BENSALEM, Pa. – We’re down to the final three weeks of the high school football season and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings are taking final shape. There are a handful of teams that will be considered for the top spot in the final rankings that will be released on December 24.
There seven teams in the Elite 25 that have won state championships heading into this weekend.
Three teams have been added to the Elite 25: No. 20 Duncanville (Texas), No. 23 Longview (Texas) and No. 25 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).
In Ohio, the Eagles closed out a remarkable turnaround following a 0-2 start to capture the Division I championship over then-No. 13 Colerain (Cincinnati), 24-10.
Duncanville needs three more wins to win the coveted UIL Class 6A, Division I title. The Panthers play Southlake Carroll in the sectional final this weekend and would play No. 2 Allen in the state semifinals if both teams advance. Longview is on the verge of winning it all in the UIL Class 6A, Division II but have a challenging regional final contest.
Kudos to Broken Arrow (Okla.), a team from the Southland Region, in capturing the program’s first-ever state title beating Jenks, 28-20, in the Class 6A-I final. Broken Arrow trailed 20-14 at halftime but scored the game’s final 14 points in the second half and won it. BA finally broke through in Oklahoma’s highest classification that is traditionally dominated by Jenks and Union (Tulsa).
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return for the penultimate time on December 11. As a reminder, the Elite 25 boys and girls’ basketball rankings will be updated on Dec. 18 and 19—before the holiday hoop tournament schedule kicks in. Follow me on Twitter at @clawlor.
Happy Hanukkah to our many readers. Thank you for checking back and we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 4, 2018
1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-2) #
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Idle. The Monarchs are close to home for the state championship game but their opponent is chomping at the bit looking to avenge last year’s setback in the final.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 4 De La Salle (Concord) in CIF Open Division Bowl Game final at Cerritos College in Norwalk.
2. Allen, Texas (13-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 31-24, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 2 semifinals. Junior RB Celdon Manning ran for two TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. Midway (Waco) in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 2 final to be played at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium in Waco.
3. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (14-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Edged Archer (Lawrenceville), 22-21, in overtime in the in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals. The kicking game played a huge role in this one as Ryan Fitzgerald booted five field goals in regulation, including a 37-yarder at the gun that forced overtime, and a blocked extra-point by the Packers in the extra session clinched a trip back to the state final. The Georgia state championships were pushed back to midweek to accommodate Major League Soccer’s championship match on Saturday night.
Next: Dec. 12 vs. Milton (Alpharetta) in the Class AAAAAAA final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
4. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Liberty (Brentwood), 42-7, in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division final. It was the Spartans’ 27thstraight sectional title. The defense picked off four passes. The Spartans trailed 7-0 in the second quarter but took over in emphatic fashion.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in the CIF Open Division Bowl Game final at Cerritos College in Norwalk.
5. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-1)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Season complete.
6. Warren Central, Indianapolis (14-0)*
Previous: 6.
Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.
7. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (9-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Season complete.
8. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-1)
Previous: 8.
Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.
9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-1)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Defeated Venice, 38-18, in the Class 7A semifinals. The Raiders are back in the championship game after a one-year absence.
Next: Friday vs. Lakeland in Class 7A final at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
10. Saint Louis, Honolulu (11-0)*
Previous: 11.
Recap: Won Hawaii Open Division championship. Season complete.
11. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (12-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Summerville, 47-14, in Lower State final or Class AAAAA state semifinals. QB Ty Olenchuk tossed three TDs in the first half when the Silver Foxes were up 33-7.
Next: Saturday vs. T.L. Hanna (Anderson) in Class AAAAA final at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
12. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (12-0)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Shut out Pine-Richland (Gibsonia), 37-0, in the Class AAAAAA semifinals. The Hawks eliminated the reigning state champions.
Next: Saturday vs. Harrisburg in Class AAAAAA final at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey.
13. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (13-0)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Defeated Katy, 49-38, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 3 semifinals. The defending state champions await the Mustangs in the regional final.
