With instate competition pairing top teams in playoff situations these days, the rankings continue to shuffle.
Entering the top 10 this week are the Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.) Ironmen and the Pahokee (Fla.) Blue Devils. For Bosco, a season-ending thumping of St. Peter's (Jersey City), 42-14, marked a second straight title and served notice to next year's opponents, which include No. 2-ranked St. Xavier (Cincinnati), that junior Dillon Romaine (111 yards) and sophomore Tony Jones (131 yards) will be even more difficult to tackle as they grow up. Junior quarterback Brett Knief, who also stars at baseball, will be back, too, after an impressive first year as starter.
Exiting the rankings are the Carroll (Southlake, Texas) Dragons, who began the season atop the pack, but failed in their bid to recapture a fifth-straight state 5A title.
| High School Football Power Rankings |
| 1 |
1 |
Northwestern (Miami) (13-0) Last week: Quarterback Jacory Harris (296 yards and four touchdowns) led Bulls to 55-14 win over South Dade (Homestead, Fla.).
Next: Orange Bowl date with unbeaten Deerfield Beach (Fla.) set for Friday's semifinal rematch. |
| 2 |
2 |
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) (15-0) Last week: Bombers outrushed Mentor (Cincinnati) 371-18 in 27-0 Division I championship victory to finish off the nation's toughest schedule unblemished.
Next: Season complete. |
| 3 |
3 |
South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) (14-0) Last week: Darius Barksdale rushed for 399 yards and three touchdowns in his final home game, a 43-28 win against Olive Branch (Miss.).
Next: State final against George County (Miss.). |
| 4 |
5 |
Katy (Texas) (13-0) Last week: UCLA-bound tailback Aundre Dean rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers beat Memorial (Pasadena, Texas) 30-14.
Next: Slow-starting Tigers take on battle-tested Clements (Sugar Land, Texas) in Class 5A, Division II Region 3 Friday at Houston's Rice Stadium. |
| 5 |
7 |
Maryville (Tenn.) (14-0) Last week: Rebels amassed 511 offensive yards in beating Sullivan South (Kingsport, Tenn.) 48-21.
Next: Senior class seeks fourth-straight Class 4A title against Nashville's Maplewood. |
| 6 |
8 |
Booker T. Washington (Miami) (12-0) Last week: Tornadoes held on for a too-close-for-comfort 7-6 win against Dwyer (Miami).
Next: Play Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) in Class 4A state semifinals at Miami's Traz Powell Stadium. |
| 7 |
9 |
Northside (Warner Robins, Ga.) (13-0) Last week: Continued a three-game postseason shutout streak with 30-0 win against Rome (Ga.) as Tijuan Green (209 rushing yards) became the school's all-time leading rusher (3,462).
Next: Eagles ride overall six-game shutout streak into Class 5A semifinal against undefeated Tucker (Ga.). |
| 8 |
10 |
Prattville (Ala.) (14-0) Last week: Defensive lineman Alex Page wrapped up 10 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks to lead the Lions to a 21-0 win against McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.).
Next: Twice-beaten Spain Park (Ala.) awaits defending champion Lions in Class 6A title game. |
| 9 |
11 |
Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.) (12-0) Last week: Sophomore Tony Jones (131 rushing yards) led Bosco to 42-14 New Jersey Non-Public Group IV title win over St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) for the Dons' 24th straight victory and second consecutive state championship.
Next: Season complete. |
| 10 |
13 |
Pahokee (Fla.) (13-0) Last week: Tailback Carlton Thomas (191 yards) helped the Blue Devils extend their winning streak to 27 games after beating Frostproof (Fla.), 41-13.
Next: Return man Janoris Jenkins could be difference for Blue Devils against Newberry (Fla.). |
| 11 |
14 |
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) (11-0) Last week: Did not play.
Next: Play California (San Ramon) Saturday. |
| 12 |
16 |
Jenks (Okla.) (13-1) Last week: Exacted revenge against rival Union (Tulsa, Okla.) for a 42-24 win and the Class 6A state title.
Next: Season complete. |
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