Preseason Massachusetts High School Football Top 25 Rankings

by: Andy Villamarzo08/19/25Andy_Villamarzo

Syndication: Wicked Local — Xaverian senior Luke Bell reacts after gaining a first down during the MIAA Division 1 Super Bowl game at Gillette Stadium, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Xaverian defeated Needham, 14-7, to become the Division 1 state champions.

New England usually gets a little bit later of a start when it comes to its high school football schedule as Massachusetts just got underway when it came to practices taking place.

Several of the region’s top high school football programs reside out of Massachusetts, including Catholic Memorial and Xaverian Brothers, who is coming off winning a 12th Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) state title last December. Here’s how the Massey Ratings ranked Massachusetts’ Top 25 high school football teams for 2025.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

1. The Williston Northampton School

When it comes to the region’s top football programs, you can’t go without mentioning the Wildcats, who went 8-1 a year ago and their only loss coming to Connecticut’s Brunswick School. The Williston Northampton School features a roster that’s always one of the most talented around, with 2026 offensive lineman Dean Ruksnaitis (Boston College commitment) leading the way. 2026 quarterback Crew Colon returns to the offense and the 6-foot-2, 200-pound field general boasts offers from schools like Bucknell, Fordham and Stony Brook.

2. Catholic Memorial

Always in the mix when it comes to the MIAA’s Division 2 classification, the Knights are loaded with Power 4 talent that’ll be headed to Boston College after their time at Catholic Memorial. Among the Boston College commitments are 2026 three-star linemen Marcelino Antunes, Mac Fitzgerald, 2027 safety Jackson Tucker and 2028 athlete Ramar Thomas. Only loss Catholic Memorial suffered from a year ago was to New York powerhouse Cardinal Hayes to start the season.

3. St. John’s Preparatory School

Having one of the best 2028 quarterbacks in the country definitely helps your odds of being ranked a bit higher when it pertains to teams out of New England. For the Eagles, they have a talented young signal caller in sophomore Christopher Vargas, who is coming off a solid freshman campaign. Vargas last season throwing for 1,311 yards, 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. St. John’s Prep will look to reach the Division 1 state championship after getting bounced out of the state semifinals last year by Needham.

4. Deerfield Academy

Last year’s record is not indicative of how good or bad the Big Green are as they play many of the region’s top prep programs. Deerfield Academy went 1-8 in 2024, but faced powerhouses like No. 1-ranked Williston Northampton School, Cheshire Academy, Brunswick School and The Loomis Chaffee School. With a schedule like one the Big Green plays year in and year it, they have been extremely competitive against many of the neighboring state’s best programs.

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5. Xaverian Brothers

The Hawks this fall are in search of the program’s 13th state championship and by all accounts, they’re well on their way to winning another once the time comes at Gillette Stadium. Xaverian Brothers return 2027 quarterback Will Wood. Wood has several Division I offers on the table, with overtures from schools like Harvard, Syracuse, UConn and UMass all after the signal caller’s services after his high school days.

6. King Philip Reg
7. Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
8. Scituate
9. Springfield Central
10. Tabor Academy