louis is so confident in itself that it is now willing to spot teams a 21-point lead. That's what happened Friday night, when the Crusaders fell behind, 21-0, in the first quarter, but rallied to score 49 consecutive points. Punahou High's first-quarter explosion marked the first time this season St. Louis' starting defense had allowed a point. The Crusaders have now moved up four spots in the last two weeks.

8. Garland HS (Garland, Texas) - (3-0) *10
Last week: Beat DeSoto High, 34-33 (OT).
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Naaman Forest High
Outlook: Garland has been the polar opposite of No. 7 St. Louis so far this season. While the Crusaders continue to blow away their competition, the Owls have been surviving with equal parts talent and good luck, winning their third straight close game - and second in overtime - on Friday. This time, Garland won when DeSoto High missed an extra point that would have tied the game. Although the Owls have won their three games by a mere total of seven points, we refuse to punish them for winning close, since all three games have been against quality opponents. Garland gets a well-deserved rest this weekend.

9. St. Ignatius HS (Cleveland, Ohio) - (4-0) *11
Last week: Beat Cincinnati St. Xavier High, 29-10.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. H.D. Woodson High (D.C.)
Outlook: The top team in Ohio kept rolling on, thanks to the arm of quarterback Bryan Panteck. The Wildcats haven't shown a dominating defense yet, but they also haven't needed to because the offense is averaging 33 points per game.

10. Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.) - (2-0) *12
Last week: Beat Loara High, 31-6.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. De La Salle
Outlook: The Monarchs led, 28-0, at the half on Friday and served notice that they are indeed ready for Saturday's showdown against No. 1 De La Salle. If Mater Dei hopes to knock off the nation's top team, it will need a big performance from quarterback Matt Leinart.

	"Duke was pretty much my number one choice all along," says Brendan Dewan.

11. Westlake HS (Austin, Texas) - (3-0) *13
Last week: Beat A&M Consolidated High, 38-24.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Westwood High
Outlook: There is no doubt the Chaparrals can score. Since posting just 17 points in a season-opening win, Westlake has scored 42 and 38 points in its last two games, respectively, with a back-up quarterback under center. The question, however, is whether the Chaps' defense is good enough to lead Westlake to a title in the smash-mouth football state of Texas. Westlake has this weekend off before taking on Westwood High on Sept. 29.

12. Richmond County HS (Rockingham, N.C.) - (4-0) *14
Last week: Beat New Bern High, 31-0.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Lumberton High
Outlook: Apparently, Richmond County's defense has decided not to allow any more points this year. After a 51-13 season-opening win, Richmond County has shut out its last three opponents. During that stretch, the offense has scored 83 points.

13. Naperville Central HS (Naperville, Ill.) - (4-0) *16
Last week: Beat Wheaton-Warrenville South High, 35-0.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. West Aurora High
Outlook: Speaking of defense, nobody in the nation has done better than Naperville Central, which has not allowed a point in four games this year. The Red Hawks may need that tough defense with starting quarterback Owen Daniels sidelined for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Of course, new starter Paul Horvath completed 10 of 15 passes for 148 yards and a TD on Friday, so perhaps the offense won't drop off. The Red Hawks are winning by an average score of 40-0.

14. Ben Davis HS (Indianapolis, Ind.) - (5-0) *17
Last week: Beat Center Grove High, 29-14.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. North Central High
Outlook: After nearly losing in Week 3 - the Giants held on for a 17-14 win over Warren Central High - Ben Davis has risen quickly through the ranks, going from No. 20 two weeks ago to No. 14 this week. Ben Davis has now beaten Penn High and Center Grove High, two of the state's top teams.

15. Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) - (3-0) *18
Last week: Beat St. Paul Humboldt High, 63-0.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Harding High
Outlook: Ho-hum. Another game, another win for Cretin-Derham Hall. It would be one thing if the Raiders had either a powerful offense or a dominating defense, but they appear to have both. The team has posted shutouts of 56-0 and 63-0, and its closest game was a 47-7 win. The games have been such blowouts that quarterback Joe Mauer and running back Roshon Powers-Neal have barely played because Cretin-Derham's coaching staff doesn't want to run up the score too badly.

16. Hart HS (Newhall, Calif.) - (2-0) *19
Last week: Beat Thousand Oaks High, 16-6.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Westlake High (Calif.)
Outlook: Friday's win may prove to be bittersweet for Hart, as star running back Tim Gregory injured his knee in the third quarter and could be sidelined for a while. Gregory rushed for 126 yards before the injury. Hart will have to bounce back emotionally this Friday, when it travels to face Westlake High (Calif.). The good news is that the team has jumped up seven spots in the last two weeks.

