Week 8 of the high school football season delivered its usual share of lopsided scores among the nation's elite programs, but one result stood out above the rest. The St. James Academy of Springfield, Virginia, knocked off top-ranked St. Frances Academy of Baltimore 28-20, a result that ranks among the biggest upsets of the 2026 season so far and immediately reshapes the conversation atop the USA TODAY Sports Super 15 East Region.
St. Frances Academy entered the weekend as the East Region's top-ranked team and one of the most feared programs in the country, a status built on years of producing Division I talent and dominating Baltimore-area and national schedules alike. Falling to The St. James Academy on the road doesn't eliminate the Panthers from national title contention, but it does open the door for teams like Hough, Grimsley and Central Catholic to make their case as the region's new standard-bearer heading into the second half of the season. brbrbr telegram
Dominant Performances Across the Country
Beyond the headline upset, Saturday and Friday's games largely followed form. Hough's 72-0 demolition of Garinger and Trinity's 73-0 rout of Ballard in Kentucky were among the most lopsided scores of the week, while Anderson's 78-19 shootout win over Walnut Hills in Ohio showed that even blowouts can come with offensive fireworks on both sides. In the Southeast, St. Thomas Aquinas, Thompson and Clay-Chalkville all reinforced their standing with comfortable wins, a reminder of just how deep the talent pool runs in Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
The West Region saw similarly chalk results, with Sierra Canyon's 58-0 win over Serra and Mountain Ridge's 52-7 victory over Bingham standing out. Mililani's loss to Kapolei in Hawaii was one of the few surprises outside the East, though it carries far less national weight than the St. Frances Academy result given the broader rankings picture.
What It Means Going Forward
With eight weeks in the books, the margin for error for nationally ranked programs continues to shrink. St. Frances Academy's setback is a reminder that even the most decorated rosters are vulnerable on any given Friday or Saturday, and it sets up a compelling stretch run as regional rankings get reshuffled. Expect The St. James Academy to receive a significant bump in next week's polls, while St. Frances will look to respond immediately to protect its playoff seeding and national reputation.
