The beginning of December may mean the beginning to the end of another high school football season, but it also brings with it plenty of championship action between best of the best as those still alive prepare to compete at the ultimate level.
In the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Championship in Southern California, No.1 Mater Dei takes on No. 11 St. John Bosco in a rematch of the 2016 title game. Last time around, it was Bosco who came out on top, beating their Trinity League rival 42-28 on it’s way to a state championship. However, the Monarchs came back this season about as good as they’ve ever been. In a game that ended 31-21, Mater Dei took down the Braves to earn their second straight Trinity League title. That loss was the second of the year for Bosco after dropping their opener to No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas in a 9-3 overtime defeat, but the Braves are coming off of a satisfying 62-34 victory against former No. 9 Corona Centennial and are hopeful they can repeat last year’s win against the nation’s best team.
Another pair of familiar faces will square-off in Oklahoma Friday where No. 17 Union takes-on No. 40 Owasso in the Class 6A-I championship game. It’s a rematch of the regular season game that ended in a thrilling 44-41 double overtime win for Union. That Owasso loss marks the only loss on either of the two team’s records this year. The Redskins look to continue their perfect season and defend their state championship on a playoff run that has been nothing short of impressive. In the first two rounds, Union has only given up three points, including a 21-0 shutout victory over Broken Arrow two weeks ago. Owasso finished its last game with its own 21-0 win against Jenks in order to earn its spot in the championship game for the first time since 1974. With the competition between these two squads as high as its ever been, an epic throw down awaits for the high school football fans in Oklahoma.
Fans in Florida are waiting to see if No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas can bounce back from a season filled with adversity and earn a spot in its fourth consecutive state championship game when they take on No. 55 Venice in the Class 7A semifinal round. The Raiders were upset twice this year in major fashion, first in a shutout loss to Centennial (Arizona) and again in an unexpected 44-27 rout by Miramar (Florida). The Indians, on the other hand, finished the regular season with an impressive resume, as their only loss came to No. 2 IMG Academy. While its season has not gone as planned, St. Thomas Aquinas has taken care of business thus far in the playoffs and will look to continue against a Venice team who they defeated 48-6 in the same round of last year’s postseason.
Going at it for the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 state championship in New Jersey, No. 21 Bergen Catholic takes on No. 28 St. Peter’s Prep. The Crusaders enter the game after winning the North Jersey Super Football Conference United Red title with a perfect 4-0 mark in league play while the Marauders only league loss came against Bergen Catholic who defeated them earlier this year 41-14. Since winning it all in 2014, St. Peter’s has come up short the past two seasons, losing in the championship round each time. They will try to prevent a repeat of prior year’s woes and get the better of a Crusaders team that is vying for their first championship since 2004.
If that is not enough to get New Jersey excited for this weekend, a second big game pits No. 29 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) battles against No. 35 DePaul Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 3 state championship. This game marks a repeat of last year’s Group 3 Championship, where St. Joseph’s went on to win 26-17 after a late touchdown drive in the fourth quarter sealed the deal for the Green Knights. In the final game of the regular season, the Spartans again failed to hold on to their early lead against St. Joe’s as DePaul and lost 28-21.
Seeking their first state title in school history are No. 38 Pickerington Central and No. 39 Mentor who match-up in Ohio’s Division I state championship. Both teams are coming off impressive semifinal wins with strong play from both team’s quarterbacks. Pickerington sophomore Demeatric Crenshaw rushed for 117 yards and four touchdowns in the 41-28 win over Colerain and Mentor senior Tadas Tatarunas threw for 251 yards to scrap out a 27-21 win over Olentangy Liberty. Each team will need that kind of play from the their leaders in Friday night’s showdown.
On Thursday night, No. 50 Archbishop Hoban beat No. 78 Winton Woods for the Ohio Division II state championship 42-14.
Where the Top 100 Play This Week
No. 1 Mater Dei (California) vs. No. 11 Mater Dei (California), Saturday
No. 2 IMG Academy – Season Completed
No. 3 Allen (Texas) vs. Arlington Martin (Texas), Friday
No. 4 Trinity (Kentucky) vs. St. Xavier (Kentucky), Sunday
No. 5 South Pointe (South Carolina) vs. Hartsville (South Carolina), Saturday
No. 6 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida) vs. Immokalee (Florida), Friday
No. 7 St Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) vs. Coatesville (Pennsylvania), Friday
No. 8 Ben Davis (Indiana) – Season Completed
No. 9 Northwestern (Florida) vs. Naples (Florida), Friday
No. 10 St. Frances Academy – Season Completed
No. 11 St. John Bosco (California) vs. No.1 Mater Dei (California), Saturday
