California, Texas, Washington schools pull into Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 1 Allen holds on, No. 2 Bishop Gorman wins title

LONDON – Here are the latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings. We are on the road this weekend, but the rankings continue to dominant the prep landscape. 

As predicted there was a shakeup this week with four teams entering the Elite 25: No. 14 Cedar Hill (Texas), No. 15 Katy (Texas), No. 16 Bothell (Wash.) and No. 18 Corona (Calif.) Centennial.

Both Texas schools were previously ranked in the Elite 25.

State championships this weekend in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania will impact the rankings this weekend. The following California and Texas take center stage. This is the most exciting time of the year for schoolboy football fans.

OK, following a long season, the end is near. For so many programs the cheers and jeers are silenced and many players won’t ever play another competitive set of downs again. Expect those seniors to leave it on the field.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return December 16 with the 16th weekly installment. Check out the Elite 25 boys and girls’ preseason basketball rankings we launched earlier in November. Until then we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football rankings, December 9, 2014

1. Allen, Texas (14-0)

Previous rank: 1.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 18 Euless Trinity, 30-27, in Class 6A Division 1, Regional 1 final. Sawyer Williams kicked a 27-yard field goal with 44 seconds left to win it. Texas A&M-bound QB Kyler Murray had the hot hand completing 25 of 32 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns.

Next: Saturday vs. Skyline (Dallas) in Class 6A Division I semifinals at SMU’s Ford Stadium, Dallas.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)**

Previous: 2.

What happened: Routed Reed (Sparks), 70-28, in Division I final. QB Tate Martell had a sensational day, tossing six TD passes and rushed for another and RB Russell Booze carried 19 times for 253 yards, including a 51-yard TD jaunt. Season complete.

3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (13-0)**

Previous: 3.

What happened: Shut out Pittsburg, 35-0, in CIF North Coast Division I final. The Spartans have won 23 straight sectional titles and have rare weekend off until the finale.

Next: Dec. 20 vs. No. 18 Corona Centennial in CIF Open Division final at the StubHub Center, Carson.

4. Booker T. Washington, Miami (14-0)**

Previous: 4.

What happened: Defeated Bolles School (Jacksonville), 54-35, in Class 4A final. The win streak has reached 40 straight games. This might not be the end of the line for the Tornadoes. Season complete.

5. Central, Miami (13-1)

Previous: 6.

What happened: Defeated No. 15 Mainland (Daytona Beach), 31-21, in Class 6A semifinals. The Rockets will make their fifth straight championship game appearance this weekend. Anthony Jones ran for 123 yards and three TDs as the Rockets rallied from a 14-3 deficit.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 Armwood (Seffner) in Class 6A final at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando.

6. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 7.

What happened: Walloped McEachern (Powder Springs), 57-20, in Class AAAAAA semifinals. The Packers are averaging 53 points per game in four playoff games.

Next: Saturday vs. Archer (Lawrenceville) in Class AAAAAA final at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

7. Folsom, Calif. (14-0)**

Previous: 9.

What happened: Defeated Tracy, 55-7, in CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I final. QB Jake Browning passed for 387 yards and six TDs.

Next: Friday vs. undefeated Grant (Sacramento) in Northern California Regional Division I final at Sacramento State.

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-1)

Previous: 10.

What happened: Defeated East Lake (Tarpon Springs), 45-7, in Class 7A semifinals. The Raiders aim for an eighth state championship this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Osceola (Kissimmee) in Class 7A at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando.

9. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (15-0)

Previous: 11.

What happened: Defeated Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach), 19-15, in Class 6A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 5 Central (Miami) in Class 6A final at Citrus Bowl, Orlando.

10. Buford, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 13.

What happened: Defeated Cartersville, 27-3, in Class AAAA semifinals. Joshua Thomas rushed for three TDs for his team’s 39^th straight triumph. The Wolves go for their seventh title in eight years and 11^th overall this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta) in Class AAAA final at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

11. Maryville, Tenn. (15-0)**

Previous: 14.

What happened: Held off Ravenwood (Brentwood), 35-34, in overtime in Class 6A final. The Rebels have won 15 state championships but trailed 28-7 early in this one. In overtime, QB Tyler Vaught’s three-yard TD run gave the Rebels their only lead f the contest. Season complete.

12. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (15-0)**

Previous: 16.

