HAIL VICTORS: No. 2 St. Joseph’s Prep (PA), No. 15 Center Grove (IN) bag state championships; No. 24 Bergen Catholic (NJ) re-enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings

BENSALEM, PA. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall high school football rankings have a last season twist with three teams entering, two that won state championships last weekend.

No. 23 Cathedral (Indianapolis) captured the Indiana Class 5A crown in record-setting fashion. The Fighting Irish (13-1) suffered one loss to No. 15 Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) in the regular season Last Friday, Center Grove won the Class 6A title.

In Missouri, No. 25 Raymore-Peculiar sprang a huge upset, beating defending state champion and then-No. 9 De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis), 23-0, in the Class 6 final.

No. 24 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) returns to the Elite 25 Fall rankings after knocking off then-No. 25 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 22-14, in the season finale. BC is New Jersey’s top team without question and played a strong schedule. This year there was no postseason in New Jersey.

Also winning a state title was No. 2 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), which annexed a third consecutive PIAA Class AAAAAA championship.

Last weekend, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kansas and Indiana completed their seasons.

That’s a wrap for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Dec. 8.

Remember to stay safe, mask up, practice social distancing, purchase your tickets in advance from your local schools and support the small businesses in your area that have taken major financial hits since March.

The playoffs are up and running in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Colorado, Oklahoma and Arizona. The Texas postseason for Class 6A and 5A won’t start until the second weekend in December. If you live in one of these states you might want to attend a game before the season concludes.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings, Dec. 1, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The nation’s No. 1 team crushed Atascocita (Humble), 63-14, in the regular season finale. Auburn-bound QB Dematrius Davis had a monster game, hitting on 14 of 23 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns and carried nine times for 135 yards and three TDs of 13, 19 and 53 yards. RB Shadrach Banks rushed for three scores as the Mustangs stampeded to leads of 28-0 after one quarter and 49-7 at halftime.

Next: Dec. 10, 11 or 12 in UIL Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-0)*

Previous: 3.

Recap: Won its third straight PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship, humbling previously unbeaten Central York (York), 62-13. Prep’s seniors went 44-3 and closed on with 17-straight wins in four years. The Hawks led 38-7 at halftime and never looked back. Malik Cooper, a Temple recruit, accounted for three TDs—receiving (79 yards), throwing (55 yards) and returning a punt (55 yards). Ohio State-bound QB Kyle McCord tossed four TDs, including two to WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Season complete.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: The Ascenders do not complete for a state championship. Season complete.

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Tift County (Tifton), 43-0, in Class AAAAAAA first round. QB Jake Garcia accounted for four TDs, throwing for three and rushing for another. The Rams coasted to a 22-point lead at the intermission.

Next: Friday vs. Harrison (Kennesaw) in Class AAAAAAA second round.

5. Chandler, Ariz. (8-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Overwhelmed Desert Edge (Goodyear), 52-0, in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals. If the Wolves this weekend, they would play for the championship on Dec. 12 in Phoenix.

Next: Saturday vs. Liberty (Peoria) in Open Division semifinals.

6. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (14-0)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: The Chargers won their third consecutive Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

7. Westlake, Austin, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Game with then-No. 19 Lake Travis (Austin) was canceled over COVID-19 coronavirus concerns on the Lake Travis coaching staff. The regular season is complete.

Next: Dec. 11 vs. TBD in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

8. Duncanville, Texas (6-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Game with DeSoto was canceled by mutual agreement between the schools. The reason given was safety reasons. The regular season is complete.

Next: Dec. 11 vs. TBD in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

9. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (7-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Eastern (Louisville), 49-7, in Class 6A second round. The Shamrocks left no doubt in their title defense as QB Nathan McElroy completed 10-of-16 passes for 207 yards and four TDs and RBs Armon Tucker and Brad West rushed for one TD apiece.

Next: Friday vs. Dixie Heights (Edgewood) in Class 6A quarterfinals.

10. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (13-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle. The Warriors go for a second straight state championship title.

