Video: Julian Fleming highlights See the Southern Columbia Area star and Ohio State commit in action.
Early playoff games have provided some lopsided wins for some of the top teams in the MaxPreps Small Schools National Football Rankings, but the games should get tougher this week as the playoffs progress to the quarterfinals and semifinals in many states.
Several states will contest championship games, including Iowa and Nebraska, before Thanksgiving. There was plenty of turnover this week as seven new teams entered the rankings — the highest number of new teams since the rankings began in August.
Most impressive win: Shiner 77, Freer 7. Shiner had 69 points in the first half, 42 in the first quarter, after scoring on an 82-yard kickoff by Dalton Brooks to open the game and a 40-yard fumble return by Trevor Haynes early in the first quarter. Ten of Shiner's scoring plays were 24 yards or longer. Shiner averaged 16 yards on 22 carries and 38 yards per pass attempt.
Game of the Week: West Lyon 26, West Sioux 21. West Sioux was looking to reach the state finals in search of its third straight Class 1A state championship, but West Lyon scored in the final minute of the back-and-forth contest and ended West Sioux's title hopes.
Game to watch: Pierce vs. Wahoo. Pierce has not won a state title since 2007, but Wahoo has never won a Class C-1 state championship and, in fact, has never reached the state championship game. Both teams enter the Class C-1 title game at 12-0 with Pierce ranked No. 4 overall and Wahoo ranked No. 6.
Best individual performance: Riley Huelskamp, Anna. Although Anna trailed early in its playoff matchup with Fairview, Huelskamp led the way to a lopsided victory by rushing for 292 yards and six touchdowns.
Dropped Out: No. 13 Berkeley Prep (Tampa); No. 15 Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta); No. 19 Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.); No. 20 Wall (Texas); No. 22 Adams Central (Hastings, Neb.); No. 24 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.)
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
Travis Roberson, Clearwater Central Catholic
File photo by Sheila Haddad
Results: Defeated Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 42-28
Highlights: DJ Harvey caught five passes for 157 yards and
JD Sumlin ran seven times for 130 yards and a touchdown for Sierra Canyon.
Next Game: Friday vs. Rancho Cucamonga
2. (3) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 13-0, 56.2
Results: Defeated Mount Carmel, 49-0
Highlights: SCA won its 27th district championship over the past 29 seasons and also collected its 45th straight win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Upper Dauphin Area (Elizabethville)
3. (5) Grace Brethren (Simi Valley, Calif.), 11-1, 54.6
Results: Defeated Lawndale, 33-31
Highlights: Josh Henderson had another big game, rushing 30 times for 176 yards and four touchdowns while also getting nine tackles on defense.
Next Game: Friday vs. La Habra
4. (9) Pierce (Neb.), 12-0, 54.4
Results: Defeated Adams Central, 54-14
Highlights: Pierce racked up 508 yards rushing including 219 yards and five touchdowns by
Carson Oestreich and 140 yards and two touchdowns by
Brett Tinker.
Next Game: Nov. 26 vs. Wahoo
5. (8) Anna (Ohio), 11-1, 53.7
Results: Defeated Fairview (Sherwood), 54-20
Highlights: Riley Huelskamp rushed for 292 yards and six touchdowns and
Bart Bixler added 103 yards and two touchdowns for Anna.
Next Game: Friday vs. Archbold
6. (2) Wahoo (Neb.), 12-0, 52.3
Results: Defeated Wayne, 21-7
Highlights: Trevin Luben ran for a pair of touchdowns to get Wahoo to its first Class C-1 state championship game in school history.
Next Game: Nov. 26 vs. Pierce
7. (10) Andale (Kan.), 11-0, 50.6
Results: Defeated Beloit, 42-0
Highlights: Eli Rowland scored twice in the win for Andale.
Next Game: Friday vs. Cheney
8. (7) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 9-2, 50.5
Results: Defeated Somerset Academy Silver Palms (Miami), 56-0
Highlights: Thaddius Franklin ran 10 times for 200 yards and five touchdowns for the Lions.
