AIR RAID: No. 4 St Thomas Aquinas (FL) Raiders avoid upset behind QB Zion Turner’s arm; No. 22 Center Grove (IN) wins Blue Star Media Elite 25 football showdown

BENSALEM, Pa. – When the games are played this upcoming weekend the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall high school football rankings will have full attendance. That is an assumption since the COVID-19 novel coronavirus can strike at a moment’s notice and Miami-Dade County in Florida is a known hotspot.

In what is a bonus to start the season in Miami, No. 12 Northwestern and No. 13 Central, will renew their rivalry this weekend. This game will have more significance than in recent memory for two reasons: Timing and dearth.

Timing means both teams have waited a long time to start the season which normally kicks off in late August in south Florida. Dearth is the lack of games and no possibility of a postseason for these Miami-Dade powerhouses, who were expected to win FHSAA state titles this season.

So, instead the abbreviated season will open with a donnybrook and more local bragging rights.

In Alabama, No. 21 Thompson (Alabaster) hosts No. 24 Hoover (Ala.) in a game that will decide Class 7A, Region 3 champion. Both teams are 9-0 overall and 8-0 in region play but mostly the winner will secure home field advantage for the duration of the 7A playoffs. This year Alabama schools will play at the higher seed, so this one goes down as the Game of the Week.

Nine teams remained static in the Elite 25 Fall rankings; 14 moved up a spot and No. 24 Hoover (Ala.) joined the rankings. No. 13 Central (Miami) dropped eight spots to a more reasonable starting place since the rest of the Elite 25 has a body of work to gage. Central and Northwestern will have ample place to build a late-season dossier to move up in the rankings.

Just up the road in Broward County, No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) finally opened and showed a little rust in its victory. Expect things to gradually improve each week for the Raiders, who are favorites in Florida’s Class 7A.

The postseason is in full swing for Ohio schools, No. 16 Pickerington Central and No. 25 Archbishop Hoban (Akron), who are top-ranked in Ohio’s Division I and II, respectively. Same too in Utah. Indiana gets going with its sectional playoffs this weekend.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Oct. 27. And we start an important stretch of months known as November and December to Remember. Championships are forged for the 10 months leading up and clinched during this time. Should be fun to watch it all unfold.

Stay safe, mask up when possible, 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 Rankings, Oct. 20, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Manvel, 49-14. Auburn-commit QB Dematrius Davis accounted for four touchdowns, rushing for two and throwing for two. Davis ran 26 and 42 yards for TDs and then tossed scoring passes of 4 and 30 yards, totaling 187 yards. The Mustangs carried a 28-14 lead  into the third quarter.

Next: Friday vs. West Brook (Beaumont).

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Bishop Sycamore (Columbus, Ohio), 56-6.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. No. 12 Northwestern (Miami).

3. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 38-14, for the team’s 31^st straight league win. The Hawks scored 38 unanswered points to open the game and dusted their Philadelphia Catholic League rivals. RB Noble House literally “took it house” for three 1-yard rushing TDs and Ohio State-bound QB Kyle McCord (235 yards passing) threw a 54-yard scoring pass to Temple-bound WR Malik Cooper and Blaine Bunch ran 11 yards for a six-pointer.

Next: Saturday vs. Bishop Sycamore (Columbus, Ohio).

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated TRU Prep Academy (Miami Gardens), 25-13, after ending a 2-hour, 40-minute weather delay. The Raiders trailed early in their opener but tied at 13 by halftime. Junior QB Zion Turner tossed a TD pass and bulled over from the 1 to forge the tie. Turner then wrapped up the game late throwing 5 and 37 yards to WR Maurice Newton for scores. DB Ja’Den McBurrows had two INTs in the second half and Alabama-bound DE Dallas Turner added four sacks as the defense gained their footing.

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).

5. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 42-7. The Rams have a bye week.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. Parkview (Lilburn).

6. Katy, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Last weekend’s game with Katy Thompkins was moved to Nov. 27.

Next: Saturday vs. Cinco Ranch (Katy).

7. Chandler, Ariz. (3-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Routed Perry (Gilbert), 55-0. The Wolves rolled up 35 points of offense by halftime.

Next: Friday at Higley (Gilbert).

8. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (10-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: QB Jaxson Dart tossed six TD passes, three of them went to WR Noah Kjar in a 52-32 victory over American Fork in the regular season finale. Dart threw for 383 yards and rushed for 119. The Chargers are off this week after earning the top seed in the Class 6A postseason.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. TBD in the Class 6A second round.

9. Westlake, Austin, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Junior Cade Klubnik scored six TDs, including four rushing, when the Chaps defeated San Marcos, 56-0.

Next: Friday at Bowie (Austin).

10. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 33-20. The Marauders are firing on all cylinders and Virginia Tech-bound QB Tahj Bullock, who had 297 yards from scrimmage, tossed a 61-yard TD pass and ran for another. Prep led 16-7 at halftime and seized control in the fourth quarter. Everyone awaits the Prep vs. No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell) meeting on Nov. 7. Just three games remain before the postseason.

Next: Saturday at Paramus Catholic.

11. Duncanville, Texas (1-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Waco.

12. Northwestern, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle. Finally, the regular season is upon us in Miami-Dade County.

Next: Friday vs. No. 13 Central (Miami).

13. Central, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. The Rockets are back in business this week.

Next: Friday vs. No. 12 Northwestern (Miami).

14. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (2-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Saint Louis University High (St. Louis), 38-22. The offense continues to roll, averaging nearly 40 points in two games.

Next: Friday vs. Vashon (St. Louis).

15. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (4-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Eastern (Louisville).

16. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (8-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Hilliard Darby, 35-16, in the Division I, Region 3 quarterfinals. The Tigers trailed for the first time this season but never flinched. Lorenzo Styles Jr. was the star on special teams returning a punt (74 yards) and a kickoff (90 yards) for TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Hillard Bradley in the Region 3 semifinals.

17. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Games for the next two weeks have been canceled over coronavirus outbreak at school. According to reports, head coach Jamey DuBose also tested positive with the virus.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. Tift County (Tifton).

18. Owasso, Okla. (5-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Southmoore (Moore), 43-13.

Next: Friday at Mustang.

19. Bixby, Okla. (6-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Sand Springs, 51-20. The win streak reaches 31 games. This weekend’s game with Muskogee was canceled.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. Ponca City.

20. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Blanked Paramus Catholic, 37-0. The Crusaders scored 30 points in the first half.

Next: Friday at DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

21. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Oak Mountain (Birmingham), 49-21. The Warriors scored 21 points in each of the opening two quarters. This week is a statement game likely for top-seed in the upcoming Class 7A playoffs and home-field advantage.

Next: Friday vs. No. 24 Hoover.

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

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Cathedral (Indianapolis), 17-13, in the regular season finale. The Trojans made a crucial stop with 1:14 left in the contest and then drove 54 yards for the go-ahead score.

Next: Oct. 30 vs. Columbus North in Class 6A, Sectional 8 semifinals.

23. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (4-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Crushed Lexington, 55-13.

Next: Friday vs. Spring Valley (Columbia).

24. Hoover, Ala. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Tuscaloosa County, 48-21. Friday’s game is the game of the year in Alabama Class 7A. Is it a preview of 7A playoff game? The winner likely clinches home field in the playoffs

Next: Friday at No. 21 Thompson (Alabaster).

25. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (6-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: The Knights romped over Roosevelt (Kent), 63-0, in the Division II, Region 5 first round.

Next: Friday vs. Mayfield in Region 5 second round.

Dropped out: No. 13 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.).

 High-Fives by Region

East

1. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (5-0)
2. Central Dauphin, Harrisburg, Pa. (4-0)
3. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (5-0)
4. Williamstown, N.J. (2-0)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (1-2)

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 (8-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (5-0)
3. Coffman, Dublin, Ohio (8-0)
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (6-0)
5. Muskego, Wis. (4-0)

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

Southland

1. Allen, Texas (2-0)
2. Acadiana, Scott, La. (3-0)
3. Archbishop Rummel. Metairie, La. (2-0)
4. Bryant, Ark. (6-0)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (8-0)

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

Far West

1. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (2-0)
2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (2-0)
3. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (6-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (9-1)
5. Skyridge, Lehi, Utah (8-2)

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.