Top 25 Football Rankings -- Week 15

This week's high school football rankings has seen more damage done to the "Teams to Watch" than was done to the Top 25. And, considering the Top 25 lost four teams, that is saying something.

Five teams fell out of the Teams to Watch category, while four others were promoted to the Top 25. That means out of 15 teams, nine new teams are in this week's Teams to Watch. Losing teams included Mayfield of Las Cruces, NM, Manheim Central of PA, Brandon, MS, and Galena Park, TX North Shore.

Urbana of Maryland also fell despite winning their 50th straight game, a 7-6 state title win, but over a weak Patuxent team. North Shore fell in a game with a score more befitting of a basketball game rather than a football game as Houston Madison ran for 362 yards in a 61-58 shootout.

Mayfield fell to Clovis 17-10 in New Mexico's 5A title game, Manheim Central lost by one point to 15th-ranked Strath Haven and Brandon was knocked out of the playoffs by Moss Point for the second straight year in Mississippi.

Ranked teams that fell included Cincinnati St. Xavier, who was crushed by St. Ignatius 37-6 in the Ohio Division I title game, winning the championship despite nearly missing the playoffs with a 6-4 regular season record.

Putnam City North fell to No. 2 Jenks in the Oklahoma 6A championship, 38-28, needing to rally from a 31-7 deficit to get back into the game. Pasco fell in the Washington 4A title game, 38-24 to Kentwood, while Palm Bay was knocked off by Tallahassee Lincoln 24-21 in the Florida Class 4A semifinals.

State titles will be contested this weekend in Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, Mississippi, and Oregon. There are 38 states whose seasons are already completed, and only Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina will be competing after this weekend. California will crown the remainder of its section champions this weekend as well.

And now here is this week's Top 25:

1. De La Salle, Concord, CA (12-0) Last Week: 1 Result: It appears that barring some issue in which De La Salle would have to forfeit, a scenario that seems about as likely as a college football playoff, the Spartans will claim the first eSports Media Group High School National Championship. De La Salle easily won their 125th straight game, which includes streaks of ten straight unbeaten seasons and ten straight North Coast Section titles in California, who does not crown a true state champion. The Spartans scored the last 28 points of the game, breaking open a 20-13 game in the fourth quarter and knocking off previously unbeaten San Leandro 48-13. Maurice Drew ran for 159 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, including the game-breaker on a fourth down play in the third quarter when the lead was just seven points.

2. Jenks, Jenks, OK (13-0) Last Week: 2 Result: The Trojans won their sixth straight title 38-28 over Putnam City North at Oklahoma State last weekend, extending their winning streak to 38 games. Aaron Brewer ran for 114 yards on just five carries, while Eb Trevino added 110 yards on five carries. And despite a superlative effort by the Trojan defense (eight sacks, four interceptions), Putnam North quarterback Matt Warren was still able to throw for 245 yards, moving his season total to a state-record 3,585 yards for the season. The ringleader of the Class 6A champions' defense was linebacker Lawrence Pinson, who recorded three sacks.

3. West Monroe, West Monroe, LA (14-0) Last Week: 3 Result: As expected, Acadiana turned out to be no match for the Rebels, as West Monroe rolled up 440 yards on the ground in an easy 41-13 victory in the Class 5A semifinals. The win sets up a rematch with Evangel Christian, who has not lost since getting blown out 37-13 by the Rebels earlier this year. Evangel crushed New Orleans Rummel 41-10 in the other semifinal. Demario Taylor led West Monroe with 216 yards on just 14 carries, and extended their current winning streak to 29 games.

4. Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh, PA (14-0) Last Week: 4 Result: The Wolverines had a very easy time with Altoona, as the Mountain Lions could not stop quarterback Steve Breaston. Breaston ran for 90 yards on 15 carries, including two touchdowns, and threw for a third touchdown in a 34-0 win in the AAAA semifinals. Kareem Dutrieuille ran for 103 yards for Woodland Hills as well. The Wolverines will take on 18th-ranked Neshaminy for the state title in Hershey this weekend.

5. Harrison, Farmington Hills, MI (14-0) Last Week: 5 Result: Season complete. Michigan Division III champions. Knocked off a previously unbeaten Fruitport team 28-6 for the title and enter 2002 with a 36-game winning streak.

