Video: Plant vs. No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas
Watch the Florida showdown as St. Thomas Aquinas wins its 10th state title in school history.As we enter the final weekend of the high school football season, we've seen some memorable games over the last couple of weeks and shouldn't be surprised if we get a few more this coming weekend.
In the Class 7A Georgia state championship game, Roswell and Grayson went toe-to-toe for 4-plus quarters. Grayson trailed13-6 midway through the final quarter, but that's when the
Jaquavius Lane show started as he had touchdown receptions of 62 and 35 yards to give the Rams a 20-13 lead with just over a minute left. Roswell answered back, scoring a touchdown with no time left on the clock when
Malik Willis found
Kentrell Barber for a 20-yard score to send the game to overtime. In overtime, Grayson was held to a field goal on its first possession but that was all the Rams needed as Roswell missed a game-tying field goal.
The state of Texas also gave us big-time games as The Woodlands jumped on Allen early and held on for a 36-28 win to advance to the state championship game for the first time in 13 years.
The DeSoto Eagles made it to the state championship game for the first time in school history. For the second time in three weeks, they overcame a double-digit fourth quarter deficit as they outscored Klein Collins 21-0 in the final period to win 42-31.
Three Florida teams ranked in the Xcellent 25 won a state championships this past weekend as St. Thomas Aquinas became the first team from Broward County to win three in a row. The Raiders now are second all-time in Florida high school football history with 10 state championships, trailing only Bolles, which has 11. American Heritage won its third state crown since 2013 and Cocoa won its first state title since 2010 with a 31-17 win over the previously mentioned Bolles.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National High School Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

DeSoto got five turnovers from its defense in a 6A-D2 UIL Texas state semifinal win over Klein Collins.
Photo by Leslie Johnson
1. (1 last week) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 15-0Season complete.
2. (2) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 11-0Season complete.
3. (3) DeSoto (Texas), 15-0DeSoto has had some memorable comebacks in 2016 so it decided another one wouldn't hurt in the 6A-D2 UIL Texas state semifinals. Trailing by 10 entering the final quarter, the Eagles erupted for 21-unanswered points as
Richie Washington II scored from 5-yards out to cut the deficit to 31-28. Then the Eagles scored two consecutive defensive touchdowns as
Ashton Brooks and
Isaiah Stewart each returned fumbles for a score. The defense was the difference for Todd Peterman as they forced five turnovers in the second half alone. DeSoto, seeking its first state title in school history, will be making its first appearance in the state finals on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 16 Steele in the 6A-D2 UIL Texas state championship.
4. (4) Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), 14-1The Grayson Rams won their first state title since 2011 with a hard fought 23-20 overtime win against Roswell. It was one of the better football games of the 2016 season and when Grayson needed a big play they called on
Jaquavius Lane. He had touchdown receptions of 62 and 35 yards in the fourth quarter and caught a crucial two-point conversion to give the Rams a 20-13 lead with 1:04 left. The two points ended up being huge because Roswell drove down the field and tied the game as regulation ended. Grayson closed out the 2016 season winning its last 14 games and claimed its second state championship in school history.
5. (5) St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 12-2Idle.
Next game: Saturday vs. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) in the CIF Open Division championship
6. (8) St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 12-2St. Thomas Aquinas dominated a very good and previously unbeaten Plant (Tampa, Fla.) team 45-6 to claim the school's 10th state championship.
Jake Allen, a 2017 Florida commit, finished his high school career with a big-time performance, throwing for 329 yards and five scores, and 2017 West Virginia pledge
Mike Harley had over 100 yards receiving and three touchdowns. In five playoff games, the Raiders outscored the opposition 213-24 and during their nine-game winning streak the average margin of victory was 37 points per game for Roger Harriott and the Raiders.
7. (6) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 13-0Season complete.
8. (12) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 14-1Lake Travis is playing as well as anyone in the country right now. They cruised to a 63-21 win over Atascocita (Humble, Texas) to advance to the 6A-D1 state championship. It was their 14th consecutive victory. The Cavaliers are one win from winning their first state title since 2011 when they became the first team in Texas high school football history to win five state championships in a row. This is the second consecutive season Lake Travis will be playing in the state championship game, but they are hoping 2016 is different than 2015 when they lost 34-7 to Katy (Texas).
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 10 The Woodlands (Texas) in the 6A-D1 UIL Texas state championship
9. (9) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 13-1Season complete.
10. (24) The Woodlands (Texas), 15-0The Woodlands arguably got the biggest win in school history knocking off Allen (Texas) 36-28 to advance to the 6A-D1 UIL Texas state championship game. Senior quarterback
Eric Schmid had another big-time performance throwing for 353 yards and three touchdowns.
Kesean Carter and
Dylan Casey combined for 12 receptions, 324 yards and two scores. Danny Amendola led The Woodlands to its only other state championship game appearance in 2003, but fell short 23-7 to North Shore (Houston, Texas).
