THREE-PEAT: No. 6 Corner Canyon (UT) wins another Class 6A state championship behind record-setting QB Jaxson Dart; teams from Arkansas, Louisiana enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings

BENSALEM, PA. – Just as the calendar is flipping to the month of December, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings welcome two new teams to the fold.

No. 23 Brother Martin (New Orleans) won the District 9-5A title for the first time in more than a decade and enter the Louisiana Division I playoffs as the top seed and earned a bye to the quarterfinals on the first weekend in December.

No. 24 Bryant (Ark.) is only two wins away from the Class 7A state championship. Bryant plays Conway in the semifinals this weekend.

No. 25 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) tumbles 17 spots after a stunning loss. The Marauders must rebound this week with a huge road game to end the year.

No. 17 Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) will play for the Class 6A state title Friday against Merrillville at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. The ultra-competitive Georgia playoffs get cooking this weekend with two Elite 25 teams hosting first round games.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Dec. 1. Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and spend it safely with family and friends.

Remember to stay safe, mask up, practice social distancing, purchase your tickets in advance from your local schools and support the small businesses in your area that have taken major financial hits since March.

There is still time to attend a game in your area but call ahead regarding ticket availability.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings, Nov. 24, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Mustangs defeated C.E. King (Houston), 47-21. Auburn-bound QB Dematrius Davis triggered the offense, completing 6-of-8 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns from 26 and 45 yards. RB Brannon Davis rushed for two scores and Ta’Von Griffin had a 60-yard pick-six in the first quarter when the Mustangs jumped to a 20-0 lead. The regular season closes out this weekend.

Next: Friday at Atascocita (Humble).

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated TRU Prep Academy (Miami Gardens), 41-6, in GEICO High School Bowl Series. RB Kaytron Allen carried 14 times for 245 yards and five TDs. Season complete.

 3. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Held off Souderton, 51-43, in Class AAAAAA semifinals. QB Kyle McCord passed for 196 yards and six TDs—all in the first half when the Hawks led 44-7. WRs Sahmir Hagans (three TD receptions) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (two TDs) teamed for five scoring catches. Malik Cooper’s 85-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter made it 51-7. Souderton scored the final 36 points but the Hawks built too large a lead for a full rally.

Next: Saturday vs. Central York (York) in Class AAAAAA final at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey.

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Tift County (Tifton) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

5. Chandler, Ariz. (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 25 Hamilton (Chandler), 34-14, for its eighth straight win in the Battle of Arizona Avenue rivalry and retained the Chandler Kiwanis Trophy and added the GEICO Bowl Series hardware. Central Florida-recruit QB Mikey Keene passed for 246 yards and three TDs and the Wolves won for the 33^rd straight time. That’s the end of the regular season and the Wolves head to the postseason as a No. 1 seed.

Next: Friday vs. Desert Edge (Goodyear) in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

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

Previous: 6.

Recap: The Chargers won their third consecutive Class 6A state championship, thumping Lone Peak (Highland), 45-7. Coach Eric Kjar’s team is 51-1 over the span of the title run and will carry a 40-game win streak into next season. QB Jaxson Dart capped a brilliant season accounting four five TDs, including four in the air from 9, 15, 11 and 16 yards and sped 17 for another. Dart threw for 4,392 yards and a state-record 67 TDs (against 4 INTs) and totaled 79 scores this season. Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Austin, 62-0. The Chaps tallied a season-high 62 points and recorded their fifth shutout of the campaign. The District 26-6A title is up for grabs this weekend.

Next: Friday at No. 21 Lake Travis (Austin).

8. Duncanville, Texas (6-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Lake Ridge (Mansfield), 51-3. The Rb duo of Malachi Medlock (152 yards, two TDs) and Marktavious Reed (100 yards), two TDs teamed for 252 yards rushing and four TDs and QB Grayson James threw for 162 yards and two scores. This weekend’s game will likely decide the District 11-6A champion.

Next: Friday vs. DeSoto.

9. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (6-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Shut out Fox (Arnold, Mo.), 13-0, in the Class 6 state semifinals. QB Seth Marcione ran 11 yards for a score in the first quarter and RB Taj Butts (97 yards rushing) plowed over from 1 early in the fourth quarter to push the Spartans back to the state championship game. RB  Rivo Barefield paced the ground game with 117 yards on 13 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Raymore-Peculiar in Class 6 final in Jefferson City.

10. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (6-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle. The Shamrocks earned a first-round bye.

Next: Friday vs. Eastern (Louisville) in Class 6A second round.

11. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (13-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Routed Hoover, 52-14, in Class 7A semifinals. The Warriors swept both games against their in-state this season.

Next: Dec. 2 vs. Auburn in Super 7 Class 7A final at Bryant-Denney Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

12. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Brookwood (Snellville) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

13. Owasso, Okla. (11-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Mustang, 45-7, in Class 6AI quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Jenks in Class 6AI semifinals.

14. Bixby, Okla. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Blew past Del City, 63-27, in Class 6AII quarterfinals. Looking ahead the other semifinal pairing is Choctaw and Stillwater.

Next: Saturday vs. Midwest City in Class 6AII semifinals.

15. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Lehigh (Lehigh Acres), 50-14, in Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Manatee (Bradenton) in Class 7A, Region 4 semifinals.

16. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Lely (Naples), 42-16, in Class 6A, Region 4 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Naples Class 6A, Region 4 final.

17. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (13-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Ben Davis (Indianapolis), 48-13, in Class 6A Semistate. RB Carson Steele carried for two TDs in the second half and Daniel Weems scored the Trojans’ first three soix-pointers.

Next: Friday vs. Merrillville  in Class 6A final at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

18. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (8-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Crushed Carolina Forest (Myrtle Beach), 63-42, in Class AAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. Sumter in Class AAAAA semifinals.

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

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won fifth state championship in six years, toppling Massillon Washington, 35-6, in the Division II final. QB Shane Hamm, a four-year starter has three state titles, and quickly gave the Knights a 14-0 lead in the field quarter with a running score as did RB Victor Dawson, who rushed for 145 yards on 21 carries. Hamm concluded his final prep game hitting on 9-of-17 passes for 172 yards and four TDs and WR/S Kharion Davis caught two passes for 72 yards and two TDs and forced a fumble and added an INT in the second quarter. Season complete.

20. Allen, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated McKinney, 37-10. QB General Booty passed for 215 yards and four TDs, including a pair to WR Bryson Green. Booty also rushed for a score.

Next: Friday vs. Prosper.

21. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Last weekend’s game with Akins (Austin) was canceled over coronavirus concerns. Let’s hope the Cavaliers will be ready for this week’s showdown.

Next: Friday vs. No. 7 Westlake (Austin).

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

Previous: 24.

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

 23. Brother Martin, New Orleans (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.), 38-35. K Leyton Liuzza nailed a go-ahead field goal with 2:52 left and the Crusaders went on for their first undefeated regular season and District 9-5A title since 2008. RB Jaylon Spears rushed for 191 yards and three TDs. His third score of the night from 2 yards knotted the game at 35 and then Liuzza’s field goal won it. Torrey Lambert returned the second half kickoff 66 yards for a TD. The Crusaders will get a bye in the Division I first round.

Next: Dec. 3-5 vs. Jesuit (New Orleans) or St. Paul’s (Covington) in LHSAA Division I quarterfinals.

24. Bryant, Ark. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Har-Ber (Springdale), 48-22, in Class 7A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Conway in Class 7A semifinals.

25. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Upset by Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 26-25, in overtime.

Next: Saturday vs. Bergen Catholic (Oradell).

Dropped out: No. 16 Northwestern (Miami) and No. 25 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (10-0)
2. Central York, York, Pa. (10-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (6-3)
4. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (5-2)

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 (12-1)
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. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (13-0)
2. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (7-1)
3. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (7-2)
4. Maryville, Tenn. (13-0)
5. Tompkins, Katy, Texas (7-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (6-1)
2. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (5-1)
3. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (7-0)
4. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (6-0)
5. Rocky Mountain, Meridian, Idaho (9-0)*

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.