LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Unbeaten Lake Creek set itself up for the Texas 5A playoffs with a pair of wins to stay atop the 2023 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for the 23rd straight week.
The defending state champion (34-0) Lions play the first two games of a best-of-three series with Shoemaker on Friday at Mumford High after beating Ruder 13-0 last Friday and beating Katy 7-1 on Tuesday. Lake Creek has won 75 straight games and is 113-2 over the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, the No. 2 and No. 3 teams saw changes this week after losses to both Roncalli (12-2-1) and Jackson (14-1). Willow Canyon (26-0-1) jumped into second place after two wins over Kellis and Bentonville (25-1) took over third after a 5-0 week.
Roncalli and Jackson still loom at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, ahead of the unchanged rest of the top 10, which is rounded out by St. Amant (32-2), which faces the team it beat for last year’s Louisiana Division Crown at state – West Monroe – in the state semifinals on Friday. The winner plays either Sam Houston or Live Oak in the championship on Saturday. The Gators have wins over all three remaining playoff teams.
Defending Kentucky state champion Ballard (19-0) is poised to climb if anyone hesitates after extending its winning streak to 58 on Wednesday, as does undefeated newcomer Springfield (16-0) in the top two spots behind the top 10. Ballard went 39-0 last season and hasn’t lost since a 2-1 loss to Daviess County in the state playoffs on June 11, 2021. Springfield was coming off a 5-4 win over No. 17 Anthony Wayne last week and showed no signs of to delay soon.
Elsewhere, No. 20 Donovan Catholic (15-0) posted five more wins to earn two more spots this week, while Bingham lost twice and was eliminated.
State rankings presented by 2023 NFCA High School Management Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are selected based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule and active NFCA membership.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – April 27, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 34-0 | PR: 1
2. Willow Canyon (Arizona)
Record: 26-0-1 | PR: 4
3. Bentonville (Arkansas)
Record: 25-1 | PR: 5
4. Roncalli (Indiana)
Record: 12-2-1 | PR: 2
5. Jackson (Washington)
Record: 14-1 | PR: 3
6. Los Alamitos (California)
Record: 23-3 | PR: 6
7. Neshoba Central (Miss.)
Record: 20-3 | PR: 7
8. Moorpark (California)
Record: 17-1 | PR: 8
9. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 19-0 | PR: 9
10. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 32-2 | PR: 10
11. Ballard (KY)
Record: 19-0 | PR: NR
12. Springfield (Ohio)
Record: 16-0 | PR: NR
13. Rockridge (Illinois)
Record: 18-1 | PR: 12
14. Saint Francis (California)
Record: 18-2 | PR: 13
15. Coral Springs (FL) Charter
Record: 20-0-2 | PR: 14
16. Mount Vernon (Mo.)
Record: 29-1 | PR: 16
17. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 10-1 | PR: 17
18. Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Record: 30-1 | PR: 19
19. West Stanley (North Carolina)
Record: 20-1 | PR: 20
20. Donovan Catholic (NJ)
Record: 15-0 | PR: 22
21. Queen Creek (Arizona)
Record: 26-1-1 | PR: 23
22. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 18-4 | PR: 18
23. Norco (California)
Record: 23-3 | PR: 15
24. Spanish Fork (Utah)
Record: 16-2 | PR: 21
25. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 16-2 | PR: 24
Dropped out: Bingham (Utah).
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