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High School Football: Winners and Losers from Oct. 9-11

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo10/12/25Andy_Villamarzo
Winners-Losers- afi

If you think college football has been whacky, the high school football scene hasn’t been that far behind whatsoever. The week of Oct. 9-11 provided more surprises and upsets around the country and we’re all here for it. We’re looking at the players who impressed, the coaches who stood out and the fans who are either celebrating or scratching their heads. This week, we’re highlighting the biggest winners and losers – the people and moments that made the past weekend memorable.

WINNERS

Santa Margarita (Calif.) head coach Carson Palmer: Now was this exactly the first big win for the former USC, NFL standout? No, we’d have to say that Palmer leading Santa Margarita to a 33-27 victory over Corona Centennial earlier this season was his first signature victory, but this latest win over Mater Dei certainly leap frogs that one in terms of importance. It had been over a decade since the Eagles had last beaten the Monarchs on the gridiron. Yeah, we’d say that’s quite awhile if you ask us. Not only was that accomplished, but the way Palmer’s alma mater did so was impressive. Holding one of the country’s most potent offenses to just one score in a 7-6 win was by all means not on anyone’s high school football bingo card for 2025.

Duncanville Panthers (TX): Friday night’s matchup between Duncanville and DeSoto down in the Lone Star State was a moment of truth for the Panthers. Remain in the 2025 national conversation for high school football or get bumped out of it by your rivals. There was really no one or other way about it and Duncanville chose to rise to the occasion. Aided by a huge night from 2027 quarterback Maximus The Great Denson, the Panthers were able to pull off a 48-28 victory over the Eagles and improve to 3-1 on the season. After missing out on winning it all a year ago, the win was the biggest piece of evidence showing that Duncanville still could be in the hunt for the state’s UIL Class 6A, Division I state championship come December.

Marion Local Flyers (OH): The Flyers were a 2-point conversion away from seeing the nation’s longest winning streak being snapped. Ahead just 28-27 in the waning moments against Anna, Marion County’s defense answered the bell, batting away the would-be pass that would’ve ended the Flyers’ 71-game win streak. The Flyers now continue to sit firmly at the top with 72 consecutive victories, with Garden City (N.Y.) pushing theirs to 59 straight after a 44-7 shellacking of Mepham on Saturday. This streak has become one of legend as it just keeps rolling despite the many close calls that have come along the way.

LOSERS

Miami Northwestern Bulls (Fla.): Common sense tells us that when one team beats another, that probably gets the winning team ahead of the losing one. In the case of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC), the championship game will feature two teams and neither of them are the Miami Northwestern Bulls. For contest, the Bulls defeated rival Miami Central, 30-21, on Oct. 4 at Traz Powell Stadium, the very venue that will serve as host to the GMAC title game. That game will be between the Rockets and Miami Southridge, two fine South Florida high school football programs. The GMAC conference championship was set in stone ahead of the Bulls-Rockets clash, which seems shortsighted to say the least. How one team gets excluded from the championship game having beaten one of the squads playing in it baffles this sports reporter.

Mater Dei Monarchs (Calif.): It’s deja vu and few weeks later when it comes to another surprising, stunning and any other word you want to associate with the latest Mater Dei loss. What Mater Dei’s loss comes off as after a couple solid victories in the last couple of weeks is just how does a team with so much offensive firepower get held to a mere six points? That’s the burning question that Monarchs’ head coach Raul Lara have to answer and figure out as they’re just a couple weeks away from a Halloween showdown with No. 1 St. John Bosco at Panish Family Field. What would really throw a wrench into everything nationally is if the Monarchs pulled it together and beat the Braves. That’s for a totally different conversation, but it’s shocking to say the least that Mater Dei has two losses multiple weeks ahead of the Oct. 31 clash with St. John Bosco.

Millard South Patriots (Neb.): It has been well documented how good the Patriots have been when it comes to playing Nebraska high school football. Millard South has been the most dominant team in Nebraska high school football this season, having out-scored their first six opponents by a combined 391-17. The Patriots’ offense is averaging a ridiculous 65.1 points per game this season and their latest opponent, Lincoln High, wanted no part of it. Links’ principal Mark Larson announced early last week that Lincoln, a then 4-2 Nebraska high school football team, would be forfeiting this past Friday’s contest against the defending Class A state champions due to player injuries sustained the previous week prior. The forfeit bug due to injuries or competitive imbalance has been occurring and this was just another case that no state is immune to cancelations/forfeits.

How to Follow National High School Football

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.