Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Football rankings; Legendary coach Fracassa, Brother Rice are Michigan champions!

BENSALEM, Pa. – Okay, the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 football rankings have taken a beating in the last three weeks. This week’s rankings with include a season-high four new teams, including one that rejoins after annexing a state championship.

First, the good news from DeKalb, Ill., where No. 25 Mount Carmel (Chicago) won the program’s 10^th state title since 1980, downing Lake Zurich, 30-0. Coach Frank Lenti is simply one of the nation’s best and his running back Matt Domer, an Illinois recruit, were too much.

Next, one of the nation’s all-time great coaches went out a champion! Yes, Al Fracassa of No. 18 Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) enters the Go-To 25 after his Warriors defeated Muskegon, 38-21, for a third-straight Division 2 title. Fracassa guided Rice for the last 45 years of his 54-year coaching tenure. I interviewed him for a USA TODAY story in 2001 detailing his prep coaching career and why he never left for college ranks (he revealed several opportunities but family and loyalty always counted in his household). The high school game is losing a class act.

No. 17 Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) extracted a painful thorn Saturday afternoon at the University of Phoenix Stadium, besting Arizona powerhouse (10 state titles), Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 42-19, in Division I. Paul Lucas, the defending 100-meter state champion, sped past the Huskies for 159 yards and a 56-yarder late to put them away.

In Florida, it’s down to the last two weekends. For No. 16 Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), there are two more games to bag a Class 7A title. Dwyer ousted defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 35-28, in the Region 4 final. Now they head to the Tampa area on Friday for a semifinal date with East Lake (Tarpon Springs) in the semifinals. A win punches a title to Orlando for the state final on the following weekend in the Citrus Bowl.

The rankings will return Dec. 9, 16 and 23. There’s still time to watch a game of importance. Kudos to all the state and conference champions! Only three weekends to go.

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

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Rankings

1. Booker T. Washington, Miami (13-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Cocoa, 49-10, in Class 4A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Bolles School (Jacksonville) in 4A final at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

2. Allen, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 56-21, in Class 5A, Division I Region 2 final. The Eagles scored 42 points in the opening half to cruise. Junior QB Kyler Murray threw for 335 yards and five TDs and ran for another score.

Next: Saturday vs. Spring Westfield in state quarterfinals at Reeves Complex in Round Rock.

3. Central, Miami (12-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Palm Bay Heritage, 54-3, in Class 6A, Region 4 final. The Tornadoes took a 27-0 lead at the break.

Next: Friday vs. Mainland (Dayton Beach) in 6A semifinals.

4. Hoover, Ala. (14-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Vestavia Hills, 31-28, in Class 6A semifinals. The Bucs trailed, 28-10, but pulled one out for the ages.

Next: Friday vs. Auburn in 6A final at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Deer Valley, 57-27, in CIF-North Coast Section Division I semifinals. Antoine Custer and John Velasco combined for 331 rushing yards and five TDs in the blowout.

Next: Saturday vs. California High (San Ramon) in sectional final in Dublin.

6. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills), 56-15, CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division semifinals. The Braves have already thumped their sectional final opponent, but that was the regular season.

Next: Saturday vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in sectional final at Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim.

7. Katy, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Fort Bend Elkins, 56-26, in Class 5A, Division II Region 3 semifinals. Texas A&M-commit RB Rodney Anderson torched Elkins for five TDs and 161 yards rushing. The junior missed the last five games with an injury.

Next: Friday vs. Manvel in regional final at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

8. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated St. Francis (La Canada), 22-14, in CIF-Southern Section Western Division semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Chaminade (West Hills) in sectional final.

9. DeSoto, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Martin (Arlington), 56-34, Class 5A, Division I Region 1 final.

Next: Friday vs. Euless Trinity in state quarterfinals at Allen’s Eagle Stadium.

10. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (12-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Edinburgh North, 48-14, in Class 5A, Division II Region 4 semifinals. Justin Stockton rushed for TDs from 6 and 12 yards in the opening quarter, fueling a 21-0 lead.

Next: Friday vs. Johnson (San Antonio) in regional final.

11. Apopka, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated First Coast (Jacksonville), 42-20, in Class 8A, Region 1 final.

