ESPN RISE

One of the best aspects of releasing the ESPN RISE FAB 50 each week is introducing the nation to a football program like Grayson County High of Loganville, Ga.

Few people outside the greater Atlanta area had heard of the Rams before Grayson knocked off FAB 50 No. 3 Lowndes County (Valdosta, Ga.) 17-7 Friday night in the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

Grayson is a relatively new school -- not even 10 years old -- and plays in a very strong region within Georgia football. Even though the Rams were unbeaten this year entering the playoffs, they were still looking to get over the hump and beat a perennial power. Grayson began answering critics' questions two weeks ago by defeating Brookwood 10-7, and followed that performance with the win against Lowndes. In four previous state playoff meetings against Brookwood, Grayson County had gone 0-4.

Diminutive 5-foot-3 running Ean Pemberton led a punishing, clock-eating ground attack against Lowndes with 188 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

The defeat ended Lowndes' attempt to win back-to-back state titles and its fourth title in five years.

With the win, Grayson jumped to No. 27 in this week's FAB 50. With the loss, Lowndes nearly dropped out entirely, but received enough votes to land at No. 41.

With still three weeks left in the season, the race for the final No. 1 national ranking could come down to Trinity (Euless, Texas) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla). Both teams, if they continue to win, would play for their respective state championships on the same weekend (Dec. 19-20).

St. Thomas Aquinas could face FAB 50 No. 13 Lakeland in the Class 5A championship, but would not play FAB 50 No. 3 Armwood, which is in Class 4A.

Armwood's toughest test in its state playoff bracket, in fact, might come this week against Tampa-Orlando rival Plant.

In addition to Grayson County, we welcome three other newcomers to the FAB 50, highlighted by No. 48 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.). This week, the Shamrocks take on archrival St. Xavier (Louisville), which is unbeaten and has been in the top 10 of the FAB 50 for several weeks, in the Kentucky state title game at Papa John's Stadium. St. Xavier won the regular-season matchup between the two 30-6, but anyone who follows this rivalry knows that anything can happen when these teams get together.

ESPN RISE FAB 50

The ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings were compiled by a panel of ESPN RISE and ESPN.com high school editors, which includes Mark Tennis, Doug Huff, Chris Lawlor, Jon Mahoney, Sheldon Shealer, Ronnie Flores and Paul Muyskens.

Results as of Nov. 29.

1. Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Record: 13-0
Points: 250, five first-place votes
Previous rank: 1

The Trojans rolled past overmatched Arlington High 48-14 on Saturday to set up a much-anticipated rematch with FAB 50 No. 19 Allen this week in a Class 5A Division I, Region I final. On Saturday, Trinity led 41-0 and was never challenged, rushing for 321 yards. Junior RB Damien Hart ran for two third-quarter scores and 117 yards to lead the onslaught. Trinity topped Allen 24-14 way back on Sept. 19, rushing for 281 yards and forcing three Allen turnovers, and Round 2 will go down Saturday at Texas Stadium. Head coach Steve Lineweaver's team would be in its state semifinal game the following week if it can move on.

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 245
Previous rank: 2

After trailing early in the first quarter,the Raiders used big plays to crush Dillard 49-8 in the Class 5A state playoffs. The Raiders responded to an early Dillard touchdown with a 65-yard touchdown run from junior RB Giovanni Bernard to give his team a 14-8 lead. From that point, the rout was on as senior wideout Duron Carter hauled in two of quarterback Ryan Becker's four touchdown passes. Aquinas led 35-8 at the break and tacked on two second-half scores. The Raiders will host South Fork in the next round. For its case to be No. 1 in the nation, St. Thomas would have been better served had Elder and not St. Ignatius won in the Ohio Division I final since the Raiders own a victory over Elder.

3. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 237
Previous rank: 5

A helmet sticker needs to go to senior All-American defensive end Ryne Giddins, who scored twice in Armwood's 50-20 thrashing of Tampa Bay Tech. Giddins scored on a fumble recovery and a 16-yard interception return. Senior quarterback Mywan Jackson also accounted for over 250 yards of total offense and a touchdown. Armwood locks up next with crosstown rival Plant in a regular-season rematch which the Hawks won 9-2. If Armwood wins, the path to the Class 4A state title won't be easy but it does look easier than what St. Thomas Aquinas might face in Class 5A.

4. Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 236
Previous rank: 4

A second straight close call in the CIF Southern Section Pac-Five Division playoffs prevented the Jackrabbits from moving up from the No. 4 spot this week due to the upset loss suffered by previous No. 3 Lowndes of Georgia. This time, a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter was broken on a 2-yard TD run by senior RB Melvin Richardson and the Jackrabbits ended up with a 17-10 triumph over Esperanza. Richardson also scored earlier in the game on a 32-yard run. Poly will now play Moore League rival Lakewood in the semifinals. Lakewood has pulled off upset wins over Servite and Mission Viejo in the past two weeks and lost to Poly earlier in the season 32-15. Although the Jackrabbits didn't move up this week, if they do win out, which would likely include their first CIF Open Division state title, at that point they would probably have a stronger résumé than current No. 3 Armwood even if Armwood were to win its state title.

5. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Record: 13-0
Points: 226
Previous rank: 7

Texas fans thought they were getting the next Colt McCoy in Lake Travis' Garrett Gilbert, but the Elite 11 QB continued to do his best Vince Young impression again Friday, rushing for 123 yards and five touchdowns as the Cavaliers topped Alice 55-32 to advance in the Class 4A state playoffs. Gilbert ran for three scores and passed for another as Lake Travis raced out to a 35-10 first-half lead, and then ran for one score in the third quarter and another in the fourth after Alice closed to within 35-32 late in the third quarter. Lake Travis will next battle district rival Killeen, which it dispatched 50-9 in the regular season, on Friday at the University of Texas.

6. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 224
Previous rank: 6

The Tigers' potent offense was brought to a halt, but little-used place-kicker Ryan Trotman delivered, sending Oscar Smith to its first state final with a 10-7 victory over Oakton in the Division 6 semifinals. The clash between Oscar Smith and Oakton, both undefeated entering the contest, was considered by many the matchup of the state's top two Division 6 teams. Oscar Smith moves on to face Osbourn in Saturday's state final at Virginia Tech. The Tigers entered the semifinals averaging 42.5 points per game, but found themselves trailing 7-0 at halftime. Junior QB Phillip Sims connected with Tim Smith on a third-quarter touchdown to draw the teams even following Trotman's extra point. Oscar Smith recovered a fumble in Oakton's territory -- the only turnover of the game -- that led to Trotman's winning field goal with 1:27 left.

7. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Record: 14-1 (Season complete)
Points: 217
Previous rank: 10

The Wildcats captured their Ohio-best 10th state crown, all since 1988, with a 28-20 Division 1 finals win over FAB 50 No. 22 Cincinnati Elder. Senior quarterback Andrew Holland completed 12 of 22 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns for the Wildcats, which were appearing in a record 21st consecutive year in the playoffs. It was the Wildcats' 14th straight win after a 20-17 season debut loss to city rival, and FAB 50 No. 30, Glenville. That loss was avenged in the playoffs.

8. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 215
Previous rank: 8

The Tigers set up this week's anticipated rematch showdown against city rival and FAB 50 No. 47 Trinity with a 53-0 state Class 6A quarterfinal blowout of DuPont Manual. The Tigers scored 29 points in the second quarter en route to their fifth shutout of the season. Senior RB Deuce Finch rested most of the second half after rushing 13 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns before intermission. The Tigers, who average 53 points while allowing four per game, face defending champion Trinity Friday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Tigers bested the Shamrocks 30-6 in a regular-season game.

9. Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)
Record: 13-0
Points: 210
Previous rank: 9

The Wildcats needed a late fourth-quarter rally to spoil Woodstock's Cinderella season with an 18-17 win. Senior DB Michael Green intercepted a pass and returned it for a score to cut the lead to 17-12. Camden then scored the game-winning touchdown on senior RB Daniel Valdez's 1-yard run with less than seven minutes left to give the Wildcats their first lead. Friday, Camden clashes with FAB 50-ranked Newnan. The team will have to play much better on offense because it is facing a defense that has been phenomenal so far this season.

10. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 204
Previous rank: 11

Nicholas Parker was just a freshman the last time South Panola played Meridian for the 2006 state championship and won, 28-21. The two schools will square off again Friday night at Mississippi Memorial Stadium for the state 5A title but the 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior figures to play a much larger role as the Tigers go for their national-best 90th straight victory -- this time as a FAB 50 Top 10 team. South Panola has shown signs of vulnerability at times this year and a 24-21 semifinal win over Madison Central was scary. But good teams find a way to win those kinds of games and the Tigers did just that. It figures that the Meridian game could be just as tough a challenge. The 13-1 Wildcats advanced with a 28-0 thumping of Oak Grove behind QB Tyler Russell and defensive standout Michael Pack. If you're looking for an edge in common opponents, there isn't much as both have met Starkville, with the Tigers rolling 56-22 in the preseason and the Wildcats winning 34-7 in league play. The key for South Panola will be Parker, as it has been all year.

11. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 203
Previous rank: 14

This grudge match had all the makings of a classic -- a pair of undefeated programs loaded with NCAA Division I talent. Instead, it quickly turned into a rout. Senior LB Demetrius Ward scooped up a fumble by Stone Bridge quarterback Patrick Thompson on the first play from scrimmage and ran 26 yards for a touchdown igniting a 38-8 victory in the Division 5 state semifinals. Junior RB Shawne Alston added 160 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. The Phoebus defense also sacked the Stone Bridge quarterback six times. Phoebus next faces Dinwiddie in the Division 5 final Saturday at Virginia Tech.

12. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 202
Previous rank: 12

If there's a trademark to head coach Matt Logan's teams, it's balanced offense and a hard-hitting defense. That was demonstrated once again during last weekend's 41-14 win over Vista Murrieta in the CIF Southern Section Inland Division quarterfinals. Senior QB Taylor Martinez best exemplifies the balance as he completed 15 of 21 passes for 212 yards and three TDs and also rushed for 95 yards on eight carries with two more scores. On defense, All-American LB Vontaze Burfict shined with 14 tackles and one sack while DB Demeitri Beasley ran back a fumble 50 yards for a score. Friday, Centennial meets Murrieta Valley in the semifinals.

13. Lakeland (Fla.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 190
Previous rank: 13

The comeback Dreadnaughts pulled it off again, topping Osceola 20-16 for the second time in three weeks, this time in the Class 5A state playoffs. Lakeland has rallied four times this season for come-from-behind wins. Against Osceola, senior running back Aaron Truedell rushed for 92 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns. Truedell scored the game winner on a 7-yard scamper with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Lakeland welcomes Tampa Chamberlain to Bryant Stadium on Friday night. The Dreadnaughts are still in line to perhaps face off against No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A state final.

14. Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Record: 13-0
Points: 182
Previous rank: 15

Skyline held off a tough Ferris squad 24-21 that gave the Spartans all they could handle in the Class 4A state semifinals. Trailing in the second half for the first time all season, the Spartans battled back to take the lead and their defense shut down the Saxons in the fourth quarter to escape with a victory. Junior QB Jake Heaps had a hand in all three Spartans touchdowns, throwing for two scores and rushing for another. Heaps finished the game 21-of-37 for 252 yards. Last year's Class 3A champs now find themselves in the Class 4A title game, where they will look to extend their winning streak to 28 games. Skyline's opponent in Friday's final is 11-2 Issaquah.

15. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Record: 10-1
Points: 173
Previous rank: 18

The Ironmen warmed up for the Non-Public, Group IV finals by cruising past Paramus Catholic 57-0 on Thanksgiving. Senior running back Dillon Romain tallied 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the win. He has 13 touchdowns in the past four games. Don Bosco will be going for its third consecutive Non-Public, Group IV title when it plays rival Bergen Catholic at Giants Stadium on Saturday. The Ironmen upended Bergen Catholic 38-7 earlier this season.