What happened: Defeated Oak Grove (Hattiesburg), 27-21, in overtime, in Class 6A final in Starkville. RB Darrell Henderson rushed for 196 yards and two TDs, including the title-clincher in OT. Demetrivus Market intercepted three passed, including one on Oak Grove’s first possession of the extra session. The game was delayed for two days after a power outage at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. It was the sixth title for the Tigers under coach Lance Pogue. Season complete.

13. Clarkston, Mich. (14-0)**

Previous: 17.

What happened: Won second consecutive Division 1 state championship. Season complete.

14. Cedar Hill, Texas (12-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 8 Southlake Carroll, 62-42, in Class 6A Division II, Region 1 final. QB Justin McMillan fired three TD passes and Aca’cedric Ware carried 29 times for 283 yards and one score. The Longhorns clinched it by scoring 29 points in the final period.

Next: Saturday vs. Spring Westfield in Class 6A Division II semifinals in Georgetown.

15. Katy, Texas (13-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 19 Manvel, 45-17, in in Class 6A Division II, Region 3 final. The defense recorded eight sacks and RB Rodney Anderson rumbled for 302 yards.

Next: Saturday vs. Cibolo Steele in Class 6A, Division II semifinals at NRG Stadium, Houston.

16. Bothell, Wash. (14-0)**

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated Chiawana (Pasco), 24-14, in Class 4A final. QB Ross Bowers, a Cal recruit, ran for a TD and completed 17 of 19 passes for 216 and a score icing the program’s first-ever state title. Season complete.

17. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (11-1)**

Previous: 24.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 22 Paramus Catholic, 34-14, in Non-Public Group 4 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Notre Dame-bound QB Brandon Wimbush rushed for 157 yards and one TD and passed for two more. For coach Riche Hansen, it was the first title for his program since 2005. Season complete.

18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-2)**

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 5 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in CIF-Southern Section Pac-Five Division final. It was the Huskies’ first-ever Pac-Five crown. The game was sealed during a three-minute stretch of the second quarter when the Huskies reeled off three unanswered scores. Sammonte Bonner ran for 227 yards and four TDs to spark the offense.

Next: Dec. 20 vs. No. 3 De La Salle (Concord) in CIF Open Division final at the StubHub Center, Carson.

19. Euless (Texas) Trinity (12-2)*

Previous: 18.

What happened: Lost to No. 1 Allen, 30-27, in Class 6A Division 1, Regional 1 final. Season complete.

20. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (12-0)**

Previous: 20.

What happened: Defeated Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains), 23-10, in inaugural New York State Catholic High Schools Athletic Association championship. Michael Tarbutt, the game’s offensive MVP, kicked three FGs, and the Crusaders blocked a punt and intercepted two passes in the final quarter to put it away. Season complete.

21. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-2)*

Previous: 5.

What happened: Lost to Corona Centennial, 48-41, in CIF-Southern Section Pac-Five Division final. Season complete.

22. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-1)*

Previous: 8.

What happened: Lost to Cedar Hill,  62-42, in Class 6A Division II, Region 1 final. Season complete.

23. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (14-0)**

Previous: 21.

What happened: Won Class 6 state championship. Season complete.

24. Chandler, Ariz. (13-1)**

Previous: 24.

What happened: Won Division I state championship final. Season complete.

25. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (13-1)*

Previous: 15.

What happened: Lost to No. 6 Central (Miami) 31-21, in Class 6A semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 12 Bellevue, Wash.; No. 19 Manvel, Texas; No. 22 Paramus (N.J.) Catholic; and No. 25 John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (15-0)

2. Central Valley, Monaca, Pa. (15-0)

3. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (14-0)

4. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (12-0)**

5. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (12-1)**

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

Midwest

1. Eden Prairie, Minn. (13-0)**

2. LaSalle, Cincinnati (14-1)**

3. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (13-2)**

4. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (14-0)**

5. Omaha (Neb.) North (13-0)**

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

Southland

1. Skyline, Dallas (14-0)

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

3. New Bern, N.C. (15-0)

4. Jenks, Okla. (11-2)**

5. Jesuit, New Orleans (12-2) **

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

Far West

1. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (13-1)**

2. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (13-1)**

3. Oceanside, Calif. (13-0)**

4. Grant, Sacramento, Calif. (14-0)**

5. Mililani, Hawaii (13-0)**

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

* Season complete

** Won state, sectional or postseason conference championship

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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 28. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.