BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s been an interesting start to the season and Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings reflect it.
Last week there was a team from Iowa that found its way into the Elite 25 Fall rankings and then promptly lost in an upset. That’s OK because enter No. 20 Owasso (Okla.), the defending Oklahoma Class 6A-I champion, after winning for the third straight week against quality competition. The Rams pasted Broken Arrow, 32-6, in replay of the last year’s state championship game. Owasso is off this weekend and plays Union (Tulsa) on Sept. 25.
So, let’s look at the rest of the nation during the pandemic.
The good news is Maine and Michigan will be kicking off their seasons this weekend after delays due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. The following weekend Class 6A and 5A teams from Texas will begin along with South Carolina.
Last week, New York decided that football will be played in the spring over coronavirus concerns. Football, cheerleading and volleyball are considered high-risk activities. Football practice will start on March 1. Catholic schools are still deciding when the season will occur but it is fair to say they will follow the lead of the public school association.
New York is the 17th state to postpone fall football. District of Columbia also joins the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Only 10 teams from the Elite 25 Fall have played games. The other 15 are within weeks of opening night. No. 4 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) and No. 13 De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis), reigning large-classification state champions from Pennsylvania and Missouri, respectively, might be eyeing spring seasons due to the coronavirus. Both schools want to play now and if they are shifted into the spring we’ll slide in two deserved teams from the regional rankings.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Sept. 22.
Stay safe, wear a mask when possible, practice social distancing and support your local restaurants and businesses that have taken major financial hits since March. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall Rankings, Sept. 15, 2020
1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (0-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Idle. The Mustangs have a tough season opener against a defending state champion.
Next: Sept. 25 at Shadow Creek (Alvin).
2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (1-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Idle. This weekend is another test for the Ascenders.
Next: Thursday vs. Edgewater (Orlando).
3. Duncanville, Texas (0-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Idle. The Panthers will face No. 2 IMG Academy on Oct. 10 in national spotlight game.
Next: Sept. 25 vs. Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth).
4. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Idle. The Hawks plan to play an independent schedule in the aftermath of the Philadelphia Catholic League opting for spring ball.
Next: Oct. 3 vs. La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.).
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (0-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Idle.
Next: TBA.
6. Central, Miami (0-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Idle.
Next: TBA.
7. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (2-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Drilled McEachern (Powder Springs), 55-21. The Rams rolled to a 30-13 lead at the break. RB Phil Mafah scored on TD runs of 42 and 66 yards. In other news, QB Carlos Del Rio, a transfer and Florida recruit, was ruled ineligible for his senior season, according to the Georgia High School Association.
Next: Friday vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee).
8. Katy, Texas (0-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Idle. Class 6A and 5A schools are not allowed to start until Sept. 25, according to the University Interscholastic League.
Next: Sept. 25 vs. Clear Springs (League City).
9. Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Idle. The Arizona Interscholastic Association allowed teams to resume practice Sept. 7, games commence Oct. 2 and the state championship games are Dec. 11 and 12.
Next: Oct. 2 at Liberty (Peoria).
10. Northwestern, Miami (0-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Idle. Miami-Dade County has not released schedules.
Next: TBA.
11. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (0-0)
Previous: 11.
Recap: Idle. AM gets a true opening night test against a defending state champion.
Next: Friday at Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood).
12. Westlake, Austin, Texas (0-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Idle. The Chaps have a tricky road contest to open the season.
Next: Sept. 26 at Highland Park (Dallas).
13. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (0-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Game with Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) was called off late last week over coronavirus concerns in St. Louis County. There’s a strong chance an alternate season will be contested in the spring.
Next: TBA.
14. Denton (Texas) Guyer (0-0)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Sept. 25 at Hebron (Carrollton).
15. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (0-0)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Idle. Last week, coach Rich Hansen announced the 2020 season would be his last. He will remain the school’s athletic director. Heading into the season he is 270-75-1 in 33 years with five state titles and two undefeated campaigns.
