SUNSHINE STATE SHOCK: No. 19 Cardinal Gibbons (FL) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings after improbable win; No. 10 Northwestern (FL), No. 16 Thompson (AL) with impressive showings

BENSALEM, Pa. – There was quite a stir this week in south Florida and primarily the Southland Region, where the true hotbeds of high school football reside. Annually the Florida counties of Broward and Miami-Dade produce talent aplenty with several of the former players reaching Sundays.

Well, last Friday there were two games, but one in particular, that shook the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall high school football rankings to the core. With the COVID-19 novel coronavirus altering seasons, games and plans each week, teams scrambled to find competitive games especially close to home.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) doesn’t usually play crosstown Cardinal Gibbons that often but that changed this year. And wouldn’t you know it, No. 19 Cardinal Gibbons enter the Elite 25 Fall rankings after knocking then-No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas, 17-10. That loss tumbled the tradition-rich Raiders 16 spots and effectively out of the picture for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship. Gibbons make its first-ever appearance in the Elite 25 and it was the second straight week the Raiders (1-1) struggled to open the season.

In Miami, No. 10 Northwestern toppled rivals Central, 21-14. Northwestern moved up two slots, while the No. 21 Rockets dropped eight. On a normal night, Central’s loss would have cost them a few slots but Gibbons, the new kids on the block, made sure it was their time.

Five teams held serve in the Elite 25 Fall rankings, including the top-3 of North Shore (Galena park, Texas), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia). Fourteen teams gained and five dipped. One of the most deserved bumps went to No. 16 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), which recorded a huge win over then-No. 24 Hoover and will enter the Class 7A playoffs and hold home-field advantage the duration. Those two could meet again in the postseason.

So, this week’s story is Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons, shocking crosstown St. Thomas Aquinas. Few saw this one coming. A sobering through for the Gibbons Chiefs is another area showdown this weekend with American Heritage (Plantation). That’s one we’ll be all over.

Currently there are five teams from the Elite 25 Fall rankings involved in the playoffs, with all four going this weekend. Other than large schools in Texas, the remainder of the teams will be entering the postseason within two or three weeks. Remember that all scheduled games are fluid and subject to change due to the pandemic.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Nov. 3.

Stay safe, mask up when possible, practice social distancing, purchase your tickets in advance from your local schools and support the small businesses that have taken major financial hits since March. Happy Halloween! Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Halloween night.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall Rankings, Oct. 27, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Crushed West Brook (Beaumont), 55-14. The Mustangs start the District 21-6A portion of their schedule this weekend on a short week.

Next: Thursday at Humble.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. The Ascenders host a national powerhouse from Miami-Dade County.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 Northwestern (Miami).

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

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle. Game with Bishop Sycamore (Columbus, Ohio) last weekend was canceled. The Hawks have their toughest assignment to date this weekend.

Next: Saturday at Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) to be played at William Tennent High School in Warminster.

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Parkview (Lilburn).

5. Katy, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Blanked Cinco Ranch (Katy), 41-0. QB Caleb Koger and WR Taylor Saulsberry hooked for scoring strikes of 46 and 57 yards. Hunter Washington added a pick-six from 7 yards to close out the scoring in the fourth quarter.

Next: Saturday vs. Dickinson.

6. Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Higley (Gilbert), 63-7. The Wolves sprinted to a 28-7 lead after one frame.

Next: Friday at Centennial (Peoria).

7. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (10-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle. The Chargers open their Class 6A title defense this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Saratoga Springs) in Class 6A second round.

8. Westlake, Austin, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle. The Chaps saw last weekend’s game canceled.

Next: Friday vs. Hayes Consolidated (Buda).

9. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Paramus Catholic, 25-7. The Marauders trailed 7-6 at the intermission but played more spirited in the third quarter when they took a 18-7 edge. RB Samuel Slade rushed for scores of 9 and 61 yards. RB Paul Lefkowitz scored from the 4 and Virginia Tech-bound QB Tahj Bullock threw a 64-yard TD pass to Zion Fowler. Coach Rich Hansen’s team returns to Caven Point this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

10. Northwestern, Miami (1-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 13 Central (Miami), 21-14. For the second straight week the Bulls play a Blue Star Media Elite 25 ranked team. It will take a supreme effort to win it.

