HOLLYWOOD BEACH, Fla. – Turn the page is the theme for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall football rankings. The final high school fall rankings won’t be released until mid-January but there were games from the Southland Region played last week and state championships ongoing in Louisiana.
It means the Elite 25 Fall rankings have unfinished business as we move on from 2020. Thankfully there’s a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus being distributed and administered globally so there’s still hop for high school football concluding seasons in Texas, Louisiana, Michigan and Georgia.
Last week, the Texas Class 6A and 5A regional semifinals were played with four Elite 25 teams in action, including a matchup of two from the Houston area.
No. 1 North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) took care of business in dominant fashion, clocking No. 22 Tompkins (Katy), 47-22, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region III semifinals. The Mustangs (13-0) host Fort Bend Ridge Point (8-2) Friday for the region title.
If you favor points, and lots of ‘em, No. 7 Westlake (Austin) is your kind of ball team. Coach Todd Dodge’s squad is unbeaten in 13 games after throttling San Antonio Stevens, 71-14, in the Class 6A, Division I Region 4 semifinals. Next up is Cibolo Steele (9-3) Saturday in the region final at Reeves Stadium in Round Rock.
No. 8 Duncanville blasted Spring Westfield, 56-0, in Class 6A, Division I Region I semifinals. So that sets up a region final donnybrook with the Panthers (9-1) and DeSoto (9-1) Saturday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Denton (Texas) Ryan, a team from the High Five Regional Rankings and looking to crack the Elite 25, bested Longview, 27-9, in the Class 5A, Division I, Region II semifinals. In the tradition of New Year’s Day games, Ryan (12-0) meets Highland Park (11-0) in the final at Globe Life Park. Friday’s kickoff is 3:15 p.m. CT.
The Katy Tigers (11-1), a preseason ranked team, is within a whisker of re-entering the Elite 25. Saturday afternoon the Tigers entertain Clear Falls (8-3) in the Texas Class 6A, Division II Region III final at Legacy Stadium. Katy is the No. 1 team from the Southland Region rankings.
Michigan is headed back to play in January with three rounds left and the eight state championship games to be played at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, No. 4 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) goes for the Class AAAAAAA state championship against Collins Hill (Suwanee) Wednesday evening at Georgia State University’s Parc Center Credit Union Stadium in Atlanta.
In Natchitoches, La., the Louisiana state championship are contested all week with a handful of teams looking to earn a earn in the Blue Star Media national or regional rankings. The final Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings are live on Jan. 17.
Remember, we’re pushing forward with the boys’ and girls’ basketball rankings next week, reflecting all games played through Jan. 2. Check back for those updated rankings on Jan. 5 and 6, respectively.
That’s it for another week.
Stay safe, mask up, practice social distancing and support the small businesses in your area that have taken major financial hits since March. It’s sad to read when local restaurants and shops are closing down in an alarming rate. Try to support them purchasing takeout meals and goods and services.
Happy New Year!
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
