November 29, 2009

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Senior Analyst

Dallas Jackson is the high school sports expert for RivalsHigh.com. Send him a question or comment at DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.com and follow him at twitter.com/rivalshigh.

This time of year, teams are just happy to still be playing - allowing their on-field performance settle any off-the-field opinions.

But don't worry, that won't stop us for putting out another RivalsHigh Top 100 rankings.

After all, you have to give the few remaining teams something to think about it.

The new RivalsHigh Top 100 rankings will be posted on Monday, but here's a sneak peak at some of the things we're looking at across the country:

Amazing Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas did it again. Rolling to a 63-0 victory over South Broward. This, a week after a 66-7 victory over Coral Springs.

STA, seemingly on the way to a second straight national title, always seems to make it look easy.

But give credit where credit is due. No wins are easy this time of year. Just ask the teams in last week's RivalsHigh Top 100 football rankings. Four of the Top 10 went down ? or should we say six of the Top 20 ? or perhaps eight of the Top 30. Playoff victories are tough, making what Aquinas is doing all the more remarkable.

These results will bring quite a shakeup to this week's rankings. State rankings will be turned upside down, too. Here's a look at a few other key areas:

Don't mess (around) in Texas

You better bring your 'A' game in the Texas state playoffs. Just ask previously No. 3 Cedar Hill, which was overrun in the fourth quarter by previously No. 64 Abilene, 41-17.

Want more? How about No. 8 Dallas Skyline going down to unranked Cyprus Woods, 28-21.

And then there's No. 18 Southlake Carroll getting run over by Bowie, 45-21.

Not all the ranked Texas teams lost. No. 24 Lake Travis pounded Flour Bluff, 52-13. And No. 32 Katy rolled over La Porte, 37-3.

We'll find out who takes over the top spot in the state on Monday but you better believe the coaches of the teams still alive are letting their players know they have to be ready to play.

Confusion on my mind in Georgia

The topsy-turvy year in Georgia continued this weekend when No. 9 Grayson was upset by No. 51 Newnan, 9-7.

At least that game was close. No. 29 North Gwinnett was overrun by No. 56 Camden County, 35-0.

No. 81 Lassiter also had a tough day, falling to unranked Colquitt County, 46-17.

The new state rankings - and don't forget, Lowndes fell in the previous round - should be interesting.

More new No. 1s

Rankings are nice - but it's always better to settle it on the field. Two big showdowns settled the debate in these states:

In Mississippi, No. 28 South Panola beat No. 10 Madison Central, 36-21.

In Washington, No. 69 Skyline outlasted No. 41 Bothell, 31-26.

Sound off!

If you have seen a team that you think should be moved higher or lower in the weekly rankings be sure to have your opinion heard.

The RivalsHigh message board is a great place to sound off on who, in your opinion, is among the nation's elite.

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