@EFrantzMP’s HS Football Great Lakes Regional Rankings: 12/4

1. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) – 11-2
Last Week (2): The Hawks advanced to their fourth straight state final with a 31-24 overtime victory over Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the PIAA Class 6A state semifinals. St. Joseph’s Prep forced OT on a remarkable touchdown catch by Marvin Harrison Jr. from Malik Cooper with 15 seconds left in regulation. The Hawks are ranked No. 15 in the MaxPreps Top 25 National Rankings.
Next Up: 12/7, 6 p.m. vs Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) – 12-2 

2. Washington (Massillon, Ohio) – 14-0
Last Week (4): Senior running back Zion Phifer carried the ball 20 times for 146 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers reached their second straight OHSAA Division II state championship with a 35-10 win over previously unbeaten Avon (Ohio).
Next Up: 12/5, 7 p.m. vs La Salle (Cincinnati) – 12-2

3. East St. Louis (Ill.) – 14-0*
Last Week (5): Quarterback Tyler Macon completed 13-of-19 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown as the Flyers won the program’s ninth state championship with a 43-21 win over Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Ill.) in the IHSA Class 6A state final.
Next Up: Season Complete

4. Pickerington Central (Ohio) – 13-1
Last Week (9): Senior quarterback Demeatric Crenshaw carried the ball 21 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 74 yards as the Tigers beat previously unbeaten Mentor (Ohio) 28-21 in an OHSAA D-I state semifinal. The game was a rematch of the 2017 D-I state final that the Tigers won 56-28. Ranked No. 19 in the MaxPreps Top 25 National Rankings.
Next Up: 12/6, 8 p.m. vs Elder (Cincinnati) – 12-2

5. Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.) – 15-0
Last Week (6): Tied 7-7 in its PIAA Class AA semifinal with Richland (Johnstown, Pa.), the Tigers scored 42 unanswered points to lead 49-7 at halftime en route to the 49-27 win. The victory – its 47th in a row – propels Southern Columbia into its fifth consecutive state championship game. Winners of a state-record nine titles overall, the Tigers are going for a third straight.
Next Up: 12/6, 1 p.m. vs Avonworth (Pittsburgh) – 15-0

6. Elder (Cincinnati) – 12-2
Last Week (10): Quarterback Matthew Luebbe threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 116 yards as the Panthers beat Springfield (Ohio) 31-24 in an OHSAA D-I state semifinal. Ranked No. 21 in the MaxPreps Top 25 National Rankings.
Next Up: 12/6, 8 p.m. vs Pickerington Central (Ohio) – 13-1



7. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) – 14-0*
Last Week (7): The Griffins allowed the fewest yards ever (36) in an IHSA Class 8A state title game and shut out Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) 12-0 to win their second state championship in three years and third overall. The 36 yards allowed ranks second all-time for any classification. Kicker Dominic Dzioban booted 46 and 45 yard field goals.
Next Up: Season Complete

8. Mentor (Ohio) – 13-1*
Last Week (1): The Cardinals fell 28-21 to Pickerington Central (Ohio) in an OHSAA D-I state semifinal. The loss brings to a close the storied career of head coach Steve Trivisonno who won 209 games and took the Cardinals to four state finals in 23 years. Ranked No. 22 in the MaxPreps Top 25 National Rankings.
Next Up: Season Complete

9. Muskego (Wis.) – 14-0*
Last Week (8): The Warriors defended their WIAA D-I state title and ran their win streak to 28 games with a 21-10 win over Bay Port (Green Bay, Wis.). Nick Maier racked up 15 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the victors.
Next Up: Season Complete

10. New Palestine (Ind.) – 14-0*
Last Week (11): The Dragons capped an undefeated season and defended their IHSAA Class 5A state championship with a 27-20 win over previously unbeaten Valparaiso (Ind.). Senior running back Charlie Spegal capped his storied prep career with 160 yards and a touchdown (80 yards) on 23 carries. He finishes with state records for career rushing yards (10,867), touchdowns (175) and rushing touchdowns (173). The championship was head coach Kyle Ralph’s third in seven seasons with the Dragons and improved his record at the school to 88-4.
Next Up: Season Complete

Dropped Out:
No. 3 Muskegon – (lost 30-7 to River Rogue)

The Next 5
11. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) – 11-2*
12. La Salle (Cincinnati) – 12-2
13. Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago) – 14-0*
14. River Rouge (Mich.) – 13-1*
15. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) – 12-2*



Also Of Note...
Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) – 11-2*
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 9-3*
Colerain (Cincinnati) – 11-2* 
Carmel (Ind.) – 11-3*
Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park, Ill.) – 13-1*
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis) – 14-1*
Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) – 12-2
St. Ignatius (Cleveland) – 5-5*
Cathedral (Indianapolis) – 9-3*
Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) – 13-0*
Muskegon (Mich.) – 13-1*
Springfield (Ohio) – 12-2*
Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) – 13-0*
Avon (Ind.) – 9-1*
Fairfield (Ohio) – 10-2*
Brownsburg (Ind.) – 7-4*
Winton Woods (Cincinnati) – 6-3* 
DeForest (Wis.) – 14-0*
Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) – 10-2*
Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.) – 11-1*
Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) – 12-2*
Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa.) – 15-0
New Rochelle (N.Y.) – 13-0*
Davison (Mich.) – 12-2*
Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) – 8-6*
Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio) – 13-1*
Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.) – 13-1*
Chaska (Minn.) – 14-1*
Bay Port (Green Bay, Wisc.) – 13-1*
State College (State College, Pa.) – 11-2*
St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, Minn.) – 11-2*

* - Season Complete