ROYAL CROWN! Mater Dei (CA) Monarchs repeat as Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football National Champions; No. 2 Milton (GA) and No. 3 North Crowley (TX) close out perfect seasons

BENSALEM, Pa. – It was wire-to-wire for the Monarchs of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). The undefeated and rarely tested Monarchs did it again.

No. 1 means top dog for a second year in a row on the high school level. The Monarchs (13-0) are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions! They might be the greatest football team in high school history but that’s subjective.

When the 2025 season kicks off, St. John Bosco and Mater Dei will be the class of the Trinity and likely near the top of the Elite 25 rankings.

Speaking of the Trinity League, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) has a new head coach. Carson Palmer, who quarterbacked at USC and in the NFL, is returning to high school and will head the program. Carson was a volunteer quarterback coach for the freshman team when his son played for the team.

Keep an eye out for quarterback prospects and transfers to consider joining the program with a bona fide signal-caller at the helm.

Three states were active last week with champions crowned in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.

In Atlanta, No. 2 Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) won a second straight GHSA state championship in dominant fashion, besting Langston Hughes (Fairburn), 56-35, in the Class AAAAA final. The Eagles made a great case for No. 1 with a Georgia state finals record of 671 yards with quarterback Luke Nickel passing for 413 yards on a near perfect effort and running back T.J. Lester ran for more than 200 yards.

The combined 91 points are tied for second-most in finals history behind the 105 scored when Mill Creek beat Carrollton, 70-35, in 2022. Milton never traveled but Hughes rallied to tie it at 21 and 28 before the Eagles closed with a fury. Nickel became Georgia’s 14^th signal-caller to crack the 10,000-yard passing barrier. The future Miami Hurricane finished with 10,169 yards.

The Class AAAAAA final saw unheralded, but dangerous, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) upended then-No. 4 Carrollton, 38-24, in the final. The game was tied at 17 by halftime before the Rams (14-1) pulled away with a strong defensive effort. Second-year head coach Santavious Bryant’s team lost their first game of the season to Collins Hill (Suwanee) before experiencing a chaotic stretch that saw the No. 6 Rams play four games in three weeks (due to hurricane related postponements). They wound up on a 14-game win streak and were ranked by Blue Star Media.

Bravo, Rams!

No. 11 Carrollton (14-1) went to 0-4 in finals this century. Colorado-bound QB Julian Lewis finished with 11,010 career passing yards (seventh in Georgia history) and 144 TD passes (fifth all-time) and a 39-4 record as a starter.

That brings us to Arlington, Texas, where attendance was down for a second straight year. Heading into the Class 6A, Division I final, the average for the 10 11-man state finals was 13,715 or about 6,000 less than last year.

The games were played at AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and contributing factors included the college football playoffs with SMU and Texas playing on Saturday afternoon and a lack of local 6A programs Duncanville and DeSoto. Normally, crowds of 34,000 to 40,000 attend the large-school finals. The 6A, Division II final had 26,247, according to published reports.

In the Class 6A, Division I final, No. 3 North Crowley (Fort Worth) steamrolled then-No. slgh Westlake (Austin), 50-21. The Panthers (16-0) left no doubt, running the table in the state’s largest classification and led 28-7 at halftime.

Vandegrift (Austin), which finished 15-1, denied Southlake Carroll a ninth state championship in a 24-17 victory for the 6A, Division II chip.

Crunching the numbers for the last time. There were 15 teams that showed no movement; four went up and five dropped with Carrollton sinking eight slots and there were 15 state or conference postseason champions.

The ultimate question: how many teams from the preseason rankings survived the final cut? Seventeen teams appeared in the preseason and stuck around until the end. That’s 68% or just over two-thirds of the Elite 25 were picked correctly. It’s an acceptable percentage but going 20 for 25 is the annual goal.

Onward.

So, high school football is done for another season but before signing off we honor the upcoming holidays.

If you celebrate Christmas, a very Merry Christmas to you! If you celebrate Hanukkah, have a wonderful and Happy Hanukkah! If you recognize Kwanzaa, then have a Happy Kwanzaa filled with family and community!

Also, Happy New Year! Personally, 2025 can’t come soon enough.

Finally, thank you for your support and readership this season. We cannot do it without you. And to our esteemed editor and chief, Mike Flynn, a bigger thank you for providing this platform to promote interscholastic athletics. Mike is a special, special person in this space.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football preseason rankings will debut during the first week of August 2025.

