LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Top-ranked Katy rolled through another playoff series to continue as the leader in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for a sixth straight week.
The (36-1-1) Tigers blanked Cesar E. Chavez twice — 10-0 and 15-0 — in their best-of-three Texas Class 6A matchup, and will face Cinco Ranch next in a regional quarterfinal later today.
Meanwhile, No. 2 Northwest Rankin (31-0) cruised through both games of its Class 7A playoff series against D’Iberville, then routed Ocean Springs, 11-2, on Wednesday in the opener of their Mississippi state semifinal. The second game of that best-of-three series is set for Friday.
The next six teams in the Super 25 also remained the same this week, with seventh-ranked Orange Beach (42-1) performing particularly impressively. The Makos beat their three opponents by a 36-1 combined margin.
The first change came at No. 9, with Walsh Jesuit (19-0) moving up a spot after winning more four games. Fellow Ohio school Austintown-Fitch (17-1) won its three games by a 46-0 margin to join them in the top 10.
New York schools were the top movers. Unbeaten St. Anthony’s (19-0) gained five places to 11th, while Shenendehowa slipped six spots to No. 15.
One-loss Thunder Ridge (21-1) is the lone newcomer to the rankings at No. 23, replacing Roncalli, which dropped out this week after a pair of defeats.
State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – May 9, 2024
1. Katy (Texas)
Record: 36-1-1 | PR: 1
2. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)
Record: 31-0 | PR: 2
3. Jackson (Wash.)
Record: 18-1 | PR: 3
4. Calvary Baptist (La.)
Record: 35-2 | PR: 4
5. Sterlington (La.)
Record: 33-1 | PR: 5
6. Saint Francis (Calif.)
Record: 23-0 | PR: 6
7. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 42-1 | PR: 7
8. Lake Central (Ind.)
Record: 27-0 | PR: 8
9. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)
Record: 19-0 | PR: 10
10. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)
Record: 17-1 | PR: 11
11. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)
Record: 19-0 | PR: 15
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 25-1 | PR: 12
13. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 20-1 | PR: 13
14. Diamond (Mo.)
Record: 35-1 | PR: 16
15. Shenendehowa (N.Y.)
Record: 15-2 | PR: 9
16. Lancaster (Ohio)
Record: 21-2 | PR: 17
17. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 26-1 | PR: 18
18. Oak Grove (N.C.)
Record: 22-2 | PR: 14
19. Owyhee (Utah)
Record: 19-2 | PR: 19
20. Sheridan (Ark.)
Record: 25-2 | PR: 20
21. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)
Record: 19-1 | PR: 21
22. Notre Dame (N.J.)
Record: 18-1 | PR: 22
23. Thunder Ridge (Idaho)
Record: 21-1 | PR: NRR
24. Pacifica (Calif.)
Record: 24-2 | PR: 24
t-25. St. Thomas More (La.)
Record: 31-4-1 | PR: t-25
t-25. North DeSoto (La.)
Record: 31-5 | PR: t-25
Dropped out: Roncalli (Ind.).
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