Video: Najhier West's highlights vs. Southern Columbia AreaSee the Pennsylvania star in action.It would take a great team to knock perennial Florida Class 3A state champion Trinity Christian Academy out of the top spot in the MaxPreps final small school national football rankings. Steel Valley is just such a team.
In winning its first state championship in school history, Steel Valley completed one of the most dominant runs in Pennsylvania high school football history. In outscoring its opponents 806-121 and winning the Class 2A state championship, Steel Valley won all 15 of its games by the mercy rule. Steel Valley's closest game was a 35-point win over Neshannock in the playoffs.
Trinity Christian Academy, which was the preseason No. 1 in the small school rankings and had finished No. 1 overall the past two seasons, ends the year at No. 2 after winning its fourth-straight Class 3A state title in Florida. At 11-3, Trinity Christian Academy's only losses were to Class 4A state champion Cocoa, Lincoln (Tallahassee) and IMG Academy.
Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio), finishes at No. 3 after winning the Ohio Division VI state championship. Marion Local finished the 2013 season ranked No. 1 in the small schools national rankings and the 2015 season ranked No. 2.
The small schools national rankings are based on the MaxPreps computer rankings. Small schools are considered to be those that play in state enrollment divisions with generally less than 1,000 students.
MaxPreps final small schools national football rankings
1. (last time NR) Steel Valley (Munhall, Pa.), 15-0, 60.0
Pennsylvania Class 2A champion
2. (2) Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 11-3, 58.7
Florida Class 3A champion
3. (5) Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio), 14-1, 55.0
Ohio Class VI champion
4. (8) Benedictine (Savannah, Ga.), 15-0, 54.8
Georgia Class AA champion
5. (19) IC Catholic Prep (Elmhurst, Ill.), 14-0, 53.2
Illinois Class 3A champion
6. (NR) Archbishop Murphy (Everett, Wash.), 14-0, 53.2
Washington Class 2A champion
7. (11) Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.), 12-1, 52.3
Louisiana Division III champion
8. (19) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 9-4, 51.6
Florida Class 3A runnerup
9. (6) Shelby (N.C.), 16-0, 51.4
North Carolina Class 2AA champion
10. (22) Jones (Okla.), 15-0, 51.0
Oklahoma Class 3A champion
11. (NR) Glens Falls (N.Y.), 13-0, 50.9
New York Class B champion
12. (15) Belfry (Ky.), 14-1, 49.2
Kentucky Class 3A champion
13. (NR) Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (Ind.), 13-2, 48.8
Indiana Class 3A champion
14. (NR) Appomattox County (Appomattox, Va.), 15-0, 48.6
Virginia Class 2A champion
15. (1) Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach, Fla.), 10-2, 48.3
Florida Class 3A quarterfinalist
16. (NR) Lamar (Mo.), 14-0, 48.0
Missouri Class 2 champion
17. (NR) West Deptford (Westville, N.J.), 12-0, 47.8
New Jersey South II champion
18. (7) Chenango Forks (Binghamton, N.Y.), 12-1, 47.4
New York Class B runnerup
19. (NR) Mineola (Texas), 14-2, 47.4
Texas Class 3A-I champion
20. (NR) Pahokee (Fla.), 14-0, 47.3
Florida Class 1A champion
21. (NR) Pueblo East (Colo.), 13-1, 46.8
Colorado Class 3A champion
22. (NR) Kemper County (DeKalb, Miss.), 15-1, 46.6
Mississippi Class 3A champion
23. (NR) Gunter (Texas), 16-0, 46.6
Texas Class 3A-II champion
24. (3) Maryville (Mo.), 14-1, 46.2
Missouri Class 3 runnerup
25. (NR) Canton Central Catholic (Ohio), 11-3, 46.0
Ohio Division V champion