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 8 Lake Travis in the 6A-D1 UIL Texas state championship
11. (11) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 14-0It wasn't easy this past weekend for American Heritage as they handed Ponte Verda (Fla.) its first loss of the season, 35-33, to win the Florida 5A state championship. It was the Patriots third state crown over the last four years and Patrick Surtain led them to a perfect 14-0 season in his first year as head coach. It was the first time in school history American Heritage finished a season undefeated.
12. (10) Roswell (Ga.), 14-1In Saturday's Georgia 7A state championship game neither team deserved to lose but unfortunately for Roswell someone had to. They lost 23-20 in overtime to No. 4 Grayson and it was easily one of the best football games of the season. The Hornets have had one of the best turnarounds since John Ford was named head coach. The two years prior to his hire, they went 3-17 and he has led them to a 40-12 record since being hired before the 2013 season. Roswell's only two losses over the last two years have come in the state championship game.
13. (18) St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia), 14-0St. Joseph's Prep dominated a very good Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 42-7 to claim the PIAA Class 6A state title. Central Catholic was riding a 14-game winning streak with all of those wins coming by double-digits.
D'Andre Swift, a 201 Georgia commit, ended his high school career with another big game as he rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns. The defense shut down one of the most high-powered offenses in the country limiting them to 7 points and less than 200 total yards. They also forced four turnovers. The 35-point win for the Philly power made it three state championships in four years.
14. (13) Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 14-0Season complete.
15. (14) Cass Tech (Detroit), 14-0Season complete.
16. (23) Steele (Cibolo, Texas), 14-1Cibolo Steele extended its winning streak to 13 after beating Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas) 35-14 to advance to the state championship game for the first time since 2011. Steele's only blemish this season was a 59-56 double overtime loss to No. 8 Lake Travis in early September. Saturday's matchup with No. 3 DeSoto in the 6A-D2 UIL Texas state championship game has a chance to be one of the best football games of the year. If Steele wins, it would be its second state championship in school history -- the other coming in 2010 when they beat Denton Guyer 24-21 in the 5A-D2 state championship game.
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 3 DeSoto (Texas) in the 6A-D2 UIL Texas state championship
17. (15) Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 11-2Season complete.
18. (16) Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 14-0Season complete.
19. (17) Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 15-0Season complete.
20. (19) Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 12-2Season complete.
21. (20) East (Salt Lake City), 14-0Season complete.
22. (7) Allen (Texas), 14-1For the second consecutive season Allen's season came to an end in the semifinals. This time it came against The Woodlands (Texas), 36-28. It was the fourth loss for the Eagles since the start of the 2012 season. Even though Allen couldn't claim its fifth state championship since 2008 it was still a great season for the Eagles. In Terry Gambill's first season as head coach they went 14-1 and made it to the 6A-D1 UIL Texas state semifinals. The Eagles will be right in the thick of things in 2017 as they have two of the best running backs in the state in 3-star
Brock Sturges and 4-star
Kirby Bennett returning next year.
23. (21) South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.), 13-1South Pointe needed double overtime against South Aiken (S.C.) to clinch a spot in the 4A state championship, escaping with a 55-49 victory. Senior running back
Voshon St. Hill finished the night with 155 yards on the ground and four scores and 4-star junior quarterback
Derion Kendrick threw for nearly 300 yards and rushed for 77 yards to go with four total touchdowns, including the game-winner in double overtime on a 10-yard touchdown pass to
JP Pendergrass. South Pointe is one win away from its third consecutive state championship.
Next game: Saturday vs. Hartsville (S.C.) in the 4A state championship
24. (22) Hoover (Ala.), 12-2Season complete.
25. (25) Cocoa (Fla.), 12-1John Wilkinson is now 4-0 in state championship games after beating Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.) 31-17 to win their first state title since 2010. There was nothing Bolles could do to stop Cocoa's high-powered rushing attack as
Bruce Judson,
Javian Hawkins, and
Lasedrick King all had touchdown runs of at least 70-yards. They all rushed for over 100 yards and Cocoa ended the game with over 400 yards rushing.
Bubble TeamsSt. Xavier (Cincinnati), 10-5Season complete.
Union (Tulsa, Okla.), 11-2Season complete.
St. Louis (Honolulu), 10-1Season complete.
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 11-1Idle.
Next game: Saturday vs. No. 5 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) in the CIF Open Division championship
St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.), 14-1St. Mary's joins the list of bubble teams after winning its 10th consecutive game to clinch a spot in the CIF Division 1-AA championship game. They beat a very good Freedom (Oakley, Calif.) team 49-40. The only blemish on the season for St. Mary's came against No. 5 St. John Bosco back in late September. The Rams have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging 53 points per game, as they enter Friday night's showdown with Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.). Junior running back
Dusty Frampton is coming off his best game of the season as he rushed for 349 yards and five scores, giving him 2,166 and 41 touchdowns on the year.
Next game: Friday vs. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the CIF Division 1-AA championship