Video: Sierra Canyon vs. Grace Brethren
See highlights as the Southern California foes battle in 2019.
Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill, Texas) finished the 2019 season as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Small Schools national high school football rankings. Don't look for a repeat performance, however.
The reason is the three-time TAPPS Division II champions are no longer a member of TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) and have reportedly joined the Texas Christian Athletic League. The new league affiliation would normally be good enough to be included in the Small Schools rankings, but Trinity Christian is reportedly going to play a national schedule. While a schedule has not been released, the national schedule would eliminate Trinity Christian from inclusion in the Small Schools rankings.
The MaxPreps Small Schools rankings include teams that play in enrollment divisions with less than 1,000 students. Schools that have fewer than 1,000 students and play in a competitive-equity based playoff division are also considered.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) falls under the latter category. The Trailblazers finished No. 2 last year behind Trinity Christian after the Trailblazers fell to Central (Fresno, Calif.) in the Class 1-AA championship game. Sierra Canyon plays in one of the larger divisions in the Southern Section, but has fewer than 1,000 students.
The Trailblazers begin the season at No. 1, just ahead of Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) and fellow Southern Section rival Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.).
Chayden Peery, Sierra Canyon
File photo by Samuel Mawanda
MaxPreps 2020 Small Schools preseason national high school football rankings
1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Last Year's Record: 14-2
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 2
Top Returning Players: Chayden Peery, QB;
D.J. Harvey, CB.
Outlook: The Trailblazers reached the CIF 1-AA Bowl Game, losing to Central (Fresno) 34-19. Sierra Canyon plays in a large school playoff division in the Southern Section, but is listed as a small school due to enrollment. Peery returns after throwing for 3,401 yards as a junior. Harvey, meanwhile, was a MaxPreps Small School All-American.
2. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)Last Year's Record: 12-2
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 6
Top Returning Players: Terrence Lewis, LB;
Thaddius Franklin, RB;
Allan Haye Jr., DT;
Andres Borregales, K.
Outlook: The Lions defeated Florida State University 35-20 in the Class 3A championship game with Franklin rushing for 333 yards and five touchdowns. He finished the season with 2,282 yards and 28 touchdowns on the year. Lewis, meanwhile, moves over from Northwestern (Miami).
3. Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.)Last Year's Record: 12-2
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 9
Top Returning Players: Jay Toia, DT;
Julien Stokes, RB;
Mike Zele, QB.
Outlook: Grace Brethren lost to Sierra Canyon during the regular season and Corona Del Mar in the Southern Section Division 3 championship game. Stokes returns after rushing for 1,375 yards and 18 touchdowns while Zele is back after throwing for 1,998 yards.
4. West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa)Last Year's Record: 12-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 11
Top Returning Players: Jordan Ver Meer, OL.
Outlook: West Lyon bounced back from a midseason loss to West Sioux to beat the Falcons in the semifinals of the Class 2A state playoffs and then beat Van Meter in the finals. The Falcons must replace all-state running back Logan Meyers and quarterback Jalyn Gramstad, but all-state lineman Ver Meer returns.
5. Anna (Ohio)Last Year's Record: 14-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 4
Top Returning Players: Isaac Egbert, LB.
Outlook: The Rockets won their first football state championship with a win over New Middletown Springfield. State Division VI offensive player of the year Riley Huelskamp has graduated along with five other all-state players. Egbert, an All-MAC second team pick, is the top returning player.
6. Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.)Last Year's Record: 13-0
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 12
Outlook: The Skyhawks edged Scottsbluff 21-20 for the Class B state championship. Skutt begins the season with a 26-game winning streak.
7. Andale (Kan.)Last Year's Record: 13-0
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 7
Top Returning Players: Cayden Winter, OL;
Eli Rowland, DL;
Caden Parthemer, LB.
Outlook: The Indians won the Class 3A state championship with a 35-7 victory over Perry-Lecompton. The title was the fourth in state history and the first since 2014.
8. Gunter (Texas)Last Year's Record: 15-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 20
Top Returning Players: Hudson Graham, Newcomer of the Year;
Ashton Bennett, TE;
Ethan Sloan, WR.
Outlook: Gunter lost its second game of the season to Pottsboro, but came back to win the next 14 and capture the Class 3A-2 state championship. Gunter had a young team last year with multiple underclass all-district picks.
9. Grandview (Texas)Last Year's Record: 15-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 8
Top Returning Players: Dametrious Crownover, TE;
Dane Jentsch, QB;
Jacob Bayer, OL.
Outlook: The Zebras knocked off Pottsboro in the Class 3A-1 championship. Grandview is led by MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Jentsch, who was voted the offensive and defensive MVP of the state championship game.
10. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (Ind.)Last Year's Record: 14-1
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Thomas Coleman; Matthew Coons;
Will Mason.
Outlook: A total of six offensive starters and four defensive starters return for a team that won the Class 3A state championship last year.
11. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio)Last Year's Record: 7-3
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Lucas Coley, QB.
Outlook: Cornerstone Christian got off to a hot start last year before dropping three games toward the end of the year. Coley gives CC one of the best two-way quarterbacks in the small school ranks.
