New England High School Football Top 25 Regional Rankings (Oct. 11, 2026)

The New England high school football season is entering its most important stretch, with the region's top teams looking to build momentum and strengthen their championship credentials. St. John's Prep of Massachusetts continues to lead the way in this week's New England High School Football Top 25 Regional Rankings, but a deep field of contenders from Connecticut and Massachusetts currently occupy the top nine spots in the rankings.

Catholic Memorial remains the top challenger to St. John's Prep from the Bay State, while undefeated Connecticut powers occupy five of those top nine positions, including New Canaan, Greenwich, Southington, St. Joseph and Hand.

Rhode Island's Bishop Hendricken is the top team from outside those two states dominating the top of this list, but the two-loss Hawks were blown out in a 28-0 loss to No. 9 Hand earlier this season. Still, the Ocean State is well-represented here with a quartet of traditional powers, but like Hendricken, they've all lost at least once.

Maine's Thornton Academy is the top-ranked team from northern New England at No. 15, and New Hampshire's No. 17 Bishop Guertin has taken over the top position in the Granite State after dominating a Salem squad that previously beat the state's No. 2 Pinkerton. Vermont's No. 23 Burr & Burton, meanwhile, is the No. 1 team from the Green Mountain State.

This is your High School On SI New England Football Top 25 State Rankings.

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1. St. John's Prep (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 1

Last Week: St. John's Prep 43, Boston College High 6

Loss(es): None

St. John's Prep continued its hot start with a 43-6 win over Boston College High. The Eagles have established themselves as one of the clear favorites to run the table in New England, and they'll go for 6-0 next Friday at St. John's which makes its debut here this week at No. 12.

2. Catholic Memorial (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 2

Last Week: Catholic Memorial 41, Malden Catholic 0

Loss(es): None

Catholic Memorial stayed perfect with a 41-0 road victory over Brockton, improving to 5-0 on the season. The Knights will look to keep their unbeaten record intact Friday at home against a reeling Xaverian Brothers.

3. New Canaan (CT)

Record: 4-0

Previous Rank: 3

Last Week: IDLE

Loss(es): None

New Canaan remained unbeaten and extended its winning streak to 27 games with a 47-14 road victory over New Britain two weeks ago. The Rams had a bye last weekend before hosting Bridgeport Central on Oct. 17.

4. Central (MA)

Record: 4-1

Previous Rank: 4

Last Week: Central 49, Longmeadow 14

Loss(es): St. John's Prep, 29-14

Central strengthened its case as one of Massachusetts' elite teams with a convincing victory over Longmeadow. The Golden Eagles will host East Longmeadow Thursday, Oct. 15.

5. Greenwich (CT)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 5

Last Week: Greenwich 49, Norwalk 6

Loss(es): None

Greenwich continued its unbeaten start and maintained its place among Connecticut's elite teams by blowing out Norwalk. The Cardinals will take a week off to prepare for their big Oct. 23 meeting with No. 3 New Canaan.

6. Scituate (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 6

Last Week: Scituate 41, Quincy 6

Loss(es): None

Scituate turned in another dominant performance, rolling past Quincy 41-6 to remain among Massachusetts' top teams. The Sailors will look to carry that momentum into Friday's visit to Pembroke.

7. Southington (CT)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 8

Last Week: Southington 29, Manchester 6

Loss(es): None

Southington continued its unbeaten start with a 29-6 victory over Manchester, improving to 5-0 behind another strong performance from quarterback Jacoby Roman. The Blue Knights remain firmly in the mix among Connecticut's top contenders as they take a week off before hosting Glastonbury.

8. St. Joseph (CT)

Record: 4-0

Previous Rank: 9

Last Week: IDLE

Loss(es): None

St. Joseph continued to make its case as one of Connecticut's top contenders with a dominant 42-7 win over Glastonbury two weeks ago before taking a bye last weekend. The Cadets host Wilton Saturday.

9. Hand (CT)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 10

Last Week: Hand 38, Cheshire 0

Loss(es): None

Hand delivered one of the weekend's most emphatic performances, shutting out Cheshire 38-0 in a rematch of last year's overtime thriller. The Tigers are off this coming weekend before visiting Shelton on October 23.

10. Bishop Hendricken (RI)

Record: 4-2

Previous Rank: 11

Last Week: Bishop Hendricken 24, La Salle Academy 13

Loss(es): Chaminade (N.Y.), 18-17; Hand (Conn.), 28-0

Bishop Hendricken continued its resurgence with a 24-13 victory over La Salle Academy, extending its winning streak to four games after an 0-2 start. The Hawks have quickly reestablished themselves as a force in Rhode Island and will visit Cranston West Friday.

11. Central Catholic (MA)

Record: 3-2

Previous Rank: 12

Last Week: Central Catholic 49, Methuen 16

Loss(es): St. John's Prep, 21-17; Bishop Hendricken, 21-12

Central Catholic followed up its wild 52-51 victory over Xaverian Brothers with a convincing 49-16 win over Methuen. The Raiders have bounced back from a 2-2 start to win three straight and will visit Londonderry (N.H.) Friday.

