ESPN RISE

ESPN will release the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national football rankings to start each week of the regular season and playoffs.

Trinity holds on to the top spot in the ranking after Week 1 action. The Trojans snuck by John Curtis in a matchup from the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series. Byrnes of South Carolina jumped into the top 10 after downing North Gwinnett of Georgia 36-21.

ESPN RISE FAB 50

The ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings were compiled by a panel of ESPN RISE and ESPN.com high school editors, which includes Mark Tennis, Doug Huff, Chris Lawlor, Jon Mahoney, Sheldon Shealer, Ronnie Flores and Paul Muyskens.

1. Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Record: 1-0
Points: 250 pts, 5 first-place votes
Previous Rank: 1

Nebraska-bound running back Tre' Robinson rushed for two third-quarter touchdowns as top-ranked Euless Trinity overcame both sweltering temperatures and traditional Louisiana power John Curtis to record a 28-12 win Monday at Texas Stadium in the second day of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series. The Trojans didn't pull into the lead until just over one minute remained in the first half, when Christo Lisika scored on a 4-yard run to give Trinity a 7-6 advantage. John Curtis controlled much of the first half with an effective running game, putting together a 20-play, 87-yard scoring drive that spanned over 10 minutes. Robinson's first touchdown run came after Curtis muffed a punt early in the third quarter, and his second gave the Trojans a 21-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter and Trinity was never seriously threatened the rest of the way. Trinity has this weekend off before facing Cedar Hill, a very strong program over the past five years, on Sept. 12.

2. Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 245 pts
Previous Rank: 2

ESPNU 150 athlete Greg Reid, a Florida pledge, played well on both sides of the ball, rushing for two scores and adding a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown as Lowndes rolled past Woodland of Stockbridge 63-0. Another ESPNU 150 player, DB/RB Gerald Demps, a Florida State commit, added a rushing touchdown. The Vikings rushed for over 200 yards and the offensive line dominated the Wolfpack. Lowndes will host the 2006 state co-champs from Peachtree Ridge in its next game on Friday.

3. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 0-0
Points: 240 pts
Previous Rank: 3

It's a new type of season for the Spartans as they will be in a league, the East Bay Athletic League, for the first time since the 1997 season. This move cuts down their number of nonleague games to only three, including their season opener, which won't be until Saturday, Sept. 13, at Junipero Serra of San Mateo. When De La Salle starts up league play, it will do so with a 62-game league winning streak, a total that extends back to 1989.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 235 pts
Previous Rank: 4

The Raiders' lack of preseason practice time because of inclement weather conditions in Florida showed early in their opening game against a one-win Elder team in the Herbstreit Classic event in Cincinnati. Aquinas fell behind 10-0 after one quarter but scored 21 unanswered second-quarter points and controlled the rest of the game for a 35-24 win. Quarterback Ryan Becker completed 10 of 18 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Former NFL and Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter was on hand to watch son Duron Carter, an Ohio State recruit, land four receptions for 131 yards and a TD. "Winning in Ohio shows we're one of the best teams in the country," Duron Carter boasted. Up next for the Raiders is a backyard matchup versus Cardinal Gibbons.

5. Jenks (Jenks, Okla.)
Record: 0-0
Points: 230 pts
Previous Rank: 5

The two-time defending Class 6A state champions kick off their season on Friday in comfortable surroundings, at home, against Bixby, last year's 5A runner-up. QB Zach Horn should have no problems not looking ahead to next week's big matchup against Tulsa Union as the signal-caller was on the other side of the field last year as the quarterback for the Redskins before transferring to Jenks for his senior season.

6. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Record: 0-0
Points: 225 pts
Previous Rank: 6

The Ironmen have the luxury of waiting an extra week to start the 2008 campaign. Then again, beginning the season at No. 28 St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) on Sept. 13 isn't exactly a cupcake opener. Don Bosco better be ready because St. Xavier looks strong once again this year. Though the Bombers lost to Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio) in their first game, that was without junior quarterback Luke Massa and he returned this past weekend to lead St. Xavier to victory over No. 41 Prattville (Prattville, Ala.). It doesn't get any easier for Bosco as the Ironmen also are traveling to take on No. 3 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) on Sept. 27 in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

7. Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 220 pts
Previous Rank: 7

The Gators' season-opening 45-17 romp of touted rival Penn Hills was an eye-opener. The win marked just the second time in seven seasons that the Gators won their debut. Last season, Gateway's only two losses were in the first game -- to Cardinal Mooney of Youngstown, Ohio -- and in the final postseason game, a thrilling overtime setback to unbeaten eventual state Class 4A champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic. This season, the Gators jumped on Penn Hills, a preseason No. 2-ranked team behind Gateway in Western Pennsylvania, for a 31-3 halftime cushion and set the tone. Junior quarterback Robbie Kalkstein passed for two scores and rushed for a third TD in the first half. Veteran Pittsburgh Post-Gazette prep writer Mike White opined that "we [Western Pennsylvania] don't have as many teams as states like Florida and Texas which could play with some of the nation's best but Gateway is the exception." Next up for the Gators is Baldwin.

8. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 213 pts
Previous Rank: 10

After a slow start, Byrnes scored four straight touchdowns to defeat one of the top teams in Georgia, North Gwinnett, by a 36-21 score. Junior running back Marcus Lattimore rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Florida State-bound safety Justin Bright also ran back an interception for a score. The Rebels are seeking another state title after winning five of the past six in Class 4A. Their next game is Friday at Ridge View.

9. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 210 pts
Previous Rank: 11

One of the question marks for the Jackrabbits coming into the season was their offensive line, but the new starters looked dominant in the 29-7 win last Saturday night in Miami over defending FAB 50 national champ Miami Northwestern. Poly's running game, led by backs Melvin Richardson and Daveon Barner, won't get going again until the next game on Friday, Sept. 19 versus Newport Harbor of Newport Beach.

10. Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)
Record: 1-0
Points: 201 pts
Previous Rank: 13

It was the perfect setting for a classic gridiron tilt. A pair of FAB 50 teams and district rivals, a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN and two of the nation's top quarterbacks in the Class of 2009. But Rockhurst decided not to follow the script and romped to a 42-14 win over then-No. 49 Blue Springs South (Blue Springs South, Mo.). Rockhurst senior quarterback and Illinois commit Nathan Scheelhaase got the better of Blue Springs South senior signal-caller and Missouri verbal Blaine Dalton by passing for 177 yards and a pair of scores while intercepting a Dalton pass on defense. However, the Hawklets won't have much time to enjoy this win since they'll be hosting Kansas powerhouse Hutchinson (Hutchinson, Kan.) on Friday.

11. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
Record: 1-0
Points:197 pts*
Previous Rank: 14

The Hawks jumped out to a 24-0 lead behind senior QB Mywan Jackson and cruised to a 31-14 win in their first game over Lake Gibson. Jackson accounted for three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground. On Friday, the Hawks travel to take on FAB 50 No. 19 Tampa Plant and ESPNU 150 QB Aaron Murray in an early-season showdown.

12. Deerfield Beach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Record: 0-0
Points:197 pts*
Previous Rank: 9

Figuring out how to handle the Bucks was tricky for the FAB 50 panelists this week. They didn't officially lose since their game to Everglades of Miramar, Fla., was regarded as a preseason game (similar to an NFL preseason game). It was still widely reported that Everglades had won the game 28-21. The result was that Deerfield Beach didn't fall too far but did drop three spots as a result of that outing. For the team's first official game this week, a road trip to Hollywood Hills on Thursday is on tap.

13. Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 0-0
Points:186 pts
Previous Rank: 14

The Lancers, who are generally favored to win the Trinity League in Southern California this season (same league as FAB 50-ranked Mater Dei), start their season on Saturday against visiting Bullard of Fresno.

14. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.)
Record: 1-0
Points:180 pts
Previous Rank: 16

The excitement of high school football was put on hold at Oscar Smith on Friday night to honor a fallen teammate. A series of tributes was made in the memory of Lonnie Andrews Jr., a 2008 Oscar Smith graduate who was bound for college football before being shot and killed during the summer. The most fitting tribute, however, was played out on the field, when Perry Jones donned Andrews' No. 26 and promptly scored three rushing touchdowns in a 43-0 thrashing of Booker T. Washington. It will be the last time the No. 26 is worn at Oscar Smith, as the jersey was retired following the contest.

15. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Record: 1-0
Points:176 pts
Previous Rank: 12

Elite 11 quarterback Garrett Gilbert passed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns, all to Cade McCrary, as Lake Travis topped Austin Westwood 27-20 in both teams' opener last Friday at the Alamodome. Gilbert, a Texas recruit, hit on a string of 12 straight passes at one point, to lead the Mavericks to a win in new head coach Chad Morris' first game at the helm. Lake Travis plays at rival Westlake next Friday, and the Mavericks' defense will have an outstanding running back to deal with in Texas A&M pledge Ryan Swope. Last year, the Chaps handed Lake Travis its lone defeat of the year 28-21.

16. Plano (Plano, Texas)
Record: 1-0
Points:171 pts
Previous Rank: 18

Plano got three touchdown passes through the air from senior quarterback Carson Meger to top Irving MacArthur 33-7 in the opener for both teams. Meger found Kris Lott from 18 yards out in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 12-7 lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way. The win was the first for new Plano head coach Jaydon McCullough, a longtime assistant under previous head coach Gerald Brence, who took over the athletic director responsibilities. Plano next takes on DeSoto (1-0) on Thursday night.

17. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 1-0
Points:169 pts
Previous Rank: 18

The Tigers were in midseason form in their 63-0 season-opening rout of city rival Ballard. They rushed for 489 yards, including 302 by halftime, when they led 48-0. Jeremiah Neal ran for two scores, including a 75-yarder, and Matt Brutscher passed for three scores. The toughest tests should come against two of the usual contenders, and city rivals, Male on Sept. 19 and Trinity on Oct. 3 in one of the nation's best-attended regular-season games. On tap for this weekend is a trip to Buckner to tackle Oldham County.

18. Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)
Record: 2-0
Points:162 pts*
Previous Rank: 48

The Tarblooders are off to an impressive start with wins against arguably their two toughest regular-season opponents. Glenville debuted two weekends ago with a 20-17 win over FAB 50-ranked Cleveland St. Ignatius that was decided by a field goal as time expired. Last weekend, Glenville's speed was too much for defending Pennsylvania Class 3A champion Thomas Jefferson in a 34-13 win at the Friends of Coal Prep Classic in Wheeling, W.Va. "We won't see anything like that [speed] in Pennsylvania this year," TJ coach Bill Cherpak said. Michael Edwards caught three passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns and Robert Walton rushed 20 times for 137 yards and a score. Glenville faces another Keystone State team, Clairton, this week and ends the season with seven Senate League foes. Glenville has won its last 72 league games and 10 straight league titles. Could this be the year Glenville wins its first state football title?

19. Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 1-0
Points:162 pts*
Previous Rank: 20

Senior QB Aaron Murray, a Georgia commit, showed why he is considered the No. 3-rated player in the ESPNU 150 after passing for 315 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-7 blowout against Tampa Wharton. Murray added 106 yards rushing and found senior ESPNU 150 TE Orson Charles five times for 102 yards and three TDs. Plant clashes with FAB 50 No. 11 Armwood on Friday in a game that will be aired nationally on ESPN2.

20. Lakeland (Lakeland, Fla.)
Record: 1-0
Points:158 pts
Previous Rank: 28

The Dreadnaughts wasted no time in taking charge against defending Pennsylvania Class 4A champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic in the Friends of Coal Bowl Prep Classic in Wheeling, W.Va. On the first play from scrimmage, sophomore Javares McRoy broke off tackle on an 80-yard TD scamper to jump-start a 35-0 domination. An underclass-dominated Lakeland lineup was too quick on both sides of the ball for the Vikings, who were limited to 18 rushing yards and 64 total yards. "We had a great day," Lakeland coach Bill Castle said. "I have to single out the offensive line and play execution. And good speed." Lakeland, the 2006 FAB 50 national champion, should contend for state honors this season and possibly be in the hunt for another national crown in 2009. Next up is South Dade from Homestead.

21. Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)
Record: 1-0
Points:151 pts
Previous Rank: 21

After taking apart Norcross 21-6 two weekends ago in the Corky Kell Classic, the Wildcats were idle last weekend. This week, the Wildcats are at home and will take on Columbia (Lake City, Fla.) at Chris Gilman Stadium. Craig Howard enters his second year as head coach at Columbia. His previous stop was Nease in Jacksonville, where he coached 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

22. Carmel (Carmel, Ind.)
Record: 2-0
Points:151 pts*
Previous Rank: 22

The Greyhounds opened the year with a narrow 28-21 victory two weekends ago over Cathedral (Indianapolis) on ESPN. In that game, Kentucky-bound senior quarterback Morgan Newton guided Carmel to three straight touchdowns and scored the game-winner on an 18-yard run as the Greyhounds battled back from a 21-7 deficit. This past weekend proved to be a little easier for Newton and the Greyhounds, who rolled to a 52-0 shutout of Lebanon. This week, Carmel could be tested even more than it was against Cathedral when it travels on Friday to play Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), which is led by its terrific senior quarterback and Georgia Tech recruit Jordan Luallen.

23. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
Record: 1-0
Points:139 pts
Previous Rank: 25

David Renfroe, the Ole Miss-bound pitcher, threw three touchdown passes as usually run-oriented South Panola went to the air for a 27-6 victory over Vicksburg last Friday night. It was victory No. 76 in a row for South Panola. In preparation for the contest, Vicksburg players all wore jersey No. 76 throughout preseason practices to gear up for the showdown. South Panola figures to get its toughest test in five weeks when it faces Olive Branch.

24. Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Record: 0-0
Points:138 pts
Previous Rank: 24

The defending Class 3A state champions have a new head coach and are making the move back up to 4A this year. Junior quarterback Jake Heaps and a group of talented receivers, led by Jake Knecht and William Chandler, head to Oregon this Saturday to take on defending 6A champion and FAB 50-ranked Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.). This is one state debate that is definitely going to be decided on the field.

25. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Record: 1-0
Points:130 pts
Previous Rank: 30

Kyle Padron passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score as Carroll opened its 2008 season with a 35-9 win over Plano West in the Tom Landry Classic at SMU. The Dragons, who were replacing graduated stars at quarterback, Riley Dodge (North Texas), and running back, Tre' Newton (Texas), started very slowly before Padron got the passing game on track. Padron found Tommy Ayers on a 65-yard scoring pass early in the third quarter and the Dragons put the game away later in the quarter on defense as Justin Agnew returned an interception 55 yards for a score. Carroll hosts 0-1 Arlington on Friday.

26. Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 2-0
Points:126 pts
Previous Rank: NR

The Cardinals might be the most pleasant FAB 50 surprise of the young season. Only four of 22 starters returned from last season's 12-1 team but Colerain is off to a fast start with a win over defending state Division 1 champion St. Xavier of Cincinnati, 13-8, and an overtime victory, 14-7 over McKeesport, Pa., in the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series at Cincinnati. Colerain starts nine seniors, nine juniors and four sophomores. St. Xavier handed Colerain its lone setback last season. A major test awaits this weekend when regionally ranked Highlands of cross-river Fort Thomas, Ky., visits Colerain. Over the years, Highlands has had problems defeating Cincinnati-area powers.

27. Maryville (Maryville, Tenn.)
Record: 2-0
Points:112 pts
Previous Rank: 29

Maryville extended its winning streak to 62 games after defeating Halls and Alcoa in its first two games of the season. The Maryville senior class has yet to lose a game and is searching for its fifth straight Class 4A state championship. Maryville faces Clinton (0-1) in its next game this weekend.

28. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 1-1
Points:108 pts
Previous Rank: 9

The defending state Ohio Division 1 champion Bombers are a different team with junior quarterback Luke Massa in the lineup. Facing arguably the nation's most challenging interstate schedule, Massa was sidelined with a foot injury in the season-opening 13-8 loss to city rival Colerain. Last weekend, Massa was in the lineup as the Bombers rallied from a 10-3 halftime deficit to end the 56-game regular-season win streak, and 30 straight overall streak, of two-time Alabama Class 6A champion Prattville by a score of 15-10 in the Herbstreit Varsity Series at Cincinnati. Massa was 17-of-33 passing for 173 yards and was sacked five times in the defensive slugfest. "We needed to win this one to get some confidence," Massa said. Up next is Cathedral of Indianapolis. The Bombers also face FAB 50-ranked Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) and Cleveland St. Ignatius plus defending Kentucky champion Louisville Trinity and city rivals Moeller, Elder and LaSalle.

29. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 0-0
Points:105 pts
Previous Rank: 32

An ESPN2 TV audience will watch the Monarchs and vaunted quarterback Matt Barkley start the season on Wednesday against Carson in a game played at historic Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. The Colts were runner-up last year in the CIF L.A. City Section playoffs.

30. Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.)
Record: 1-0
Points:102 pts
Previous Rank: 31

Chris Pendergast stripped the ball from an opposing running back and raced the other way for an 89-yard touchdown as Arrowhead won its opener 41-12 over Hale of West Allis. The Warhawks led only 7-6 in the second quarter when QB Tom Parish gave them some breathing room with a 33-yard touchdown run. Arrowhead plays at Wallace of Gary, Ind., on Friday.

31. Union (Tulsa, Okla.)
Record: 0-0
Points:100 pts
Previous Rank: 33

It is a tough start to the season for the Redskins. They open up the season this week with a road matchup at Broken Arrow before returning home to face FAB 50-ranked Jenks. Running back Jeremy Smith, who recently committed to Oklahoma State, will be relied on even more this year with a new quarterback after rushing for over 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

32. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Record: 1-0
Points:95 pts
Previous Rank: 34

The Hawks always play a brutal early-season schedule. This year, St. Joe's opened at regionally ranked Parkland (Bethlehem, Pa.) and escaped with a 20-13 win. Senior running back Michael Yeager scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run in the fourth. He finished with 122 rushing yards on 21 carries. The Hawks get back to the grind this week at home against traditional New York powerhouse St. Anthony's (South Huntington, N.Y.) before facing Pennsylvania juggernaut North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) the following week.

33. Bellarmine Prep (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 0-0
Points:89 pts
Previous Rank: 35

The Bells and their cast of major college prospects don't start until Friday, Sept. 12, in a matchup against Clovis of the CIF Central Section. They will face a stern test in their second game on Thursday, Sept. 18, on the road at St. Mary's of Stockton, which was runner-up last year in Division I in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section..

34. Mt. Carmel (Chicago)
Record: 1-0
Points:85 pts
Previous Rank: NR

In addition to new No. 26 Colerain, this week's other highest riser in the FAB 50 is the Caravan. There's little doubt after Week 1 in the Chicago area which team from that city should be nationally ranked as Mt. Carmel is No. 1 according to both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. In the first game, the Caravan led 42-0 at halftime and went on to a 49-7 win over Curie. Up next for Mt. Carmel is a matchup on Friday versus St. Ignatius at Gately Field.

35. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Record: 1-1
Points:81 pts
Previous Rank: 17

The Wildcats rebounded from a season-opening loss to FAB 50-ranked Cleveland Glenville last weekend to shut down host Clayton Northmont in the final three quarters of a 23-3 victory. The Wildcats' defense stepped up as Patrick Hinkel returned a blocked punt 30 yards to score as St. Ignatius controlled the tempo of the game. Against Glenville, a field goal as time elapsed led to a 20-17 Tarblooder decision in a showdown of two of the state's top Division I contenders. St. Ignatius visits Canisius in Buffalo, N.Y., this weekend.

36. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)
Record: 1-0
Points:74 pts
Previous Rank: 37

While many local fans get caught up waiting for the Phoebus-Hampton clash, Bethel poses a serious challenge to visiting Phoebus this week. Phoebus got the season started with a 47-7 rout of Maury, a game in which Shawne Alston scored three touchdowns to highlight the offensive output. Bethel, however, had Phoebus beat last year until late in the fourth quarter, when the Phantoms scored 10 points in the closing minutes to snag a 30-27 victory.

