​WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — High school football is back! With games beginning on Friday, August 28, here are the high school football preseason top 25 rankings comprised by DC News Now sports reporters Jake Rohm and Alex Flum.1. DeMatha – 2025 record: 11-0Bryce Bevill takes over at head coach for a Stags team fresh off back-to-back WCAC championships.2. The St. James Academy – 2025 record: 8-1Our top team in 2025, the Strivers head into year two of the program’s existence.3. Quince Orchard – 2025 record: 14-0QO comes in as our top public school team in our rankings after going undefeated in 2025, winning their second straight MPSSAA 4A state title.4. Gonzaga – 2025 record: 7-5The Eagles come off a WCAC championship game appearance in 2025, and will look to threaten DeMatha as the top team in the conference.5. St. John’s – 2025 record: 6-5The Cadets get ready for year two under head coach Terrence Byrd with hopes of competing for a WCAC championship.6. Riverdale Baptist – 2025 record: 2-8Former Flowers head coach Dameon Powell takes over the Crusaders program in need of a bounce back year after going 2-8 in 2025.7. Wise – 2025 record: 11-2The Pumas are consistently a state title contender, and it’s lookig more of the sae in 2026 under Steve Rapp.8. Good Counsel – 2025 record: 6-5Sal Gorgone takes over the Falcons program as they look to bounce back after a down year in 2025.9. Linganore – 2025 record: 13-0The Lancers are fresh off a state championship and will look to be the favorites in 3A this year.10. Loudoun Sports Academy – 2025 record: 6-4After a 6-4 season in year one of the program, LSA had a strong offseason recruiting top talent. Expect the Timberwolves to make some noise in 2026.11. Friendship Collegiate – 2025 record: 9-3Friendship lands just outside the top ten of our preseason rankings. The Knights look to be the top DC school at the end of the year.12. Stone Bridge – 2025 record: 10-2The Bulldogs are back to contending form after securing a region championship in 2025. head coach Kedric Golson and his team are hungry for more heading into 2026.13. Flowers – 2025 record: 7-5Frederick Groves takes over the Jaguar program from Dameon Powell. Can Flowers continue the success with a new coach?14. Bishop McNamara – 2025 record: 4-6The Mustangs are coming off a 4-6 season that had more highs than the record showed.15. Colonial Forge – 2025 record: 10-2Earl Moore takes over as head coach of the Eagles with the goal of keeping Colonial Forge relevant in Class 6.16. Madison – 2025 record: 9-5The Warhawks won their 6th straight region title in 2025. Will they remain the top team in the 6D region?17. Sherwood – 2025 record: 11-2Sherwood was one win away from a state championship in 2025. With the return of QB Matt Larsen and other starters, the Warriors look to be in the mix once again this year.18. Churchill – 2025 record: 11-2With their only losses in 2025 coming to Quince Orchard and Wise, Churchill will look to take a leap in 2026.19