16. Maryville (Tenn.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 169
Previous rank: 19

Maryville extended its winning streak to 74 straight games with a 33-6 victory over Greeneville in the Class 4A state semifinals. Junior QB Philip Juhlin threw for 121 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 97 in the win. The Rebels will now seek their fifth straight Class 4A state title when they play Hillsboro Saturday.

17. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Record: 13-1
Points: 168
Previous rank: 27

Junior running back Marcus Lattimore rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns as Byrnes got retribution for its only loss of the year, defeating Dorman 24-13 in the Class 4A Division I state semifinals. Dorman had defeated Byrnes 35-28 earlier this year when the Rebels were near the top of the FAB 50. Lattimore broke the school record for rushing yards in a season, rushing for 2,020 yards this year to top the record of 1,884 he set last season. Byrnes will play for its sixth state championship in seven years when it tangles with Sumter in the Class 4A Division I title game.

18. North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 166
Previous rank: 23

Another playoff game, another convincing win for the Knights, who dispatched of Neshaminy 28-0 in the District 1 Class AAAA finals. It was sweet revenge for North Penn, which was blanked by Neshaminy 35-0 in last year's district quarterfinals. This time, it was the Knights who recorded the shutout. Senior Ronnie Akins scored three touchdowns and senior Tyler Smith added a touchdown run for the Knights, while senior linebacker Andrew Stoll keyed the dominant defense. North Penn will play Liberty (13-1) in the PIAA Class AAAA state semifinals on Friday.

19. Allen (Allen, Texas)
Record: 12-1
Points: 164
Previous rank: 33

Junior quarterback Tucker Carter, filling in for injured starter and star Matt Brown, passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns while Allen utilized a bend-but-don't-break defense to stun previous FAB 50 No. 17 Odessa Permian 28-22 Friday. After senior RB Jeremiah Williams scored his second touchdown in the third quarter to give Allen a 21-3 bulge, the Eagles held on for dear life, as Permian raced back to within one score on the legs of standout senior RB Sherard Ray, who rushed 30 times for 256 yards and scores of 11, 4 and 6 yards in the second half. Brown dressed for the game but did not play after taking a hard hit on his non-throwing shoulder in the previous week's win over Coppell. The Eagles now get their rematch with FAB 50 No. 1 Euless Trinity Saturday at Texas Stadium, and hope Brown will be back in action.

20. Bethel Park (Pittsburgh)
Record: 14-0
Points: 152
Previous rank: 28

After edging nationally ranked Gateway in the WPIAL Class AAAA finals, Bethel Park squeaked past FAB 50 No. 49 State College 17-14 in the PIAA Class AAAA state quarterfinals. Senior kicker Patrick Lydon's 25-yard field goal with a little more than two minutes to go pushed Bethel Park's lead to 17-7 and ended up being the game-winning points as State College drove for a late touchdown. Workhorse senior running back Lyle Marsh ran for 125 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries, while senior wide receiver John Schademan caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. The Black Hawks move on to Saturday's state semifinals, where they'll face their third consecutive nationally ranked opponent in undefeated and FAB 50 No. 50 West Lawn Wilson.

21. Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 11-1
Points: 147
Previous rank: 24

Coach Robert Weiner's team gutted out a hard-fought 13-7 win over Bradenton Southeast in the Class 4A state playoffs. The Panthers trailed 7-3 in the fourth quarter, but scored the go-ahead points on a 10-yard touchdown run by senior RB Marco Cobb with nine minutes remaining. Plant added a field goal for the final margin of victory. Sophomore QB Phillip Ely threw for 157 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. The Panthers will next try to knock off No. 3 Armwood in a highly anticipated regional final showdown.