37. Quince Orchard (Gaithersburg, Md.)
Record: 0-0
Points:69 pts*
Previous Rank: 36

Quince Orchard takes its first step toward state history Friday night against Thomas Wootton. The Cougars are the defending Class 4A state champion and no school has ever posted back-to-back 14-0 seasons in Maryland, let alone in the large-school classification. In fact, the most recent 4A school to go undefeated in back-to-back years was Seneca Valley, going 13-0 in 1997 and 1998. Quince Orchard will have a difficult task as it faces defending 3A champion Damascus and preseason state No. 8 Sherwood during the regular season.

38. Bastrop (Bastrop, La.)
Record: 0-0
Points:69 pts*
Previous Rank: 38

Aiming for a third straight 15-0 state championship season, the Rams didn't play last week. They open their season on Friday against Istrouma of Baton Rouge. With Randall Mackey graduated, senior WR Reuben Randle is expected to step up and become the team's star player.

39. North Shore (Houston, Texas)
Record: 1-1
Points:51 pts
Previous Rank: NR

North Shore used a dominating defense and solid rushing attack to top defending Texas 5A state champion Katy 10-6 last Friday night and vault into the FAB 50 rankings. Tracy Woods carried 17 times for 100 yards to power the North Shore offense, and his 5-yard TD run with three minutes left in the third quarter gave North Shore a 7-6 lead. The Mustangs' defense held Katy to just 135 total yards, and forced four turnovers to record a 71st consecutive regular-season victory, which is one short of Southlake Carroll's state-record 72-game streak. North Shore attempts to tie that mark versus Aldine Eisenhower (0-1) on Friday.

40. Bear Creek (Lakewood, Colo.)
Record: 1-0
Points:50 pts
Previous Rank: 41

Returning home from Florida for their home opener against Fruita Monument this weekend, the Bears brought back a great souvenir as they won their season opener by a 47-34 score over Timber Creek of Orlando. Tommy Flanagan, who last year had over 2,200 combined yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing and catching the ball out of the backfield, had 219 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries in the season opener.

41. Prattville (Prattville, Ala.)
Record: 0-1
Points:47 pts*
Previous Rank: 26

A 30-game win streak came to a close for Prattville as it lost 15-10 to St. Xavier of Cincinnati at the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series in Cincinnati. The defense looks as though it might be good enough for a third straight Alabama state title, but the offense will need to get more productive. Prattville plays Lee of Montgomery in this week's game.

42. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Record: 0-0
Points:47 pts*
Previous Rank: 42

How big of a deal is it that DeMatha is traveling to Middletown, Del., to open the season against Delaware's reigning Division I state champion? Well, tickets for the contest went on sale 60 hours prior to the contest. DeMatha is the five-time defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion. This one-year deal between the Stags and Middletown fills the void in DeMatha's schedule that was created by opening last year in the Herbstreit Classic against St. Xavier (Ohio).

43. Permian (Odessa, Texas)
Record: 1-0
Points:41 pts
Previous Rank: 44

The Panthers dominated for three quarters before having to hold off a late Duncanville rally to post a 28-22 win last Thursday night at Shotwell Stadium. The Panthers led 28-7 through three quarters, as Trevor Adams, making his first start, passed for 150 yards and two touchdowns and Sherard Ray rushed for 138 yards and a score. Three Mojo fourth quarter turnovers left the door open for Duncanville, which rallied with two touchdowns but was unsuccessful twice in onside kick attempts. Permian hosts San Angelo Central (0-1) on Friday.

44. Desert Vista (Phoenix)
Record: 0-0
Points:35 pts
Previous Rank: 46

The first game of the season hasn't been kind to the Thunder recently. In 2005-06, Desert Vista was thumped in consecutive seasons by Brophy Prep (Phoenix). Last year, the Thunder fell to Gilbert (Gilbert, Ariz.), 18-10. Desert Vista hopes to get off to a much better start -- and exact some revenge in the process -- in its opening road battle against Gilbert. Desert Vista superstar senior defensive end Devon Kennard, who's rated the nation's No. 1 defensive recruit in the Class of 2009 in the ESPNU 150, is virtually unblockable coming off the edge. He had 111 tackles and 24.5 sacks last season and offenses can't key on him because of fellow senior end Danny Mullarkey, who tallied 10.5 sacks as a junior.

