SECOND TO NONE: No. 9 Trinity (KY) Shamrocks claim program’s 27th state title; No. 24 American Heritage (FL) re-enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s that time of year and it means championships dancing in our heads. It’s been a strange season for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings. But we’ve made it to Christmas and that’s a few days away.

Last weekend, Old St. Nick delivered a few early presents as four teams from the Elite 25 Fall rankings bagged state crowns and another re-enters the rankings. The most recent champions reside in Florida and Kentucky.

In Tallahassee, Fla., No. 13 Central (Miami) won the Class 6A championship and No.12 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) repeated in Class 7A.

Staying in the Southland Region, No. 9 Trinity (Louisville) completed a perfect season, winning the Kentucky Class 6A title in Lexington. It was the 27^th state championship for coach Bob Beatty’s program.

No. 24 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) is back in the Elite 25 following a stretchy start had but rallied to win its last six games, including the Class 5A state final. The Patriots captured their fifth overall since and first since 2017.

Otherwise, the top-13 teams remained the same, eight hopped up a position and the state champions total in the Elite 25 is 17 teams. Kudos to all the state champions!

That’s it for December 2020. Like many states and teams this fall, we’ll take a pause into the New Year.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Final Fall rankings go live on January 17, 2021. That will include the final results from Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas. The latter two states will crown champions over the Dr. Martin Luther King weekend in January. All postseason schedules are subject to change during the pandemic.

Remember to stay safe during the holidays, mask up especially during air travel, practice social distancing and buy goods and services from the small businesses in your area. We’re nearly at the most wonderful day of the year, Christmas. So, stay healthy.

As a reminder the updated Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ basketball rankings will drop on January 3 and 4, respectively. Check back at www.bluestarmedia.org regularly for updates.

From all of us at Blue Star Media—Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings, Dec. 22, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (12-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Mustangs rolled into the third round of the UIL playoffs after defeating Pearland Dawson, 38-7, in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. It was 14-0 through one quarter and 24 at halftime. Auburn-bound QB Dematrius Davis accounted for three touchdowns, passing 55 yards to WR Jhalyn Bailey for one and running 8 and 4 yards for the others. Jacoby Davis had a 59-yard, pick-six in the first quarter. Now a true road game for the third round before opening the presents.

Next: Thursday at No. 21 Tompkins (Katy) in the Class 6A, Division I  Region III semifinal to be played at Katy’s Legacy Stadium.

2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-0)*

Previous: 2.

Recap: Won its third straight PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship. Season complete.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: The Ascenders do not complete for a state championship. Season complete.

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 14 Norcross, 28-0, in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals. It was the second straight shutout for the Rams, who are back in the state final.

Next: Dec. 30 vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee) in Class AAAAAAA championship to be played at Georgia State University’s Parc Center Credit Union Stadium, Atlanta.

5. Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)*

Previous: 5.

Recap: Won a second consecutive Arizona Open Division state championship. Season complete.

6. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (14-0)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: The Chargers won their third consecutive Class 6A state championship. Last week, record-setting QB Jaxson Dart signed his national letter-of-intent with Southern California. Season complete.

7. Westlake, Austin, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: The Chaps made quick work of Smithson Valley (Spring Branch), 62-3, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff

Next: Saturday vs. Stevens (San Antonio) in Class 6A, Division I Region IV semifinals to be played at Memorial Stadium in Bastrop.

8. Duncanville, Texas (8-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Skyline (Dallas), 49-14, in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. WR Roderick Daniels Jr caught three scoring strikes from QB Grayson James, who threw for 209 yards and four TDs. RB Malachi Medlock ran for two TDs.

Next: Thursday vs. Spring Westfield in Class 6A, Division I Region I semifinals to be played at Tiger Field in Belton.

9. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (10-0)*

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated crosstown rivals Male (Louisville), 28-0, in Kentucky Class 6A final. Leading 7-0, RB Bradley West got to work, rushing for TD runs of 4, 7 and 10 yards to finish off the Bulldogs. The Shamrocks won the championship game matchup for the second straight year and took home the program’s eye-popping record 27^th football title. In 10 games, the Rocks’ defense conceded 31 points or 3 points per game and had four shutouts, including three in their last three playoff games. In four playoff games, the cumulative scoreline was 164-7. Outstanding! Season complete.

10. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (14-0)*

Previous: 10.

Recap: Won second consecutive Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

11. Bixby, Okla. (11-0)*

Previous: 11.

Recap: Won third consecutive Class 6AII state championship. Season complete.

12. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (8-1)*

Previous: 12.

Recap: Won the program’s Florida-record 12^th football championship, Edgewater (Orlando), 31-21, in the Class 7A final for the second consecutive year. The Raiders did not hold the statistical edge in most offensive categories but recovered two fumbles and picked off two passes to snuff out potential scoring drives. RB Anthony Hankerson rushed for 181 yards on 26 carries and scored three TDs. Ja’Den McBurrows paced the defense with four tackles but broke the game open with a 46-yard, pick-six late in the second quarter for a 21-7 lead. Season complete.

13, Central, Miami (8-1)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: The Rockets blasted off to another state championship last weekend, trouncing Lake Minneola (Minneola), 46-0, in the Florida Class 6A final. RB Amari Daniels rushed for 172 yards and two TDs on 16 carries and QB Keywone Jenkins hit on 8 of 14 passes for 160 yards and three scores. The Rockets led 12-0 after one period and 32-0 at the break. Season complete.

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

Previous: 15.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

15. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (10-0)*

Previous: 16.

Recap: Won fifth straight state championship by capturing the Class AAAAA title. Season complete.

16. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (11-0)*

Previous: 17.

Recap: Won fifth state championship in six years, capturing the Division II crown. Season complete.

17. Allen, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie), 20-16, in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. Reserve RB Jaylen Jenkins scored two TDs, including the game-winner with 9:29 left to rally the Eagles from a 16-13 deficit. Oklahoma State-bound WR Blaine Green caught five passes for 133 yards and a score. The Eagles’ upcoming opponent rallied from a 35-14 deficit.

Next: Saturday vs. Euless Trinity in the Class 6A, Division I Region I semifinals to be played at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

18. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (10-2)*

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won Ohio Division I state championship. Season complete.

19. Bryant, Ark. (13-0)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Class 7A state  championship. Season complete.

20. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (15-0)*

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

21. Tompkins, Katy, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Crushed Cy-Fair (Cypress), 51-28, in the Class 6A, Division Area playoff game. The Falcons host the defending state champions Christmas Eve.

Next: Thursday vs. No. 1 North Shore (Galena Park) in the Class 6A, Division I Region III semifinals.

22. Cathedral, Indianapolis (13-1)*

Previous: 23.

Recap: Won Indiana Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

23. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: New Jersey did not conduct state championships this year. Season complete.

24. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (11-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Patriots return to the Elite 25 Fall rankings after annexing the Class 5A state championship, defeating Rickards (Jacksonville), 24-6. The game got out of hand in a hurry when QB Blake Murphy threw two TDs passes for a 21-0 lead at the break. RB Mark Fletcher rushed for 127 yards and a TD on 21 carries. The victory meant a fifth overall state title and the first since 2017. Season complete.

25. Raymore-Peculiar, Mo. (12-2)*

Previous: 25.

Recap: Won Class 6 state championship. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 14 Norcross (Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (11-0)*
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-2)
3. Central York, York, Pa. (10-1)
4. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (6-3)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (6-2)

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

Midwest

1. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (6-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (9-0)
3. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (12-0)*
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (10-0)*
5. Muskego, Wis. (9-0)

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

Southland

1. Katy, Texas (11-1)
2. Jenks, Okla. (11-1)*
3. Oak Grove, Hattiesburg, Miss.(13-0)*
4. Denton (Texas) Ryan (11-0)
5. Seminole, Sanford, Fla. (12-0)*

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (8-2)
2. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (9-0)*
3. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (7-1)
4. Rocky Mountain, Meridian, Idaho (9-0)*
5. Orem, Utah (8-2)*

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

^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021

 * Won state championship

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.