Only three more weekends remain in the high school football season. No. 1 Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) has a trap-game Friday in the Florida Class 7A semifinals at perennial power St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale).
Ten teams have been crowned champions in their respective postseason competitions. This weekend two more have a chance at glory when No. 3 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) and No. 20 Booker T. Washington (Miami) play for silverware. Oregon and New Jersey also conclude their seasons this weekend.
Go support your local schools or head out to a championship game in your state. Enjoy the game and hope to see you there this weekend.
I’ll be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. for the donnybrook between Paramus Catholic and Bergen Catholic (Oradell) for the Non-Public Group 4 state championship. Remember, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) owned this group over the last decade but their blood rivals Bergen Catholic eliminated the Ironmen in the semifinals on Friday. Also check out St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) in the Non-Public Group 3 final at Rutgers University in Piscataway Saturday vs. Delbarton (Morristown).
In Portland, Ore., it’s the Class 6A final pitting regionally ranked, 13-0 Sheldon (Eugene) and reigning champions Lake Oswego on Saturday at Jeld-Wen Field.
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings, Dec. 3, 2012
1. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (13-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Fort Pierce Central, 51-0, in Class 7A, Region 3 final. Up next: Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in 7A semifinals.
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (13-0)*
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated James Logan (Union City), 52-7, in CIF-North Coast Section Division I final. Up next: Saturday vs. Folsom in Northern California Open Bowl game in Sacramento.
3. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (13-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Springfield, 55-0, in Class 2A semifinals. The Patriots were never in danger as they rolled to a 42-point lead at the break. Up next: Saturday vs. Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport) in 2A final at the Super Dome in New Orleans.
4. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (15-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Jack Britt (Fayetteville), 56-28, in Class 4AA final. The Bulldogs bagged their third state title in four years and third undefeated season during that span. Tennessee-bound QB Riley Ferguson threw for 301 yards and five TDs, including four in the opening quarter when the Bulldogs scored on four straight possessions. Season complete.
5. Hoover, Ala. (14-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Clay-Chalkville (Pinson), 45-20, in Class 6A semifinals. RB Calen Campbell amassed 194 yards and five TDs as the Bucs scored on their first six possessions. Up next: Friday vs. Opelika in 6A final at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.
6. Katy, Texas (13-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Defeated La Porte, 55-10, in Class 5A Division II Region 3 quarterfinals. Up next: Saturday vs. Cypress Ranch in Region 3 semifinals at Rice Stadium in Houston.
7. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (13-0)*
Previous: 8.
Recap: Defeated Memphis University School, 31-14, in Division II-AA final. Corn Elder rushed for 217 yards and three TDs as the Tigers captured their third consecutive crown. Elder concluded his brilliant prep career with 6,351 rushing yards (ninth best in state history). Season complete.
8. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (13-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Defeated Edinburg North, 38-0, in Class 5A Division II Region 4 quarterfinals. Up next: Saturday vs. San Antonio Brandeis in Region 4 semifinals at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
9. DeSoto, Texas (13-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Defeated Arlington Bowie, 24-8, in Class 5A Division I Region 1 quarterfinals. RB Dontre Wilson rushed for 123 yards and scored all three TDs. Up next: Saturday vs. Southlake Carroll in Region 1 semifinals at Southern Methodist University’s Ford Field in Dallas.
10. Bellevue, Wash. (14-0)*
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Eastside Catholic (Sammamish), 35-3, in Class 3A final. The Wolverines have captured five straight state titles and won 10th in 12 years. The win streak also hit 40 games. Budda Baker gave the Wolverines a 7-0 lead after returning a punt 71 yards for a score in the first quarter and the rout was on. Season complete.
11. Goose Creek, S.C. (13-0)**
Previous: 11.
Recap: Season complete.
12. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (14-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Defeated McDowell (Erie), 56-6, in PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals. QB Mack Leftwich hit on 14 of 15 passes for 284 yards and five TDs. He now has thrown for 5,128 yards in his career. In four postseason games, he’s passed for 910 yards and 12 scores. Up next: Saturday vs. Wilson (West Lawn) in AAAA semifinals at Altoona.
