The action is just beginning to heat up, matching the oppressive temperatures that comprise the Dog Days of August. Last weekend the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school football teams went 9-1, with the lone loss occurring in a head to head matchup on Thursday in Nevada. Eleven Go-To 25 teams open their seasons starting Thursday through Sunday over the Labor Day Weekend. Here’s what transpired this past weekend.
Triple Play
What we learned
There were several dominant performances this past weekend as No. 1 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) won by 19 points, No. 16 Trinity (Louisville) eked out a four-point win in Kentucky and No. 13 Butler (Matthews, N.C.) cruised to victory by 62 points. There are three sumptuous games this weekend, including two games matching Go-To 25 ranked squads.
However two are worth mentioning wasn’t but is critical. No. 10 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) hosts regionally ranked Gilman School (Baltimore) Friday after both teams lost road games. Elsewhere, Regionally ranked Union (Tulsa) and Jenks (Okla.) hook up Friday (7 p.m. CT) in the annual Backyard Bowl at University of Tulsa’s Chapman Stadium. Union has won the last four Oklahoma Class 6A state titles.
If there were two teams that might get picked off this weekend, No. 6 Southlake (Texas) Carroll and No. 24 Bellevue (Wash.) are candidates. Southlake Carroll travels Friday to Allen for the opening game at state-of-the-art Eagles Stadium. The venue seats 18,000 and cost $60 million. The eyes of Texas will be upon Allen, which near Dallas. Bellevue might be the home team but Trinity (Euless, Texas) is accustomed to big games. After Sunday afternoon, 24 of the Go-To 25 teams will have played at least one game, with No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) opening on Sept. 8.
In the Midlands Region, three preseason ranked teams have lost. Expect a shakeup on Sept. 3 when updated rankings are released. Also Hurricane Isaac could alter games in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. New Orleans is supposed to receive a direct hit this week, with No. 9 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) possibility being affected.
Remember the next time we list the Go-To 25 rankings on Sept. 3 it will reflect the initial three weeks of the season. With the preseason blather out of the way the games will come fast and furious. Give credit to the national programs that decided to play a challenging schedule instead of recording lopsided wins over local competition. A loss in August or September isn’t the worst thing. Ultimately all teams want to win their final game. You can be assured Blue Star Media Go-To 25 teams are headed that way.
Game Ball
In a matchup of Blue Star Media Go-To 25 teams, No. 22 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) held off No. 10 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 27-22, behind senior quarterback Jarrett Solomon’s superlative effort, earning national player of the week honors. Trailing 8-7 in the second quarter, Solomon engineered of pair of scoring drive – running 9 yards for a touchdown and passing 18 yards for another – for a 21-8 lead at the break.
Solomon topped off a clutch performance in the third quarter hitting Ryan Smith for a 70-yard TD strike. For the game, Solomon passed for 241 yards on 13 of 17 efficiency and three TDs of 27, 18 and 70 yards, including two to Smith. He also carried four times for 15 yards and a score. Saturday the Gaels are off to Hawaii for a big-time game against 1-1 Saint Louis School of Honolulu in Aloha Stadium at 7:30 p.m. HT.
Weekend Destinations
There three games involving Go-To 25 teams, including one televised by the ESPN family of networks.
The weekend starts out in Seattle, Wash., where No. 24 Bellevue (Wash.) hosts Texas powerhouse Trinity (Euless) Thursday at 6 p.m. PT at Seattle Memorial Stadium on national TV. Bellevue is the defending Class 3A champions and operates the Wing-T offense to perfection. The Texans are no slouch and are considered serious contenders for a Class 5A state championship in a loaded Texas large classification bracket.
The game of the early season pits Georgia vs. Florida, deep in Southeastern Conference territory. That’s because No. 3 Central (Miami, Fla.) travels to top-ranked Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Grayson, Georgia’s defending Class AAAAA champions, opened last Saturday with a convincing 31-12 triumph over McEachern (Powder Springs) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It’s tough way for Central to kick off its season.
When No. 14 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) hosts No. 19 Hoover (Ala.) Friday night in another Deep South border war, who knows if the game will be played. That’s because Hurricane Isaac could be dumping water. Stay tuned to local weather forecasts as the week progresses. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Here’s how the Go-To 25 fared:
1. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (1-0) defeated McEachern (Powder Springs), 31-12, in Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Rams rushed for 314 yards as four different players ran for TDs. Up next: Friday vs. No. 3 Central (Miami).
2. Skyline, Dallas (0-0) opens Saturday vs. The Woodlands.
3. Central, Miami (0-0) opens Friday at No. 1 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.).
4. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (0-0) opens Sunday vs. Miramar.
5. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (1-0) at Brophy Prep (Phoenix), 27-14. Up next: Friday at Jordan Long Beach, Calif.).
6. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (0-0) opens Friday at Allen.
7. Booker T. Washington, Miami (0-0) opens Friday at Carol City (Miami).
8. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (0-0) opens Friday at Bellarmine (San Jose) at San Jose Community College.
9. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (0-0) opens Friday at Franklinton.
10. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (0-1) lost to No. 22 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 27-22. Clemson-bound RB Dorian O’Daniel rushed for 127 yards and three TDs on 23 carries. Up Next: Friday vs. Gilman School (Baltimore).
11. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (1-0) defeated Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee), 42-0. Georgia-bound QB Brice Ramsey clicked on 6 of 8 passes for 132 yards and three TDs. Up next: Friday vs. Vanguard (Ocala. Fla.).
12. Vista Murietta, Murietta, Calif. (0-0) opens Friday vs. ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.).
13. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (2-0) defeated Olympic (Charlotte), 69-7. The Bulldogs scored on all six possessions in the opening half. QB Riley Ferguson passed for 192 yards and two TDs. Up next: Sept. 8 at Vance (Charlotte).
14. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (1-0) Idle. Up next: Friday vs. No. 19 Hoover (Ala.).
15. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (0-0) opens Friday at Jesuit (Tampa).
16. Trinity, Louisville (2-0) defeated Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), 27-23. QB Travis Wright tossed a 35-yard TD pass to Dalyn Dawkins in the fourth quarter for a 24-23 lead. Up next: Sept. 7 vs. Elder (Cincinnati).
17. Moeller, Cincinnati (1-0) defeated Gilman School (Baltimore), 35-14. Up next: Saturday vs. Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian.
18. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (0-0) opens Friday at Converse Judson.
19. Hoover, Ala. (0-0) opens Friday at No. 14 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.).
20. Ensworth School, Nashville, Tenn. (2-0) defeated Lexington (Ky.) Catholic, 62-14. RB Corn Elder rushed for 199 yards and four TDs while QB Andrew Bowers threw for 250 yards. Up next: Friday at McCallie (Chattanooga).
21. Katy, Texas (0-0) opens Friday vs. Klein in Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
22. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (1-0) defeated No. 10 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 27-22. QB Jarrett Solomon had a hand in all four TDs, throwing for three and running for another. Up next: Saturday at Saint Louis School (Honolulu) in Aloha Stadium.
23. Goose Creek, Berkeley, S.C. (1-0) defeated Ashley Ridge (Summerville), 48-16. Rashard Alston rushed for 181 yards and four TDs. Up next: Friday at Colleton County (Walterboro).
24. Bellevue, Wash. (0-0) opens Thursday vs. Trinity (Euless, Texas) at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
25. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (0-0) opens Sept. 8 vs. Gilman School (Baltimore) in Annapolis, Md.
About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Football Rankings are released weekly from Sept. 3 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 Senior Writer Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers.
