THREE-MENDOUS! No. 17 St. Edward (OH), No. 18 Bergen Catholic (NJ) win third straight state titles; No. 19 Liberty (AZ) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – When the preseason football rankings are dropped in the summer, you do the research and stand by your convictions. If you believe in 25 teams, stick by them and never look back.

Essentially, that’s the mantra of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings or for basketball or girls’ volleyball too. We’ve had many questions about national high school rankings over the years from USA TODAY to ESPN.com to Street and Smith, and now with the Elite 25. They are subjective but you better have plenty of ammunition to back your selections.

Having said it, the Elite 25 is delighted that four teams from three states secured state championships, including two that absorbed a loss yet bounced back to win it all.

First, we’ll visit the Sooner State, where dominance resides at No. 13 Bixby. The Spartans went 13-0 and captured their second straight Class 6A-I state championship, beating Jenks, 49-21. Scoring in bunches is the norm for the Spartans, who totaled 775 points in 13 outings for about 60 points per game. The Spartans have won nine titles in the last 10 years.

We also received an email from an Oklahoma high school football fan. It was pointed out Blue Star Media was the only national outlet to rank Bixby in the preseason and obviously they ran the table. Thanks for the email, keep ’em coming!

In Canton, Ohio, No. 16 Massillon Washington and No. 17 St. Edward (Lakewood) were crowned state champions. Washington (16-0) won the Division II title, the first in 53 years, in a 7-2 defensive struggle over Archbishop Hoban (Akron) and St. Edward took Division I for the third straight year and seventh time in program history. Actually, both teams tied at the hip this season. When Washington beat St. Edward, 15-13, in September, it opened the for the Tigers to enter the Elite 25. The Eagles (15-1) persevered and won out.

In East Rutherford, N.J., No. 18 Bergen Catholic (Oradell) annexed its third consecutive Non-Public A state title in a 24-14 win over Delbarton School (Morristown) and thus moved up four positions. The game wasn’t decided until a late field goal gave the Crusaders (11-1) breathing room and a 10-point cushion. Here’s another example of a team that took it on the chin in a 61-21 loss to No. 5 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.) on Sept. 8 but recovered to fend off some stiff competition in North Jersey.

The Crusaders will return a strong team led by quarterback Dominic Campanile and wide receiver/defensive back Quincy Porter—both big-time prospects from the Class of 2025.

Looking ahead to this weekend, state championships will be decided in the power states of California, Florida and Pennsylvania. The Florida state championships will be contested Thursday through Saturday with three Elite 25 vying for titles. In California, No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) looks to clinch a national championship with a positive result in the CIFOpen Division Bowl game Saturday against No. 23 Serra (San Mateo).

The following weekend, it’s championships in Texas and Georgia to cap the season. We’ll have all the pertinent results here.

We have two additions to the Elite 25 and one for sure will stick. No. 19 Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.) left little doubt the top team from the Grand Canyon State after winning the Arizona Open Division state championship over crosstown rivals Centennial (Peoria), 33-21. It was only the second time in 64 years that two teams from the West Valley played for the state’s biggest prize.

No. 20 Aledo (Texas), the top team from Class 5A, Division I, is two victories from a record-extending 12^th state championship. Aledo plays Forney in the state semifinals Friday with the winner advancing to the final the following weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Liberty’s title brings the total to seven from the Elite 25 with two weekends remaining. No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) does not compete for a state championship.

Finally, a shoutout to Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) for winning despite no home field. The Cardinals (12-2) captured the New York Catholic High School Football League Class AAA title in a 40-22 win over St. Francis (Athol Springs). The Cardinals went 2-8 last year and did not play a home game this season because their field in the shadows of Yankee Stadium fell into disrepair and no one, including the city, seems responsible.

Hayes, No. 5 in the East Region High-Five rankings, played its home games at Columbia University about 25 minutes from their Grand Concourse campus. Last month, the Cardinals won the Catholic High School Athletics Association AAA title to qualify for the final against the Monsignor Martin titlist (from the Buffalo area).

Well done, coach C.J. O’Neill for keeping the spirits high and becoming the first inner city Catholic school to win the prestigious crown.

That’s it for the first week in December.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Dec. 12 for the penultimate time this season. The final rankings drop on Dec. 19 or earlier. Take the latter.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 5, 2023

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-1)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 23 Serra (San Mateo) in CIF Open Bowl game to be played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-0)^*

Previous: 2.

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

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Season complete.

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final. Won Trinity League title. Season complete.

5. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Carroll (Miami), 47-7, in Class 1M semifinals.