Next: Oct. 2 at West Orange.
16. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (1-0)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Blasted Moeller (Cincinnati), 44-7. The Rocks scored the first 44 points and cruised to the victory. This weekend is a rematch of last year’s Class 6A championship tilt.
Next: Friday vs. Male (Louisville).
17. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (5-0)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Crushed Alta (Sandy), 56-6. The Chargers scored 35 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull away from a 14-6 scoreline. QB Jaxson Dart had a monster seven-TD effort, throwing four scores to different receivers and running for three more. Harrison Taggart added a pick-six. Dart has 23 TD passes in five games. After a scintillating start to the campaign, Dart last week earned a scholarship offer from TCU.
Next: Friday vs. Pleasant Grove.
18. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (3-0)
Previous: 18.
Recap: Shut out Central Crossing (Grove City), 47-0. The Tigers were up 41 points at halftime and recorded their second straight shutout of the term. RB Olando Kamara scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards. The defense has yielded 9 points in three games.
Next: Friday at Groveport Madison.
19. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (2-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated Griffin, 45-6. The Vikings host an out-of-state opponent this weekend.
Next: Friday vs. Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.).
20. Owasso, Okla. (3-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Broke Arrow, 32-6. Cole Adams snared a pair of scoring passes in the opening quarter. The Rams are clearly Oklahoma’s top-ranked Class 6A-I team and have knocked off three quality opponents. It was a matter of time before the Rams moved into the Elite 25 Fall rankings. Winning a rematch of last year’s state final clinched it.
Next: Sept. 25 vs. Union (Tulsa).
21. Bixby, Okla. (2-0)
Previous: 20.
Recap: Idle. This weekend’s scheduled game at Stillwater was canceled over COVID-19 protocol says the home team, but the Spartans found a new opponent.
Next: Friday at Blanchard.
22. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (0-0)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Idle. The Crusaders open with a bitter rival during a six-game regular season.
Next: Oct. 3 at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).
23. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (4-0)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Defeated Spain Park (Hoover), 48-35. The Warriors travel to an unbeaten Region 3 rival this weekend and thankfully it will be televised nationally by ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Next: Friday at Hewitt-Trussville.
24. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (4-0)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Ben Davis (Indianapolis), 35-12. Coach Eric Moore won his 200th game. RB Carson Steele scored three TDs and junior Tayven Jackson ran for two scores during the third quarter when the Trojans built a 35-0 lead.
Next: Friday vs. North Central (Indianapolis).
25. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (0-0)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Idle. The folks in the Palmetto State cannot wait until teams put the toe to the leather.
Next: Sept. 25 vs. White Knoll (Lexington).
Dropped out: No. 25 Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa.
High-Fives by Region
East
- Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (1-0)
- Central Dauphin, Harrisburg, Pa. (0-0)
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (0-0)
- Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (1-0)
- Williamstown, N.J. (0-0)
Geography: Connecticut^, Delaware^, District of Columbia^, Maine, Massachusetts^, Maryland^, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York^, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island^, Vermont^ and Virginia^.
Midwest
- Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (3-0)
- Cathedral, Indianapolis (4-0)
- Brownsburg, Ind. (4-0)
- Century, Bismarck, N.D. (2-0)…S25
- St. Xavier, Cincinnati (2-1)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois^, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota^, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Allen, Texas (0-0)
- Hoover, Ala. (4-0)
- Booker T. Washington, Miami (0-0)
- Starkville, Miss. (2-0)
- Archbishop Rummel. Metairie, La. (0-0)…O 8/9
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina^, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (5-0)
- Skyridge, Lehi, Utah (5-0)
- Sahuaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (0-0)…O2
- American Fork, Utah (5-0)..FR-Skyridge
- Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California^, Colorado^, Hawaii^, Idaho, Montana, Nevada^, New Mexico^, Oregon^, Utah, Washington^ and Wyoming.
^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021
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.
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.
