GATOR COUNTRY: Georgia powerhouse in Elite 25 HSFB rankings; final week of regular season has most on edge

BENSALEM, Pa. – Finally, some stability in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football national rankings.

After a few seismic shift in the middle of the rankings, only one team dropped out. This week it’s time to welcome No. 22 Ware County (Waycross, Ga.), who carry a perfect 9-0 mark in the final game for the regular season. The Gators are Georgia’s top-ranked Class AAAAA club and favored to win it all next month.

Meanwhile seven teams from the Elite 25 rankings will be playing win-or-go-home football from now until the season concludes—the playoffs are a cruel way to end or the greatest team accomplishment.  We’ll have all the results and tidbits of information as it all unfolds. Make sure to the check back frequently for updates.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return November 10 with the 10th weekly installment. In the meantime, there are plenty of playoff and rivalry games to choose from, please support your local schools. Be on the lookout for the boys and girls’ preseason basketball rankings. They will be here by mid-November. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football, Nov. 3, 2014

1. Allen, Texas (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

What happened: Defeated Plano West, 70-41. Texas A&M-bound QB Kyler Murray accounted for seven touchdowns, while passing for 422 yards and five scores and rushing for two more.

Next: Friday vs. Plano East.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-0)

Previous: 2.

What happened: Defeated Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 49-0. The Gaels clinched the Southwest Region title as Richard Booze ran for 187 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Desert Oasis (Las Vegas) in Division I Sunset Region playoffs.

3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-0)

Previous: 3.

What happened: Defeated Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 56-0. The Spartans registered their third shutout of the season and have one more before the section playoffs.

Next: Friday at California High (San Ramon).

4. Booker T. Washington, Miami (10-0)

Previous: 4.

What happened: Defeated Edison (Miami), 38-0. The Tornadoes bagged the District 8-4A title minus several offensive starters but the defense picked up the slack. RB Mark Walton rushed 24 times for 142 yards and a TD.

Next: Nov. 13 vs. Somerset (Pembroke Pines) in Class 4A regional semifinals.

5. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 5.

What happened: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 49-26. After sluggish start, the Braves used a strong second half—buoyed by Sean McGrew’s three rushing TDs—to inch closer a Trinity League title.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

6. Central, Miami (9-1)

Previous: 6.

What happened: Defeated Jackson (Miami), 45-0. The Rockets clinched the District 16-6A championship QB Malik Atkins tossed two TD passes and ran for another in the second half.

Next: TBA in Class 6A playoffs.

7. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 7.

What happened: Defeated Tift County (Tifton), 62-21.

Next: Friday vs. Camden County (Kingsland).

8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (9-0)

Previous: 8.

What happened: Defeated Haltom (Haltom City), 62-0. QB Ryan Agnew completed 13 of 17 passes for 229 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday at L.D. Bell (Hurst).

9. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (8-0)

Previous: 9.

What happened: Defeated De Paul Catholic (Wayne), 41-20. The Paladins pulled away in the third quarter scoring the final 14 points of the game.

Next: Saturday at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).

10. Folsom, Calif. (9-0)

Previous: 11.

What happened: Defeated Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 42-7.

Next: Friday vs. Woodcreek (Roseville).

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

Previous: 12.

What happened: Shut out Plantation, 51-0. The Raiders have allowed only seven points in their last six games. Earlier in the week, Miami-bound RB Jordan Scarlett was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 3 in San Antonio.

Next: Friday vs. Deerfield Beach.

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

Previous: 13.

What happened: Defeated Chamberlain (Tampa), 43-0. The Hawks recorded their seventh straight shutout of the season. They have allowed 14 points all season.

Next: Friday at Strawberry Crest (Dover).

13. Bellevue, Wash. (9-0)

Previous: 14.

What happened: Defeated Lake Washington (Kirkland), 47-0. The Wolverines’ defense buckled down for their fourth shutout.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Blanchet (Seattle).

14. Buford, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

What happened: Defeated Madison County (Danielsville), 44-0.

Next: Friday at Stephens County (Toccoa).

15.  Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (9-0)

Previous: 16.

What happened: Defeated Holy Cross (New Orleans), 31-7.

Next: Saturday vs. Brother Martin (New Orleans).

16. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 17.

What happened: Defeated Seabreeze (Daytona Beach), 26-9. The regular season concludes this week.

Next: Friday at Fort Pierce Central.

17. Male, Louisville, Ky. (10-0)

Previous: 18.

What happened: Defeated Christian Academy (Louisville), 28-7. Ellis Cain scored two TDs in the battle of the unbeatens.

Next: Friday vs. Marshall County (Benton) in Class 6A first round.

18. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

What happened: Defeated Grenada, 38-24. The Tigers had a scare with the score tied at 24 after three quarters. The regular season concludes this week.

Next: Thursday at DeSoto Central (Southaven).

19. Clarkston, Mich. (10-0)

Previous: 20.

What happened: Defeated Oxford, 31-8, in Division 1 district semifinals. The Wolves took the first step to defending their Division 1 state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Lapeer in Division 1 district final.

20. Euless (Texas) Trinity (9-1)

Previous: 21.

What happened: Defeated Richland (North Richland Hills), 55-17.

Next: TBA on Nov. 14 or 15 in Class 6A Division I playoffs.

21. Carmel, Ind. (11-0)

Previous: 22.

What happened: Defeated Fishers, 14-7, in the Class 6A sectional final.

Next: Friday vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne) in 6A regional playoff.

22. Ware County, Waycross, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated South Effingham (Guyton), 44-6.

Next: Friday at Brunswick.

23. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (9-0)

Previous: 23.

What happened: Defeated St. Francis (Athol Springs), 48-3. The Crusaders need three more wins to bag the first-ever Catholic state title.

Next: Nov. 13 in Monsignor Martin Athletic Association semifinals at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

24. Hudson, Ohio (10-0)

Previous: 24.

What happened: Defeated Twinsburg, 51=13, to clinch the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title.

Next: Friday vs. Perry (Massillon) in Division I, Region 1 first round.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (9-1)

Previous: 25.

What happened: Defeated Highland (Gilbert), 49-21. The quarterfinals of the large-school bracket are Nov. 14 at the higher seed.

Next: Friday vs. Red Mountain (Mesa) Division 1 first round.

Dropped out: No. 10 Dacula, Ga.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (7-1)

2. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (10-0)

3. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (9-0)

4. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (9-0)

5. Central Valley, Monaca, Pa. (10-0)

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

Midwest

1. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (10-0)

2. Eden Prairie, Minn. (10-0)

3. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (10-0)

4. Cass Tech, Detroit (10-0)

5. Omaha (Neb.) North (10-0)

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

Southland

1. Maryville, Tenn. (10-0)

2. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (9-0)

3. Skyline, Dallas (9-0)

4. Pearland, Texas (9-0)

5. First Coast, Jacksonville, Fla. (9-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (9-1)

2. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (10-1)

3. Punahou School, Honolulu (7-0)

4. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (8-1)

5. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (8-1)

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

 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.