Next: Saturday vs. Cy-Fair (Cypress) in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 3 final to be played at NRG Stadium in Houston.
14. Converse (Texas) Judson (12-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated San Benito, 69-18, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 semifinals. The Rockets scored 17 points in the first period and 28 in the second for a 45-0 lead at the break.
Next: Saturday vs. Lake Travis in Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 final to be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
16. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (15-0)*
Previous: 18.
Recap: Won the Division II state championship, defeating Massillon (Ohio) Washington, 42-28, in the final. The Knights have won four straight state titles and became Ohio’s fifth program to do so. The Knights were up 27-0 early in the second quarter before clinging to a 34-28 lead in the fourth. A fake punt near midfield then swung the momentum and produced a 2-yard TD by DeaMontae Trayanum to end it. Season complete.
17. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (14-0)*
Previous: 21.
Recap: Won 5A state championship, routing Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale), 60-7, in the final. A 32-point second quarter surge made it 39-0 at the break. The Coyotes are likely headed to the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series on Dec. 22 in Arizona. Season complete.
18. Chandler, Ariz. (13-1)*
Previous: 22.
Recap: Won 6A state championship, topping Perry (Gilbert), 65-28, in the final for its third straight title. RB DeCarlos Brooks had a masterful game, running for career-high 334 yards and six TDs. BYU-bound QB Jacob Conover became Arizona’s first signal caller to win three straight titles in the state’s highest classification. Conover graduates later this month and then heads out on a church mission for two years. Season complete.
19. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (12-0)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Saturday vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge) in the Division 1 final at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
20. Duncanville, Texas (12-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Drilled Lamar (Arlington), 45-6, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 1 semifinals. The Panthers face a fellow unbeaten foe this weekend at the Dallas Cowboys facility.
Next: Saturday vs. Southlake Carroll in the Region 1 final to be played at The Star in Frisco.
21. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (9-1)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title. Season complete.
22. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-1)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Season complete.
23. Longview, Texas (13-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Vandergrift (Austin), 56-28. in the Class 6A, Division II, Region 2 semifinals.
Next: Saturday vs. Westfield (Spring) in the Class 6A, Division II, Region 2 final at Waco ISD Stadium.
24. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-3)*
Previous: 24.
Recap: Won 10thstraight Nevada state championship, overwhelming Bishop Manogue (Reno), 69-26, in the Class 4A final. RB Amod Cianelli rushed for 286 yards and six TDs. The Gaels rebounded from a 1-3 start to peel off 10 wins versus in-state competition. Season complete.
25. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (11-3)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Won Division I state championship, defeating then-No. 13 and unbeaten Colerain (Cincinnati), 24-10. The Eagles started the season 0-2 but reached the final for the third time in five years with two Division I titles. Season complete.
Dropped: No. 10 Rome (Ga.); No. 13 Colerain (Cincinnati) and No. 25 (Coatesville, Pa.).
High-Fives by Region
East
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (10-2)*
- Gonzaga, Washington, D.C (9-3)*
- Manchester, Midlothian, Va. (14-0)
- Harrisburg, Pa. (13-1)
- Penn Hills, Pittsburgh (15-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (12-1)*
- Burke, Omaha, Neb. (13-0)*
- Lakeville (Minn.) North (13-0)*
- Muskego, Wis. (14-0)*
- Chippewa Valley, Clinton Township, Mich. (14-0)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- West Monroe, La. (14-0)
- Broken Arrow, Okla. (13-0)*
- Phenix City (Ala.) Central (13-0)
- Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-1)*
- Lee County, Leesburg, Ga. (14-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (14-0)*
- Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (12-1)*
- Folsom, Calif. (12-1)
- Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, Calif. (12-1)
- Union, Camas, Wash. (14-0)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Won state or conference postseason championship
# Includes a forfeit loss
@ Includes two forfeit losses
About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School 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 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 late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