12. Taylorsville (Miss.)Last Year's Record: 15-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 31
Top Returning Players: Ty Keyes, QB.
Outlook: The Class 2A state champions have one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the nation in Keyes. A starter since his freshman year, he's already thrown for 12,019 yards and 125 touchdowns in his career.
13. Pearl-Cohn (Nashville, Tenn.)Last Year's Record: 14-1
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Kyndrich Breedlove, WR; William Parker, T;
Alex Okelo, DE.
Outlook: The Firebirds lost to Alcoa in the Class 3A state playoffs last year, but return quarterback
Martino Owens, who threw for over 2,000 yards. One of the team's leading rushers and receiver Breedlove also returns.
14. Athens Academy (Athens, Ga.)Last Year's Record: 11-1
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Deion Colzie, WR;
Hugh Laughlin, T.
Outlook: The Spartans fell to Eagles Landing Christian Academy in the second round of the playoffs last season, but they should be outstanding at the skill positions this year with one of the nation's best receivers in Colzie.
15. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, Calif.)Last Year's Record: 14-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 26
Top Returning Players: Tsion Nunnally, WR;
Shane Moran, RB;
Mitch Russell, C/LB.
Outlook: While multi-talented quarterback Jackson Pavitt has graduated, Cardinal Newman returns seven starters on offense and defense from a team that defeated El Camino (Oceanside) in the CIF Class 3-AA Bowl Game.
16. Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.)Last Year's Record: 14-0
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 19
Top Returning Players: Gennings Dunker, T.
Outlook: The Panthers won the Class 1A state championship last year and return Coaches Association Class 1A all-state honorable mention pick Dunker on the offensive line.
17. Madison County (Madison, Fla.)Last Year's Record: 12-2
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 17
Top Returning Players: Jahyren Lee, DL;
Ke'Shaun Mitchell, LB.
Outlook: State MVP Vinsonta Allen (QB) graduated, but the defense should still be outstanding with all-state juniors Lee (DL) and Mitchell (LB) returning from a team that won the Class 1A title 70-35 over Blountstown.
18. Pottsboro (Texas)Last Year's Record: 15-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 23
Top Returning Players: Braden Plyler, QB.
Outlook: Pottsboro saw a perfect season end against Grandview in the Class 3A-1 championship game. District offensive player of the year Plyler returns after throwing for 2,725 yards last year. Also back are district offensive lineman on the year Dan Graham and defensive lineman of the year
Silas Barr.
19. Wahoo (Neb.)Last Year's Record: 13-0
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 3
Top Returning Players: Grant Kolterman, LB.
Outlook: Wahoo won its first state title last year with a 38-0 win over Pierce in the Class C-1 state finals. Only three starters on offense and two starters on defense return from a team that finished No. 3 in last year's small school national football rankings.
20. Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.)Last Year's Record: 10-5
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Ni'tavion Burrus, QB;
Omari Arnold, RB.
Outlook: Brooks County was the surprise of the postseason last year as it entered the playoffs at 6-4, but went 4-1 before falling to Dublin in the Class AA championship game. Quarterback Burrus threw for over 2,000 yards last year while running back Arnold rushed for nearly 1,800 yards.
21. Alcoa (Tenn.)Last Year's Record: 14-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 13
Top Returning Players: Grey Carroll, DE;
Isaiah Cox, WR.
Outlook: Alcoa blanked Pearl-Cohn 27-0 for the Class 3A state championship. Alcoa goes for its sixth straight state title in 2020. Coach Gary Rankin ran his career record to 439-76 last year.
22. Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.)Last Year's Record: 12-1
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 30
Top Returning Players: Sage Ryan, S.
Outlook: The Knights have won three state championships in a row, winning the Division III title last year with a 41-14 win over St. Charles. They return one of the best defensive backfields in Louisiana with all-state pick Ryan at safety and junior all-state selection
Brylan Green at defensive back.
23. Custer County (Miles City, Mont.)Last Year's Record: 10-0
Final 2019 Ranking: No. 28
Top Returning Players: Carson Hunter, QB.
Outlook: While the Cowboys lost a bunch of all-conference players from last year's undefeated Class A state championship team, it does return all-state quarterback Hunter.
24. St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.)Last Year's Record: 9-2
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Keshon Griffin, DE;
Ethan Hunt, DT.
Outlook: 2019 was a rarity for St. Joseph as it failed to win a Non-Public Group 2 championship. Few teams have won more state titles than the Wildcats who have claimed 26 Group championships in school history.
25. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)Last Year's Record: 5-6
Final 2019 Ranking: Not ranked
Top Returning Players: Marcus Burke, WR;
Corey Coley Jr., S;
CJ Ross, LB;
Austin Barber, T;
Jacory Jordan, QB.
Outlook: The perennial state title contenders slumped last year to a 5-6 record, but the Conquerors figure to be more explosive this year with leading receiver Burke returning along with quarterback Jordan.
Grandview looks for a repeat of its 3A-1 title.
File photo by Robbie Rakestraw