NationalHSFootball.com
It is now, officially, beating a dead horse but New Jersey football had a great weekend.
St. Peters’ Prep (Jersey City, NJ) started things Thursday by shining on ESPNU and drawing rave reviews. It continued on Saturday with Don Bosco (Ramsey, NJ) impressing a national audience on the Fox airwaves and shaking the national title chase.
On the heels of both results the two teams atop the state rankings climb the HSFB100.
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Don Bosco moves up to No. 2 while St. Peter’s Prep climbs to No. 6.
Lurking in the shadows is Paramus Catholic (Paramus, NJ) which jumped from No. 54 to No. 42 as it continued its strong start with a 63-10 victory a week after beating Gilman (Baltimore, MD), 35-0.
The trio of teams could all prove worthy of a Top 25 finish as they will likely meet in a round-robin of games this season while also playing numerous out-of-state foes.
It is a cluster of programs that continue to push the profile of New Jersey forward as the top state in the Atlantic East with a potential for more.
For our audience tired of reading about the Garden State there is a reprieve this coming week as Don Bosco is idle and St. Peter’s Prep as well as Paramus Catholic have expected wins on the schedule.
Beware that chatter on The Varsity Board will fire up again the following week with St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH), Central (Fort Pierce, FL), and IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) marking the calendar.
The rest of the HSFB100 saw an eight team turnover and several big moves inside the Top 25.
Highlighting those changes were the rise from No. 28 to No. 13 by DeSoto (Texas) — which did not miss a beat since losing its starting quarterback in the second quarter last week and dominated South Oak Cliff (Texas), 53-13 0 — and fall of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) from No. 7 to No. 21 — after needing a miracle finish against Centennial (Corona, CA), 43-42.
The rest of the moves are blow in the completed HSFB100:
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| RK (L) | TEAM | CITY (ST) | RECORD | LAST WEEK |
| 1 (3) | St. Edward | Lakewood (OH) | 3-0 | def. St. Joseph Regional, 42-0 |
| St. Edward has three quality wins to start the year and has been impressive on both offense and defense. The Eagles dominated the contest versus the No. 4 team in New Jersey from start to finish and outgained the Green Knights, 441-80. There is a long way to go in this season but the top team in Ohio is now in the driver’s seat for a National Title. | ||||
| 2 (14) | Don Bosco | Ramsey (NJ) | 2-0 | def. No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas, 24-7 |
| Don Bosco defeated St. Thomas Aquinas in stereotypical Ironmen fashion with turnovers, special teams, and physical play being the soup of the day. Offensively the team was inconsistent but effective as it was paced by quarterback Wes McKoy and running back Malik Bakker. Like St. Edward there are plenty of tough games to come so this position is far from settled. | ||||
| 3 (5) | De La Salle | Concord (CA) | 3-0 | def. No. 50 Byrnes, 56-28 |
| The Spartans were still not at full-strength on either side of the ball when it bettered Byrnes, 56-28 on ESPN. With an uneven performance by St. John Bosco, the Spartans moved to the No. 1 spot in California and into the Top 3 nationally. | ||||
