Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Football Rankings; Miami Central records big win
BENSALEM, Pa. – There are no additions to the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings. One team lost, another recorded a whopping road victory, and a few enjoyed bye weeks with more coming this weekend.
The biggest shock came in south Florida, where defending Class 7A state champion No. 22 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) lost to Miramar, 22-20. After two impressive victories to open the season, the Raiders were defeated in their backyard. That treacherous slip cost them 18 slots in the Go-To 25 rankings and essentially eliminates the Raiders from National Championship contention. Watch, they’ll rebound to navigate the tricky waters of the 7A bracket come November and December.
No. 4 Central (Miami) ventured into my neck of the woods, northern New Jersey, and crushed Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 50-21. That drops the New Jersey school to 1-2 for the first time since 1996. This is the same team that has bagged two national titles his decades. Meanwhile, Central has too much speed and lightning-quick backs that blew by the plodding Ironmen. Central heads out west to play in Nevada in October while Don Bosco must contend with league rivals St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) and Paramus Catholic (both nationally ranked) and Bergen Catholic (Oradell) and upstart De Paul Catholic (Wayne).
We’re starting to figure that No. 24 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) is a lighter version of last year’s team. Curtis was pounded by No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) last weekend and in the opening game barely scraped by a marginal Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.). In spite of the loss, the Patriots remain ranked and have a chance to atone against No. 3 Edna Karr (New Orleans) later this month.
Looking ahead the action heats up starting Thursday in Louisiana when No. 24 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) plays at No. 3 Edna Karr (New Orleans). Friday night is chock full of rivalries, including No. 25 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) at Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), Coppell (Texas) at No. 2 Allen (Texas) and Cincinnati Catholic schools St. Xavier and No. 20 Moeller tangle at cavernous Nippert Stadium. Saturday’ most appetizing contest is No. 19 Paramus Catholic visiting St. Ignatius (Cleveland). PC will make the nine-hour bus ride with their stud senior and Michigan-recruit Jabrill Peppers.
This weekend most schools in the Midwest and South hit the halfway post for the regular season. In about three weeks, the dreaded P-word, playoffs, will be popping up nationwide. Can’t stress enough that piling up the wins now buys team a cushion in case of a nosedive.
My mantra every week is to attend a game this weekend or sometime this fall. Support your local schoolboys on the gridiron. In some towns, 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 (4-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Jackson (Miami), 35-6. The Tornadoes next test is Oct. 4 at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on national TV.
Up next: Friday at Monsignor Pace (Opa Locka).
2. Allen, Texas (4-0)
Previous rank: 2.
Recap: Defeated Hebron (Carrollton), 36-17. The Eagles have a gigantic Dallas area, Class 5A showdown this weekend.
Up next: Friday vs. Coppell.
3. Edna Karr, New Orleans (2-0)
Previous rank: 3.
Recap: Idle. Time to earn some respect on Thursday.
Up next: Thursday vs. No. 24 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge).
4. Central, Miami (3-1)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 50-21. The Rockets trailed, 14-10, but rallied for a 29-14 lead at the break. Now a much needed week off.
Up next: Oct. 5 vs. Homestead.
5. Hoover, Ala. (4-0)
Previous rank: 6.
Recap: Defeated Northridge (Tuscaloosa), 56-14. The Bucs rolled to a 21-0 lead after one period. QB Jack Hutcheson completed 11 passes for 250 yards and three TDs, including two to WR Justin Johnson of 30 and 65 yards.
Up next: Friday vs. Vestavia Hills.
6. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (4-0)
Previous rank: 7.
Recap: Defeated Del Oro (Loomis), 41-3. John Velasco rushed for 172 yards and scored twice. In winning their 30th straight game, the Spartans piled up 505 yards, 445 of which came on the ground.
Up next: Friday vs. San Ramon Valley (Danville).
7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (4-0)
Previous rank: 8.
Recap: Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles), 24-10.
Up next: Oct. 4 vs. Crenshaw (Los Angeles).
8. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (4-0)
Previous rank: 9.
Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 48-7. Junior RB Shaun Crawford, a Michigan recruit, dominated in all three phases, but did the most damage running for 120 yards, including 1- and 76-yard TDs.
