1. De La Salle HS (Concord, Calif.) - (3-0) *1
Last week: Beat Mater Dei High, 31-28.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. St. Francis
Outlook: In what may have been the toughest of its 103 consecutive wins, De La Salle held onto its No. 1 ranking when Mater Dei High kicker Bryan New missed a 33-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining that could have tied the game. De La Salle jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead - it looked like the game could be headed for a repeat of last year's 42-0 drubbing - before Mater Dei got back in it. Running back/linebacker Kevin Simon rushed for 131 yards and a TD for the victors.

	Kevin Simon and De La Salle High (Calif.) remain on top of the national football rankings.

2. Lakeland HS (Lakeland, Fla.) - (4-0) *2
Last week: Beat Durant High, 34-0.
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Manatee High
Outlook: Lakeland pitched its third shutout in four games on Friday to secure its 50th straight win. Durant High managed only 18 yards rushing against Lakeland's vaunted defense, which has given up just six points this season. Quarterback Kedrick Frazier threw for two scores and ran for three more. He'd be a good pickup in those oh-so-popular high school fantasy football leagues.

3. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) - (4-0) *3
Last week: Beat Erie Central High, 77-0.
Next game: Sept. 30 vs. Central Mountain High
Outlook: Saturday's win against Erie Central High (0-4) was just plain ugly. After scoring in the 40s in each of its first three games, Cathedral Prep's offense exploded for 77 points in a game that defined the word ?blowout.? Lightning was the only thing that could stop Prep, as the game was called with 8:48 remaining. We'll call this one a TKO. Prep is winning by an average score of 52-5 this season.

4. Jenks HS (Jenks, Okla.) - (4-0) *5
Last week: Beat Broken Arrow High, 50-21.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Bartlesville High
Outlook: Jenks moves up a spot this week thanks to a loss by former No. 4 Midland Lee High (Texas). But it's not like Jenks isn't worthy, especially after a 50-21 pounding of Broken Arrow High on Thursday. Jenks has now scored more than 40 points in each of its first four games. The only possible Achilles heel could be a defense that is giving up almost 20 points per game, by far the most of any team in the top five. Tailback Bobby Klinck rushed for 134 yards and a TD on just eight carries.

5. Poly HS (Long Beach, Calif.) - (3-0) *6
Last week: Beat Santa Barbara High, 62-0.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Fontana High
Outlook: Poly moves into the top five this week after posting a blowout win on Friday. The rout was rivaled only by Cathedral Prep's 77-0 victory. Poly's opponents this year can thank season-opening opponent Vista High for awakening a sleeping giant. After winning that game, 20-14, Poly has won its last two games by a cumulative score of 104-0. Quarterback Markee White threw four touchdown passes against Santa Barbara.

6. St. Louis HS (Honolulu, Hawaii) - (6-0) *7
Last week: Beat Pac-Five High, 65-0.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Kamehameha High
Outlook: The theme for this week, in case you haven't been paying attention, is blowouts. St. Louis became the third Top 10 team to win by at least 60 points when it waved aloha to Pac-Five High on Saturday. Four St. Louis quarterbacks combined to go 14-for-16 passing for 305 yards and six TDs. Running back Pesefea Fiaseau ran for 115 yards and two scores on five carries in less than one quarter of action.

7. Garland HS (Garland, Texas) - (3-0) *8
Last week: Did not play.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Naaman Forest High
Outlook: Garland enjoyed a much-needed week off after winning its first three games by a total of seven points. The top-ranked team in Texas - after Midland Lee lost on Friday - should be well rested when it takes on Naaman Forest High this Friday.

8. St. Ignatius HS (Cleveland, Ohio) - (5-0) *9
Last week: Beat H.D. Woodson High (D.C.), 47-0.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Massillon Washington High
Outlook: The top team in Ohio continued to roll along, joining the shutout party with a 47-0 blanking of H.D. Woodson High of Washington, D.C. This sets up a huge game this Friday against No. 20 Washington High, the state's second-best team. Washington could be the only roadblock between St. Ignatius and an undefeated season. Quarterback Bryan Panteck didn't put up his usual gaudy numbers, but that's because he played less than a half. Panteck finished 4-for-6 passing for 92 yards and three scores.

