BENSALEM, Pa. – After watching top-ranked Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) dismantle a very worthy opponent in the Nevada Class 4A final, it will be hard to supplant the Gaels from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football mountaintop.
Saturday afternoon in the desert the scoreboard read: Gorman 84, Liberty 8.
Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) was supposed to give the Gaels a game. Instead the state final was farcical and a joke. I can’t say I remember a team winning by such a lopsided margin in high stakes game. Well, that wraps up another Elite 25 National Championship, right? Maybe … perhaps … surely?
Gorman has now won eight straight state championships and has not lost to a Nevada school since 2008.
It certainly looks that way but you can build cases for two schools, who are still involved in the playoffs. Remember the main tenet of the Elite 25 is strength of schedule.
No. 2 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and No. 3 Allen (Texas) are the only teams left who have a chance to leapfrog the Gaels. Honestly, something magical needs to happen.
Three teams enter the Elite 25 rankings: No. 20 Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.); No. 21 Hoover (Ala.); and No. 24 Cibolo (Texas) Steele. Whitehaven and Hoover won state titles last week while Steele is on a collision course with No. 7 DeSoto (Texas) for a state championship.
This weekend Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania highlight state that will crown winners. So far the Elite 25 tote board shows five new state championship were christened last week, 10 overall and seven are vying for titles this week.
Texas and California will add state championship on the weekend of Dec. 15-17. There is also the state champions bowl series on Dec. 23 in Frisco, Texas. Expect schools from Florida, Georgia, Utah and Arizona to get the call.
The next Elite 25 rankings are back December 13. Please support your local high schools as they play in the postseason. Don’t forget to check out our boy and girls’ basketball rankings as the scene shifts indoors for the winter months. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Dec. 6, 2016
1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)*
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Won Class 4A state championship, routing Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), 84-8. The Gaels jumped to a 35-0 lead after one quarter and 56-8 by halftime. What was hoped to be a standoff turned into a stampede quickly. Ohio State-bound quarterback Tate Martell completed 6 of 7 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for three more scores. Season complete.
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (12-0)*
Previous rank: 3.
Recap: Won fourth consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.
3. Allen, Texas (14-0)
Previous rank: 4.
Recap: Defeated Duncanville, 42-23, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region I final. RB Kirby Bennett rushed for 136 yards and two TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 17 The Woodlands in Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played at University of Texas’ DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin.
4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (11-0)
Previous rank: 5.
Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.
5. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (13-0)
Previous rank: 6.
Recap: Defeated Jesuit (Tampa), 21-14, in Class 5A semifinals. QB Jason Brown fired a pair of TD passes in the first half for a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Next: Friday vs. Ponte Vedra in Class 5A final at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
6. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (11-2)
Previous rank: 7.
Recap: Overwhelmed Venice, 46-8, in Class 7A semifinals. Illinois-bound RB Michael Epstein rushed for four TDs. QB Jake Allen, a Florida recruit, threw three TD passes.
Next: Friday vs. Plant (Tampa) in Class 7A final at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
7. DeSoto, Texas (14-0)
Previous rank: 9.
Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 55-41, in Class 6A, Division II, Region I final. QB Shawn Robinson, a TCU recruit, accounted for six TDs, running for three and passing for three more.
Next: Saturday vs. Klein Collins in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals at NRG Stadium in Houston.
8. Roswell, Ga. (15-0)
Previous rank: 10.
Recap: Shut out Westlake (College Park), 28-0, in Class AAAAAAA semifinals. The state championship dream matchup is finally a reality.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 11 Grayson (Loganville) in Class AAAAAAA final at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
9. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-1)
Previous rank: 11.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 13 Mill Creek (Hoschton), 44-26, in Class AAAAAAA semifinals. Clemson-bound QB Chase Brice passed for 245 yards and four TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Roswell in Class AAAAAAA final at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
10. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-2)*
Previous rank: 14.
Recap: Knocked off then-No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 42-28, in CIF-Southern Section Division I final. The Braves ran the ball in the first half to take a 21-14 lead. In the third, Demetrious Flower galloped 66 yards and Tyrel Thomas had a 41-yard, pick-six upping the score to 35-14.
Next: Dec. 17 vs. regionally ranked De La Salle (Concord) in CIF Open Division final at Sacramento State’s Hornets Stadium.
11. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-1)
Previous rank: 2.
Recap: Upended by No. 14 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 42-28, in CIF-Southern Section Division I final. The Monarchs were flummoxed by their Trinity League rival, who they beat in the regular season, but not this time. Season complete.
12. Cass Tech, Detroit (14-0)*
Previous rank: 12.
Recap: Won Division 1 state championship. Season complete.
13. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (14-0)*
Previous rank: 15.
Recap: Won Class 5A state championship. The Miners are expected to accept a bid to a prep bowl game in Texas. Regular season complete.
14. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (14-0)*
Previous rank: 16.
Recap: Won their 25th straight game in Conference 4A final, earned a ninth state title in 11 years and 10th overall. Regular season complete.
15. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (13-0)
Previous rank: 17.
Recap: Rallied to defeat North Penn (Langhorne, Pa.), 35-25, in PIAA Class AAAAAA semifinals. The Hawks were down by three points (17-14) after three quarters but closed with a flourish.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 18 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) in the Class AAAAAA final at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa.
16. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (15-0)*
Previous rank: 19.
Recap: Crushed Lafayette (Lexington), 56-21, in Class 6A final. The Shamrocks have won a state record 24 state titles, it was the 12th under the tutelage of coach Bob Beatty and the 600th victory in program history since 1955. Season complete.
17. The Woodlands, Texas (14-0)
Previous rank: 19.
Recap: Defeated Round Rock, 41-18, in Class 6A, Division I Region II final. The Highlanders left no doubt taking a 34-6 lead at intermission.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Allen in Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played at University of Texas’ DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin.
18. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (14-1)
Previous rank: 20.
Recap: Defeated Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.), 63-21, in PIAA Class AAAAAA semifinals. RB J.J. Younger scored three TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 15 St. Joseph Prep’s (Philadelphia) in the Class AAAAAA final at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa.
19. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (13-1)
Previous rank: 21.
Recap: Routed Westlake (Austin), 51-3, in Class 6A, Division I, Region IV final.
Next: Saturday vs. Atascocita (Humble) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
20. Whitehaven, Memphis, Tenn. (15-0)*
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Won Class 6A state championship, defeating then-No. 22 Oakland (Murfreesboro), 12-9. Trailing 9-0 since the first period, The Region 4 champions came back with 12 points in the fourth on TD runs by RB Kylan Watkins (135 yards rushing) and QB Lesley Mosby (113 yards). Mosby’s 3-yard run with 2:01 left capped the late rally. This was the program’s second state title but first since 2013. Season complete.
21. Hoover, Ala. (12-2)*
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Upset then-No. 8 McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.), 17-7, in Class 7A final. The Bucs have won 11 state titles. Both losses to were out-of-state Elite 25 teams, (Allen (Texas) and Grayson (Loganville, Ga.). Season complete.
22. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (13-1)
Previous rank: 9.
Recap: Upset by Hoover, 17-7, in Class 7A final. Season complete.
23. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (13-1)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated San Antonio Churchill, 38-7, in the Class 6A, Division II, Region IV final. Brenden Brady rushed for 142 yards and two TDs and QB Xavier Martin passed for scores of 53 and 41 yards to WR Onyx Smith.
Next: Saturday vs. Cinco Ranch (Katy) in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
24. Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)*
Previous rank: 24.
Recap: Won 6A Conference championship. . The Wolves won their second title in three years and closed on a 12-game win streak. Season complete.
25. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (13-1)
Previous rank: 25.
Recap: Advanced to 6A Conference championship game. Season complete.
Dropped: No. 13 Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.); No. 22 Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.); and No. 23 Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.)
High-Fives by Region
East
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (9-2)*
- Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (13-0)
- Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (10-2)*
- Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (13-0)
- Troy, N.Y. (13-0)*
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- East St. Louis, Ill. (14-0)*
- Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*
- Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (13-0)*
- Bellevue (Neb.) West (13-0)*
- Roncalli, Indianapolis (15-0)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (13-0)
- Clinton, Miss. (14-1)*
- South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (12-1)
- Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (13-1)
- Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-1)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- East, Salt Lake City, Utah (14-0)*
- De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-1)*
- Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (14-0)*
- Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-2)
- West Linn, Ore. (14-0)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Won state or conference/league postseason championship
About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