6. Independence, Charlotte, NC (14-0) Last Week: 6 Result: An uneventful 42-0 win over Northern Durham was supposed to be the pre-cursor to the offense versus defense matchup the entire state of North Carolina was looking for. However, East Mecklenburg ruined those plans by upsetting Asheville's A.C. Reynolds 27-21 and will be this weekend's opponent for the Patriots. Mario Raley was all over the field, catching six passes for 62 yards, running back three punts for 90 yards and a kickoff for 37 yards, showing an average of just under 32 yards per kick return. Chris Leak was 21-for-36 for 218 yards.

7. Hoover, Hoover, AL (14-0) Last Week: 7 Result: Hoover took a major gamble with a one-point, late third quarter lead. Hoover had just recorded a safety to take a 9-8 lead and Huffman kicker Dominic Lee kicked the free kick out of bounds. Rather than take the penalty and awesome field position, coach Rush Propst made Lee kick again. Lee let go a booming kick that kick returner Chad Jackson caught over his shoulder at his own 22-yard line, a 63-yard boot. Jackson brought the kick back 78 yards for the touchdown and seal the Bucs' 23-8 win, despite the fact Hoover had just one first down for the entire game as Jackson crossed the goal line. Hoover's first touchdown was scored on a fumble return. Unbeaten and regionally-ranked Daphne will be Hoover's opponent for the second straight season in the Class 6A championship. Hoover won last year's title game 28-7.

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (14-0) Last Week: 8 Result: The Raiders advanced to the 4A championship game with a relatively easy 30-12 win over Tampa Jefferson. Justin Montgomery ran for 210 yards and two scores on 27 carries for the victors. STA will face Tallahassee Lincoln for the 4A title. Lincoln held off a rally from formerly 25th-ranked Palm Bay 24-21 to advance. Lincoln was ranked in the Top 5 earlier this season before falling to Valdosta in September, and has not lost since.

9. Ben Davis, Indianapolis, IN (15-0) Last Week: 9 Result: Season complete. Won Indiana Class 5A championship 35-16 over Valparaiso. The Giants' top player is quarterback James Davis, whose skills are very similar to that of Indiana University quarterback Antwaan Randle-El. The title was the sixth for Ben Davis, all since 1987.

10. Blue Springs, Blue Springs, MO (14-0) Last Week: 10 Result: Season complete. Won Missouri Class 5A championship 28-12 over Hazelwood East out of St. Louis. Darius Witherspoon is the ringleader of an awesome defense that set a state record with 16 sacks in the championship game.

11. Chatfield, Littleton, CO (14-0) Last Week: 11 Result: Chatfield was able to win the first state title in the school's history with a 9-3 verdict over Fairview, widely regarded as the second-best team in Colorado. Lendale White ran for 105 yards and quarterback Alan Webb scored the only touchdown of the game from one yard out in the third quarter to break a 3-3 tie.

12. Parkview, Lilburn, GA (12-0) Last Week: 12 Result: Parkview coach Cecil Flowe registered his 100th career victory as Parkview edged Roswell 24-21. Roswell kicker Travis Bell missed a 39-yard field goal wide left with six seconds left that would have tied the game and sent it into overtime. Dustin Wade threw for two touchdowns for the Panthers, who host Westside Macon, an 18-7 upset winner over previously unbeaten East Coweta.

13. Northridge, Layton, UT (12-0) Last Week: 14 Result: Season completed. Utah Class 5A State Champions. Northridge knocked off Skyline for the second consecutive year, this time by the score of 37-26. Northridge set a Utah playoff record by scoring 212 points in four playoff games.

14. Kahuku, Kahuku, HI (14-0) Last Week: 15 Result: The Red Raiders captured the Hawaii state championship 21-14 over Honolulu St. Louis in a game that was not as close as the score indicates, extending their winning streak to 23 games. In a dominating offensive performance, Malivai Pula ran for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, while quarterback Inoke Funaki added 114 yards on 14 totes, including a touchdown from 77 yards out.

15. Strath Haven, Wallingford, PA (14-0) Last Week: 16 Result: Keith Davis barely got a piece of a two-point conversion pass attempt, knocking the ball out of the hands of Ryan Clift and keeping the Panthers' winning streak alive at 44 games in a 14-13 win over Manheim Central in the AAA semifinals. As has been the case in the last two AAA titles for Strath Haven, they will face West Allegheny and top Pennsylvania quarterback Tyler Palko for the title and their 45th straight win.