| 4 (2) | St. John Bosco | Bellflower (CA) | 3-0 | def. No. 88 Central Catholic, 42-14 |
| St. John Bosco stepped up its competition this week and it showed with a slow start to the game. The Braves did get on track and roll to a victory but it showed a chink in the armor. California is having a very good year the schedule could push St. John Bosco to a National Title as the memory of this game fades. | ||||
| 5 (4) | Allen | Allen (TX) | 3-0 | def. Boyd, 58-28 |
| Allen continued to show why many consider it to have the best offense in the national with another 50+-point outburst. Kyler Murray may be the best high school quarterback in the country and he keeps this team in the discussion for a national title. | ||||
| 6 (13) | St. Peter’s Prep | Jersey City (NJ) | 2-0 | def. Bergen Catholic, 49-20 |
| The final makes the game look closer than it was as St. Peter’s Prep was up 49-0 when it pulled everyone and emptied its bench to give everyone some time on ESPN. Brandon Wimbush put on a clinic with accurate throws and timely runs. The Marauders could prove to be for real this year. | ||||
| 7 (6) | Bellevue | Bellevue (WA) | 2-0 | def. Alta, 45-0 |
| The Wolverines are so reliant on out-of-state games to build its resume as Washington football really isn’t that challenging. Alta is not a marquis win when stacked up against others in the country. Bellevue could be a buoy this year with it being unlikely that it climbs into the Top 5. | ||||
| 8 (12) | Mater Dei | Santa Ana (CA) | 2-0 | Idle |
| Mater Dei was the beneficiary of a great performance by Centennial in a loss to Bishop Gorman. Mater Dei handled the Huskies with ease while Bishop Gorman needed a miracle fourth quarter to win. The Monarchs were idle but have games with ranked Westlake, St. John Bosco, and Servite as well as quality opponents on the fringe like JSerra Catholic, Santa Margarita, and Orange Lutheran. | ||||
| 9 (9) | Manvel | Manvel (TX) | 2-0 | Idle |
| The Mavericks were idle but went from No. 4 to No. 2 in the state of Texas with losses by Katy and Cedar Hill. Manvel stayed at No. 9 in the HSFB100 however. | ||||
| 10 (15) | Booker T. Washington | Miami (FL) | 4-0 | def. Carol City, 38-14 |
| The Tornadoes moved to the top spot in Florida with the loss of St. Thomas Aquinas. It downed Carol City in its first non-Top 250 contest of the season. Booker T. Washington has three quality wins and moves into the Top 10. | ||||
| 11 (1) | St. Thomas Aquinas | Ft. Lauderdale (FL) | 1-1 | lost to No. 2 Don Bosco, 24-7 |
| The Raiders were completely out of sorts against Don Bosco in its televised loss. Some of the errors were self inflicted but some were certainly forced by the opposition. It looks like Florida may be on the outside of the national title chase this season a year after Booker T. Washington was the best in the country and Miami Central finished No. 4. | ||||
| 12 (11) | Folsom | Folsom (CA) | 3-0 | def. Pleasant Grove, 56-6 |
| Folsom is in the discussion for the best offense in the country as it is led by seniors and has a fantastic quarterback. It doesn’t appear that anyone in NorCal will slow Folsom down and now that the CIF eliminated the Regional Bowl for the Open Division a showdown with De La Salle has been eradicated. | ||||
| 13 (28) | DeSoto | DeSoto (TX) | 3-0 | def. South Oak Cliff, 53-13 |
