Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Football rankings; DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) bags WCAC title

BENSALEM, Pa. – Hark, the first team in the Blue Star Go-To 25 high school football rankings has won a title.

That’s because No. 23 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, the program’s first hardware in five years.

Two teams had their season’s end in the postseason as No. 17 Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh) lost in the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals and No. 25 Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) fell in the Class 6A Semistates. Both suffered their first defeats.

Joining the Go-To 25 rankings are No. 22 Cass Tech (Detroit) and No. 25 Folsom (Calif.). Cass Tech needs to two more wins to claim Michigan’s large-school (Division I) title. Folsom is only in the second round of the sectional playoffs with a month—should they advance that far—left in the season.

The games of the week are No. 1 Booker T. Washington (Miami) against University (Davie, Fla.) in the Class 4A, Region 4 final. On Saturday night, No. 13 Colerain and No. 24 Moeller (both from Cincinnati) meet in the Division I, Region 2 semifinals. Both games will help reshape the Go-To 25 rankings as we move closer to Thanksgiving.

The rankings will return Nov. 25. There’s still time to watch a game of importance.

Hope to see you at a playoff game this weekend. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Rankings

1. Booker T. Washington, Miami (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Glades Central (Belle Glades), 40-18, in Class 4A, Region 4 semifinals. The unofficial state championship will be contested on Friday in Davie.

Next: Friday vs. University School (Davie) in regional final.

2. Allen, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Lake Highlands (Dallas), 63-6, in Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoffs. The Eagles led, 49-0, at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. Horn (Mesquite) in Area playoffs at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

3. Central, Miami (10-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Boynton Beach, 55-37, in Class 6A, Region 4 quarterfinals. Dalvin Cook ran for 116 yards and four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) in regional semifinals.

4. Hoover, Ala. (12-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Shades Valley (Birmingham), 33-14, in Class 6A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Florence in quarterfinals.

5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. The Spartans received a first-round bye.

Next: Friday vs. Granada (Livermore) in CIF-North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals.

6. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Agoura, 69-24, in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division first round.

Next: Friday vs. Tesoro (Las Flores) in Pac 5 Division quarterfinals.

7. Katy, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Madison (Houston), 70-0, in Class 5A, Division II bi-district playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Cypress Woods (Cypress) in Area playoff.

8. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (8-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle. The top-seeded Green Knights received a first-round bye in the Non-Public Group 3 playoffs.

Next: Saturday vs. Red Bank Catholic in semifinals.

9. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Pacifica (Oxnard), 48-16, in CIF-Southern Section Western Division first round.

Next: Friday vs. Buena (Ventura) in sectional quarterfinals.

10. DeSoto, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Copperas Cove, 67-21, in Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoffs. It was 21-14 after one quarter until DeSoto rattled off 27 points in the second.

Next: Saturday vs. Coppell in Area playoffs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

11. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Dobie (Houston), 41-6, in Class 5A, Division I bi-district playoffs. QB Michah Long passed for two TDs and ran for two more in the lopsided win.

Next: Saturday vs. Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City) in Area playoffs at Deer Park.

12. Sandy Creek, Tyrone, Ga. (10-0-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Cedartown, 63-10, in Class 4A first round.

Next: Friday Chestatee (Gainesville) in second round.

13. Colerain, Cincinnati (12-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Pickerington Central, 38-20, in Division I Region 2 quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 24 Moeller (Cincinnati) in semifinals.

14. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (10-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Clark (San Antonio), 52-6, in Class 5A, Division II bi-district playoff game. RB Justin Stockton rushed for 231 yards and four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Reagan (San Antonio) in Area playoffs at San Antonio’s Comalander Stadium.

15. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (11-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Vero Beach, 34-28, in Class 8A, Region 3 quarterfinals. The Hurricanes barely escaped.

Next: Friday vs. Fort Pierce Central in regional semifinals.

16. Apopka, Fla. (10-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated University (Orlando), 77-21, in Class 8A Region 1 quarterfinals. The Blue Darters cruised in their first assignment.

Next: Friday vs. Winter Park in regional semifinals.

17. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (11-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Bayside (Virginia Beach),35-0, in Group 6A South Eastern Section playoffs. The Tigers posted their fourth shutout this campaign.

Next: Friday vs. Grassfield (Chesapeake) in sectional semifinals.

18. Edna Karr, New Orleans (8-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Salmen (Slidell), 53-7, in Class 4A bi-district playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Crowley in regional playoffs.

19. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (10-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Milton, 34-3, in Class AAAAAA first round. The Bulldogs are making noise.

Next: Friday vs. Archer (Lawrenceville) in second round.

20. Mission Viejo, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Crespi (Encino), 45-0, in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division first round. The Diablos notch their second shutout in three weeks.

Next: Friday vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in Pac 5 Division quarterfinals.

21. Jenks, Okla. (11-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Owasso, 14-10, in Class 6A first round. The Trojans escaped with a narrow victory. Three more wins for a repeat title.

Next: Friday vs. Midwest City in quarterfinals.

22. Cass Tech, Detroit (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Macomb Dakota, 32017, in Division I regional final. Junior QB Jayru Campbell accounted for 346 yards and four TDs, including three rushing.

Next: Saturday vs. Detroit Central Catholic (Novi) in state semifinals.

23. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-1)**

Previous: 23.

Recap: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, defeating St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 31-10. It was the Stags since WCAC title since 2008. Tawain Deal rushed for 122 yards and a TD and sophomore Lorenzo Harrison added 114 yards. Season complete.

24. Moeller, Cincinnati (11-1)

Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 24-0, in Division I, Region 2 quarterfinals. QB Gus Ragland ran for 126 yards and two scores and Ohio State-bound SS Sam Hubbard chipped in with 10 tackles.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 13 Colerain (Cincinnati) in semifinals in Mason.

25. Folsom, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Lincoln (Stockton), 50-14, in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I first round. The Bulldogs’ closest game this season was 16 points.

Next: Friday vs. Franklin (Elk Grove) in sectional quarterfinals.

Dropped: No. 17. Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh); and No. 25 Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (8-2)

2. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (11-0)

3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (12-0)

4. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (11-0)

5. Wilson, West Lawn, Pa. (12-0)

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

Midlands

1. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (10-1)

2. Blue Springs, Mo. (12-0)

3. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (12-0)

4. Eden Prairie, Minn. (11-0)

5. Mount Carmel, Chicago (11-1)

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

South

1. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (12-0)

2. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (12-0)

3. Miramar, Fla. (11-0)

4. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (10-1)

5. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (10-1)

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

Far West

1. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (12-0)

2. Bellevue, Wash. (11-0)

3. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (10-1)

4. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (13-0)

5. Punahou School, Honolulu (10-0)

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

Games are through Sunday.

** State, sectional or conference champion with their season completed

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.