FAB 50 HS Rankings Update: Sept. 23

by Sheldon Shealer

September 23, 2014

The week one New Jersey team rises to the top of a FAB 50, another falls.

It’s been that sort of season, where nothing is a given, even for the nation’s top projected teams.

Northern Highlands (N.J.) rises to the top of the Fall Girls FAB 50 as former No. 1 Maria Carrillo (Calif.) tied a match last week.

On the boys side, five of the top seven Fall Boys FAB 50 teams took a loss last week, including former No. 1 St. Benedict's Prep (N.J.). The Gray Bees’ loss allows McDonogh School (Md.) to re-inherit the No. 1 ranking, which is where the Baltimore-area private school finished in 2013.

Former No. 4 Avon (Ind.), No. 5 Jesuit (Calif.), No. 6 Washington Township and No. 7 St. Charles East also tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Haverford School (Pa.), a preseason FAB 50 Top 10 team, fell from the rankings last week after getting upset by Shipley School, but finds itself right back among the nation’s elite after the 1-0 win over St. Benedict’s. Connor Gregory headed home a cross from Jerry Karalis in the 56th minute for the match-deciding goal.

Haverford and St. Benedict’s are in the Top 10 this week, but are situated behind several undefeated teams, which know get their turn to defend a high ranking.

On the girls side, Maria Carrillo, the two-time defending FAB 50 fall champion, takes a step back in line, behind four teams with perfect records in the early stages of the season. Northern Highlands, which holds a 77-match undefeated streak, is No. 1, followed by Pennington School (N.J.), McDonogh School and Brebeuf Jesuit. Pennington and McDonogh square off next month, which likely will take one of the teams out of the running for No. 1, that is if both are able to remain perfect between now and that meeting.

See all the updates in this week's rankings:

BOYS FAB 50 (Sept. 23) | GIRLS FAB 50 (Sept. 23)

Regional Rankings: Boys (Sept. 22) | Girls (Sept. 22)

State Rankings: Boys (Sept. 22) | Girls (Sept. 22)

Related Topics: SIMA FAB 50 / Event