| It was somewhat worrisome when DeSoto lost its starting quarterback last week but since that injury occured the Eagles have seemingly improved on that side of the ball. Defense will always be a question here but this is one state where a good offense may be the best defense. | ||||
| 14 (16) | Mainland | Daytona Beach (FL) | 3-0 | def. Lake Wales, 53-9 |
| Mainland gave up its first points of the season in this contest but still has outscored opponents, 136-9. The Buccaneers have the look of the best team in Class 6A and could challenge for the top team in the state. | ||||
| 15 (17) | Gonzaga | Washington (DC) | 2-0 | def. Georgetown Prep, 38-3 |
| Gonzaga checked the box this week in beating Georgetown Prep. It slid up two spots vacated by Katy and Cedar Hill, nothing more. | ||||
| 16 (18) | Colquitt County | Moultrie (GA) | 4-0 | def. Enterprise, 38-10 |
| The Packers were sleepwalking through the first half of this contest and then came out and dominated the third quarter to set the margin. The top team in Georgia may be a crown that doesn’t come with much weight this year. | ||||
| 17 (19) | Dutch Fork | Irmo (SC) | 2-1 | def. Boiling Springs, 60-24 |
| It was good to see Dutch Fork keep its focus after a tough loss to Allen the week before. Boiling Springs is a team on the rise but the SIlver Foxes made it look easy. | ||||
| 18 (20) | Chandler | Chandler (AZ) | 3-0 | def. Valor Christian, 22-7 |
| Chandler went out-of-state and defeated the top team in Colorado. The Wolves have a few more challenges on the horizon. | ||||
| 19 (29) | Mountain Pointe | Phoenix (AZ) | 4-0 | def. Maryvale, 73-0 |
| Mountain Pointe may be a team that was written off too early. It may also prove to be the top team in Arizona for the second straight season. | ||||
| 20 (23) | Miami Central | Miami (FL) | 3-1 | def. Coral Reef, 47-0 |
| The Rockets offense is coming to life as it gets into some lesser competition. It took some time to break in 10 new starters but things are looking better. | ||||
| 21 (7) | Bishop Gorman | Las Vegas (NV) | 4-0 | def. No. 43 Centennial, 43-42. |
| The Gaels escaped for the second week in a row against a ranked opponent. It took a last gasp drive to get it done but the Gaels pushed forward to 4-0 in its six-game gauntlet. | ||||
| 22 (24) | Bingham | South Jordan (UT) | 3-1 | defeated Hunter, 42-0 |
| Bingham got back into Utah football and found it to its liking. The Miners are the class of a state that is improving nationally. | ||||
| 23 (26) | Warren Easton | New Orleans (LA) | 2-0 | def. West Jefferson, 59-14 |
| Lightning washed out the game from Friday afternoon agaisnt West Jefferson which was made up Sunday. The Eagles set out to prove its downward movement in the rankings was incorrect and quarterback Deshawn Capers-Smith said, “We just go to prove ourselves because everyone’s still doubting us.” | ||||
| 24 (21) | Buford | Buford (GA) | 3-0 | Idle |
| Buford didn’t play this week and buoyed as other teams slid all around it. The Wolves are loosely gripped as the No. 2 team in Georgia. | ||||
| 25 (22) | American Heritage | Plantation (FL) | 1-1 | Idle |
| American Heritage was off this week but had its stock slide with St. Thomas Aquinas losing. | ||||
| 26 (27) | Servite | Anaheim (CA) | 2-1 | def. La Mirada, 56-14 |
