It’s hard to believe, but it’s now Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season. Some schools have made statements, shaking up the weekly Sweet 16.
Some things stayed exactly the same, most notably at the forefront of the rankings, with the usual names staying put. Others have made a meteoric rise, including an array from the North Shore.
Fun fact: the MIAA will release its initial power rankings Friday. Programs will have a better grasp of how things could shake out in their respective divisions.
Will they remain in the hunt for the Herald’s top spot as the next few games progress? Let’s find out.
1. Xaverian: Some were wondering how the top-ranked school would fare last week against a red-hot Everett squad looking to reassert itself as a state heavyweight. Even with recent injury concerns, the Hawks (2-0) took care of business in a 49-14 rout. Another challenger awaits Friday night in Springfield Central and this is a game the whole state will be watching.
2. Catholic Memorial: Two out-of-state opponents proved no match for the Knights in recent weeks, the latest victim being St. Francis (N.Y.) in a 56-32 drubbing. John DiBiaso’s team returns to the Bay State this week, looking to carry things into a tilt with a seasoned Nashoba Tech squad.
3. St. John’s Prep: The Eagles (3-0) might have put together their best game yet last week, knocking off a Central Catholic squad on the rise (a 47-21 victory). La Salle Academy will present a unique challenge as one of Rhode Island’s top programs.
4. King Philip: It feels like the Warriors (3-0) have officially found their rhythm again as one of the Commonwealth’s best, fresh off of a 43-0 shutout of Norwood in Week 3. Will momentum continue against another Hockomock League heavyweight as they head to Foxboro? That remains to be seen.
5. Springfield Central: The Golden Eagles (1-1) silenced an acclaimed Mansfield squad last week, pulling away for a convincing 28-3 victory. Now, they will face a Catholic Conference juggernaut as they travel to the Hawk Bowl to square off with Xaverian in Week 4.
6. Scituate: Another week, another win for the Sailors. The latest came when Jonny Donovan hit Miller Shea for a game-clinching touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in a 34-28 battle against neighboring rival Norwell last week.
7. Shawsheen: Slowly but surely, the reigning Div. 5 Super Bowl champions continue to climb the Herald’s rankings. Deservedly so, following a 35-0 blanking of Winthrop in their last game. The Rams (3-0) will look to continue their ascent with a game against Norwood.
8. Milton: The Wildcats are clearly on the rise, after putting up 35 points in the first half during a 42-6 victory over Bay State Conference foe Framingham. Patrick Collins finished his night with four touchdowns. Friday’s contest with Acton-Boxboro presents an intriguing test for Collins and his teammates (3-0), as the Revolution are off to their best start (also 2-0) in a few years.
9. Milford: The Scarlet Hawks (3-0) won a heavyweight bout with Wellesley (28-21) in their last game. They will face yet another Bay State Conference titan, looking to prove themselves further in a tilt with Natick.
10. Barnstable: The Red Hawks (2-0) took a week off to gather themselves after an outstanding opening to the season. This Saturday, Kyle Coffin and his teammates will host a Western Mass. power with Amherst-Pelham making the journey from the Pioneer Valley to the Cape.
11. Winchester: The Red and Black finally cracked the code, entering the Herald’s Sweet 16 after knocking on the door in recent weeks. Are they here to stay? Fans will find out if they’re able to knock off their upcoming opponent, which just so happens to be the next school on the list.
12. Masconomet: Jack Fabiano led the charge for the Chieftains (four total touchdowns) in a convincing 43-22 victory against North Andover. The program will attempt to keep climbing in the standings with its toughest challenge yet against Winchester.
13. North Attleboro: Nick Torres was the hero for the Rocketeers last week, as he drilled a game-ending field goal to deliver his squad a memorable 17-14 win against Taunton in a Hockomock League classic. This time around, they will face another rival in Oliver Ames.
14. Tewksbury: Fans of this rising team have been clamoring for respect in recent days. Their voices have been heard, as Tewksbury (2-0) made a statement in its own right with an eye-opening 28-6 drubbing of Methuen.
15. Bishop Feehan: It’s time to welcome the Shamrocks back to our rankings, as they have caught fire with two straight wins. No luck was involved last week, as they erupted for a 51-12 romp of crosstown rival Attleboro. St. Mary’s will be a tough task, but it feels like Bishop Feehan might have the edge in this clash between Catholic Central League rivals.
16. Uxbridge: The Commonwealth’s longest active winning streak continued last week for the Spartans (now at 28 in a row). However, they faced pushback during a hard-fought 47-35 victory over Nipmuc. Next up will be a 1-1 Oxford team coming off a win of its own against Bartlett.
On The Sideline: Andover, Mansfield, Leominster, Natick, Weymouth, West Boylston, Stoneham, Duxbury, Randolph