16. Providence, New Lenox, IL (14-0) Last Week: 17 Result: Season complete. Won Illinois Class 6A championship with a 41-0 blowout of previously unbeaten Oak Lawn Richards. Mike Mentz led Providence with over 1,800 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns. Linebacker Rory Steinbach led the Celtics' defense.

17. Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA (13-0) Last Week: 20 Result: Robbie Dubois ran for two scores, and Jordan Palmer threw for a score and ran for another as the Diablos manhandled Alta Loma 41-0 in CIF Southern Section Division II semifinal action. Joe Fleskoski ran back an interception 58 yards for another score, one of two picks for Fleskoski. The Diablos will now take on regionally-ranked Chino in the section finals. Chino knocked Mission Viejo out of the playoffs last season in the quarterfinals.

18. Neshaminy, Langhorne, PA (14-0) Last Week: 21 Result: Jamar Brittingham scored his second touchdown of the game from 12 yards out with just under six minutes left to give the Redskins a 25-19 win over Cumberland Valley in the AAAA semifinals. Brittingham ran for 158 yards on 26 carries for the game. For the third consecutive year, the Pennsylvania AAAA title game looks to be a classic tilt, as Neshaminy will take on fourth-ranked Woodland Hills at HersheyPark Stadium.

19. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD (11-0) Last Week: 18 Result: Season complete. WCAC Champions. DeMatha defeated Gonzaga 20-14 to win the WCAC title.

20. Northside, Warner Robins, GA (10-0) Last Week: 23 Result: Quarterback Chansi Stuckey scored on a 96-yard run and George Washington scored from 83 yards out as the big-play Eagles crushed Starr's Mill 35-7 in the 5A playoffs. Starr's Mill was held to just 179 yards of total offense, while Stuckey (178 yards and two scores on 13 carries) and Washington (142 yards on nine carries) paced the Northside ground attack.

21. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, TN (15-0) Last Week: Team To Watch Result: Ralph King ran for 129 yards on 29 carries and Stephen Britton threw for four touchdowns as Riverdale won the Class 5A title in Tennessee this past weekend with a 35-7 win over Hendersonville. Taron Henry, like Britton a junior, caught five balls for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

22. Jackson, Monmouth, NJ (12-0) Last Week: Team To Watch Result: Jackson ends the season as the top-ranked team in New Jersey as they knocked off Cherokee 24-0 for the South Jersey Group 4 championship, extending their winning streak to 25 games. New Jersey does not crown a true state champion. Cherokee was held to 61 total yards by the Jackson defense. Nick Castellano led the victors with 143 yards and two touchdowns.

23. Marlboro County, Bennettsville, SC (15-0) Last Week: Team To Watch Result: The Bulldogs are the Class 4A-Division II champions as they knocked off Conway 17-10 in the title game this past weekend. Syvelle Newton hit Kevin Ashwood from 29 yards out to break a 10-10 tie and propel the Bulldogs to their second title under Dean Boyd. The game was a rematch of a regular-season contest that Marlboro County won 38-7.

24. Dowling, West Des Moines, IA (12-0) Last Week: 24 Result: Season complete. Iowa Class 4-A State Champions. The Maroons were led by quarterback Ben Carpenter, who had 1,922 yards passing. Dowling defeated Iowa City 35-15 in the state championship and have won 26 consecutive games.

25. Poly, Long Beach, CA (11-1) Last Week: Team To Watch Result: Poly finally re-enters the Top 25 after being ranked as a co-number one along with De La Salle earlier in the season. A Spartan victory over Poly knocked the Jackrabbits out for a few weeks, but this team is just too good to keep out. The latest victory for Poly was a 28-7 verdict over Los Alamitos in the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals. Brandon Brooks threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Poly will take on Huntington Beach Edison (11-0-1) in the section final this weekend in Anaheim.

Dropped Out: No. 13 St. Xavier, Cincinnati, OH lost to St. Ignatius 37-6. No. 19 Putnam City North, Oklahoma City, OK lost to No. 2 Jenks 38-28. No. 22 Pasco, Pasco, WA lost to Kentwood 38-24. No. 25 Palm Bay, Melbourne, FL lost to Lincoln 24-21.

