This was the craziest week of football we’ve witnessed all season. When the No. 1 team goes down in the state, that’s a big deal. Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) fell at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the Class 7A semifinals in a classic trap game, which we called here. No surprise STAQ won, this program is accustomed to winning and traditionally plays well on their home turf. There’s too much respect for Manatee to drop them from the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings. Simply put, if they were good enough to sit atop the rankings—and hold it for a large chunk of the season—stick with them until the end.
There are two weekends remaining in the season. This weekend state championships will be contested in California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania—all football hotbeds. The weekend of Dec. 21 and 22 Texas, perhaps the epicenter of the sport, will crown their champions.
Four Texas teams from the Go-To 25 rankings will play in the state semifinals, two from California clash in the Open Division Bowl and one each from Georgia and Pennsylvania vie for championships in their respective state’s largest classifications. Additionally, two regionally ranked teams will play for state hardware.
Last weekend No. 2 John Curtis (River Ridge, La.); No. 4 Hoover (Ala.); No. 16 Booker T. Washington (Miami) and No. 17 Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) all bagged state championships. Kudos, men!
Should be another interesting weekend on the gridiron, where emotions will be sky-high and the stakes in the stratosphere. Remember, the final rankings will be released on Christmas Eve morning. That’s when Blue Star Media’s National Champion will be revealed.
Hope to see you at a game next weekend. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings, Dec. 10, 2012
1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (14-0)*
Previous rank: 2.
Recap: Defeated Folsom, 49-15, in CIF Northern California Open Bowl game before 10,000 in Sacramento. RB Tiapepe Vitale rushed for 117 yards and three TDs. The Spartans defense stymied an offense that averaged nearly 500 yards and 47 points, allowing 94 yards in the first half. Led by USC-bound LB Michael Hutchings and DE Austin Hooper the defense had six sacks in the first half and three INTs in all. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 18 Corona Centennial in CIF Open Division final at Home Depot Center in Carson.
2. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (14-0)*
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport), 35-13, in Class 2A final. It was the Patriots’ 25th state championship. LB Drew Riley earned team MVP honors. Season complete.
3. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (15-0)*
Previous: 4.
Recap: Won Class 4AA championship. Season complete.
4. Hoover, Ala. (15-0)*
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Opelika, 31-0, in Class 6A final. It was first Alabama state championship game shutout since 2007 and third largest margin of victory in 6A final history. Calen Campbell ran for 190 yards and two TDs on 30 carries, earning MVP honors. Season complete.
5. Katy, Texas (14-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Cypress Ranch, 70-21, in Class 5A, Division II, Region 3 final. RB Adam Taylor (169 yards) scored four TDs, upping his total to 36, setting a program single-season record. The Tigers rushed for 483 yards, with Rodney Anderson (147 yards) and Ricky Bickham (115 yards) teaming for three more scores. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 7 Cibolo Steele in state semifinals at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.
6. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (13-0)*
Previous: 7.
Recap: Won Division II-AA championship. Season complete.
7. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (14-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Defeated San Antonio Brandeis, 28-12, in Class 5A Division II, Region 4 final. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 5 Katy in state semifinals at Waco.
8. DeSoto, Texas (14-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Defeated Southlake Carroll, 49-45, in Class 5A, Division I, Region 1 final. QB Desmon White hit on 22 of 33 passes for 376 yards and four TDs, including game-winner, a 13-yard strike to Rickey Daniels, with 7:15 left rallying the Eagles from a 45-35 deficit. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 25 Allen in state semifinals.
9. Bellevue, Wash. (14-0)*
Previous: 10.
Recap: Won Class 3A championship. Season complete.
10. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (15-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Wilson (West Lawn), 45-10, in PIAA Class AAAA semifinals. After a slow start, the Tigers pulled away to reach the final for the third straight year. QB Mack Leftwich accounted for four TDs, including three scoring passes. Up next: Saturday vs. Coatesville in AAAA final at Hersehypark Stadium in Hershey.
11. Skyline, Sammamish, Wash. (14-0)*
Previous: 18.
Recap: Won Class 4A championship. Last week USC-bound QB Max Browne was named Gatorade’s national high school player of the year. Season complete.