Next Game: Friday vs. Calvary Christian Academy
9. (16) Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.), 12-0, 49.6
Results: Defeated Aquin Catholic (Freeport), 52-20
Highlights: Sean Ormiston gained 132 yards with two touchdowns for Len-Win.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Wethersfield/Annawan (Kewanee)
10. (4) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 9-2, 49.1
Results: Defeated Fannin County (Blue Ridge), 36-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Benedictine
11. (11) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 9-0, 48.8
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Chattahoochee County (Cusseta)
12. (6) Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 9-2, 48.1
Results: Defeated HIlliard, 56-0
Highlights: Derrion Staten carried four times for 91 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Next Game: Friday vs. Union County (Lake Butler)
13. (14) West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa), 11-1, 47.9
Results: Defeated West Sioux (Hawarden), 26-21
Highlights: Logan Meyer scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute to knock off the two-time defending champions.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Van Meter
14. (NR) Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.), 9-3, 46.6
Results: Defeated Berkeley Prep (Tampa), 34-28
Highlights: Jordan Niles ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns and
Jerzhan Newton had three rushing touchdowns for CCC.
Next Game: Friday vs. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers)
15. (NR) Kirtland (Ohio), 12-0, 46.2
Results: Defeated South Range (Canfield), 38-7
Highlights: Luke Gardner ran for 191 yards and four touchdowns for Kirtland's 27th win in a row.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Manchester (Akron)
16. (NR) Leavitt (Turner, Maine), 11-0, 45.9
Results: Defeated York, 42-7
Highlights: Wyatt Hathaway threw for 141 yards and four touchdowns for Leavitt.
Next Game: Friday vs. Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield)
17. (21) Hayden (Topeka, Kan.), 10-1, 45.8
Results: Defeated Frontenac, 14-6
Highlights: Desmond Purnell ran for 151 yards and a 52-yard touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Perry-Lecomptin
18. (17) Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, Fla.), 7-3, 45.1
Results: Defeated Miami Christian (Miami), 34-7
Highlights: Ryle Aguila threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown for the Lions.
Next Game: Friday vs. Moore Haven
19. (18) McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.), 9-0, 44.9
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Nov. 30 vs. Skyline (Oakland)
20. (NR) Dallas Christian (Mesquite, Texas), 10-1, 44.8
Results: Defeated Fort Worth Christian (North Richland Hills), 46-21
Highlights: TJ King ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns and
Zack Haaland had 155 yards and two scores for the Chargers.
Next Game: Friday vs. Grapevine Faith Christian (Grapevine)
21. (NR) Athens Academy (Athens, Ga.), 10-0, 44.5
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Brookstone (Columbus)
22. (12) Shiner (Texas), 11-0, 44.4
Results: Defeated Freer, 77-7
Highlights: Doug Brooks carried twice for 102 yards and two touchdowns and
Tyler Palmer completed all three of his passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Next Game: Friday vs. Hearne
23. (23) Shelby (N.C.), 10-1, 44.3
Results: Defeated West Iredell (Statesville), 56-7
Highlights: Isaiah Bess threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
Kamarde Huskey caught two of them and finished with 85 yards on three catches.
Next Game: Friday vs. Maiden
23. (NR) Elkton (Md.), 11-0, 44.3
Results: Defeated Parkside (Salisbury), 55-25
Highlights: Nolan Null threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns while
Tashawn Watters Jr. ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden Elks.
Next Game: Friday vs. North Caroline (Ridgely)
25. (NR) Richland (Johnstown, Pa.), 12-0, 44.0
Results: Defeated Ligonier Valley (Ligonier), 34-6
Highlights: Caleb Burke threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns and
Kellan Stahl added 129 yards passing with two touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Bishop McDevitt (Wyncote)