22. Elder (Cincinnati)
Record: 13-2 (Season complete)
Points: 140
Previous rank: 16

The Panthers bowed to FAB 50 No. 7 Cleveland St. Ignatius 28-20 in the Division 1 state championship game. The only other loss for Elder was to FAB 50 No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida 35-24 in the second game of the season. Elder's junior quarterback Mark Miller set state title game records in a losing cause. He completed 27 of 50 passes for 399 yards and two touchdowns before exiting late in the fourth quarter. Junior wide receiver Tim O'Conner landed 15 passes for 184 yards and two scores.

23. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Record: 10-1
Points: 137
Previous rank: 25

Since 1991, the Spartans have never lost in a CIF North Coast Section playoff game and it looks like they won't this year, either, after a playoff-opening 52-7 romp against Deer Valley. Senior RB Kylan Butler scored three touchdowns in the first half to lead a De La Salle offense that punched across scores on its first five series of the game. Senior WR/DB Noah Perio picked off a pass and returned it 30 yards for another score to lead the defense. Friday, head coach Bob Ladouceur's team plays 9-2 Foothill in the NCS Division I semifinals.

24. Prattville (Ala.)
Record: 12-1
Points: 136
Previous rank: 26

Early on, it certainly didn't look as though the Lions would be jumping into the upper echelon of the FAB 50 as Davidson came out with a simple game plan: deny Prattville the ball. But, after running just 14 plays before intermission, the Lions cranked it up behind senior RB Jerodis Williams to win 25-6, advancing to the Class 6A championships at Legion Field Saturday afternoon where they'll meet Hoover, the dominant program in the state from 2000 to 2005 that is unbeaten in Alabama this year. Prattville made some adjustments at the break last week that will allow it to go for a third straight title. Williams' 1-yard TD plunge, set up by Quaylan Moncrief's 56-yard dash, early in the third quarter broke the scoreless deadlock and the Lions went on to score 25 straight points before a late Davidson TD denied the defense its eighth shutout of the season. Williams finished with 89 of Prattville's 310 yards. Junior QB Sam Gibson had a 1-yard dive for a score to go with a 45-yard TD pass to Taylor Harris. Prattville has outscored its opponents 462-90 heading into the title game. The two schools have won the past seven state titles.

25. John T. Curtis (River Ridge, La.)
Record:12-1
Points: 126*
Previous rank: 29

Just as they did the week before, the Patriots came out on fire, scoring 19 points in the first quarter en route to a 36-13 victory over highly regarded St. Thomas Aquinas (Hammond, La.) in the Class 2A state playoffs. That sets up a state 2A semifinal showdown between Curtis and Shreveport Calvary Baptist, which advanced with a narrow 36-33 victory over Farmerville. Senior QB Evan Ingram had a hand in four of the five JTC scores. His 45-yard pass to Chris Guillot, a 2-yard run by Marchez Patterson and a 19-yard pass to Josh Hanberry in the first quarter pretty much settled matters but Ingram silenced any comeback cries with 1-yard runs in the third and fourth quarters. It was St. Thomas Aquinas' first loss of the season. Calvary Baptist is averaging 42 points a game in the playoffs and its only loss came in the regular-season finale to Evangel Christian.

26. Maine South (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Record: 14-0 (Season complete)
Points: 126*
Previous rank: 31

The Hawks won their third state title, and first since 2000, with a 41-21 Class 8A finals win over Hinsdale Central as the teams combined for 839 offensive yards. Senior quarterback Charlie Goro rushed 25 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns and completed 9 of 14 passes for 132 yards and a score. Junior RB Matt Perez carried 18 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

27. Grayson County (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 13-0
Points: 120
Previous rank: NR

It was a Conn job of sorts for the Rams as they upset previous FAB 50 No. 3 Lowndes 17-7 in the Class AAAAA state playoffs. Head coach Mickey Conn came up with a game plan that kept Lowndes' explosive offense off the field with time-consuming drives and when the Vikings' offense was on the field Conn's crew kept it in check. Grayson plays Peachtree Ridge in its next state playoff game.