12. St. John's (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: Unranked

Last Week: St. John's 42, Xaverian Brothers 22

Loss(es): None

St. John's made a statement by knocking off three-time defending Division 1 champion Xaverian Brothers 42-22, and they enter the rankings here at No. 12. It's just in time for their home game with St. John's Prep Friday.

13. La Salle Academy (RI)

Record: 3-2

Previous Rank: 7

Last Week: Bishop Hendricken 24, La Salle Academy 13

Loss(es): St. John's Prep, 60-35; Bishop Hendricken, 24-13

La Salle Academy couldn't keep pace with Bishop Hendricken, falling 24-13 in a matchup between two of Rhode Island's traditional powers. The Rams will visit Cumberland Friday looking to regain their footing.

14. North Kingstown (RI)

Record: 4-1

Previous Rank: 15

Last Week: North Kingstown 28, Portsmouth 21

Loss(es): La Salle Academy, 35-7

North Kingstown survived another tough test against Portsmouth, and now the Skippers turn their attention to Friday's home game against St. Raphael Academy.

15. Thornton Academy (ME)

Record: 6-0

Previous Rank: 16

Last Week: Thornton Academy 53, Noble 20

Loss(es): None

Thornton Academy continued its strong season with a 53-20 victory over Noble, remaining unbeaten in the process. The Trojans get Sanford at home Friday.

16. Cranston West (RI)

Record: 4-1

Previous Rank: 18

Last Week: Cranston West 34, Central (R.I.) 13

Loss(es): North Kingstown, 27-21

Cranston West picked up a valuable 34-13 win over Central of Providence in their final tuneup before Friday's big home game against Rhode Island's No. 1 Bishop Hendricken.

17. Bishop Guertin (NH)

Record: 6-0

Previous Rank: 21

Last Week: Bishop Guertin 41, Salem 27

Loss(es): None

Bishop Guertin finally jumps to the top of the line among the New Hampshire contingent after defeating Salem 41-27 — a team that beat the other Granite State representatives from Pinkerton earlier this year in a lopsided 28-7 result. That direct comparison is enough to move Guertin up, and the Cardinals head to Goffstown Friday in their first game as the state's No. 1 team.

18. Wachusett Regional (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: Unranked

Last Week: Wachusett Regional 31, Walpole 21

Loss(es): None

Wachusett Regional earned a 31-21 victory over Walpole to jump into the rankings this week at No. 18. The Mountaineers will host Westborough Friday.

19. Pinkerton (NH)

Record: 5-1

Previous Rank: 20

Last Week: Pinkerton 36, Manchester Central 13

Loss(es): Salem, 28-7

As note above, Pinkerton slips to No. 2 among the New Hampshire teams here, despite a solid 36-13 win over Manchester Central. The Astros have a chance to make a major statement for the Granite State Friday at No. 20 Andover.

20. Andover (MA)

Record: 4-1

Previous Rank: 22

Last Week: Andover 50, Lawrence 12

Loss(es): Catholic Memorial, 36-14

Andover looked solid in a 50-12 rout of Lawrence, but they could have their hands full Friday at home against No. 19 Pinkerton of New Hampshire.

21. Mansfield (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: Unranked

Last Week: Mansfield 35, Oliver Ames 14

Loss(es): None

Mansfield continued its unbeaten start with a 35-14 win over Oliver Ames, keeping the Hornets firmly in the mix among Massachusetts' top teams. It's enough to lift them into the rankings here heading into Friday's home date with North Attleborough.

22. Bonny Eagle (ME)

Record: 6-0

Previous Rank: 23

Last Week: Bonny Eagle 45, Oxford Hills/Buckfield 6

Loss(es): None

Bonny Eagle continued its dominant run with a 45-6 victory over Oxford Hills, improving to 6-0. Maine's second-ranked Scots will host Exeter of New Hampshire on Friday.

23. Burr & Burton (VT)

Record: 6-0

Previous Rank: 24

Last Week: Burr & Burton 53, Champlain Valley Union 7

Loss(es): None

Burr & Burton inches up a spot here after another big win against Champlain Valley Union, and now the Bulldogs will host Rutland Friday.

24. Shawsheen Valley Tech (MA)

Record: 5-0

Previous Rank: 25

Last Week: Shawsheen Valley Tech 35, Greater Lowell Tech 7

Loss(es): None

Shawsheen Valley Tech continued its winning ways with a 35-7 victory over Greater Lowell Tech. The Rams will host Whittier RVT Friday.

25. Ridgefield (CT)

Record: 3-1

Previous Rank: Unranked

Last Week: IDLE

Loss(es): Staples, 23-20

Ridgefield lost to Staples three weeks ago, but they take the Wreckers' spot here this week after the latter was upset Danbury last weekend. Ridgefield owns a 42-22 win Danbury just two weeks ago, resolving the loop for now in the Tigers' favor.

Final Analysis

With the regular season winding down, every game carries added significance as New England's top teams look to separate themselves from the pack and build momentum for the postseason. St. John's Prep remains the team to chase, but with contenders spread across all six states, the regional pecking order could look considerably different before the final whistle of the season.

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