No. 2 IMG Academy (FL) records impressive victory; No. 25 Allen (TX) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings while No. 12 Trinity (KY) sidelined by COVID-19

BENSALEM, Pa. – Whenever the calendar hits November, we’re talking playoffs. Yes, that’s the theme for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall high school football rankings.

There are six teams from the Elite 25 Fall rankings in the postseason, with No. 15 Thompson (Ala.) opening the Alabama Class 7A playoffs as the top seed this weekend.

No. 25 Allen (Texas), a fixture the Elite 25, enters the rankings this week. The Eagles are one of Texas’ top-ranked team in Class 6A, Division I.

No. 18 Northwestern (Miami) slips eight spots after a loss at No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). The Bulls still belong in the Elite 25 Fall rankings and will be one of the favorites when the Florida Class 5A playoffs start up later this month.

The Top-9 teams remained intact and 13 others slid up one spot.

The Game of the Week is in New Jersey when No. 9 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) visits No. 21 Bergen Catholic Oradell) Saturday afternoon at Crusader Stadium. The contest features New Jersey’s top two teams and should shake the Elite 25 Fall rankings. Additionally, there’s an important game from Georgia, where No. 14 Lowndes County (Valdosta) travels to Colquitt County (Norman Park) in a battle of unbeatens in Class AAAAAAA-Region 1. In south Florida, No. 19 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) hosts American Heritage (Plantation) meet Friday night in a playoff tune-up for both teams, thankfully it’s televised on ESPN2.

That’ll do it for this week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Nov. 10.

Remember to stay safe, mask up, practice social distancing, purchase your tickets in advance from your local schools and support the small businesses that have taken major financial hits since March.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings, Nov. 3, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (6-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Mustangs scored 28-0 unanswered points in the first quarter and crushed Humble, 55-6. QB Dematrius Davis passed for 327 yards and four touchdowns. WR Charles King caught 5 balls for 136 yards and two scores—both in the first quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Kingwood.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Crushed then-No. 10 Northwestern (Miami), 49-14. Michigan-bound QB J.J. McCarthy tossed four TD passes. The Ascenders have an other bye week.

Next: Nov. 13 vs. TBD.

3. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Rolled over Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 52-6. With the victory, the Hawks clinched the Class AAAAAA District 12 berth in the PIAA playoffs on Nov. 19. Ohio State-bound QB Kyle McCord completed 13of-23 passes for 234 yards and four TDs and ran for another. Clemson-recruit Jeremiah Trotter added a 30-yard pick-six as the Hawks jumped to a 38-0 lead at the break.

Next: Saturday vs. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia).

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Parkview (Lilburn), 47-7. RB Phil Mafah ran or 144 yards and two scores and transfer QB Jake Garcia, who transferred in last month, made his debut throwing for 179 yards and a TD. Garcia is a Southern California commit. Only two games remain in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Brookwood (Snellville).

5. Katy, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Dickinson, 49-7. RB Jalen Davis rushed for 121 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. QB Caleb Kroger threw for 169 yards and two scores as the Tigers led 28-0 at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. Katy Morton Ranch.

6. Chandler, Ariz. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Centennial (Peoria), 31-7.

Next: Friday at Desert Vista (Phoenix).

7. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (11-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Drilled Westlake (Saratoga Springs), 59-3, in Class 6A second round. QB Jaxson Dart continued to have the hot hand, throwing for five TDs.

Next: Friday bs. Bingham (Jordan) in the 6A quarterfinals.

8. Westlake, Austin, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Hayes Consolidated (Buda), 59-6. The Chaps are averaging 56 points per game.

Next: Friday at Akins (Austin).

9. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Game with DePaul Catholic (Wayne) was postponed over coronavirus concerns.

Next: Saturday at No. 21 Bergen Catholic (Oradell).

10. Duncanville, Texas (3-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield, 35-0. QB Grayson James threw for 280 yards and three scores, completing passes to seven different receivers and hitting on 22 of 28 of his throws.