Next: Friday at No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton).

11. Duncanville, Texas (2-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Waco, 49-3. The Panthers rattled off 21 points in each of the opening two quarters. QB Grayson James completed 10 passes for 108 yards and four TDs, including a pair of scores to WR Chris Hicks Jr. RB Malachi Medlock added two rushing TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Mansfield.

12. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (2-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle. Another scheduled game was nixed last weekend.

Next: Friday at Howell Central (St. Charles).

13. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Eastern (Louisville), 48-3. QB Nathan McElroy completed 10-of-12 passes for 188 yards and two scores and RB Armon Tucker rushed for two TDs and returned a kickoff for another. The Shamrocks are back on the road this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Bowling Green.

14. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (9-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Hillard Bradley, 34-7, in Division I, Region 3 semifinals. RB Nick Mosley rushed for 151 yards on 21 carries and scored two TDs. Lorenzo Stiles Jr. also scored two TDs—one in the air and another on the ground.

Next: Friday vs. Westerville Central in the Region 3 final.

15. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Tift County (Tifton).

16. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (10-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 24 Hoover, 39-23, to win the Region 3-7A title. The Warriors run the table in the regular season and will be the top seed in the Class 7A playoffs.

Next: Nov. 7 vs. TBD in Class 7A first round.

17. Owasso, Okla. (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Mustang, 43-14. The Rams have two games remaining in the regular season.

Next: Friday vs, Moore.

18. Bixby, Okla. (6-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle. Last Friday’s game with Muskogee was canceled about 24 hours before kickoff.

Next: Friday vs. Ponca City.

19. Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Upended then-No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 17-10. The Chiefs enter the Elite 25 after springing an upset. Junior DE Mason Thomas’ pick-six late in the fourth quarter stretched a 10-7 lead. RB Kamari Moulton carried 2 yards to tie the game at 7 in the third. The Chiefs’ upcoming game presents another gigantic challenge.

Next: Friday at American Heritage (Plantation).

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Upset by Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 17-10. No one saw this one coming. The Raiders had their win streak snapped at 16 games.

Next: Friday at DeLand.

21. Central, Miami (0-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Lost to archrivals No. 12 Northwestern (Miami), 21-14. The Rockets surrendered 14 points in the first quarter and could not bridge the gap.

Next: Friday vs. Edison (Miami).

22. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated DePaul Catholic (Wayne), 34-10. RB Ryan Butler ran for three TDs from 37, 74 and 15 yards. Christian Ross added a defensive TD on a 90-yard scoop-and-score and A.J. Morris returned a punt 35 yards to the house. Additionally, this week’s rivalry game with Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) was postponed by the coronavirus. It could be rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day.

Next: Nov. 7 vs. No. 9 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

23. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle. The Trojans are heavy favorites to win a state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus North in Class 6A, Sectional 8 semifinals.

24. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Spring Valley (Columbia), 21-0.

Next: Friday at South Pointe (Rock Hill).

25. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (7-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Crushed Mayfield, 42-0, in the Division II, Region 5 quarterfinals. The Knights jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter when QB Shane Hamm threw two TD passes and RB Lamar Sperling dashed 10 yards for a score. The senior signal-caller hit on 9-of-10 passes for 175 yards and four TDs and was the game’s leading rusher with 6 carries for 105 yards and a score.

Next: Friday vs. Benedictine (Cleveland) in the Region 5 semifinals.

Dropped out: No. 24 Hoover (Ala.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (5-0)
2. Central Dauphin, Harrisburg, Pa. (5-0)
3. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (6-0)
4. Williamstown, N.J. (4-0)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-2)

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 (8-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (6-0)
3. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (8-0)
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (7-0)
5. Muskego, Wis. (5-0)

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

Southland

1. Allen, Texas (2-0)
2. Acadiana, Scott, La. (4-0)
3. Bryant, Ark. (7-0)
4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (9-0)
5. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (4-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (3-0)
2. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (2-1)
3. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (7-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (9-1)
5. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (3-0)

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.