Now we pivot to the hardwood, boys’ and girls’ basketball. The Elite 25 boys rankings will be updated on Monday, Dec. 23 and the girls Tuesday, Dec. 24. That will keep me busy until April.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Final High School Football Rankings, Dec. 22, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-0)*!

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Monarchs are the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions for the second straight year. They also won a second straight CIF Open Division state championship.

2. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (15-0)*

Previous: 2.

Recap: Won Class AAAAA state championship and third in the last seven years, defeating Langston Hughes (Fairburn), 56-35, in the final. RB T.J. Lester rushed for 201 yards and scored three touchdowns. Miami-bound QB Luke Nickel completed 21 of 22 passes for 413 yards and four scores. It was Milton’s second straight state title after winning the Class AAAAAAA in 2023 and will carry a 25-game win streak into next term.

3. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (16-0)*

Previous: 3.

Recap: Won the UIL Class 6A, Division I state championship, defeating then-No. 7 Westlake (Austin), 50-21, in the final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Panthers led 28-7 at the break and rolled. QB Chris Jimerson Jr. completed 14 of 23 passes for 299 yards and four TDs and ran for 63 yards and another score. RB Cornelius Warren carried 23 times for 217 yards and a TD. WR Quentin Gibson caught seven balls for 181 yards and three TDs.

4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-2)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final.

5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-1)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: Won the Class 5A, Division 1 state championship.

6. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (14-1)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Class AAAAAA state championship, defeating then-No. 4 Carrollton (Ga.), 38-24. It was the fourth overall state title for the Rams and the first since 2020. Defense won this one as heavily recruited LB Tyler Atkinson recorded eight tackles, seven solos and two sacks. CB Vaughn Mitchom added three tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions. RB Elijah Miller’s 25-yard TD with 3:41 left in the game, stretched the lead from 31-24 to the final score. He ran for 109 yards and three scores.

7. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (11-1)*

Previous: 8.

Recap: Won a fourth consecutive NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship.

8. Duncanville, Texas (13-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A, Division I state semifinals.

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to No. 3 North Crowley (Fort Worth), 50-21, in Class 6A, Division I final. QB Rees White passed for 155 yards and ran for 104 yards and two TDs on 17 attempts. RB Grady Bartlett carried 10 times for 66 yards and a TD.

10. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (14-1)

Previous:10.

Recap: Advanced to the Class 6A, Division I semifinals.

11. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (13-1)*

Previous: 11.

Recap: Won a second consecutive Class 6A state champion.

12. Carrollton, Ga. (14-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Lost to Grayson (Loganville), 38-24, in Class AAAAAA final. The game was tied at 17 by halftime but the Trojans couldn’t pull it out.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Season complete.

14. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (12-0)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Won a third consecutive MIAA A Conference championship. Season complete.

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Finished runners-up in the CIF Open Division championship.

16. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-3)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

17. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (13-2)*

Previous: 17.

Recap: Won Class 1A state championship. It was the Lions’ fourth straight state crown.

18. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (12-2)*

Previous: 18.

Recap: Won Class 4A state championship.

19. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (12-1)*

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won AIA Open Division state championship.

20. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (13-0)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Class AAAAA state championship. The Silver Foxes won a third straight state title and ninth since 2013. It was the 16^th state crown for coach Tommy Knotts

21. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won the Alpha League title and qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

22. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (10-1)*

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship for the 25^th time but the first time since 2016.

23. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (12-2)*

Previous: 23.

Recap: Won the PIAA Class 6A state championship for the third straight season.

24. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (8-4)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Advanced to in CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 semifinals.

25. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-3)*

Previous: 25.

Recap: Won Class 5A state championship. It was the Raiders’ sixth consecutive state title.

Dropped: No. 15 Buford (Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-3)
2. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (11-1)*
3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (15-0)*
4. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (14-0)*
5. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. (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. East St. Louis, Ill. (13-1)*
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (12-2)*
3. Avon, Ohio (16-0)*
4. Brownsburg, Ind. (13-1)*
5. Maple Grove, Minn. (13-0)*

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

Southland

1. Venice, Fla. (14-1)*
2. Vandegrift, Austin, Texas (15-1)*
3. Edna Karr, New Orleans (14-0)*
4. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (14-0)*
5. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (16-0)*

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

Far West

1. O’Dea, Seattle (13-0)*
   2. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (9-3)*
2. West Linn, Ore. (11-1)*
3. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (12-1)*
4. Lincoln, San Diego, Calif. (12-2)*

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

! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August 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 December of the 2024 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.