Next: Friday at Plant (Tampa) in 8A semifinals.

12. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (14-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Forest Park (Woodbridge), 40-7, in Group 6A South Eastern Section final. The Tigers clawed their way to a 27-0 lead at halftime.

Next: Saturday vs. Colonial Forge (Stafford) in state semifinals.

13. Maryville, Tenn. (14-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Blackman (Murfreesboro), 28-16, in Class 6A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Hendersonville in 6A final at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.

14. Moeller, Cincinnati (13-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Hilliard Davidson, 13-11, in Division I Region 2 final. Matt Coghlin’s 27-yard field goal—his second of the game—with 6:06 left in the third quarter sent the Crusaders back to the state championship game.

Next: Saturday vs. Mentor in Division I final.

15. Edna Karr, New Orleans (12-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Franklinton, 26-0, in Class 4A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Landry-Walker in 4A semifinals.

16. Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Defeated St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 35-28, in Class 7A, Region 4 final.

Next: Friday at East Lake (Tarpon Springs) in 7A semifinals.

17. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (14-0)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Hamilton (Chandler), 42-19, in Division I final. It was the Pointe’s first state championship, stopping the team that beat them in last year’s final. Speeding RB Paul Lucas ran for 159 yards, including 56-yarder late to salt away the game. Season complete.

18. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (14-0)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Muskegon, 38-21, in Division 2 final at Ford Field in Detroit. The game marked retirement for coach Al Fracassa, a national treasure, who closes with a 430-117-7 after 54 years, the last 45 at Rice. It was the program’s third straight title and ninth overall. Junior QB Alex Malzone completed 20 of 24 for 263 yards and four TDs. Season complete.

19. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Hillgrove (Powder Springs), 35-31, in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. QB Hayden Sphire tossed a 10-yard TD to Daniel Imatorbhebhe with 73 seconds left to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2007.

Next: Friday vs. McEachern (Powder Springs) in AAAAAA semifinals.

20. Jenks, Okla. (13-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Westmoore (Oklahoma City), 46-14, in Class 6A semifinals. The Trojans face their blood rivals for all the marbles.

Next: Thursday vs. Union (Tulsa) in 6A final at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

21. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (9-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Lost to Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 28-21, in regular season finale.

Next: Saturday vs. Pope John XXIII (Sparta) in Non-Public Group 3 final.

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

Previous: 22.

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

23. Folsom, Calif. (14-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Jesuit (Carmichael), 42-35, in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinals. The Bulldogs survived a shootout and now face a familiar foe from the regular season they blanked, 35-0, for the Division I title.

Next: Saturday vs. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) in sectional final at Sacramento State.

24. Blue Springs, Mo. (14-0)**

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Rock Bridge (Columbia), 35-14, in Class 6 final. It was the program’s fifth overall state title and fourth for coach Kelly Donohoe. Season complete.

25. Mount Carmel, Chicago (13-1)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Lake Zurich, 30-0, in Class 7A final. RB Matt Domer rushed for 176 yards and scored two TDs in the first quarter. QB Marko Boricich flipped a pair of TDs for the Caravan’s second straight crown and 10^th state title since 1980. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 11 North Shore (Galena Park, Texas); No. 12 Sandy Creek, (Tyrone, Ga.); No. 16 Miramar (Fla.); and No. 25. Colerain (Cincinnati).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (14-0)

2. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (9-2)

3. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (13-0)

4. L.C. Bird, Chesterfield, Va. (14-0)

5. St. Anthony, Melville, N.Y. (11-1)**

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

Midlands

1. Mentor, Ohio (13-1)

2. Eden Prairie, Minn. (12-0)**

3. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (11-2)*

4. Naperville (Ill.) Central (11-3)**

5. Dowling, West Des Moines, Iowa (14-0)**

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. (14-0)

2. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (14-0)

3. Griffin, Ga. (13-0)

4. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (13-0)

5. Oak Grove, Hattiesburg, Miss. (13-1)

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

Far West

1. Bellevue, Wash. (13-0)

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-2)

3. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (14-0)**

4. Punahou School, Honolulu (11-0)**

5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-2)

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

Records are through Sunday.

* Season complete

** State, sectional or conference champion

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.