No. 23 Oscar Smith (VA) vying for Class 6 state title re-enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings; No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) looks to close perfect season

LONDON — The high school football season is down to two weekends. That’s it. Man, did it go by in a flash.

More state champions  were crowned and now we’re down to a precious few states that will play out. This weekend the action shifts to Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. The weekend of Dec. 16-18 the titles will be earned in Texas and Florida (larger classifications) and the GEICO Bowl Series will be played on Dec. 17 and 18 in Las Vegas. Two games involving states that allow their schools to compete in such competition. We’ll give you the pairings as soon as they are revealed this week.

No. 23 Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) return to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings after a three-month absence. The Tigers are going for another Virginia state championship on Saturday against James Madison (Vienna) in the Class 6 final. The Tigers (12-1) will have the benefit of a pseudo home game as game will be played 20 minutes from their campus in Norfolk.

Otherwise, it was a glorious weekend in the Gateway to Europe or London. We had business and attended a football match or what is referred to soccer stateside. Chelsea, the team we follow, had a second-half meltdown and lost at West ham, 3-2. The English Premier League is the top professional league in the world and each week the passion grows. Same goes for high school football in the United States.

That’s it for the first weekend in December.

The Elite 25 rankings will return on Dec. 14. The final rankings are slated to drop Dec. 21. Call it an early Christmas present.

If you live in one of the states still competing in the postseason, this is your last call for a game until next fall.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 7, 2021

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Serra (San Mateo) in CIF Open Division Bowl Game to be played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Vandegrift (Austin), 70-7 in Class 6A, Division II, Region 4 final

Next: No. 4 Katy in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals to be played at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium in Waco.

3. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Grayson (Loganville), 31-0, in Class 7A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 16 Milton (Alpharetta) in Class 7A final to be at Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium.

4. Katy, Texas (14-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Summer Creek (Humble), 34-31, in the Class 6A, Division II Region 3 final.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 2 Westlake (Austin) in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals to be played at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium in Waco.

5. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (14-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Allen, 47-21, in Class 6A, Division I Region 1 final.

Next: Saturday vs. Duncanville in the Class 6A, Division I semifinals in McKinney.

6. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (12-0)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: Won Non-Public A championship. Season complete.

7. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (10-3)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Season complete.

8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (10-2)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Season complete.

9. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (14-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Northwestern (Miami), 37-12, in the Class 6A semifinals. The Tigers are in the championship game and are seeking a first title since 1968.

Next: Dec. 18 vs. Pine Forest (Pensacola) in Class 6A final to be played at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

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

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Buchholz (Gainesville), 45-7, in Class 7A semifinals.

Next: Dec. 17 vs. Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa) in Class 7A final to be played at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

11. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Season complete.

12. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Season complete.

13. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (13-1)*

Previous: 14.

Recap: Won Class 7A state championship, beating Phenix City Central, 38-22, in the final.

Season complete. The Warriors completed the first three-peat in 7A history. North Carolina-bound QB Conner Harrell threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Season complete.

14. Bixby, Okla. (13-0)*

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Deer Creek (Edmond), 63-14, in Class 6A-II final. It was the program’s fourth straight state championship and 49^th consecutive win. The Spartans have won seven state title in the last eight seasons. Season complete.

15. Chandler, Ariz. (11-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Liberty (Peoria), 27-21, in overtime in the Arizona Open Division semifinals. The Wolves trailed 21-7 in the fourth quarter but did not panic. QB Blaine Hipa’s 4-yard TD run capped an 80-yard drive to the slice the deficit to 21-13. With 2 seconds left, Hipa passed 9 yards to RB Anyale Velazquez for a score and ran in the two-point conversion forcing overtime. TE Nason Coleman caught a TD pass in the extra session for the winning points.

Next: Saturday vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale) in Arizona Open Division championship game to be played at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium in Scottsdale.

16. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Walton (Marietta), 52-17, in the Class 7A semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Collins Hill (Suwanee) in the Class 7A final to be at Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium.

17. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Season complete.

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

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won second straight Class 6A championship. Season complete.

19. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-1)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Nevada Class 5A state championship. Looks like the Gaels will be playing in the GEICO Bowl Series. Season complete.

20. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (15-1)*

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won Division I state championship, defeating Springfield, 23-13, in the final. It was the program’s fifth state title since 2010 and the first since 2018. RB Danny Enovitch ran for a 17-yard TD for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Enovitch rushed for a game-high 210 yards and two scores and the Eagles were clutch when it mattered most converting on 9 of 13 attempts on third down. Season complete.

21. Central, Miami (11-2)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 54-21, in the Class 5A semifinals. The Tornadoes go for a third straight state title after a weekend off close to home.

Next: Dec. 17 vs. Merritt Island in the Class 5A final to be played at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

22. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (11-0)*

Previous: 24.

Recap: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital championship. The Cadets appear ready to be invited to play in the GEICO Bowl Series later this month. Season complete.

23. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (12-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Tigers re-enter the Elite 25 rankings after defeating Grassfield, 49-10, in the Class 6 semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. James Madison (Vienna) in the Class 6 final to be played at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

24. Hoover, Ala. (12-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Season complete.

25. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (11-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Lost to Saguaro (Scottsdale), 31-24, in the Arizona Open Division semifinals. The Huskies remain in the Elite 25 for now. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 21 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (14-0)
2. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (11-1)**
3. Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh (14-0)
4. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (10-3)*
5. Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg, Md. (14-0)*

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

Midwest

1. Cathedral, Indianapolis (14-1)*
2. Lakeville (Minn.) South (13-0)*
3. De La Salle Collegiate, Warren, Mich. (13-0)*
4. Franklin, Wis. (14-0)*
5. Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy (14-0)*

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

Southland

1. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (15-0)*
2. Zachary, La. (14-0)…Playoffs 5A-final-sa?
3. Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (12-1)*
4. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (13-1)
5. St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (14-1)*

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

Far West

1. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (14-0)*
2. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (14-0)*
3. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (11-1)
4. Bellevue, Wash. (14-0)*
5. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (10-2)*

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

*Won state or postseason conference championship [Teams have won two postseason championships in some states]

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.