Go-To 25 Football Rankings

For the most part it was a cut-and dry weekend nationally. There were tremendous individual and team performances. No changes this week in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school football rankings. Hopefully there are more competitive weeks ahead.

Triple Option

What we learned

Not much, actually. It was one of those weeks that the Go-To 25 rankings remained static. No. 21 Plant (Tampa, Fla.) and No. 23 Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) are both winning games but not in dominant fashion. Big games are on the horizon for the elite programs from Florida and Texas, respectively.

In Pennsylvania, No. 25 North Allegheny (Wexford) has stamped itself as the team to beat in Class AAAA. There’s trap game this weekend against Central Catholic (Pittsburgh). Regionally ranked La Salle College (Wyncote, Pa.) plays St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) are both undefeated and look to become the Eastern Pennsylvania’s top-ranked Quad A and an inside track to the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division (large school) crown.

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

Game Balls

There are game changers across the nation weekly but this week there are four that stood out for various reasons and thusly are Blue Star Media Go-To 25 national players of the week (ending on Oct. 6).

Dequan Barnes of Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) is earning high praise from a higher authority: head coach Bill Geiler. The senior wide receiver snagged eight balls for 173 yards and five touchdowns in a 54-7 victory over South Mecklenburg (Charlotte). Independence improved to 7-1 but not before Barnes’ fourth TD of the night was a breathtaking run that covered 65 yards and featured several ankle-breaking cuts.

In Miami, senior running back Markey Joyner of Edison (Miami) totaled five TDs, including four on the ground, and 350 all-purpose yards as the Red Raiders thumped Doral Academy, 42-7, in District 8-4A action. What’s so special about Joyner, a standout sprint on the track, is he performed at the highest level when his squad lost 26 players because of disciplinary action. Edison is 2-4.

In the Midlands, Nebraska’s top-ranked team, Millard North (Omaha) received a blue-chip effort from senior RB Conner Matthew. Millard North needed a big-time second half performance – meaning it scored the game’s final 28 points – during a 45-20 victory over Bellevue West. Matthew carried 31 times for 232 yards and scored on runs of 4, 57, 35 and 6 yards (the latter three after the break) when the MN Mustangs (7-0) rallied from a 20-17 deficit.

Drew Wolitarsky of Canyon High (Canyon Country) is making a name for himself in California. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he’s already received offers from Minnesota, New Mexico State, West Point, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii but now Wolitarsky has authored an entry in the state record book. Wolitarsky broke the state mark for career receiving yards in a 49-7 win over Golden Valley.

He finished with nine catches for 149 yards and four TDs, finishing the game with career stats of 240 receptions for 4,585 yards (Steve Smith of Taft in Woodland Hills had the previous record of 4,486 yards and 271 receptions from 2000-02). Wolitarsky needs 32 receptions to erase Smith (now of the St. Louis Rams) from the state standard.

Well done, men!

Games of Week

There are a handful of games involving the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings.

Friday, No. 2 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) plays Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, with Trinity League title implications on the line.

Also, No. 13 Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) visits Upstate rivals Gaffney; No. 14 Booker T. Washington (Miami) meets Jackson (Miami) at Traz Powell Stadium; No. 25 North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.) hosts Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) in a game that will tug at NA head coach Art Walker, who previously coached at the Pittsburgh all-male Catholic school; and Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) vs. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic in a game that pits the old guard (regionally ranked Don Bosco) against the nouveau riche. Upstart PC (4-0) features Jabril Peppers, a junior two-way stud back, who transferred under a cloud of controversy from Bosco last February.

In Michigan, Clarkston travels to Lake Orion on Friday in a battle of two 7-0 teams. Next month both could be paired for a Division I district championship en route to Detroit’s Ford Field for the final.

Saturday, No. 22 St. Ignatius (Cleveland) travels to Western New York for an interstate matchup with St. Francis (Athol Springs), a string team from the Monsignor Martin League or Buffalo Catholic League. Tim McVey, a University of Buffalo recruit, paces the Ohioans.

From the Huddle

Two head coaches from the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings were selected for prestigious honors.

Bob Beatty of Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) and Mike Jinks of Cibolo (Texas) Steele have been selected to coach the East and West squads, respectively, in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Beatty and Jinks will lead their all-star teams consisting of the top high school talent from across the Nation on the field Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at 1 p.m. ET at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

“A team is only as strong as its leadership,” said John Myers, Director of Marketing, United States Army Marketing and Research Group. “Leadership is a trait highly valued in the Army and these coaches exemplify that trait and reflect the qualities of Army Strong Soldiers. We are proud to announce their selection, and look forward to watching them lead the talented young athletes of the 2013 game.”

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl features the nation’s top 90 high school players. Selections will continue throughout this fall. The 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl drew a record crowd of 39,011 to the Alamodome.

Jinks was floored by the honor.

 “Over the course of my career I have been fortunate to receive honors and awards, but none as great as the honor of being named head coach for the West team at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl,” Jinks said.

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings

1. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (5-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Braden River (Bradenton), 56-0. The Hurricanes spread out the scoring in a rout of their neighbors for their 17^th straight win. Up next: Friday vs. Cypress Bay.

2. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 21-0. Josh Carty and Kyle Sweet split the quarterbacking duties in place of injured Nebraska-bound Johnny Stanton. Up next: Friday vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Foothill (Pleasanton), 34-17. Tiapepe Vitale’s 2-yard TD run capped a 10-play late drive to seal it. Up next: Friday at Amador Valley (Pleasanton).

4. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (6-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Defeated Carver (New Orleans), 48-14.  The Patriots used a strong running game, punctuated by nearly 300 yards and six scores to register their 20^th consecutive win. RB Tevin Horton, a Louisiana-Monroe recruit, rushed for 105 yards and scores of 12, 20 and 29 yards. Up next: Friday vs. Newman School (New Orleans).

5. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (6-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Coffee County (Douglas), 39-12. The Wildcats have one before a bye and then the postseason push begins. Up next: Friday vs. Tift County (Tifton).

6. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (6-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Temecula Valley (Temecula), 58-14. The Broncos average nearly 45 points per game. Up next: Friday vs. Great Oak (Temecula).

7. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (7-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Defeated Ardrey Kell (Charlotte), 49-0. The Bulldogs have outscored foes, 342-31. Up next: Friday vs. Providence (Charlotte).

8. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (6-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Idle. Up next: Friday vs. Male (Louisville).

9. Hoover, Ala. (5-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Defeated Bessemer City, 38-7. Conner Short ran and passed for a TD as coach Josh Niblett won his 125^th game. Up next: Friday at Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa).

10. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (5-1)
Previous rank: 10.
Recap: Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville), 52-0. Six different Rams ran for TDs and QB David McTier passed for two scores in a rout. Up next: Friday at Berkmar (Lilburn).

11. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (8-0)
Previous: 11.
Recap: Defeated Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville), 35-7. RB Corn Elder 207 yards and three scores as Ensworth spotted its rivals a 7-0 lead. The Tiger head into the bye week before finishing with two regular season games. Up next: Oct. 19 vs. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy.

12. Katy, Texas (5-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Mayde Creek (Houston), 70-7. Ricky Bickham ran for three TDs and QB Kiley Huddleston completed 13 of 20 passed for 222 yards and three scores. Up next: Friday vs. Taylor Katy.

13. Byrnes, Duncan, S.C. (6-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Defeated Riverside (Greer), 64-0. Junior QB Shuler Bentley led the onslaught throwing for 242 yards and four TDs on 12 attempts. Up next: Friday at Gaffney.

14. Booker T. Washington, Miami (4-1)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Idle. Up next: Friday at Jackson (Miami).

15. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (5-0)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Idle. The Knights open District 28-5A action following their bye week. Up next: Friday at King (Corpus Christi).

16. Skyline, Dallas (4-1)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Defeated Lake Highland (Dallas), 42-6. Mississippi-bound QB Devante Kincade completed 16 of 21 passes for 209 yards and four TDs of 20, 10, 2 and 43 yards and rushed for one score. Up next: Friday vs. Richardson Pearce.

17. Goose Creek, S.C. (7-0)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Carolina Forest (Myrtle Beach), 58-6. Friday vs. Cane Bay (Summerville).

18. Bellevue, Wash. (6-0)
Previous: 18.
Recap: Defeated Interlake (Bellevue), 70-7. QB Jack Meggs fired TD passes of 64 and 6 yards to Budda Baker and John Nguyen, respectively, and the defense added two scores. Up next: Friday at Mount Si (Snoqualmie).

19. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-1)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated Cimarron-Memorial (Las Vegas), 54-3. Ryan Smith took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score and caught a 50-yard TD and Nathan Starks rushed for a pair of scores. Up next: Friday vs. Bonanza (Las Vegas).

20. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (5-1)
Previous: 20.
Recap:  DeMatha (Hyattsville), 13-10. Kendall Fuller returned a punt 72 yards for a score and the defense did the rest. Up Next: Friday vs. Bishop McNamara (Forestville).

21. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (4-1)
Previous: 21.
Recap: Defeated Wharton (Tampa), 27-7. QB Colby Brown threw for a TD and 100 yards in his first start. The game was delayed a day by weather until Saturday and then for 2 ½ for the same lightning issues. Up next: Friday vs. Brandon.

22. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (7-0)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Defeated John Adams (Cleveland), 49-0. The Wildcats jumped to a 28-0 lead after period when RB Tim McVey ran for three scores. Up next: Saturday at St. Francis (Athol Springs, N.Y.).

23. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (5-1)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Defeated Bowie (Austin), 24-14. The Cavaliers managed to win but barely since moving up from Class 4A. This time a 26-yard field goal from Kevin Marcotte in the third quarter snapped a 14-14 tie. Shaun Nixon rushed for three TDs, including two in the second half. Up next: Friday vs. Akins (Austin).

24. Colerain, Cincinnati (7-0)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Middletown, 41-14. Jackson Sorn rumble for 125 yards and three TDs. Up next: Friday at Fairfield (Cincinnati).  

25. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (6-0)
Previous: 25.
Recap: Defeated Gateway (Monroeville), 14-3. QB Mack Leftwich ran for 89 yards and both TDs on 12 carries. Up next: Friday vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh).
Dropped: No.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. LaSalle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (6-0)

2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (3-1)

3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (4-1)

4. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

5. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (6-0)

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 (7-0)

2. Maine South, Park Ridge, Ill. (7-0)

3. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (7-0)

4. Carmel, Ind. (8-0)

5. Arrowhead, Hartland, Wis. (7-0)

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

South

1. Northside, Warner-Robins, Ga. (5-0)

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

3. DeSoto, Texas (5-0)

4. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (5-0)

5. Allen, Texas (4-1)

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

Far West

1. Skyline, Sammamish, Wash. (6-0)

2. Kahuku, Hawaii (7-0)

3. Elk Grove, Calif. (6-0)

4. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (6-0)

5. Lake Oswego, Ore. (6-0)

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.