Next: Wednesday vs. Auburn in Super 7 Class 7A final at Bryant-Denney Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

11. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (8-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Brookwood (Snellville) in Class AAAAAAA first round. RB Charlie Price dashed 26, 33 and 44 yards for scores and Ontavious Carolina had an 84-yard pick-six and caught a 19-yard TD pass.

Next: Friday vs. Walton (Marietta) in the Class AAAAAAA second round.

12. Bixby, Okla. (10-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Midwest City, 49-20, in the Class 6AII semifinals. Junior RB Braylin Presley tallied scores from 37, 35 and 22 yards in the third quarter and the Spartans reached the state title game.

Next: Saturday vs. Choctaw in  Class 6AII final in Edmond.

13. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Shut out Manatee (Bradenton), 45-0, in Class 7A, Region 4 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Venice in Class 7A, Region 4 final.

14. Central, Miami (5-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Naples, 31-21, in Class 6A, Region 4 semifinals.

Next: Friday at Dunbar (Fort Myers) in the Class 6A, Region 4 final.

15. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (14-0)*

Previous: 17.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship, thrashing Merrillville, 38-14. RB Carson Steele closed out a brilliant senior year rushing for 138 yards and two scores and QB Tayven Jackson threw for 180 yards and two TDs—both to Trent Veith of 73 and 10 yards. Last year, the Trojans lost in the 6A final but this year ran the table and finished their quest. Season complete.

16. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (9-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: The Silver Foxes will play in their fifth consecutive state championship game after blanking Sumter, 24-0, in the Class AAAAA Lower State final.

Next: Friday vs. T.L. Hanna (Anderson) in the Class AAAAA final.

17. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (11-0)*

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won fifth state championship in six years, capturing the Division II crown. Season complete.

18. Allen, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Prosper, 41-31.

Next: Friday at Braswell (Denton).

19. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: The Cavaliers canceled their final two games when a member of their coaching staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Coach Hank Carter’s team has already qualified for the playoffs and will participate following their pause in play.

Next: Dec. 11 vs. TBD in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

20. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (10-2)*

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won Ohio Division I state championship. Season complete

21. Brother Martin, New Orleans (7-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (New Orleans) in LHSAA Division I quarterfinals to be played at Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans.

22. Bryant, Ark. (12-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Conway, 56-14, in the Class 7A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. North Little Rock in 7A final.

23. Cathedral, Indianapolis (13-1)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Indiana Class 5A state championship, crushing Zionsville, 46-28. QB Nathan McCahill completed a Class 5A game-record 27 passes, attempting 35 for 322 yards and a 5A recording-equaling five TD passes. WR Camden Jordan set 5A record with 12 receptions for 91 yards and record-tying three TDs. The Fighting Irish made its state-record-tying 16^thfinals appearance and the win gave them a 13^th state championship, which is second best in Indiana state football history. Season complete.

24. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Upended then-No. 25 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 22-15. Trailing 15-14 in the fourth period, the Crusaders got a 2-yard TD run from Ryan Butler (31 carries for 137 yards) to win it. The Crusaders won the vaunted Super Football Conference United Red Division title in a season with no playoffs. Season complete.

25. Raymore-Peculiar, Mo. (12-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Class 6 state title in a huge upset win over then-No. 9 De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis), 23-0. Jaidyn Doss ran for 190 yards and three TDs. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 9 De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis); No. 13 Owasso (Okla.) and No. 25 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (11-0)*
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-2)
3. Central York, York, Pa. (10-1)
4. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (6-3)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (6-2)

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

Midwest

1. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (6-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (9-0)
3. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (12-0)*
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (10-0)*
5. Muskego, Wis. (9-0)

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

Southland

1. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-0)
2. Tompkins, Katy, Texas (8-0)
3. Jenks, Okla. (10-1)
4. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (8-1)
5. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (8-2)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (7-1)
2. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (8-0)
3. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (7-0)
4. Rocky Mountain, Meridian, Idaho (9-0)*
5. Salpointe Catholic, Tucson, Ariz. (7-0)

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

^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021

 * Won state championship

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. For the 2020-2021 school year, there will be two separate rankings in the fall and winter/spring due to coronavirus concerns. 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 in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.