BOCA RATON, Fla. — Here are the final 2014 Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 return in mid-August 2015 with the preseason rankings. In the meantime, have a Happy New Year and be sure to check for the boys and girls’ rankings that run weekly until the conclusion of their seasons in early April. We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football rankings, December 30, 2014
1. Allen, Texas (16-0)**
Previous rank: 1.
What happened: Won third-straight state championship, beating Cypress Ranch, 47-16, in the Class 6A, Division I final before 52,308 at AT&T Stadium. Texas A&M-bound QB Kyler Murray threw for 317 yards and five touchdown passes—three to Kerry Hall—on 22-for-32 efficiency. Murray won his third straight Offensive MVP and the Eagles, who played 16 road games this season because of stadium issues—extended their win streak to 43 games. The Eagles bagged their second consecutive Blue Star Media National Championship going wire to wire as the top-ranked team.
2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)**
Previous: 2.
What happened: Won Division I state championship.
3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (14-0)**
Previous: 3.
What happened: Won CIF Open Division state championship, defeating then-No. 18 Corona Centennial, 63-42. It was the sixth title for the Spartans and the first under second-year coach Justin Alumbaugh. Antoine Custer ran for 268 yards and four TDs.
4. Booker T. Washington, Miami (15-0)**
Previous: 4.
What happened: Won Class 4A state championship for third straight title. Also extending winning streak to 41 games, holding Bingham (Utah), 34-28, in overtime at the Burger King State Champions Bowl Series.
5. Central, Miami (15-1)**
Previous: 5.
What happened: Won third straight Class 6A state championship. Also stopped then-No. 16 Bothell (Wash.), 37-27, at Burger King State Champions Football Series in Boca Raton.
6. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (15-0)**
Previous: 6.
What happened: Won Class AAAAAA state championship. The Packers completed their first unbeaten season since winning the state title in 1994.
7. Folsom, Calif. (16-0)**
Previous: 7.
What happened: Won CIF Division I state championship, defeating previously unbeaten Oceanside, 68-7. Washington-bound QB Jake Browning, tossed for six TDs and 453 yards. This season Browning fired a national record 91 TD throws and concluded his brilliant prep career with a national career mark of 229 TDs. The Bulldogs tallied a national single-season record 915 points.
8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14-1)**
Previous: 8.
What happened: Won Class 7A state championship.
9. Buford, Ga. (15-0)**
Previous: 10.
What happened: Won Class AAAA state championship. The Wolves carry a 40-game win streak into next season. It was their 11th overall state championship and 10th in the last 14 years.
10. Maryville, Tenn. (15-0)**
Previous: 11.
What happened: Won Class 6A state championship.
11. Cedar Hill, Texas (14-2)**
Previous: 14.
What happened: Won Class 6A, Division II state championship, defeating then-No. 15 Katy, 23-20. Brooks Ralph kicked a 25-yard field goal with two seconds left for the second straight title and third overall for the Longhorns.
12. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (15-0)**
Previous: 12.
What happened: Won Class 6A state championship.
13. Clarkston, Mich. (14-0)**
Previous: 13.
What happened: Won second consecutive Division 1 state championship.
14. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (15-1)
Previous: 9.
What happened: Advanced Class 6A final.
16. Bothell, Wash. (14-1)**
Previous: 16.
What happened: Won first-ever Class 4A state championship. Lost to No. 5 Central (Miami) 37-27 at the inaugural Burger King State Champions Football Series in Boca Raton.
17. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (11-1)**
Previous: 17.
What happened: Won Non-Public Group 4 state championship.
18. Katy, Texas (14-2)
Previous: 15.
What happened: Advanced to Class 6A, Division II final, losing to then-No. 14 Cedar Hill, 23-20.
19. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (12-0)**
Previous: 20.
What happened: Won inaugural New York State Catholic High Schools Athletic Association and Monsignor Martin Association championships.
20. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-3)**
Previous: 18.
What happened: Advanced to CIF Open Division, losing to No. 3 De La Salle (Concord), 63-42. The defense surrendered the final 21 points of the contest.
21. Euless (Texas) Trinity (12-2)
Previous: 19.
What happened: Advanced to Class 6A Division 1, Regional 1 final.
22. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-2)
Previous: 21.
What happened: Advanced to CIF-Southern Section Pac-Five Division final.
23. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (14-0)**
Previous: 23.
What happened: Won Class 6 state championship.
24. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (15-0)**
Previous: 24.
What happened: Won Group 6A state championship.
25. Chandler, Ariz. (13-1)**
Previous: 25.
What happened: Won Division I state championship final.
Dropped out: No. 22 Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-1).
High-Fives by Region
East
1. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (14-1)**
2. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (10-1)
3. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (11-3)**
4. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (12-1)**
5. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (12-0)**
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
1. Eden Prairie, Minn. (13-0)**
2. LaSalle, Cincinnati (14-1)**
3. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (13-2)**
4. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (14-0)**
5. Omaha (Neb.) North (13-0)**
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
1. New Bern, N.C. (16-0)**
2. Northside, Warner Robins, Ga. (14-1)**
3. Jenks, Okla. (11-2)**
4. Jesuit, New Orleans (12-2) **
5. Skyline, Dallas (14-1)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (13-2)**
2. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (13-1)**
3. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (13-2)**
4. Bellevue, Wash. (13-1)
5. Mililani, Hawaii (13-0)**
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
** Won state, sectional or postseason conference 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 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. The final rankings were released December 30. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.