Next: Friday at Hewitt Midway.

11. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (3-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Francis Howell Central (St. Charles, Mo.), 55-0, in the Class 6, District 2 quarterfinals. LB Dakota Doyle-Robinson paced the defense with five tackles and two sacks.

Next: Friday vs. Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) the District 2 semifinals

12. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (6-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Bowling Green, 42-7. QB Nathan McElroy completed 23-of-31 passes for 257 yards and four TDs—all to WR Jack Mitchell, who caught 4 balls for 88 yards. RB Brad West carried 25 times for 133 yards and two scores. The Shamrocks are done for the regular season after Friday’s game with North Laurel (London) was canceled over coronavirus concerns. The team will quarantine for two weeks and return to practice on Nov. 12.

Next: Nov. 13 vs. TBD in Class 6A playoffs.

13. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (10-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Westerville Central, 38-7, in the Division I, Region 3 final. QB Garner Wallace carried nine times for 131 yards and three TDs to capture the region title. Wallace scored from 7, 17 and 86 yards and tossed an 86-yard TD to Simon Smith.

Next: Friday vs. Mentor in Division I semifinals.

14. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Edged Tift County (Tifton), 17-13. QB Jacurri Brown scored with 5:37 to give his team the lead for good. The Vikings have a showdown game this weekend against Georgia’s top-ranked Class AAAAAAA team.

Next: Friday at Colquitt County (Norman Park).

15. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (10-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Grissom (Huntsville) in Class 7A first round.

16. Owasso, Okla. (7-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Moore, 43-13.

Next: Friday vs. Putnam City (Oklahoma City).

17. Bixby, Okla. (7-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Crushed Ponca City, 57-0. It is the second shutout of the season.

Next: Friday vs. Booker T. Washington (Tulsa).

18. Northwestern, Miami (1-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Lost No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton), 49-14.

Next: Thursday vs. Palmetto (Miami).

19. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Crushed DeLand, 31-7. The Raiders play on ESPN2 Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

Next: Friday vs. American Heritage (Plantation).

20. Central, Miami (2-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Shut out Edison (Miami), 14-0. The Rockets have a playoff game this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Immokalee in Class 6A, Region 4 play-in game.

21. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

22. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (9-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Columbus North, 42-7, in Class 6A, Sectional 8 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus East in Sectional 8 final.

23. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (6-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated South Pointe (Rock Hill), 35-7.

Next: Nov. 13 vs. Summerville in Class AAAAA first round.

24. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (8-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Routed Benedictine (Cleveland), 37-0, in the Division II, Region 5 semifinals. It was coach Tim Tyrell’s 150^thvictory. QB Shane Hamm accounted for four TDs, two in the air and two running and threw for 138 yards. RB Victor Dawson ran for 187 yards and a 33-yard TD.

Next: Friday vs. Hudson in Region 5 final.

25. Allen, Texas (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Boyd (McKinney), 42-9.

Next: Friday at Little Elm.

Dropped out: No. 19 Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (6-0)
2. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (7-0)
3. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-2)
4. Lenape, Medford, N.J. (4-0)
5. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (5-2)

Geography: Connecticut^, Delaware, District of Columbia^, Maine^, Massachusetts^, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York^, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island^, Vermont^ and Virginia^.

Midwest

1. Cathedral, Indianapolis (9-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (7-0)
3. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (9-0)
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (8-0)
5. Muskego, Wis. (6-0)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois^, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Acadiana, Lafayette, La. (5-0)
2. Bryant, Ark. (8-0)
3. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (10-0)
4. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (5-0)
5. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (5-1)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina^, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)
2. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (3-1)
3. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (7-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (10-1)
5. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (4-0)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California^, Colorado, Hawaii^, Idaho, Montana, Nevada^, New Mexico^, Oregon^, Utah, Washington^ and Wyoming.

^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. For the 2020-2021 school year, there will be two separate rankings in the fall and winter/spring due to coronavirus concerns. 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 June 2021. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.