12. Norcross, Ga. (14-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated Colquitt County (Moultrie), 41-27, in Class AAAAAA semifinals. RB Alvin Camara rushed for 130 yards and caught a 65-yard scoring strike from QB Joseph Wilber, who threw for 211 yards and two scores. Camara surpassed the 2,000-yard barrier for the season. Up next: Saturday vs. Lovejoy (Hampton) in AAAAAA final at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
13. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (13-1)*
Previous: 15.
Recap: Won Nevada’s Division I state championship. Season complete.
14. Goose Creek, S.C. (13-0)**
Previous: 11.
Recap: Season complete.
15. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (11-1)*
Previous: 16.
Recap: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.
16. Booker T. Washington, Miami (13-1)*
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated Bolles School (Jacksonville), 35-7, in Class 4A final. BTW’s first title since 2007 and second overall. Treon Harris was the offensive star, scoring four TDs. Season complete.
17. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (14-0)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Barbe (Lake Charles), 35-14, in Class 5A final. Keith Fulton ran for three TDs as the Raiders won their first-ever football state title. Season complete.
18. Corona (Calf.) Centennial (14-1)*
Previous: 25.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 14 Narbonne (Harbor City), 41-34, in CIF Southern California Open Division Bowl. It was a wild affair as the Huskies surrendered a big lead but Tre Watson caught a 15-yard TD with 15 seconds left to snap a 34-all tie and save face. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 1 De La Salle (Concord) in CIF Open Division Bowl final at Carson.
19. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (14-1)*
Previous: 14.
Recap: Lost to then-No. 25 Corona Centennial, 41-34, in CIF Southern California Open Division Bowl final. The Gauchos, Los Angeles City Section champions, made a valiant comeback but allowed a winning score with 15 seconds left. Season complete.
20. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (13-1)
Previous: 1.
Recap: Lost to St. Thomas Aquinas, 35-18, in Class 7A semifinals. We warned it was a trap game! The Hurricanes saw their win streak halted at 25 games and season unfulfilled. Season complete.
21. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)*
Previous: 22.
Recap: Won Class 7A state championship. Season complete.
22. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (13-0)*
Previous: 23.
Recap: Won Class A state championship. Season complete.
23. Kahuku, Hawaii (12-0)*
Previous: 24.
Recap: Won Division I championship. Season complete.
24. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-2)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 1 Manatee (Bradenton), 35-18, in Class 7A semifinals. This weekend the Raiders look to annex their seventh state crown and fourth since 2007. The game’s defining moment occurred early in the third quarter when Houston-bound QB John O’Korn flipped a 38-yard scoring pass to Dion Collier for an insurmountable 21-3 lead. Up next: Friday vs. Lincoln (Tallahassee) in 7A final at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
25. Allen, Texas (13-1)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 21 Skyline (Dallas), 37-17, in Class 5A Division I, Region 2 final. RBs Kyle Murray (122 yards, two TDs) and Marcus Ward (125 yards, TD) combined to rush for 247 yards and three scores. The Eagles return to the Go-To 25 rankings after an impressive run. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 8 DeSoto in state semifinals.
Dropped: No. 13 Northside (Warner-Robins, Ga.) lost to Ware County (Waycross), 24-17, in Class AAAAA semifinals; No. 17 Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla.) lost to Apopka, 38-19, in Class 8A semifinals and No. 21 Skyline (Dallas) lost to Allen (Texas), 37-17, Class 5A Division I, Region 2 final.
High-Fives by Region
East
1. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (14-0)
2. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (14-0)*
3. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (11-0)*
4. L.C. Bird, Dale, Va. (13-0)*
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (10-2)*
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midlands
1. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (15-0)*
2. Moeller, Cincinnati (12-3)*
3. Arrowhead, Hartland, Wis. (13-0)*
4. Ankeny, Iowa (14-0)*
5. Blue Springs, Mo. (13-1)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Whitehaven, Memphis (15-0)*
2. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (13-1)*
3. Lamar, Houston (14-0)
4. Apopka, Fla. (12-2)
5. Jenks, Okla. (12-2)*
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Sheldon, Eugene, Ore. (14-0)*
2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)*
3. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (11-3)*
4. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (13-1)
5. Jordan, Sandy, Utah (12-1)*
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Denotes state, sectional, or conference champion; ** Season halted for use of ineligible player.
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.