45. Northside (Warner Robins, Ga.)
Record: 1-0
Points:33 pts
Previous Rank: 47

It was business as usual for Northside as the Eagles topped Perry 38-19 in their first game. Senior RB Xavier Bacon rushed for 155 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. The Eagles' offense was limited to 28 yards in the first half, but still led going into the break behind two defensive touchdowns. After a few halftime adjustments, Bacon and the Eagles outscored the Panthers 24-6 in the second half. Northside welcomes Booker T. Washington of Miami for this week's game.

46. John Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
Record:0-1
Points:19 pts
Previous Rank: 23

After playing the No. 1 team in the nation on the road and giving a good account of themselves until the fourth quarter, the Patriots certainly weren't going to drop too far in this week's rankings. The 28-12 loss to Trinity also came amid anxiousness about the potential impact of Hurricane Gustav for the team's players and coaches. John Curtis plays next on Friday against East St. John of Reserve.

47. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Record: 0-0
Points:16 pts*
Previous Rank: NR

Head coach Matt Logan's team lost much on offense from last season, but many in Southern California don't seem to think the losses are going to be that difficult to overcome. The Huskies will be bolstered on offense by transfer quarterback Taylor Martinez while the defense will feature two big-time linebackers in USC-bound Vontaze Burfict and standout junior Brandon Brown. Centennial's first game is Friday, Sept. 12, at Chaparral of Temecula.

48. Olive Branch (Olive Branch, Miss.)
Record: 1-0
Points:16 pts*
Previous Rank: NR

Olive Branch has tremendous size on the offensive and defensive lines. Alabama commit Rod Woodson is as good as advertised while junior Damien Robinson (6-8, 315) looks like he could start for most colleges. The team's 48-47 comeback win against Pahokee was one of the best high school games many who were there have ever seen. The Conquistadors play University High of Memphis in this week's game.

49. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)
Record:1-0
Points:15 pts*
Previous Rank: 50

The defending Class 6A state champions were dominant last Friday night in a 50-7 season-opening win over Churchill. Junior quarterback Jordan Johnson, who ran nine times for 55 yards and four touchdowns and was 15-of-19 passing for 210 yards and two TDs, looked in midseason form. Sheldon next plays defending Washington state champ Skyline of Sammamish in a great state versus state matchup on Saturday in Portland.

50. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 1-0
Points:15 pts*
Previous Rank: NR
This team, considered No. 1 in Arizona by many, looked impressive in its 37-19 win against Booker T. Washington of Miami. Senior WR Alante Wright made a name for himself as he consistently ran past the super-quick Booker T. secondary. The athletic and sure-handed Wright had eight receptions for 148 yards. The Huskies hope to take another step to prove their worth on Friday at home against defending state champ Brophy Prep.

Also Receiving Votes: Abilene (Abilene, Texas) 1-0; Cretin-Derham Hall (Minneapolis) 1-0; Hutchinson (Hutchinson, Kan.) 0-0; Katy (Katy, Texas) 0-1; Madison County (Madison, Fla.) 0-0; Miami Northwestern (Miami) 0-1; Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.) 1-0.

Dropped Out: Previous No. 27 Joliet Catholic (Joliet, Ill.); No. 39 Miami Northwestern (Miami); No. 40 Katy (Katy, Texas); No. 43 Pahokee (Pahokee, Fla.); No. 45 East St. Louis (East St. Louis, Ill.); No. 49 Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, Mo.).

*Ties in points are broken according to which team was ranked higher by a majority of panelists.

Note: All games involving Florida schools with out-of-state opponents will count in the ESPN RISE FAB 50. If a matchup between two Florida schools from last weekend was regarded as a "preseason" or "practice" game by the Florida High School Athletic Association, those games will not be counted on those teams' records for these rankings.