28. Madison County (Madison, Fla.)
Record: 11-0
Points: 118
Previous rank: 30

The Cowboys survived an upset bid with a 35-28 win against Pensacola Catholic at Boot Hill Stadium in the Class 2A state playoffs. Senior RB Corey Akins paced the Madison ground game with 251 yards rushing on 26 attempts and four touchdowns. With the scored tied 28-28, sophomore QB Kelvin Singletary scored from 10 yards out to give the Cowboys the lead. The defense then stopped a late drive to seal the win. Madison next squares off with Jacksonville Bolles in the semifinals for a trip to the Class 2A state championship game.

29. South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 116
Previous rank: 32

South Carolina commit Stephon Gilmore threw for 164 yards, ran for 163 and totaled four touchdowns as South Pointe defeated Laurens 55-17 in the state semifinals. South Pointe will next play Northwestern of Rock Hill for the Class 4A Division II state championship. South Pointe defeated Northwestern 28-7 earlier this year.

30. Glenville (Cleveland)
Record: 11-1 (Season complete)
Points: 103
Previous rank: 34

The Tarblooders split decisions with FAB 50 No. 7 Cleveland St. Ignatius, bowing by 8-7 in the regional semifinals but winning in the season opener. The 8-7 score was the closest game that St. Ignatius had in its run to the Ohio Division I state title.

31. Newnan (Ga.)
Record: 13-0
Points: 100
Previous rank: 40

In a statement game, the Cougars dispatched the 2007 state runner-up North Gwinnett Bulldogs 20-3 in the Class AAAAA playoffs. Newnan was looking to avenge last year's quarterfinal loss to North Gwinnett and it did behind a stingy defense. On offense, senior QB Russell Powell completed 10 of 12 passes for 126 yards with two touchdowns and added a rushing score to account for the Cougars' scoring. DB Alex Ogletree intercepted Bulldog QB Michael Tamburo to preserve the win. Newnan next takes on Camden County in the semifinals. A win in that game could really vault the Cougars up the charts since Camden County has been in the top 15 of the FAB 50 for most of the season.

32. St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)
Record: 11-1
Points: 94
Previous rank: 35

A 67-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Logan Meyer to Patrick Hall just before halftime lifted the Seraphs to an eventual 35-7 win over Paso Robles in the CIF Southern Section Northern Division playoffs. Hall would later add two additional rushing touchdowns, while junior RB Devon Blackledge also rushed for two scores. St. Bonaventure, which has lost only to No. 4 Long Beach Poly, plays 9-3 Saugus in the semifinals. If the Seraphs win their section title, they would then likely be chosen as the Division III South representative for the CIF state bowl games.

33. Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 88
Previous rank: 36

Maybe the Coyotes should take a week off more often, jumping three spots in the FAB 50 this week despite not playing. Centennial will have its chance to make an impression again when it play fourth-seeded Ironwood Ridge of Tucson again, only this time it will be in the Division 5 II semifinals at Chandler High School Friday. Centennial rolled over Ironwood Ridge 44-0 in 2A District I play last month as John Hughes scored five times -- four rushes and on a pass reception. Focus too much on the speedy Hughes and QB Dane McFarland will make you pay.

34. Union (Tulsa, Okla.)
Record: 12-1
Points: 85
Previous rank: 38

Union senior running back Jeremy Smith continued his domination on the ground as the Redskins defeated Midwest City 49-17 in the Class 6A state semifinals. Smith, an Oklahoma State recruit, ran for 174 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 354 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in his past two games. The win sets up a meeting with FAB 50 No. 40 and rival Jenks in the finals on Friday. Union defeated the Trojans 24-17 in overtime earlier this season, but the Redskins lost to Jenks 42-24 in last year's state finals. This is the sixth time in 11 seasons the two teams have met for the state championship.

35. Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)
Record: 13-0
Points: 76
Previous rank: 39

Junior quarterback Anthony Carrothers ran 139 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another score as Independence defeated Butler of Charlotte 49-7 in the Class 4AA quarterfinals. Lawrence Martin returned the game's opening kickoff 94 yards to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead, which they never relinquished. Independence will play Richmond Senior in the state semifinals.

