Blue Star Media Go-To 25 High School Football rankings; three teams debut in postseason shakeup

BENSALEM, Pa. – Well, as we go deeper into the postseason, there’s certainly to be change in the Blue Star Go-To 25 high school football rankings.

That was case last weekend when four ranked teams went down, thusly ending their seasons. No. 25 Colerain (Cincinnati) survived the cut down but that could change depending on the results in Ohio’s Division I tournament. The Final Four in Ohio’s largest classification will tell the story over the next two weekends.

Joining the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings are No. 16 Miramar (Fla.), No. 17 Maryville (Tenn.) and No. 24 Blue Springs (Mo.)—all three are undefeated with state title aspirations.

Blue Springs goes for another Missouri Class 6 title on Friday. Miramar and Maryville are closing in.

The rankings will return Dec. 2. There’s still time to watch a game of importance especially in those northeastern states where Thanksgiving Day morning games are still revered. That means Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and yes, Missouri, will host Turkey Day pageantry.

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

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Rankings

1. Booker T. Washington, Miami (12-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated University School (Davie), 45-17, in Class 4A, Region 4 final. QB Treon Harris accounted for all six TDs, throwing for three and running for three more.

Next: Friday vs. Cocoa in 4A state semifinals.

2. Allen, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Horn (Mesquite), 42-14, in Class 5A, Division I Area playoffs.

Next: Saturday vs. The Woodlands in Region 2 final at Baylor University’s Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.

3. Central, Miami (11-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), 59-14, in Class 6A, Region 4 semifinals. RBs Joseph Yearby (16 carries for 157 yards, three TDs) and Dalvin Cook (12 carries for 78 yards, two TDs) combined to score five TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Palm Bay Heritage in regional final.

4. Hoover, Ala. (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Florence, 22-21, in Class 6A quarterfinals. Junior QB Jake Hutcheson flipped a 9-yard TD pass to Jason Elam with 6:09 left for the winning score and the Bucs’ 28^th straight win.

Next: Friday vs. Vestavia Hills in 6A semifinals.

5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Granada (Livermore), 46-0, in CIF-North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Deer Valley in sectional semifinals.

6. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Tesoro (Las Flores), 55-7, in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division quarterfinals. Junior QB Josh Rosen threw for 252 yards and five TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Alemany (Mission Hills) in sectional semifinals.

7. Katy, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Cypress Woods (Cypress), 51-7, in Class 5A, Division II Area playoff.

Next: Friday vs. Fort Bend Elkins in Region 3 final.

8. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (9-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Red Bank Catholic, 28-7, in Non-Public Group 3 semifinals. The Green Knights face Pope John XXIII (Sparta) in final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Dec. 7, but still have one divisional game remaining.

Next: Thanksgiving morning vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) in regular season finale.

9. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Buena (Ventura), 40-6, in CIF-Southern Section Western Division quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. St. Francis (La Canada) in sectional semifinals.

10. DeSoto, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Coppell, 34-30 Class 5A, Division I in Area playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Martin (Arlington) in Region 1 final.

11. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City), 61-0, in Class 5A, Division 1 Area playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Cy Fair (Cypress) in Region 3 final.

12. Sandy Creek, Tyrone, Ga. (11-0-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Chestatee (Gainesville), 55-7, in Class 4A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Griffin in 4A quarterfinals.

13. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (11-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Reagan (San Antonio), 40-23, in Class 5A, Division II Area playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Edinburgh North in Region 4 final.

14. Apopka, Fla. (11-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Winter Park, 31-7, in Class 8A, Region 1 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. First Coast (Jacksonville) in regional final.

15. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (13-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Grassfield (Chesapeake), 41-7, in Group 6A South Eastern Section semifinals. What a post-Thanksgiving feast this weekend in the Tidewater area.

Next: Saturday vs. Forest Park (Woodbridge) in sectional final.

16. Miramar, Fla. (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Deerfield Beach, 43-6, in Class 8A, Region 3 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Palm Beach Gardens in 8A semifinals.

17. Maryville, Tenn. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Defeated Sevier County (Sevierville), 56-14, in Class 6A quarterfinals. The Rebels have won 14 state titles, most recently in 2011. With two more wins it’ll be No. 15.

Next: Friday vs. Blackman (Murfreesboro) in 6A semifinals.

18. Moeller, Cincinnati (12-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 13 Colerain (Cincinnati), 35-26, in the Division I Region II semifinals. QB Gus Ragland ran for 204 yards and four TDs on 28 carries. The Crusaders’ regional final opponent is 13-0.

Next: Saturday vs. Hilliard Davidson in regional final at University of Dayton’s Welcome Stadium.

19. Edna Karr, New Orleans (11-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Crowley, 55-6, in Class 4A Regional playoffs. Devante Noil scored three TDs in the rout.

Next: Friday vs. Franklinton in 4A quarterfinals.

20. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (11-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Archer (Lawrenceville), 34-32, in Class 6A second round. Michael D’Angola kicked a 27-yard FG with seven seconds left for the win.

Next: Friday vs. Hillgrove (Powder Springs) in 6A quarterfinals.

21. Jenks, Okla. (12-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Midwest City, 33-14, in Class 6A quarterfinals. The game was delayed one day to Saturday due to weather concerns. If the Trojans win Friday they will play Broken Arrow or archrivals Union (Tulsa) for the title.

Next: Friday vs. Westmoore (Oklahoma City) in 6A semifinals.

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

Previous: 23.

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

23. Folsom, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Franklin (Elk Grove), 49-16, in CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (Carmichael) in sectional semifinals.

24. Blue Springs, Mo. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Defeated Eureka, 42-14, in Class 6 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Rock Bridge (Columbia) in state final

25. Colerain, Cincinnati (12-1)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 24 Moeller (Cincinnati), 35-26 in Division I, Region 2 semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 15. Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.); No. 20 Mission Viejo (Calif.); and No. 22 Cass Tech (Detroit)

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (13-0)

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

3. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (12-0)

4. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (12-0)

5. L.C. Bird, Chesterfield, Va. (13-0)

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 (11-1)

2. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (13-0)

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

4. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (12-1)

5. Mount Carmel, Chicago (12-1)

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. (13-0)

2. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (13-0)

3. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (11-1)

4. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (12-0)

5. St. Augustine, New Orleans (9-1)

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

Far West

1. Bellevue, Wash. (12-0)

2. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (12-0)

3. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (11-1)

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

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

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

Records are through Sunday.

* Season complete

** Denotes state, sectional or conference postseason 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.