EXCELLENCE: No. 6 Bergen Catholic (NJ), No. 19 Center Grove (IN) record unblemished seasons in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. — No. 6 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) and No. 19 Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) punctuated their seasons with perfection on Saturday.

Both teams captured state championships and made sure they would remain in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings, going wire-to-wire starting in the preseason.

Bergen Catholic (12-0) recorded its first unbeaten season since 1998 by beating rivals Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 28-7, in the Non-Public A final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Crusaders had a mild scare early when Bosco marched down the field on the game’s opening drive for a 7-0 lead. Coach Vito Campanile’s team did not panic and rattled off the next 28 points and for the program’s first title since 2017 when Vito’s brother, Nunzio, guided BC to the crown. Nunzio Campanile is currently an assistant coach at Rutgers.

In the Midwest, Owen Bright’s interception in the waning moments sparked Center Grove’s 27-21 win over Westfield for their second straight Indiana Class 6A championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. That bumps the total to four state or conference postseason champions from the Elite 25. No. 12 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and No. 13 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) do not compete for state championships.

This week is the busiest for state championships as 16 states and the District of Columbia are those crowning champions. The list of states includes Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey (public schools only), New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.

There was no movement in the Elite 25 rankings despite No. 7 Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) falling in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 1 final to top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana). The Friars (10-3) suffered three losses, two to Mater Dei and one to No. 8 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

There are 15 teams from the Elite 25 competing in the postseason and four, No. 14 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), No. 15 Bixby (Okla.) No. 21 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and No. 22 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), are playing for their state’s big prize this week.

 That’s a wrap for the month of November. More championship games are slated for this weekend and for the next three until the season concludes on the weekend of Dec. 16-18.

The rankings will return on Dec. 7. We’d like to wish our friends a Happy Hannukah, which began on Sunday night and lasts eight days.

If you live in one of the states still competing in the postseason, this is your last call for a game until next fall.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 30, 2021

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated No. 7 Servite (Anaheim), 27-7, in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 championship. The game was knotted at 7 after one quarter when RB Ajon Bryant scored on 27-yard run with 7:28 left in the half. RB Raleek Brown scored from the 1 late in the third quarter for a 21-7 edge. WR C.J. Wiliams wrapped up The Monarchs eighth Southern Section title with a TD reception with 2:21 left.

Next: Dec. 11 vs. Serra (San Mateo) in CIF Open Division Bowl Game.

2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated PSJA North (Pharr), 56-0, in the Class 6A, Division II, Region 4 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Vandegrift (Austin) in Region 4 final.

3. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Lowndes County (Valdosta), 49-7, in Class 7A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Grayson (Loganville) in Class 7A semifinals.

4. Katy, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated King (Houston), 41-24, in the Class 6A, Division II, Region 3 semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Summer Creek (Humble) in the Region 3 final.

5. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Lewisville, 52-0, in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Allen in Region 1 final.

6. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (12-0)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: Won Non-Public A championship, defeating archrivals Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 28-7, in the final. It was BC’s first state title since 2017 and first unbeaten season since 1998. Princeton-bound RB Ryan Butler scored from 1 and 46 yards. Leading 14-7 at halftime, the Crusaders took a 21-7 edge when junior D.J. Samuels scored from 6 yards. Notre Dame-commit QB Steve Angeli tossed a TD pass to Jayden Bellamy to tie it at 7 in the first quarter. Season complete.

7. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (10-3)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 27-7, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final. The Friars kept it closed early but two costly turnovers inside the Mater Dei 20 hurt the upset bid. Season complete.

8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (10-2)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Season complete.

9. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (11-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated American Leadership Academy (Queen City), 38-14, in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale) in the Arizona Open Division semifinals.

10. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Hillsborough (Tampa), 42-0, in the Class 6A, Region 3 final. The Tigers recorded their second shutout of the playoffs and advance to the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami) in the Class 6A semifinals.

11. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Homestead, 56-7, in Class 7A, Region 4 final. The Raiders raced to a 28-7 lead at the break and cruised into the state semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Buchholz (Gainesville) in Class 7A semifinals.

12. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Season complete.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Season complete.

14. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (12-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Wednesday vs. Phenix City Central in the Class 7A final.

15. Bixby, Okla. (12-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday vs. Deer Creek (Edmond) in Class 6A-II final.

16. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Season complete.

17. Chandler, Ariz. (10-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Queen Creek, 48-28, in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Liberty (Peoria) in the Arizona Open Division semifinals.

18. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Mill Creek (Hoschton), 36-27, in the Class 7A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Walton (Marietta) in the Class 7A semifinals.

19. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (14-0)*

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won second straight Class 6A championship, defeating Westfield, 27-21, in the final. Tennessee-bound QB Tayven Jackson ran 1-yard for a score and threw 30 yards to WR Harrison Stomps in the second quarter when the Trojans led 20-14. Sophomore Owen Bright’s interception late in the game with Westfield driving, clinched it. Season complete.

20. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-1)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Nevada Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

21. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (13-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Grandview (Aurora), 37-6, in Class 5A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) in the Class 5A final.

22. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (14-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Upper Arlington, 16-10, in n the Division I semifinals. Danny Enovitch’s 25-yard TD run in the third quarter rallied the Eagles from a 10-7 deficit. WR Rayshawn Manning gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 52-yard scoring reception.

Next: Friday vs. Springfield in the Division I final to be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

23. Central, Miami (10-2)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Killian (Miami), 39-13, in the Class 5A, Region 4 final. The Rockets knocked off a previously unbeaten team and need two wins for a repeat state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) in the Class 5A semifinals.

24. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (11-0)*

Previous: 24.

Recap: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital championship. Season complete.

25. Hoover, Ala. (12-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (11-1)
2. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (13-0)
3. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (11-1)**
4. Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh (13-0)
5. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (10-2)*

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 (14-1)*
2. Lakeville (Minn.) South (13-0)*
3. De La Salle Collegiate, Warren, Mich. (13-0)*
4. Franklin, Wis. (14-0)*
5. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy (14-0)*

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

Southland

1. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-0)
2. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (12-0)
3. Male, Louisville, Ky. (13-0)
4. Zachary, La. (13-0)
5. Central, Phenix City, Ala. (13-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-2)
2. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (13-0)
3. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (13-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (10-2)*
5. Mission Viejo, Calif. (9-2)

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

*Won state or postseason conference championship [Teams have won two postseason championships in some states]

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.