13. Northside, Warner-Robins, Ga. (14-0)
Previous: 16
Recap: Defeated Tucker, 23-20, in Class AAAAA quarterfinals. Glenn Smith fired the game-winning 10-yard TD to Keshun Hills with 24 seconds left to rally the Eagles. Curtis Martin rushed for 149 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Up next: Friday vs. Ware County (Waycross) in AAAAA semifinals.
14. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (14-0)*
Previous: 15.
Recap: Defeated Crenshaw (Los Angeles), 25-0, in CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division I final. Johnell Jackson rushed for 159 yards and a TD on 26 carries for the Gauchos, who won their second straight sectional title. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 25 Corona Centennial in Open Division Regional Bowl game at Cerritos College.
15. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (13-1)*
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Liberty (Henderson), 63-10, in Nevada’s Division I state final. It was the Gaels’ fourth straight state title. RB Nathan Stark ran for 167 yards and two TDs on 14 carries as Gorman piled up 539 yards of offense. Season complete.
16. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (11-1)*
Previous: 17.
Recap: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions. Season complete.
17. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (13-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated East Lake (Tarpon Springs), 31-21, in Class 8A Region 2 final. Up next: Friday vs. Apopka in 8A semifinals.
18. Skyline, Sammamish, Wash. (14-0)*
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma), 49-24, in Class 4A final. USC-bound QB Max Browne closed out a brilliant career passing for 384 yards and four scores on 21-of-28 efficiency. The Spartans scored a county –record 715 points and carry a 20-game win streak into next season. WR Trevor Barney caught 10 balls for 182 yards and two TDs. Season complete.
19. Norcross, Ga. (13-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 18 Camden County (Kingsland), 34-20, in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. RB Alvin Kamara ran for 158 yards and a TD and tossed for one TD. Up next: Friday vs. Colquitt County (Moultrie).
20. Booker T. Washington, Miami (12-1)
Previous: 21.
Recap: Defeated Cocoa, 41-13, in Class 4A semifinals. Up next: Saturday vs. Bolles School (Jacksonville) in 4A final at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.
21. Skyline, Dallas (12-1)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Defeated Spring Westfield, 38-35, in Class 5A Division I Region 2 quarterfinals. Ellis Onic scored three TDs, including two on runs of 7 and 71 yards. QB Devante Kincade accounted for 240 yards and flipped one TD pass. Up next: Saturday vs. Allen in Region 2 semifinals.
22. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Class 7A state champions. Season complete.
23. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (13-0)*
Previous: 24.
Recap: Class A state champions. Season complete.
24. Kahuku, Hawaii (12-0)*
Previous: 25.
Recap: Division I state champions. Season complete.
25. Corona (Calf.) Centennial (13-1)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 4 Vista Murietta (Murietta), 30-28, in CIF-Southern Section Inland Division final. DB Gavin Andrews made the play of the season when he batted down a two-conversion pass to All-America, USC-bound Su’a Cravens in the waning seconds to preserve the program’s seventh sectional crown in 12 years. QB Robert Webber completed 16 of 23 passes for 259 yards and a 60-yard TD strike to Barry Ware in the third quarter giving the Huskies a 20-16 lead. Up next: Saturday vs. No. 14 Narbonne (Harbor City) in Southern California Open Division Bowl game at Cerritos College.
Dropped: No. 4 Vista Murietta (Murietta, Calif.) lost to Corona (Calif.) Centennial, 30-28, in CIF-Southern Section Inland Division final; No. 18 Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) lost to Norcross (Ga.), 34-20, in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals; and No. 23 Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) lost Moeller (Cincinnati), 20-12, in Division I final.
High-Fives by Region
East
1. LaSalle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (13-1)
2. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (14-0)
3. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (14-0)
4. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (11-0)*
5. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (14-0)
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. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (15-0)
2. Whitehaven, Memphis (15-0)*
3. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (13-1)*
4. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (12-1)
5. Maryville, Tenn. (14-1)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Sheldon, Eugene, Ore. (13-0)
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.