Teams to Watch: Joliet Catholic, Joliet, IL; Boyle County, Danville, KY; Poly Prep, Brooklyn, NY; Newark, Newark, DE; Lumen Christi, Jackson, MI; LaSalle, Providence, RI; Olathe North, Olathe, KS; Bellevue, Bellevue, WA; Mesquite, Mesquite, TX; Clovis, Clovis, NM; Georgetown Prep, Rockville, MD; Ennis, Ennis, TX; McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN; Ramapo, Franklin Lakes, NJ; Daphne, Daphne, AL

Regional Rankings
East
1. Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh, PA (14-0)
2. Strath Haven, Wallingford, PA (14-0)
3. Neshaminy, Langhorne, PA (14-0)
4. DeMatha, Hyattsville, MD (11-0)
5. Jackson, Monmouth, NJ (12-0)
6. Poly Prep, Brooklyn, NY (8-0)
7. Newark, Newark, DE (12-0)
8. La Salle, Providence, RI (12-0)
9. Georgetown Prep, Rockville, MD (11-0)
10. Ramapo, Franklin Lakes, NJ (11-0)
11. Urbana, Ijamsville, MD (12-0)
12. Bellport, Brookhaven, NY (11-0)
13. Manheim Central, Manheim, PA (13-1)
14. Cumberland Valley, Mechanicsburg, PA (13-1)
15. Webster, Webster, NY (12-1)
16. Everett, Everett, MA (11-1)
17. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, NJ (11-1)
18. Acton-Boxboro, Acton, MA (11-1)
19. J.P. Stevens, Edison, NJ (11-0)
20. Camden Wilson, Camden, NJ (11-0)

Midwest
1. Harrison, Farmington Hills, MI (14-0)
2. Ben Davis, Indianapolis, IN (15-0)
3. Blue Springs, Blue Springs, MO (14-0)
4. Providence, New Lenox, IL (14-0)
5. Dowling, West Des Moines, IA (12-0)
6. Joliet Catholic, Joliet, IL (13-1)
7. Boyle County, Danville, KY (14-0)
8. Lumen Christi, Jackson, MI (13-0)
9. Olathe North, Olathe, KS (12-0)
10. Webb City, Webb City, MO (14-0)
11. Salina Central, Salina, KS (11-0)
12. Prospect, Mt. Prospect, IL (12-0)
13. Trinity, Louisville, KY (13-1)
14. St. Ignatius, Cleveland, OH (11-4)
15. Millard West, Omaha, NE (11-1)
16. Morris, Morris, IL (13-1)
17. St. Xavier, Cincinnati, OH (13-1)
18. Colerain, Cincinnati, OH (11-1)
19. Bismarck, Bismarck, ND (12-0)
20. Bishop Luers, Ft. Wayne, IN (14-0)

South
1. Jenks, Jenks, OK (13-0)
2. West Monroe, West Monroe, LA (14-0)
3. Independence, Charlotte, NC (14-0)
4. Hoover, Hoover, AL (14-0)
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (14-0)
6. Parkview, Lilburn, GA (12-0)
7. Northside, Warner Robins, GA (11-0)
8. Riverdale, Murfreesboro, TN (15-0)
9. Marlboro County, Bennettsville, SC (15-0)
10. Mesquite, Mesquite, TX (13-0)
11. Ennis, Ennis, TX (13-0)
12. McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN (13-0)
13. Daphne, Daphne, AL (14-0)
14. Lincoln, Tallahassee, FL (13-1)
15. Madison, Houston, TX (13-0)
16. Laney, Wilmington, NC (14-0)
17. Evangel Christian, Shreveport, LA (13-1)
18. Lufkin, Lufkin, TX (12-1)
19. Patrick Henry, Ashland, VA (12-0)
20. Statesboro, Statesboro, GA (13-0)

West
1. De La Salle, Concord, CA (12-0)
2. Chatfield, Littleton, CO (14-0)
3. Northridge, Layton, UT (12-0)
4. Kahuku, Kahuku, HI (14-0)
5. Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA (13-0)
6. Poly, Long Beach, CA (11-1)
7. Bellevue, Bellevue, WA (13-0)
8. Clovis, Clovis, NM (13-0)
9. Eagle, Eagle, ID (12-0)
10. Hart, Newhall, CA (12-0)
11. Rock Springs, Rock Springs, WY (11-0)
12. C.M. Russell, Great Falls, MT (12-0)
13. Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA (12-0)
14. St. Bonaventure, Ventura, CA (13-0)
15. Sheldon, Eugene, OR (12-0)
16. Elk Grove, Elk Grove, CA (13-0)
17. Chino, Chino, CA (12-0)
18. McNary, Keizer, OR (12-1)
19. Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (13-1)
20. Kentwood, Kentwood, WA (13-1)