36. Hightower (Fort Bend, Texas)
Record: 11-0
Points: 75
Previous rank: 37

For the second straight week, Hightower was outgained by an opponent but won the turnover battle, and got past Cinco Ranch late on Jake Kane's 40-yard field goal with 5:54 left to advance with a 24-21 victory. The Canes fell behind early 14-0, but rallied with two A.J. Highsmith TD passes and then took the lead late in the third quarter on Jeremy Woodson's 42-yard interception return for a score. Woodson had a second interception with 1:57 left in the game to seal the win for Hightower, which now faces FAB 50 No. 46 Pearland in a 5A Division I regional final.

37. Muskegon (Mich.)
Record: 14-0 (Season complete)
Points: 71
Previous rank: 41

The Big Reds won their third state title in the past five years with a 34-14 win over previously unbeaten Warren De La Salle in the Division 2 title game. Jason Hannett rushed 22 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns and Elan Banks added 105 yards and a score on 16 rushes. The Big Reds led 20-0 at halftime and 27-0 before the Pilots scored. Muskegon's regular-season victims included Division 1 champion Rockford (13-1).

38. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
Record: 14-1
Points:65
Previous rank: 42

The Trojans rallied from a 33-14 deficit after three quarters to dethrone defending state Class 5A champion Carmel 36-33. They avenged the only regular-season loss for Center Grove, which won its first state crown. Senior quarterback Jordan Luallen, a Georgia Tech recruit, completed 13 of 20 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown and rushed for two scores. The rally was ignited by the recovery of two onside kicks.

39. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 13-1 (Season complete)
Points: 64
Previous rank: 22

Dorman rushed for 252 yards, but the Byrnes defense held the Cavaliers to only one touchdown as their undefeated season ended with a 24-13 loss in the state semifinals. Bo Lindsey kicked two field goals (40, 27) in the loss. Dorman still will get credit for the final FAB 50 rankings due to its earlier win over the Rebels when they were No. 4.

40. Jenks (Okla.)
Record: 12-1
Points: 54
Previous rank: 43

Junior running back Colton Dost ran for 78 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Tramaine Thompson had 180 total yards (129 receiving, 51 rushing) as Jenks defeated Mustang 35-20 in the Class 6A state semifinals. The Trojans advance to play archrival and FAB 50 No. 34 Union in the finals on Friday. This is the second consecutive year and sixth time in the past 11 seasons Jenks and Union will play each other in the state finals. Jenks won last year's tilt 42-24. Meanwhile, Union bested Jenks 24-17 in overtime earlier this season.

41. Lowndes County (Valdosta, Ga.)
Record: 12-1 (Season complete)
Points: 42
Previous rank: 3

The top-ranked team in the Peach State stumbled on the road against Grayson 17-7. Lowndes' explosive run-oriented offense couldn't get on track and was held 30 points below its season average. Senior RB Greg Reid led the Vikings' offense with 173 rushing yards, including an 81-yard touchdown burst for the team's only touchdown. The loss snapped a school-record 26-game winning streak. The defending state champions were going for their fourth crown in five years. The team's overall season performance, however, was more than solid so expect the Vikings to stay nationally ranked.

42. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)
Record: 13-0 (Season complete)
Points: 41
Previous rank: 45

The Trojans scored 20 unanswered points after an early 7-7 tie to defeat Blaine 27-7 to win the state Class 5A Prep Bowl championship. Senior quarterback John Ries passed for two touchdowns and engineered a 99-yard scoring drive for a 20-7 cushion. The Trojans' defense was dominant as well, including two pass interceptions. Wayzata won its regular-season games by an average of 36 points and had defeated playoff foes by a 31-point margin entering the finals.

43. Bellevue (Wash.)
Record: 12-0
Points: 39
Previous rank: 44

The Wolverines had a huge scare Friday night when their team bus flipped on the freeway in route their Class 3A state semifinal matchup with Capital. No major injuries were reported and the game was rescheduled for Monday night. When the Wolverines finally took the field, they easily dispatched Capital 28-6. Bellevue got a touchdown from senior running back Jamal Atofau to go along with 151 yards rushing from fellow senior Peter Nguyen.

44. Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.)
Record: 12-1 (Season complete)
Points: 34
Previous rank: 46

Bethel Park, the team that knocked off Gateway 10-6 two weekends ago when it had climbed to No. 4 in the FAB 50, kept on winning last week. This enables Gateway to remain in this week's rankings.

45. Homestead (Mequon, Wis.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 24
Previous rank: 48

The Highlanders won their second state Division 1 title in their third straight title game against Arrowhead, 13-11.

46. Pearland (Pearland, Texas)
Record: 12-0
Points: 19
Previous rank: 48

Senior RB Kasey Carrier ran for 142 yards and four touchdowns as Pearland easily dispatched Katy Taylor 35-7 to advance in the Texas Class 5A Division I state playoffs. Carrier scored on runs of 3, 14, 1 and 5 yards as the Oilers ran up 387 yards of offense and were never really threatened in the Region III semifinal. Pearland senior QB Sam Allen ran for a 63-yard score on the game's first play from scrimmage and accounted for 194 yards of offense to support Carrier, while the Oilers' defense allowed just 206 yards and intercepted three passes. A date with FAB 50 No. 36 Hightower on Saturday is next.

47. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 12-1
Points: 17
Previous rank: NR

The defending state Class 6A champion Shamrocks set up this Friday's semifinal rematch showdown against FAB 50 No. 8 St. Xavier with a 63-15 blowout quarterfinal win over Eastern. Tim Phillips, a 5-foot-5 senior who has rushed for over 4,000 career yards, led the way with 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

48. East St. Louis (Ill.)
Record:13-1 (Season complete)
Points: 16
Previous rank: NR

Junior quarterback Detchauz Wray connected with four different receivers on touchdown passes, including one each to University of Illinois-bound standouts Terry Hawthorne and Kraig Appleton, as the Flyers rebounded from a 7-6 halftime deficit to defeat previously unbeaten Geneva 33-14 and win the state Class 7A title. It was the seventh state championship for the Flyers, who won their final 13 games. Wray completed 10 of 20 passes for 198 yards with three of the scoring passes coming in the second half.

49. Permian (Odessa, Texas)
Record: 12-1 (Season complete)
Points: 10
Previous rank: 17

The Panthers remained in the FAB 50 despite suffering a season-ending 28-22 loss to Allen on Friday in a Class 5A Division I regional semifinal at Texas Stadium. Senior RB Sherard Ray rushed 30 times for 256 yards and scores of 11, 4 and 6 yards in the second half to help Mojo rally from 21-3 down, but it wasn't quite enough. Seeing as Permian's schedule wasn't tremendously difficult, it might be tough for the Panthers to stay in the rankings for the remainder of the year, but this program is definitely going in the right direction under head coach Darren Allman, who is now 38-11 in his four seasons.

50. Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.)
Record: 14-0
Points: 9
Previous rank: NR
The alma mater of NFL quarterbacks Kerry Collins and Chad Henne, Wilson makes its 2008 FAB 50 debut after dominating Cumberland Valley 35-7 in the District 3 Class AAAA finals. Wilson's defense forced eight turnovers, while its offense turned in a balanced effort. Senior quarterback Steve Huber threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior wide receiver Alex Fegley, who had 149 receiving yards. Senior running back Zacc Groff led the rushing attack with 127 yards and three scores. The Bulldogs will play FAB 50 No. 20 Bethel Park in the PIAA Class AAAA state semifinals on Saturday.

Also receiving votes: Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) 12-0; Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) 11-1; Lake Oswego (Ore.) 12-0; Longview (Texas) 11-2; Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) 10-2; Oakton (Vienna, Va.) 13-1 (Season complete); Timpview (Provo, Utah) 14-0 (Season complete).

Dropped out: Previous No. 20 Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.); No. 21 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.); No. 49 State College (Pa.); No. 50 Oakton (Vienna, Va.).

*Ties in points are broken according to which team was ranked higher by a majority of panelists.