Preseason Midwest Top 25: Teams 20-16

After revealing teams ranked No. 21-25 in The Sporting News Preseason High School Football Midwest Top 25, we move into the Top 20 with the next five.

MORE: Teams ranked No. 25-21 in the Preseason High School Football Midwest Top 25

This group includes programs from Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. The list also features teams from Kansas among the selected.

Here are teams No. 20-16 in The Sporting News Preseason High School Football Midwest Top 25 poll. 

THE SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MIDWEST TOP 25

No. 20: Elkhorn South (Nebraska)

Elkhorn South starts the season on Thursday, August 28 when they take on Lincoln East in the first of two interesting matchups to begin the year. They follow that up with a matchup against Bellevue West before a series of games they should be heavy favorites in.

No. 19: Southeast Polk (Iowa)

The only team in Iowa to win the Class 5A state title since the classification was created, the Rams overcame a tough regular season to defeat West Des Moines Valley in the finals. They must replace several key pieces, but return leading rusher Drew Thompson, Stanley Cooper  and Teague Cantrall.

No. 18: Eden Prairie (Minnesota)

Look for the Eagles to put together a strong regular season that leads them into a deep postseason run ater bowing out of the Class 6A playoffs in the second round to Maple Grove. Eden Prairie plays Anoka in the season opener on August 28.

No. 17: Ankeny Centennial (Iowa)

The Jaguars went from five wins to seven to eight last year, and while they lost some top players, they do have JJ Morgan, Carlos Blount, Brandon Bogseth, Houston Luce and a host of others back to carry the tradition.

No. 16: Joliet Catholic Academy (Illinois)

Always in the thick of the state title talk, Joliet Catholic Academy has some tough matchups to begin the season. They take on Lyons in the opener along with Fenwick, Marist and Nazareth Academy among the first five games.

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