| 27 (78) | Dallas Skyline | Dallas (TX) | 3-0 | def. No. 28 Cedar Hill |
| STOCK UP: Talent is never lacking at Skyline and it showed in a big win versus Cedar Hill. The defense came up huge in the second half as Skyline made nearly all the plays after halftime. | ||||
| 28 (10) | Cedar Hill | Cedar Hill (TX) | 2-1 | lost to No. 27 Skyline, 40-30 |
| 29 (31) | Poly | Long Beach (CA) | 3-0 | def. No. 74 Westlake, 35-24 |
| 30 (33) | Miramar | Miramar (FL) | 1-1 | Idle |
| 31 (39) | Flanagan | Pembroke Pines (FL) | 3-0 | def. Boyd Anderson, 42-0 |
| 32 (36) | Blackman | Murfreesboro (TN) | 4-0 | def. Mount Juliet, 49-21 |
| 33 (37) | Oakland | Murfreesboro (TN) | 3-1 | def. Arlington, 35-3 |
| 34 (38) | Maryville | Maryville (TN) | 3-0 | Idle |
| 35 (43) | Grayson | Loganville (GA) | 3-0 | def. Archer, 14-10 |
| 36 (45) | Alemany | Mission Hills (CA) | 3-0 | def. Narbonne, 51-30 |
| 37 (46) | Punahou | Honolulu (HI) | 3-0 | def. St. Franics, 56-0 |
| 38 (50) | Carroll | Southlake (TX) | 3-0 | def. Midland Lee, 56-6 |
| 39 (51) | Union | Tulsa (OK) | 1-1 | defeated No. 59 Jenks, 33-22 |
| 40 (44) | Moeller | Cincinnati (OH) | 3-0 | def. Xenia, 55-7 |
| 41 (34) | Centreville | Clifton (VA) | 1-1 | defeated West Potonac, 54-0 |
| 42 (54) | Paramus Catholic | Paramus (NJ) | 2-0 | def. Pope John XXIII, 63-10 |
| 43 (85) | Centennial | Corona (CA) | 1-2 | lost to No. 21 Bishop Gorman, 43-42 |
| 44 (NR) | Cy-Fair | Cypress (TX) | 2-0 | def. CyCreek, 27-0 |
| 45 (30) | Clay Chalkville | Pinson (AL) | 4-0 | def. Huffman, 65-14 |
| 46 (52) | Camden County | Kingsland (GA) | 4-0 | def. Brunswick, 49-21 |
| 47 (55) | First Coast | Jacksonville (FL) | 3-0 | def. Raines, 62-7 |
| 48 (56) | Calvary Baptist | Shreveport (LA) | 2-0 | def. Midland Christian, 43-17 |
| 49 (57) | Midway | Waco (TX) | 3-0 | def. Mansfield Timberview, 41-34 |
| 50 (40) | Byrnes | Duncan (SC) | 2-1 | lost to No. 3 De La Salle, 56-28 |
| 51 (58) | Lake Travis | Austin (TX) | 2-1 | def. Hays, 62-23 |
| 52 (66) | John Curtis | River Ridge (LA) | 2-0 | def. Lufkin, 32-25 |
| 53 (59) | Cocoa | Cocoa (FL) | 2-0 | def. Astronaut, 49-14 |
| 54 (61) | Guyer | Denton (TX) | 2-1 | def. Rider, 66-0 |
| 55 (62) | Trinity | Euless (TX) | 3-0 | def. Lancaster, 24-7 |
| 56 (64) | Destrehan | Destrehan (LA) | 2-0 | def. Cox, 41-7 |
| 57 (63) | Northside | Warner Robins (GA) | 3-0 | def. Lakeside, 38-7 |
| 58 (NR) | The Woodlands | The Woodlands (TX) | 2-1 | def. No. 64 Katy, 24-7 |
| 59 (49) | Jenks | Jenks (OK) | 1-1 | lost to No. 39 Union, 33-22 |
| 60 (73) | Carmel | Carmel (IN) | 4-0 | def. Pike, 48-21 |
| 61 (70) | Ben Davis | Indianapolis (IN) | 4-0 | def. Center Grove, 28-0 |
| 62 (84) | Oceanside | Oceanside (CA) | 3-0 | def. Chaparral, 24-0 |
| 63 (71) | Warren Central | Indianapolis (IN) | 4-0 | def. Lawrence Central, 41-22 |
| 64 (8) | Katy | Katy (TX) | 2-1 | lost to No. 58 The Woodlands, 24-7 |
| STOCK DOWN: We had bought in pretty hard on Katy and have sold off as fast. The issues on the offenisve line were worrisome as the team wasn’t able to do much against The Woodlands. | ||||
| 65 (75) | Mentor | Mentor (OH) | 3-0 | def. Euclid, 49-0 |
| 66 (76) | Hoover | Hoover (AL) | 2-2 | def. Oak Mountain, 35-0 |
| 67 (88) | Shades Valley | Birmingham (AL) | 4-0 | def. No. 71 Acadiana, 39-21 |
| 68 (81) | Armwood | Seffner (FL) | 3-0 | def. Hillsborough, 26-0 |