9. West Monroe HS (West Monroe, La.) - (4-0) *17
Last week: Beat Midland Lee High (Texas), 36-8.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Clarksdale High
Outlook: West Monroe pulled off the big upset this week, handing former No. 4 Midland Lee a 36-8 thumping. West Monroe held running back Cedric Benson to "only" 157 rushing yards on 22 carries, but that included an 80-yard TD run that accounted for Lee's only scoring. Otherwise, the defense was fantastic, forcing five turnovers. West Monroe running back J.J. Johnson stole the show, rushing for 113 yards and scoring a TD on a 90-yard punt return.

10. Westlake HS (Austin, Texas) - (3-0) *11
Last week: Did not play.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Westwood High
Outlook: One Texas team drops out of the Top 10 and another moves in. Westlake benefited from losses by Midland Lee and Mater Dei to move up one spot this week, despite not even playing. The Chaparrals get back to action this Friday when they take on Westwood High. Westlake is hoping to shore up its defense, which has given up 18 points per game this year.

11. Richmond County HS (Rockingham, N.C.) - (5-0) *12
Last week: Beat Lumberton High, 62-0.
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Purnell Swett High
Outlook: After having their game rained out on Friday, Richmond County and Lumberton High had to wait until Monday to play. Lumberton probably wishes the game was just canceled, as Richmond held Lumberton to only 65 yards of offense and tallied 10 sacks.

12. Naperville Central HS (Naperville, Ill.) - (5-0) *13
Last week: Beat West Aurora High, 42-0.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Wheaton North High
Outlook: The most interesting storyline to watch in high school football this season may be whether Naperville Central gives up a point all season. The Red Hawks have now outscored their opponents, 202-0, after allowing West Aurora only 85 yards of total offense on Friday. The offense wasn't bad, either, scoring on its first six possessions.

13. Ben Davis HS (Indianapolis, Ind.) - (6-0) *14
Last week: Beat North Central High, 35-24.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Lawrence North High
Outlook: Say what you will about some of the close scores, but Ben Davis always seems to find a way to win. On Friday, the team notched its 21st consecutive victory thanks to a defense that returned two fumbles for touchdowns. Quarterback James Banks threw for 170 yards and ran for two touchdowns.

14. Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) - (4-0) *15
Last week: Beat Harding High, 41-0.
Next game: Sept. 28 vs. Johnson High
Outlook: OK, it's time for the rest of the teams in Minnesota to put up the white flag and surrender. Cretin-Derham Hall is so good it might be able to hang with the University of Minnesota. QB Joe Mauer finally got a chance to play into the second half, racking up 325 yards and four TDs on 18-for-24 passing. His favorite target was Tone Leseman, who caught five passes for two scores and 168 yards.

15. Mullen Prep (Denver, Colo.) - (4-0) *18
Last week: Beat Smoky Hill High, 49-0.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Boulder High
Outlook: Mullen likes to do things in twos. The first two weeks, the team scored 34 points in both games. Now, Mullen has tallied 49 points in consecutive games. Oh, and the defense has given up only 23 points in four contests. Against Smoky Hill, Johnny Ruff and Justin Holmes combined for 251 rushing yards and three TDs.

16. Central Bucks West (Doylestown, Pa.) - (4-0) *19
Last week: Beat William Tennent High, 55-7.
Next game: Sept. 28 vs. Neshaminy High
Outlook: Here's a scary thought for prep football teams in Pennsylvania: Central Bucks West has increased its scoring in all four of its games. The Bucks have outscored their opponents this season by a total of 189-33. To put that into perspective, CB West's lowest point total this year is 34.

17. Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.) - (2-1) *10
Last week: Lost to De La Salle High, 31-28.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Edison High
Outlook: Normally, when a Top 25 team loses, we drop it out because there are just too many good, undefeated teams across the nation. But Mater Dei is a special case, because the Monarchs took the nation's top team to the wire until a missed field goal in the final minute secured their fate. After that gutsy performance, you can't convince us that Mater Dei isn't one of the Top 25 teams in the country, even with a loss on its record.

18. Southridge HS (Miami, Fla.) - (4-0) *20
Last week: Beat Sunset High, 53-6.
Next game: Sept. 28 vs. Northwestern High
Outlook: Southridge posted its biggest margin of victory this season in dismantling Sunset High on Thursday. Travis Glasford had an efficient night on the ground, running for 125 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries. The Southridge offense is averaging 37 points per game this year.

19. Katy HS (Katy, Texas) - (3-0) *21
Last week: Did not play.
Next game: Sept. 30 vs. South Houston High
Outlook: Let's see: Three Texas teams ranked in the Top 25 took the week off and moved up in the rankings. One played, lost and fell out of the Top 25. You think Midland Lee wishes it hadn't made the trip to Louisiana after all? As for Katy, the Tigers get back to the gridiron this Saturday against South Houston High.

20. Washington HS (Massillon, Ohio) - (5-0) *22
Last week: Beat Austintown Fitch High, 21-9.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. St. Ignatius High
Outlook: Running back Perry James rushed for 156 yards and quarterback Justin Zwick threw for 142 yards and two TDs as Washington won the final game before its showdown with No. 8 St. Ignatius High on Friday. Washington's secondary will have to come up big if it hopes to shut down St. Ignatius QB Bryan Panteck and pull off the upset.

21. Hackensack HS (Hackensack, N.J.) - (3-0) *23
Last week: Beat Passaic High, 38-0.
Next game: Sept. 28 vs. Clifton High
Outlook: Hackensack has posted three consecutive shutouts to open the season and has outscored its opponents 117-0. Running back Kaliym Hazel tallied 186 rushing yards and four touchdowns in just one half of action against Passaic High.

22. Hampton HS (Hampton, Va.) - (4-0) *24
Last week: Beat Menchville High, 62-0.
Next game: Sept. 30 vs. Heritage High
Outlook: If you haven't already figured it out, a lot of Top 25 teams pitched shutouts this weekend. Hampton recorded its second straight shutout and has outscored its last two opponents 83-0.

23. Summerville HS (Summerville, S.C.) - (5-0) *25
Last week: Beat Berkeley High, 13-7.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Goose Creek High
Outlook: Finally, a good, old-fashioned defensive battle. A week after breaking into the Top 25, Summerville almost dropped out. The team needed a 37-yard TD pass from Bennett Swygert to Tarell Moree with 1:30 left in the game to eke out a win over Berkeley High.

24. Lincoln HS (Tallahassee, Fla.) - (4-0) *NR
Last week: Beat DeLand High, 33-10.
Next game: Sept. 29 vs. Godby High
Outlook: Lincoln finally breaks into the Top 25, becoming the third team from Florida. Running back Mike Gilliam is the man who makes the Lincoln offense go, as he rushed for 162 yards and three TDs on 19 carries versus DeLand High.

25. Mountain View HS (Mesa, Ariz.) - (3-0) *NR
Last week: Beat Desert Vista High, 35-0.
Next game: Sept. 28 vs. Highland High
Outlook: We keep harping on it, but it's true: Defense impresses us more than offense. Mountain View is the third team in the Top 25 that hasn't given up a single point yet this season, thanks, in part, to a 35-0 pounding of Desert Vista High on Friday.

Dropped out:
No. 4 Midland Lee High (Texas) - lost to West Monroe High (La.), 36-8.
No. 16 Hart High (Calif.) - lost to Westlake High (Calif.), 23-13.

*: last week's ranking