Video: Shedeur Sanders 2019 Highlights Trinity Christian High School The son of Deion Sanders led his school to a TAPPS title and No. 2 spot in this week's rankings.
Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill, Texas) moved into contention to claim the No. 1 overall ranking in the MaxPreps Small Schools National Rankings as it climbed to No. 2 with a win in the championship game of the TAPPS Division II playoffs.
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) holds the top spot after beating Helix (La Mesa) in the Class 1-A South regional. The Trailblazers play Central (Fresno) in the state championship game.
Most impressive win: Madison 70, Blountstown 35. Tre'ven Smith set a state championship game record with 365 yards rushing and five touchdowns for Blountstown, yet Madison County was able to overcome that record breaking effort and win by five touchdowns. Vinsonta Allen was the driving force behind the Madison County win.
Game of the Week: Pottsboro 35, Gladewater 34. Pottsboro moved on to the Texas Class 3A Division 1 state finals after beating Gladewater in double overtime. Gladewater rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, but missed on a two-point conversion try in the second overtime period to lose by one.
Game to watch: Canadian vs. Gunter. While Canadian is undefeated at 14-0, Gunter is 13-1. Both have been ranked during the season and will meet in the Texas Class 3A Division 2 championship game.
Best individual performance: Vinsonta Allen, Madison County. The dual-threat quarterback led Madison County to its third straight state championship by rushing for 249 yards and five touchdowns and also passes for 167 yards and two scores.
Dropped Out: No. 15 Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.); No. 15 Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta, Ga.); No. 18 Regents (Austin, Texas); No. 23 Gunter (Texas); No. 24 Penns Grove (Carneys Point, N.J.); No. 25 Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.).
The Small Schools Top 25 is open to schools that generally play in enrollment divisions with less than 1,000 students. Some California schools with under 1,000 students that play in competition-based playoff divisions that mostly include large enrollment schools (such as Sierra Canyon and Grace Brethren) are also included. Teams are ranked based on their MaxPreps computer ranking, which is listed along with their current record.
MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings
Gaige Garcia, Southern Columbia Area
Photo by Jamie Hassan
Results: Defeated Helix, 38-20
Highlights: Chayden Peery completed 16 of 18 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown to lead the Trailblazers.
Next Game: Friday vs. Central (Fresno) in CIF 1A state championship game.
2. (3) Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill, Texas), 12-1, 63.6
Results: Defeated Regents (Austin), 48-19.
Highlights: Shedeur Sanders threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns with
Marques Buford, Jr. catching five passes for 91 yards and two scores.
Next Game: Season over; TAPPS Division II champion
3. (2) Wahoo (Neb.), 13-0, 59.4
Nebraska Class C1 State Champions
4. (5) Anna (Ohio), 14-1, 59.1
Results: Defeated Springfield (New Middletown), 48-14
Highlights: Bart Bixler ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns and
Riley Huelskamp had 146 yards and three scores for Anna.
Next Game: Season over; Ohio Division VI state champion.
5. (4) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 16-0, 58.6
Results: Defeated Avonworth (Pittsburgh), 74-7
Highlights: Julian Fleming caught his 78th career receiving touchdown and
Gaige Garcia extended his career touchdown record with his 159th career touchdown.
Next Game: Season over. Pennsylvania Class AA state champion.
6. (7) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 12-2, 55.2
Results: Defeated Florida State University (Tallahassee), 35-20
Highlights: Thaddius Franklin set a state championship game record with 333 yards rushing on 47 carries in the win.
Next Game: Season over; Florida Class 3A state champion.
7. (6) Andale (Kan.), 13-0, 54.9
Kansas Class 3A State Champions
8. (8) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.), 12-2, 53.9
Season over.
9. (9) West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa), 12-1, 53.5
Iowa Class 1A State Champions
10. (NR) Alcoa (Tenn.), 14-1, 51.9
Results: Defeated Pearl-Cohn (Nashville), 27-0.
Highlights: Alcoa won its fifth straight state championship and its 18th in school history.
Next Game: Season over. Tennessee Class 3A state champion.
11. (10) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 12-2, 51.3
Results: Defeated Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross), 28-18
Highlights: Chavon Wright ran for 120 yards on 23 carries and scored the clinching touchdown.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Crisp County, Class AAA state finals.
12. (NR) McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.), 11-0, 50.4
Results: Defeated Manteca, 46-13
Highlights: Montrell Smith ran for 203 yards on 17 carries to lead the Warriors.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Pacifica (Oxnard) in CIF 2-A state finals.
13. (12) Kirtland (Ohio), 15-0, 50.1
Results: Defeated Ironton, 17-7
Highlights: Kirtland completed back-to-back 15-0 seasons with the win.
Next Game: Season over; Ohio Division V state champion.
14. (14) Grandview (Texas), 13-1, 49.8
Results: Defeated Troy, 34-13
Highlights: Dane Jentsch threw for 154 yards and ran for 72 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Columbus
15. (22) Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 12-2, 49.5
Results: Defeated Blountstown, 70-35
Highlights: Vinsonta Allen threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 249 yards and five touchdowns for the Cowboys' third straight state championship.
Next Game: Season over; Florida Class 1A state champions.
16. (11) Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.), 14-0, 49.1
Illinois Class 1A State Champion
17. (19) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 12-1, 48.7
Results: Defeated Holy Innocents Episcopal, 21-7
Highlights: Keaton Mitchell rushed for 191 yards and a touchdown for ELCA.
Next Game: Friday vs. Wesleyan (Norcross)
18. (12) Pierce (Neb.), 12-1, 47.7
Nebraska Class C1 runner-up. Season over.
19. (20) Shelby (N.C.), 13-1, 47.3
Results: Defeated Burns (Lawndale), 26-13
Highlights: Ja'hari Mitchell rushed for 104 yards and five touchdowns on just 10 carries for Shelby.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Salisbury
20. (NR) Lutheran North (St. Louis), 14-0, 46.6
Results: Defeated Alva 49-0.
Highlights: Brian Brown threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score for Lutheran North.
Next Game: Season over; Missouri Class 2 state champions.
21. (NR) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 12-0, 46.4
Results: Defeated Clinch County, 36-0
Highlights: Irwin got 62 yards rushing and an interception return for a touchdown from
Gabriel Benyard.
Next Game: Friday vs. Marion County
22. (NR) Lincoln Christian (Tulsa, Okla.), 14-0, 46.3
Results: Defeated Plainview, 42-21
Highlights: Chase Ricke threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns and
Josh Kaste ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns for Lincoln Christian.
Next Game: Season over; Oklahoma Class 3A state champion.
23. (17) Pottsboro (Texas), 14-0, 45.9
Results: Defeated Gladewater, 35-34
Highlights: Braden Plyler threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 86 yards and a score for Pottsboro.
Next Game: Thursday vs. Brock
24. (21) Canadian (Texas), 14-0, 45.8
Results: Defeated Abernathy, 35-31
Highlights: Hayze Hufstedler ran for 148 yards and a score while
Grant McCook ran for three touchdowns and threw for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Gunter.
25. (NR) Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.), 12-1, 44.6
Results: Defeated St. Charles Catholic (LaPlace), 41-14
Highlights: Errol Rogers jr. threw for 108 yards and a touchdown and ran for 146 yards and a touchdown for LCA's third straight state championship.
Next Game: Season over, Louisiana Division III champion.