| 69 (60) | Dr. Phillips | Orlando (FL) | 3-0 | def. Seminole, 37-7 |
| 70 (35) | Spanish Fort | Spanish Fort (AL) | 4-0 | def. LeFlore, 40-6 |
| 71 (25) | Acadiana | Lafayette (LA) | 1-1 | def. No. 67 Shades Valley, 39-21 |
| STOCK DOWN: Acadiana opened the year atop the Louisiana rankings — and it may still prove to be the best team in the state — but it lost pretty badly to Shades Valley. | ||||
| 72 (47) | Chaminade | West Hills (CA) | 3-0 | def. Valencia, 38-20 |
| 73 (48) | Serra | Gardena (CA) | 2-1 | defeated Carson, 31-6 |
| 74 (91) | Westlake | Westlake Village (CA) | 2-1 | lost to No. 29 Poly, 35-24 |
| 75 (65) | Rummel | Metairie (LA) | 2-0 | def. Hahnville, 37-31 (3OT) |
| 76 (67) | Landry Walker | New Orleans (LA) | 2-0 | Game canceled after fight |
| 77 (32) | Steele | Cibolo (TX) | 3-0 | def. O’Conner |
| STOCK DOWN: There is a good chance that Steele was looking ahead to its Thursday game with DeSoto. There is also a chance it isn’t a Top 50 team. | ||||
| 78 (79) | Archbishop Wood | Warminster (PA) | 3-0 | def. North Penn, 42-7 |
| 79 (87) | Trinity Christian | Jacksonville (FL) | 1-1 | def. University Christian, 42-12 |
| 80 (82) | Male | Louisville (KY) | 4-0 | def. Jeffersontown, 49-12 |
| 81 (NR) | Ensworth | Nashville (TN) | 3-0 | def. Pope John Paul II, 50-21 |
| 82 (NR) | Brentwood Academy | Brentwood (TN) | 4-0 | defeated No. 83 St. Xavier, 30-27 |
| 83 (72) | St. Xavier | Cincinnati (OH) | 2-1 | lost to No. 82 Brentwood Academy, 30-27 |
| 84 (80) | Sandy Creek | Tyrone (GA) | 4-0 | def. Newnan, 31-14 |
| 85 (98) | York | York (SC) | 4-0 | def. Chester, 53-21 |
| 86 (97) | Webb City | Webb City (MO) | 4-0 | def. Republic, 49-14 |
| 87 (93) | South Panola | Batesville (MS) | 3-0 | Idle |
| 88 (77) | Central Catholic | Portland (OR) | 1-1 | lost to No. 4 St. John Bosco, 42-14 |
| 89 (89) | Butler | Matthews (NC) | 3-0 | Game postponed |
| 90 (90) | Mallard Creek | Charlotte (NC) | 2-1 | Game postponed |
| 91 (95) | Lee’s Summit West | Lee’s Summit (MO) | 4-0 | def. Rock Bridge, 48-34 |
| 92 (92) | Pearland | Pearland (TX) | 3-0 | def. Dobie, 49-9 |
| 93 (NR) | Brother Rice | Birmingham (MI) | 3-0 | def. Pickerington North, 28-7 |
| 94 (NR) | Muskegon | Muskegon (MI) | 3-0 | def. Grandville, 24-16 |
| 95 (NR) | St. Ignatius | Cleveland (OH) | 2-1 | def. No. 96 St. Joseph Prep, 42-34 |
| 96 (78) | St. Joseph’s Prep | Philadelphia (PA) | 1-2 | lost to No. 95, St. Ignatius, 42-34 |
| STOCK DOWN: There is certainly an argument for this team to be on the outside looking in. There is a toughness lacking in a team full of stars. It has a very short leash and a game with St. Joseph of New Jersey will likely seal its fate. | ||||
| 97 (83) | Hamilton | Chandler (AZ) | 3-0 | def. Pinnacle, 37-35 |
| 98 (100) | Spartanburg | Spartanburg (SC) | 3-1 | def. Gaffney, 45-21 |
| 99 (NR) | Starkville | Starkville (MS) | 3-0 | Idle |
| 100 (69) | Brandon | Brandon (MS) | 3-1 | def. Northwest Rankin, 27-6 |
| Teams eliminated from the HSFB100 with previous rankings shown. | ||||
| No. 41 Elder (Cincinnati, OH); No. 53 Naples (FL); No. 68 Central (Madison, MS); No. 74 Pike (Indianapolis, IN); No. 86 North Shore (Houston, TX); No. 94 Loyola (Wilmette, IL); No. 96 Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL), and No. 99 Eastern Christian (Elkton, MD) | ||||
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