Next: Thursday vs. Clearwater Central Catholic in Class 1M final to be played at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.

6. DeSoto, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 59-16, in Class 6A, Division II, Region 2 final. QB Darius Bailey hit on 17 of 20 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Deondrae Riden Jr., Jaden Trawick and Marvin Duffey all rushed for scores.

Next: Saturday vs. Southlake Carroll in Class 6A, Division II semifinals at Eagle Stadium in Allen.

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (14-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Humble Atascocita, 34-28, in Class 6A, Division I Region 3 final.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Westlake (Austin) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals in Pflugerville.

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Gaither (Tampa), 50-14, in Class 3M semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Homestead in Class 3M final to be played at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.

9. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (12-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Central Bucks South (Warrington), 49-0, in Class AAAAAA semifinals

Next: Saturday vs. North Allegheny (Wexford) in Class AAAAAA final to be played at Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

10. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Lake Travis (Austin), 21-14, in Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 final.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 North Shore (Galena Park) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals in Pflugerville.

11. Duncanville, Texas (12-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Spring Westfield, 70-28, in Class 6A, Division I, Region II final. Caden Durham ran for three TDs as the Panthers racked up 56 points by halftime. This weekend they meet an undefeated opponent.

Next: Friday vs. North Crowley (Fort Worth) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium.

12. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Camden County (Kingsland), 41-25, in Class AAAAAAA semifinals. The Raiders have weekend off before going for the hardware.

Next: Dec. 13 vs. Milton (Alpharetta) in Class AAAAAAA final to be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

13. Bixby, Okla. (13-0)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Won the second straight Class 6A-I state championship, defeating Jenks, 49-21, in the final. It was the Spartans ninth state title over 10 years. Season complete.

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

Previous: 16.

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

15. Norland, Miami (14-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Bolles School, 28-7, (Jacksonville) in Class 2M state semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Berkeley Prep (Tampa) in Class 2M final to be played at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.

16. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (16-0)*

Previous: 18.

Recap: Won OHSAA Division II state championship, defeating Archbishop Hoban (Akron), 7-2, in the final. RB Mylen Lenix’s six-yard TD run in the second quarter won it. Season complete.

17. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (15-1)*

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won Division I state championship for the third straight year, defeating Springfield, 31-21, in the final. The Eagles have won seven state titles in program history. RB Brandon White rushed for 243 yards on 32 carries and scored three TDs and QB Casey Bullock ran for 67 yards and a score. Season complete.

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

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won third straight Non-Public A state championship, defeating Delbarton School (Morristown), 24-14. Rutgers-bound RB Kaj Sanders scored two TDs, including a run from 10 yards with 52 seconds left in the third quarter to snap a 14-all tie. Junior Guy Bartolomeo kicked a 20-yard field goal with 3:12 remaining to clinch it. Season complete.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Arizona Open Division state championship, beating Centennial (Peoria), 33-21. QB Navi Bruzon threw for two TDs and ran for another and RB Jon Wilson scored on runs of 3 and 5 yards in the second half to help ice it. Season complete.

20. Aledo, Texas (14-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Abilene, 56-21, in the Class 5A, Division I, Region I final. The Bearcats are two wins from a record-extending 12^th state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Forney in Class 5A, Division I semifinals to be played in Midlothian ISD Stadium.

21. Buford, Ga. (11-2)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Advanced to Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals. Season complete.

22. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Advanced to Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals. Season complete.

23. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in CIF Open Division Bowl game to be played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

24. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (10-2)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Lost to Berkeley Prep (Tampa), 17-14, Class 2M semifinals. Season complete.

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

Previous: 25.

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

Dropped: No. 14 Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.) and No. 24 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (14-0)
2. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (10-1)*
3. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (13-0)
4. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (13-1)
5. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (12-2)**

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

Midwest

1. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (14-0)*
2. Mount Carmel, Chicago (13-1)*
3. Southfield (Mich.) A&T (13-1)*
4. Southeast Polk, Pleasant Hill, Iowa (13-0)*
5. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (13-1)*

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

Southland

1. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (13-0)
2. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (12-2)
3. Ruston, La. (13-0)
4. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (12-1)
5. Central, Miami (8-4)

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

Far West

1. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (13-0)*
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (11-2)^*
3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (12-3)
4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (11-1)
5. Columbine, Littleton, Colo. (14-0)*

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

* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion [Note: a second asterisk indicates a team has multiple postseason titles.]

^ Includes forfeit victories

Records are through Sunday’s games.

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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.