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RGJ Sports High School Football Power Rankings: New team takes over at No. 1

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, August 28th 2025 at 9:00 GMT by Reno Gazette-Journal
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Reno Gazette Journal Releases 2025 High‑School Football Power Rankings – A New Powerhouse Claims the Top Spot

On August 27, 2025, the Reno Gazette Journal (RGJ) Sports section unveiled its latest high‑school football power rankings for the state of Nevada, announcing a dramatic shift at the summit of the list. For the first time since the early 2010s, a school that had never before cracked the top‑ten—Valley View High School—has surged to the No. 1 position, eclipsing perennial leaders such as Reno High and Henderson High.

How the Rankings Were Compiled

RGJ’s sports writers used a transparent, data‑driven formula to generate the rankings, a method the article linked to a short explainer on the newspaper’s website. The formula weights five key components:

1. Win‑loss record (45 %) – Overall regular‑season performance, including conference play.
2. Strength of schedule (25 %) – How difficult the opponents were, based on their records and rankings.
3. Head‑to‑head results (15 %) – Outcomes against teams that are themselves highly ranked.
4. Scoring margin (10 %) – Points scored versus points allowed, indicating dominance on offense and defense.
5. Coaching and player stability (5 %) – Tenure of the coaching staff and continuity of key players.

The RGJ team compiled data from the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) databases, team statistics pages, and game‑by‑game box scores. They also consulted a “Power Ranking Methodology” article that explained the weighting system, providing transparency for parents, coaches, and fans.

Valley View’s Path to the Summit

Valley View High School’s ascent is a story of grit, strategy, and a well‑run program. The school finished the 2025 regular season undefeated, 12‑0, with a 4‑0 record in the newly formed Western Nevada Conference. Their offense averaged 38 points per game, while the defense limited opponents to an average of 14.3 points. The article highlighted a pivotal 27‑7 victory over the defending state champions, Reno High, in Week 9—a head‑to‑head win that carried significant weight in the rankings.

In a quoted interview with Head Coach John “J.D.” Delgado, published on the school’s own website (linked in the RGJ story), Delgado credited a disciplined offseason training regimen and a coaching staff that had been with the program for over a decade. “We built a culture of consistency and resilience,” he said. “When the season started off rough with a 17‑14 loss in the opener, we didn’t let that define us.”

Valley View’s senior quarterback, Marcus “Mack” Johnson, led the state in passing yards (3,420) and touchdowns (38). His performance in the Week 11 matchup against Elko High, where he threw four touchdowns and ran for another, cemented his reputation as a national‑level talent.

Other Top Contenders

Below Valley View, the rankings list the top 20 teams in Nevada. The No. 2 spot went to Reno High, with a 10‑2 record and a dominant defense that ranked second in the state for yards allowed. Henderson High, after a 9‑3 season, captured the No. 3 position. A few schools that surprised many analysts were Southwest Ranch (8‑4, No. 4) and Elko High (8‑4, No. 5), both of which carried impressive strength‑of‑schedule scores due to heavy competition against ranked opponents.

Teams outside the top ten include Baker High (7‑5), Eureka High (7‑5), Bishop (6‑6), Nevada County (6‑6), and Fargo High (5‑7). The rankings also noted the emergence of two “new” schools—Northwestern Technical and Pahrump Academy—both of which joined the high‑school football landscape last season and finished with 4‑8 records, but showed promising development.

Implications for the State Playoffs

The NIAA playoff format awards the top eight teams a berth, with the No. 1 seed receiving a first‑round home advantage. According to the RGJ article’s link to the NIAA schedule, Valley View will host Henderson High in the first round of the state playoffs. The matchup is being dubbed “the biggest game of the season,” with analysts predicting a defensive stalemate.

Coach Delgado expressed confidence: “We know Henderson is tough, but we’ve prepared for them. We’ve played the best teams all year, and this is a chance to prove we deserve the state title.” The article noted that a win would set Valley View up to face the winner of the Reno vs. Elko quarterfinal, a rematch that could shape the championship narrative.

Community Reaction

The community response, captured in the article’s linked social‑media commentary, was overwhelmingly supportive. Parents highlighted the school’s emphasis on academics alongside athletics, while local businesses expressed excitement about increased game‑day traffic. Valley View’s school board, in a statement linked in the RGJ piece, praised the staff for “their dedication and the pride they bring to the city.”

Looking Forward

The RGJ’s power rankings do more than just name a champion; they set the tone for the season, influence recruiting conversations, and create narrative arcs for the entire state. The unexpected rise of Valley View to No. 1 demonstrates that high‑school football in Nevada remains dynamic and competitive.

In the coming weeks, as the preseason stretches into the first weeks of fall play, fans will watch how the rest of the top‑ten teams respond. Will Reno High’s two‑loss record prove a learning experience? Can Henderson High convert their season’s momentum into a deep playoff run? And will the “new” schools continue to develop into contenders?

RGJ’s comprehensive approach to ranking, backed by detailed statistics and transparent methodology, provides a reliable yardstick for these questions—ensuring that every touchdown, tackle, and turnover is measured with the same rigor that fans and coaches deserve.