Go-To 25 Football Rankings, #7

Top-ranked Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) cruised then-No. 13 Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) crashed out of the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school football rankings. Here’s what stood out as some states are already cranking up the playoffs.

Triple Option

What we learned

All but one school shifted positions in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings this week. It’s about time after a few cut and dry weeks.

The biggest fear in southern California became a reality when No. 22 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) tumbled 20 spots after a tough loss to Trinity League rivals Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 24-7. Playing in their second game after the injury to Nebraska-bound quarterback Johnny Stanton finally caught up to the Eagles. Navigating a difficult regular-season schedule and playoff bracket will be challenging.

Byrnes losing to Gaffney (S.C.) is no surprise but the Rebels will rebound and run the table en route to the state championship game.

The Go-To 25 rankings welcomes No. 17 Northside (Warner-Robins, Ga.). The Eagles, along with No. 4 Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) and No. 10 Grayson (G.) will make one great bracket in Georgia’s Class 6A playoffs that kick off next month.

That’s it for now. So, hope to see you at a game this weekend. Pulcher, Imperfectus, Accuratiorem. – Christopher Lawlor

Game Ball

In a game that demanded a big-time performance, senior quarterback Isaac Aakre produced. The 6-foot, 180 pound signal-caller was on game as regionally-ranked Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) defeated crosstown rivals Westside, 34-10. Aakre carried 36 times for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He also hit on 4 of 6 passes for 50 yards.

Millard North (8-0), Nebraska’s top-ranked large-class (A) team, rushed for 472 yards with Aakre accounting for more than half of that total. Aakre opened the scoring from the 1 and closed it out in the fourth quarter from the same distance.

Iowa, Iowa State, North Dakota State, Nebraska and Georgia Tech are recruiting Aakre.

Well done, son!

Games of Week

Saturday, No. 21 St. Ignatius, Cleveland (8-0) travels to St. Xavier, Cincinnati, 2 p.m., Ballaban Field. St. Xavier went 3-0 in the Great Cincinnati League (GCL), beating Moeller, La Salle and Elder but lost last weekend at regionally-ranked St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 27-16. Coincidentally, St. Edward plays St. Ignatius in the regular season finale on Oct. 27. Arrive early for this battle of Ohio’s Jesuit schools in Finneytown and purchased tickets in advance with a limited quantity released Friday morning. If you can’t attend listen to it on Fox Sport Radio 1360 and watch streaming video live at www.stxavier.org.

In Alaska, the large-school championship between Service and South Anchorage will be played Saturday at Chugiak High, 4 p.m. In the semifinals, Service’s QB Amu Aukusitino provided a highlight show with accounted for seven TDs, running for four and passing for a triple, in a 49-34 win over West Anchorage. He also rushed for 301 yards on 24 carries and passed for 232 more on 16 completions. For good measure he had two interceptions on defense.

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings

1. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)
Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Cypress Bay, 42-20. QB Cord Sandberg, a Mississippi State recruit, accounted for 303 yards, rushing for 115 yards and throwing for 185 and three TDs. Additionally, Sandberg was tabbed Homecoming king at halftime. The Hurricanes rolled to their 18^th straight victory. Up next: Friday at Venice.

2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (7-0)
Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Amador Valley (Pleasanton), 52-24. Allan Marion returned a kickoff for a TD and the defense forced five turnovers, including Michael Hutchings’ 10-yard INT for a score. The Spartans average 40 points per game. Up next: Friday vs. Monte Vista (Danville).

3. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (7-0)
Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Newman School (New Orleans), 50-0. The Patriots have allowed 31 points, with shutouts in three of their last four games. That’s 21 straight heading into a rare off week. Up next: Oct. 25 at Clark (New Orleans).

4. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (7-0)
Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Tift County (Tifton), 47-0. The defense stiffened for their third shutout. Up next: Oct. 26 vs. Brunswick.

5. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (7-0)
Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Great Oak (Temecula), 65-14. The Broncos posted their largest margin of victory this season. Up next: Friday at Murrieta Valley (Murietta).

6. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (8-0)
Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Providence (Charlotte), 45-14. The Bulldogs did not disappoint on Homecoming, jumping to a 31-0 lead at the break. A season ending showdown with Independence (Charlotte) looms. Up next: Friday at South Mecklenburg (Charlotte).

7. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (8-0)
Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Male (Louisville), 38-7. Dalyn Dawkins rushed for two TDs. And QB Travis Wright passed for two scores. The Shamrocks have outscored opponents, 289-137. Up next: Oct. 27 vs. Moeller (Cincinnati).

8. Hoover, Ala. (7-0)
Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa), 31-14. Up next: Friday vs. Minor (Adamsville).

9. Katy, Texas (6-0)
Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Taylor Katy, 56-7. RB Adam Taylor carried 14 times for 171 yards and four TDs of 6, 37, 8 and 12 yards. Up next: Friday at Katy Seven Lakes.

10. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (6-1)
Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Defeated Berkmar (Lilburn), 62-0. It was over by the end of the first period when the Rams led, 35-0. Up next: Friday vs. South Gwinnett (Snellville).

11. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (8-0)
Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle. Up next: Friday vs. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy.

12. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (6-0)
Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated King (Corpus Christi), 54-14. The Knights exploded for 20 points in the third quarter after leading 27-7 at halftime. Up next: Friday at South San Antonio.

13. Goose Creek, S.C. (8-0)
Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Cane Bay (Summerville), 55-0. RB Caleb Kinlaw sprinted 73 yards on the opening play of the game and the Gators cruised. Up next: Friday at Wando (Mount Pleasant).

14. Bellevue, Wash. (7-0)
Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Mount Si (Snoqualmie), 49-10. Up next: Friday at Liberty (Renton).

15. Colerain, Cincinnati (8-0)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Fairfield (Cincinnati), 65-6. Up next: Friday at Lakota West (West Chester).

16. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (7-0)
Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), 28-0. Up next: Friday at Shaler (Pittsburgh).

17. Northside, Warner-Robins, Ga. (6-0)
Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Grovetown, 56-14. The Eagles have allowed only 42 points in six games. Up next: Friday vs. Jones County (Gray).

18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-1)
Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Bonanza (Las Vegas), 56-0. QB Anu Solomon completed eight passes for 196 yards and three TDs and ran for a 20-yard score in the 28-point opening quarter uprising. Up Next: Friday at Centennial (Las Vegas)

19. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (6-1)
Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Bishop McNamara (Forestville), 22-0. Up next: Saturday at St. John’s (Washington, D.C.).

20. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (5-1)
Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Brandon, 55-0. The Panthers scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters in a blowout. Coach Bob Weiner’s club has a huge game on Oct. 26 against Armwood (Seffner). Up next: Thursday at Alonso (Tampa).

21. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (8-0)
Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated St. Francis (Athol Springs, N.Y.), 56-0. RB Tim McVey rushed for scores of 7, 25 and 10 yards as the Wildcats built a 35-0 halftime lead. Up next: Saturday at St. Xavier (Cincinnati).

22. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (6-1)
Previous: 2.

Recap: Lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 24-7. Up next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

23. Booker T. Washington, Miami (5-1)
Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Jackson (Miami), 39-0. The Tornadoes pitched a second consecutive shutout. Up next: Friday vs. Doral (Fla.) Academy.

24. Skyline, Dallas (5-1)
Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Richardson Pearce, 57-14. Mississippi-bound QB Devante Kincade passed for 201 yards and four TDs and rushed for 101 yards and another score for Skyline, which took a 30-0 lead after one quarter. Up next: Thursday at Sunset (Dallas).

25. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (6-1)
Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Akins (Austin), 59-14. Up next: Friday at Anderson (Austin).

Dropped: No. 13 Byrnes, Duncan, S.C. (6-1) lost to Gaffney, 22-18.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Prep, Philadelphia (6-0)

2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (4-1)

3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (5-1)

4. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (7-0)

5. Downingtown East, Exton, Pa. (7-0)

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 (8-0)

2. Maine South, Park Ridge, Ill. (8-0)

3. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (8-0)

4. Clarkston, Mich. (8-0)

5. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (8-0)

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

South

1. DeSoto, Texas (6-0)

2. Lassiter, Marietta, Ga. (6-0)

3. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (6-0)

4. Byrnes, Duncan, S.C. (6-1)

5. Coppell, Texas (6-0)

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

Far West

1. Skyline, Sammamish, Wash. (7-0)

2. Kahuku, Hawaii (7-0)

3. Elk Grove, Calif. (7-0)

4. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (7-0)

5. Sheldon, Eugene, Ore. (7-0)

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

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 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 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.