17. West Monroe HS (West Monroe, La.) - (2-0) *20
Last week: Beat Baker High, 42-22.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Midland Lee (Texas)
Outlook: West Monroe's offense has gotten better every week - progressing from 25 points in Week 1 to 38 and then 42 this past weekend - but the defense took a downturn on Friday, giving up 22 points to Baker High. West Monroe can't afford that kind of a lapse against No. 4 Midland Lee, which will be well-rested after a bye this past week. While most of the hype this weekend will be focused on De La Salle vs. Mater Dei, this matchup between West Monroe and Midland Lee might prove to be the better game.

18. Mullen Prep (Denver, Colo.) - (3-0) *21
Last week: Beat Doherty High, 49-10.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Smoky Hill High
Outlook: Mullen Prep seems to be getting better each week, and its margin of victory proves as much. Mullen won its first game by 21 points, its second by 34 and torched Doherty High by 39 this past week. That's a scary thought for this week's opponent, Smoky Hill High.

19. Central Bucks West HS (Doylestown, Pa.) - (3-0) *22
Last week: Beat Bensalem High, 51-6.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. William Tennant High
Outlook: It looks like Pennsylvania's top two teams - Cathedral Prep and Central Bucks West - are on a collision course for the second year in a row. Last fall, the Bucks beat Cathedral Prep in the AAAA state title game, 14-13. The Bucks are beating teams by an average score of 45-9 these days. Dave Camburn returned two punts for touchdowns Friday night.

20. Southridge HS (Miami, Fla.) - (3-0) *23
Last week: Beat South Dade High, 30-7.
Next game: Sept. 21 vs. Sunset High
Outlook: Southridge reached the 30-point mark for the third time in three games, easily dispatching South Dade High last Thursday. Travis Glasford led the way for Southridge, running for 139 of the team's 292 rushing yards. Glasford also tallied a touchdown in the win.

21. Katy HS (Katy, Texas) - (3-0) *24
Last week: Beat Humble High, 24-0.
Next game: Sept. 30 vs. South Houston
Outlook: Katy is another Texas team that has played a tough schedule so far. But unlike No. 8 Garland, the Tigers have needed no last-second heroics. On Friday, quarterback Jared Kaspar led Katy to victory by throwing for 159 yards and two TDs on 9-for-11 passing. The Tigers have a bye this week.

22. Washington HS (Massillon, Ohio) - (4-0) *25
Last week: Beat Mansfield High, 27-7.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Austintown-Fitch High
Outlook: It's pretty amazing when 27 points is considered a sub-par offensive showing, but that was the case Friday night for Washington. Still, running back Perry James ran for 180 yards and a TD, and the Washington defense gave up only 159 yards of total offense to Mansfield High.

23. Hackensack HS (Hackensack, N.J.) - (2-0) *NR
Last week: Beat Paramus Catholic, 34-0.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Passaic High
Outlook: Hackensack debuts in the Top 25 after a 34-0 whipping of Paramus Catholic. Hackensack features a balanced offensive attack, as running back Kaliym Hazel picked up 130 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and quarterback Bryson Rosser threw for 150 yards and a pair of TDs on 7-for-7 passing.

24. Hampton HS (Hampton, Va.) - (3-0) *NR
Last week: Beat Bethel High, 21-0.
Next game: Sept. 23 vs. Menchville High
Outlook: Here's a hint to teams hoping to break into the Top 25: Pitch a shutout. Defense impresses us. Both Hackensack and Hampton - having your school's name start with "H" apparently doesn't hurt either - blanked their opponents last week and wound up ranked. It's a tired old saying, but it still rings true: Defense wins championships.

25. Summerville HS (Summerville, S.C.) - (4-0) *NR
Last week: Beat Stratford High, 49-6.
Next game: Sept. 22 vs. Berkeley High
Outlook: OK, so you don't have to shut out your opponent to make the Top 25. Winning 49-6 over your rival will also do the trick. Quarterback Bennett Swygert had a swagger in his step, throwing for 221 yards and four scores on 8-for-13 passing. Swygert also ran for a 22-yard touchdown. We love quarterbacks who can get out of the pocket and make things happen.

Dropped out:
No. 7 Bradenton Southeast High (Fla.) - lost to Charlotte High, 41-40.
No. 8 Highlands High (Ky.) - lost to Elder High, 21-14.
No. 15 Madison Central High (Miss.) - lost to Brandon High, 35-25.

*: last week's ranking