No. 12 Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) vs. Montgomery Bell Academy (Tennessee), Saturday
No. 13 Miami Central (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 14 Bishop Gorman (Nevada) vs. Reed (Nevada), Saturday
No. 15 De La Salle (California) vs. Pittsburg (California), Saturday
No. 16 Bingham (Utah) – Season Completed
No. 17 Union (Oklahoma) vs. No. 40 Owasso (Oklahoma), Friday
No. 18 Katy (Texas) vs. Atascocita (Texas), Friday
No. 19 St. John’s College HS (Washington, DC) – Season Completed
No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) at No. 55 Venice (Florida), Friday
No. 21 Bergen Catholic (New Jersey) vs. No. 28 St. Peter’s Prep (New Jersey), Friday
No. 22 Corona Centennial – Season Completed
No. 23 Pine-Richland (Pennsylvania) vs. Manheim Township (Pennsylvania), Saturday
No. 24 Armwood (Florida) vs. St. Augustine (Florida), Friday
No. 25 John Curtis (Louisiana) – Idle
No. 26 Erie Cathedral Prep (Pennsylvania) vs. Berks Catholic (Pennsylvania), Friday
No. 27 Dutch Fork (South Carolina) vs. Dorman (South Carolina), Saturday
No. 28 St. Peter’s Prep (New Jersey) vs. No. 21 Bergen Catholic (New Jersey), Friday
No. 29 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey) vs. No. 35 DePaul Catholic, Saturday
No. 30 Westlake (Texas) vs. Vela (Texas), Friday
No. 31 Archbishop Wood (Pennsylvania) vs. Unionville (Pennsylvania), Friday
No. 32 Denton Ryan (Texas) vs. Lubbock Monterey (Texas), Saturday
No. 33 Mission Viejo (California) – Season Completed
No. 34 Aledo (Texas) at Abilene Cooper (Texas), Friday
No. 35 DePaul Catholic (New Jersey) vs. No. 29 St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey), Saturday
No. 36 Chandler (Arizona) vs. Perry (Arizona), Saturday
No. 37 Lake Travis (Texas) vs. Los Fresnos (Texas), Saturday
No. 38 Pickerington Central (Ohio) vs. No. 39 Mentor (Ohio), Friday
No. 39 Mentor (Ohio) vs. No. 38 Pickerington Central (Ohio), Friday
No. 40 Owasso (Oklahoma) vs. No. 17 Union (Oklahoma), Friday
No. 41 Fort Dorchester (South Carolina) – Season Completed
No. 42 Wake Forest (North Carolina) vs. Garner Magnet (North Carolina), Friday
No. 43 West Point (Mississippi) vs. Hattiesburg (Mississippi), Friday
No. 44 Cocoa (Florida) – Idle
No. 45 Pearl (Mississippi) vs. Starkville (Mississippi), Friday
No. 46 Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) vs. Tri-Valley (Ohio), Saturday
No. 47 Prairie Ridge (Illinois) – Season Completed
No. 48 Lincoln-Way East (Illinois) – Season Completed
No. 49 Buford (Georgia) vs. Rome (Georgia), Friday
No. 50 Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) beat No. 78 Winton Woods (Ohio) 42-14
No. 51 Hoover (Alabama) – Idle
No. 52 Manvel (Texas) vs. Cedar Park (Texas), Friday
No. 53 Klein Collins (Texas) vs. Longview (Texas), Saturday
No. 54 Pulaski Academy (Arkansas) vs. McClellan (Texas), Saturday
No. 55 Venice (Florida) vs. No. 20 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida), Friday
No. 56 Plant (Florida) at Bartram Trail (Florida), Friday
No. 57 St. Ignatius (Ohio) – Season Completed
No. 58 Centennial (Arizona) vs. Notre Dame Prep (Arizona), Saturday
No. 59 East (Utah) – Season Completed
No. 60 St. Xavier (Ohio) – Season Completed
No. 61 St. Edward (Ohio) – Season Completed
No. 62 Euless Trinity (Texas) vs. Midland Lee (Texas), Saturday
No. 63 Duncanville (Texas) – Season Completed
No. 64 Archer (Georgia) – Season Completed
No. 65 Grayson (Georgia) – Season Completed
No. 66 Saint Louis (Hawaii) – Season Completed
No. 67 Midway (Texas) vs. Mansfield (Texas), Friday
No. 68 McGill-Toolen (Alabama) – Idle
No. 69 Thompson (Alabama) – Season Completed
No. 70 Lamar (Houston, Texas) vs. North Shore (Texas), Friday
No. 71 Central (Phenix City, Alabama) – Season Completed
No. 72 Liberty (Nevada) – Season Completed
No. 73 Narbonne (California) vs. Crenshaw (California), Friday
No. 74 Saguaro (Arizona) vs. Salpointe Catholic (Arizona), Saturday
No. 75 Phillips Academy (Illinois) – Season Completed
No. 76 Mallard Creek (North Carolina) vs. Hough (North Carolina), Friday
No. 77 Folsom (California) vs. St. Mary’s (Stockton, California), Saturday
No. 78 Winton Woods (Ohio) lost to No. 50 Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) 42-14
No. 79 North Little Rock (Arkansas) vs. Bentonville (Arkansas), Saturday
No. 80 Maryville (Tennessee) vs. Cane Ridge (Tennessee), Friday
No. 81 North Gwinnett (Georgia) vs. McEachern (Georgia), Friday
No. 82 Chaminade-Madonna (Florida) – Idle
No. 83 Oakland (Tennessee) – Season Completed
No. 84 Cardinal Gibbons (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 85 Maine South (Illinois) – Season Completed
No. 86 Judson (Texas) – Season Completed
No. 87 Carol City (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 88 Kahuku (Hawaii) – Season Completed
No. 89 Mission Hills (California) vs. Helix (California), Saturday
No. 90 Viera (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 91 Gonzaga (Washington, DC) – Season Completed
No. 92 Good Counsel (Maryland) – Season Completed
No. 93 Colquitt County (Georgia) vs. Brookwood (Georgia), Friday
No. 94 Westfield (Texas) vs. Lufkin (Texas), Saturday
No. 95 Chaminade (California) – Season Completed
No. 96 Mountain Pointe (Arizona) – Season Completed
No. 97 Colerain (Ohio) – Season Completed
No. 98 Miramar (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 99 Deerfield Beach (Florida) – Season Completed
No. 100 Cartersville (Georgia) – Season Completed
by Kathryn Gallo
High School Football America Writer
Follow @KathrynTGallo
