The biggest leap in the latest Virginia high school football Top 25 belongs to a team that didn’t even win.
The Saint James Performance Academy is No. 1 in the High School On SI Virginia rankings after pushing national No. 1 IMG Academy to the final play Saturday before falling 44-42 on a field goal as time expired.
In just its second season, the Ascenders turned that near-upset into a move to the top spot and now get another huge stage Saturday against Maryland No. 1 and national No. 2 Saint Frances Academy at Osbourn Park in Northern Virginia.
Varina, which had been No. 1, drops to No. 2 after taking its first loss, a 24-17 overtime defeat against defending North Carolina Class 7A state champion Grimsley.
Indian River checks in at No. 3, followed by Maury at No. 4 and Stone Bridge at No. 5.
The next five are Highland Springs, Thomas Dale, King's Fork, Green Run and Oscar Smith.
Three undefeated teams are new to the rankings this week: Episcopal at No. 17, Jefferson Forest at No. 24 and Turner Ashby at No. 25.
Here is the latest High School On SI Virginia high school football Top 25:
- The Saint James Performance Academy
This week: vs. Saint Frances Academy (Md.) at Osbourn Park, Oct. 10
- Varina
This week: Did not play; next game at Hanover, Oct. 16
- Indian River
Last week: Defeated Saint Frances Academy regional team (Md.), 18-2
- Maury
This week: at Atlantic Shores Christian School, Oct. 9
- Stone Bridge
Last week: Defeated Saint Christopher's School, 48-7
- Highland Springs
This week: at Saint Stephen's & Saint Agnes, Oct. 8
- Thomas Dale
This week: Did not play; next game vs. Glen Allen, Oct. 16
- King's Fork
- Green Run
- Oscar Smith
- Episcopal
- Jefferson Forest
- Turner Ashby
In Other News...
Virginia Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than Fans Expected
Virginias early season optimism has taken a sharp turn, and the road map looks a lot bumpier now than it did a few weeks ago. What once looked like a team on track for a 10-2 finish has drifted toward a far more ordinary outcome, with recent losses forcing a reset in how the rest of the schedule is viewed. A trip to Florida State did plenty of damage, and the Cavaliers have yet to show they can handle business away from home.
The challenge now is less about one bad night and more about what comes next, because several remaining games have flipped from manageable to much trickier. Virginia still has one matchup where it should be heavily favored against a struggling ACC opponent, but there are also ranked tests ahead, including SMU, which leaves little room for error. The bigger question is whether the Cavaliers can steady themselves before the seasons middle turns into a full-blown scramble. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Sticks With Its Starters As Pressure Builds Against Syracuse
Virginias latest depth chart brought little movement before its matchup with Syracuse, a sign that Tony Elliott is choosing stability over panic after an offense that has sputtered. The Cavaliers kept both the offensive and defensive lineups unchanged on the non-official chart, and Elliott pointed to issues across the unit rather than isolating any one player, even as the offense continues to search for cleaner play.
On the other side of the ball, Virginias problems have been just as hard to ignore, with Elliott stressing that preparation and execution have to improve. The defense has been under fire for its inconsistency, and the challenge now is less about shuffling names than getting sharper on the field as the Cavaliers try to steady themselves in a game that already carries some urgency. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Odom Faces Early Virginia Questions That Could Shape This Season
Virginia will send Coach Ryan Odom and four players to ACC media days, giving the Cavaliers the leagues largest contingent and an early chance to show how far along the new era already feels. With a roster that includes multiple new faces and enough depth to create real competition for playing time, Odoms first big public forum offers a useful window into how he sees the pieces fitting together.
The questions waiting for him go beyond the usual preseason polish. Virginias staff still has to sort out rotation patterns, define who sets the tone in the locker room and explain how the group is being pulled together off the court, all while keeping a crowded bench engaged. For a program trying to turn talent into structure, those answers could say as much about the season ahead as anything that happens once practice starts. [Read more 🡒]