Way-Too-Early New York High School Football Top 25 Rankings

A new season of New York high school football is around the corner. Come the fall, hundreds of teams across the Empire State will compete under the lights across five main classifications. Below we rank the top 25 teams in New York, according to Massey.

The On3 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. Iona Preparatory School Gales

Iona Prep won the New York State Catholic title last year and enters the fall campaign eyeing a repeat. It will kick that pursuit off on Sept. 6 with a high-profile, neutral site matchup against a Somers team riding a 27-game winning streak.

Running back Crew Davis, a three-star prospect committed to North Carolina, will spearhead the Gaels’ efforts on offense. Iona Prep’s defensive line should be among the state, thanks in large part to the return of Dalton Lozin.

2. Garden City Trojans

If you look up the definition of dominant in the dictionary, you’ll see a Garden City mention. The Trojans boast the second-longest active winning streak in the nation with 54-straight victories. Last year was more of the same for Garden City, as the team’s defense held four opponents scoreless and only allowed double-digit points four times.

If the Trojans can keep up their winning ways, they’ll have a chance to tie the state record for consecutive wins in the regular-season finale at New Hyde Park Memorial on Nov. 1.

3. St. Anthony’s Friars

St. Anthony’s enters the 2025 campaign looking to bounce back after falling to Iona Prep in last year’s NYCHSFL final. The Friars will be tested in the non-conference with challenging matchups against regional foes McDonogh School (Md.) and Don Bosco Prep (N.J.). And, of course, the team’s annual matchup against Iona Prep looms large as well.

The Friars’ offensive attack will be headlined by 2027 running back Xavier Bala, who already holds offers from programs like Rutgers, Syracuse and Nebraska.

4. Somers Tuskers

Something will have to give on Sept. 6 when Somers opens up against Iona Prep in Albany, N.Y. The Gaels are the reigning New York State Catholic champions, while the Tuskers have won three-straight state championships and 27-consecutive games. If Somers is to accomplish the four-peat, it will need a big season from standout 2026 receiver Dean Palazzolo.

5. Cardinal Hayes Cardinals

Cardinal Hayes had a storybook 2023 campaign and became the first New York City school to win the New York State Catholic championship. The Cardinals were not as successful in 2024, dropping three games in the regular season and falling to St. Anthony’s in the semifinals. If Cardinal Hayes is to return to the New York high school football mountaintop, it will need to find a suitable replacement for departed do-everything quarterback Rich Belin.

6. Christian Brothers Academy (Albany) Brothers

Christian Brothers Academy (Albany) was tantalizingly close to its first state championship last season. The Brothers led Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse) 40-35 with three seconds to play but gave up a 35-yard touchdown pass as time expired. The good news for the program heading into 2025 is that key pieces like quarterback Archie Jones and running back Thomas Toher are back.

7. Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse) Brothers

The Brothers secured back-to-back undefeated seasons after defeating fellow Lasallian school Christian Brothers Academy (Albany) in the state title game last year. Class of 2028 quarterback Dominick Sgambellone headlines an offense that features Power Four prospects at receiver (Kieghlin Hicks) and offensive line (Khalil Cox).

8. Canisius Crusaders

Canisius extended its dominance in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association last year with its eighth league championship in its last 13 tries. The Crusaders will look to continue that success this fall and will be challenged early by interstate matchups against Scranton Prep (Pa.) and Ironton (Ohio). Four-star 2027 running back Elijah Kimble is hoping to build off of his 32-touchdown sophomore campaign.

9. St. Francis Red Raiders

St. Francis opens the 2025 season looking to reach the state championship game for the first time since 2018. The Red Raiders will need big seasons from Domonic Cook, Jr. and Mason Anderson if they are to accomplish that goal.

10. Shaker Bison

Shaker saw two things end to Christian Brothers Academy (Albany) last season: its undefeated start to the 2024 campaign and its season in the sectional title game. The Bison will look to extend its streak of winning New York high school football seasons to 14 this fall.

11. Chaminade
12. Sayville
13. Shenendehowa
14. Monsignor Farrell
15. Erasmus Hall

16. Archbishop Stepinac
17. Rye
18. East Islip
19. Massapequa
20. Half Hollow Hills East

21. H. Frank Carey
22. Wantagh Senior
23. Farmingdale Senior
24. Aquinas Institute
25. Tottenville