Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Football rankings; DeMatha scores big win behind Harrison’s career day
BENSALEM, Pa. – For the fourth time in five weeks, the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school football rankings are static. No shifts, no additions this week.
The most impressive showing this week belongs to No. 25 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), which improved to 7-1, hammering league rivals Bishop McNamara (Forestville), 61-27. RB Lorenzo Harrison had a career day running for 215 yards and scored five touchdowns. The Stags have Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in the penultimate game of the regular season.
Top-ranked Booker T. Washington (Miami) had a challenging game but survived, beating Northwestern (Miami), 21-9. Thanks to a late TD from Krondis Larry, the Tornadoes stayed unbeaten heading into Thursday’s game with Gulliver Prep (Miami).
Three games from three different regions involving Go-To 25 teams stand out.
In Florida, the action heats up when No. 3 Central (Miami) plays cross-town rivals Northwestern. Think of it. Northwestern will have played Booker T. Washington and Central in back-to-back weeks. If Northwestern had won both games would it be No. 1? Thank goodness we don’t have to go down that road. One thing is clear: Miami has the top talent of any city in America. This is truly an incubator for the future of the game.
In suburban Cleveland, Ohio, one of the top schoolboy rivalries in the nation takes place Saturday at Lakewood Stadium at 7 o’clock when No. 7 St. Edward hosts St. Ignatius (Cleveland). This is a longstanding series between two of the top Roman Catholic all-male schools in Ohio. If the Eagles win they move onto to entertain No. 16 Moeller (Cincinnati) on Oct. 26. Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet in December for the Division I state title. Moeller won it last year.
In the East Region, No. 14 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) must run the gauntlet to end the regular season starting with St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) at Caven Point, which sits on the Hudson River. Prep is undefeated and one of the favorites to capture the Non-Public Group 4 state title—No. 15 Paramus Catholic is the biggest roadblock. SJR still has league games against Paramus Catholic (on Oct. 26), upstart De Paul Catholic (Wayne) on Nov. 1 and rivals Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) on Thanksgiving.
We’re closing in on the playoffs. Unbelievable! This is the last push for some teams and varsity careers will end for many student-athletes. Enjoy it while you can. Glory days are hard to let go. After this the letterman’s jacket is headed for mothballs.
So, remember to attend a game this weekend or sometime this fall. Support your local schoolboys on the gridiron. With some programs and in small town America, it’s a way of life.
Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Rankings
1. Booker T. Washington, Miami (6-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Northwestern (Miami), 21-9. RB Krondis Larry ran 23 yards for a TD with 2:57 left to break open a tight game.
Up next: Thursday vs. Gulliver Prep (Miami).
2. Allen, Texas (6-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated Plano East, 62-17. Junior QB Kyler Murray tossed three TD passes.
Up next: Friday at Plano West.
3. Central, Miami (5-1)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 56-6.
Up next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami).
4. Hoover, Ala. (7-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Defeated Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa), 28-6.
Up next: Friday at Minor (Adamsville).
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Idle.
Up next: Friday at Logan (Union City).
6. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 56-12.
Up next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran.
7. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (6-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Idle.
Up next: Saturday vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland).
8. Katy, Texas (6-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Defeated Katy Taylor, 44-0.
Up next: Friday vs. Katy Seven Lakes.
9. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Defeated Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 63-7.
Up next: Friday vs. Chaminade (West Hills).
10. DeSoto, Texas (6-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Defeated Mansfield Timberview (Arlington), 55-20.
Up next: Friday at Midlothian.
11. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (6-0)
Previous: 11.
Recap: Defeated Port Arthur Memorial, 49-20.
Up next: Friday vs. Baytown Sterling.
12. Ensworth, Nashville, Tenn. (7-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Giles County (Pulaski), 48-7.
Up next: Oct. 25 at Baylor Prep (Chattanooga).
13. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (5-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Defeated Mill Creek (Hoschton), 50-47.
Up next: Friday at Habersham Central (Mount Airy).
14. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (4-0)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Idle.
Up next: Friday at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).
15. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (5-0)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Defeated St. Mark’s (Wilmington, Del.), 56-6.
Up next: Friday vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).
16. Moeller, Cincinnati (7-0)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 35-14. The Crusaders won their second outright GCL South title in three years.
Up next: Friday vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis).
17. Sandy Creek, Tyrone, Ga. (5-0-1)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Shaw (Columbus), 49-0.
Up next: Friday vs. Alexander (Douglasville).
18. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (5-1)
Previous: 18.
Recap: Defeated King (Corpus Christi), 49-20. QB L.G. Williams threw for three TDs and RB Justin Stockton scored two TDs.
Up next: Friday vs. South San Antonio.
19. Apopka, Fla. (6-1)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Idle.
Up next: Friday at Evans (Orlando).
20. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (7-0)
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated De La Salle (Chicago), 48-0.
Up next: Saturday vs. Lake Forest Academy
21. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-1)
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated Northeast (Oakland Park), 60-6.
Up next: Friday vs. Cypress Bay (Weston).
22. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 28-21. Justin Allen rushed for 244 yards and two scores in 28 carries.
Up next: Friday at JSerra (San Juan Capistrano).
23. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (5-0)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Game against Nansemond River (Suffolk) was postponed three days until Monday night.
Up next: Friday vs. Grassfield (Chesapeake).
24. Edna Karr, New Orleans (4-1)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Landry-Walker (New Orleans), 26-22. The Cougars scored 13 points in the final quarter to pull out the win.
Up next: Friday vs. King (Metairie).
25. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (7-1)
Previous: 25.
Recap: Defeated Bishop McNamara (Forestville), 61-27. RB Lorenzo Harrison carried 18 times for 215 yards and scored five TDs.
Up next: Friday vs. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
1. Upper St. Clair, Pittsburgh (7-0)
2. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (6-0)
3. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (7-0)
4. Coatesville, Pa. (7-0)
5. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (7-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midlands
1. Cass Tech, Detroit (7-0)
2. Colerain, Cincinnati (7-0)
3. Blue Springs, Mo. (7-0)
4. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (7-0)
5. Eden Prairie, Minn. (6-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Jenks, Okla. (6-0)
2. University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (6-0)
3. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (7-0)
4. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (7-0)
5. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (7-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (6-0)
2. Folsom, Calif. (6-0)
3. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (8-0)
4. Bellevue, Wash. (6-0)
5. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (8-0)
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 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 December 23. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