Up next: Saturday vs. McDowell (Erie).
9. Mount Carmel, Chicago (3-0)
Previous rank: 10.
Recap: Defeated Brother Rice (Chicago) 28-20. Illinois-bound RB Matt Domer scored twice late in the second quarter, propelling the Caravan.
Up next: Friday at St. Rita (Chicago).
10. Katy, Texas (4-0)
Previous rank: 11.
Recap: Defeated Mayde Creek (Houston), 42-0. Kyle Porter scored three TDs and Texas A&M-bound junior RB Derek Anderson rushed for two TDs, upping his season total to 15.
Up next: Thursday vs. Katy Morton Ranch.
11. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (4-0)
Previous rank: 12.
Recap: Defeated Dorsey (Los Angeles), 48-18.
Up next: Friday at Narbonne (Harbor City).
12. DeSoto, Texas (4-0)
Previous rank: 13.
Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 47-20. QB Desmon White threw for 228 yards and one TD and rushed for 114 and two scores, totaling 342 yards.
Up next: Friday at South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie).
13. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Defeated Madison (Houston), 51-0.
Up next: Friday vs. Channelview.
14. Ensworth, Nashville, Tenn. (4-0)
Previous rank: 15.
Recap: Defeated Father Ryan (Nashville), 41-7.
Up next: Friday vs. McCallie School (Chattanooga).
15. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (4-0)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Defeated Meadowcreek (Norcross), 63-0.
Up next: Oct. 4 at Duluth.
16. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-0)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Idle. It’s a huge rivalry game on tap this weekend in northern New Jersey.
Up next: Saturday vs. Bergen Catholic (Oradell) at Palisades Park Sportsplex.
17. Sandy Creek, Tyrone, Ga. (2-0-1)
Previous rank: 18.
Recap: Idle.
Up next: Friday at Fayette County (Fayetteville).
18. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (3-1)
Previous rank: 19.
Recap: Defeated Westlake (Austin), 42-35.
Up next: Thursday at San Marcos.
19. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (3-0)
Previous rank: 20.
Recap: Defeated De Paul Catholic (Wayne), 35-21. The Paladins were lucky the score was only 7-7 at the break, but a second half stampede closed out the upset bid.
Up next: Saturday at St. Ignatius (Cleveland).
20. Moeller, Cincinnati (4-0)
Previous rank: 21.
Recap: Defeated St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), 24-12. A pivotal GCL South game takes center stage.
Up next: Friday vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.
21. Apopka, Fla. (4-1)
Previous rank: 22.
Recap: Defeated Boone (Orlando), 44-14.
Up next: Friday vs. Freedom (Orlando).
22. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-1)
Previous rank: 4.
Recap: Lost to Miramar, 22-20.
Up next: Friday vs. Nova (Davie).
23. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)
Previous rank: 23.
Recap: Defeated Santa Monica, 34-0. The Monarchs pitch their second straight shutout.
Up next: Friday vs. Edison (Huntington Beach).
24. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (2-1)
Previous rank: 24.
Recap: Defeated East St. John (Reserve), 39-7.
Up next: Thursday vs. No. 3 Edna Karr (New Orleans).
25. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-1)
Previous rank: 25.
Recap: Defeated St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), 26-21. Lorenzo Harrison’s 5-yard TD run in the fourth quarter rallied the Stags from a 21-20 deficit. RB Taiwan Deal carried 15 times for 131 yards and two TDs. Now it’s rivalry week for the Boys in Blue and Red and a firm grip on the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title race.
Up next: Friday at Good Counsel (Olney).
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
East
1. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (3-0)
2. Upper St. Clair, Pittsburgh (4-0)
3. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (4-0)
4. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (4-0)
5. Coatesville, Pa. (4-0)
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 (4-0)
2. Colerain, Cincinnati (4-0)
3. Center Grove, Ind. (5-0)
4. Blue Springs, Mo. (4-0)
5. Eden Prairie, Minn. (4-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Jenks, Okla. (3-0)
2. University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-0)
3. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (4-0)
4. Brandon, Miss. (4-0)
5. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (4-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (4-0)
2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)
3. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (5-0)
4. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (3-0)
5. Bellevue, Wash. (3-0)
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.
