BENSALEM, Pa. – Finally, teams are dropping like flies. For the most part, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings have remained tight and most weeks static but this go-around there are season-high four teams entering the fold.

No. 20 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), No. 22 Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), No. 23 Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.) and No. 24 Chandler (Ariz.) are the additions. For Central Catholic, it is a second go-around after winning 13 straight games, including the WPIAL Class AAAAAA championship earlier this month.

Scotlandville could win Louisiana’s Division I title this weekend while Oakland has a stern test in the Tennessee’s Class 6A final. Chandler pulled off an upset in Arizona’s 6A Conference final and is a large-school state champion for a second time in three seasons.

More state champions have been crowned and there could be six more this weekend among the Elite 25 brethren.

For my money the best two games are Saturday in the Far West Region. No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) plays regionally ranked Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) in the Class 4A final. In California, No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and No. 14 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) hook up for the second time this season for the CIF-Southern Section Division I final.

If Gorman wins, the Elite 25 National Championship is practically clinched. The Gaels have played a true national schedule and would have taken care of business back home.

Only four more weekends remain and the season is complete. The next Elite 25 rankings are back December 6. Please support your local high schools as they play in the postseason. Don’t forget to check out our boy and girls’ basketball rankings as the scene shifts indoors for the winter months. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Nov. 29, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Arbor View (Las Vegas), 56-17 in the Class 4A Sunset Region final. The Gaels trailed 10-7 early in the second quarter but rallied for a 28-10 lead at the break. QB Tate Martell, an Ohio State recruit, completed 12 passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns, including three to Jalen Nailor (6 receptions, 184 yards). The Gaels look to clinch an eighth straight state championship this weekend against a formidable local opponent.

Next: Saturday vs. Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) in Class 4A final at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 48-21, in CIF-Southern Section Division I semifinals. The de facto Trinity League “tournament title” is at stake this weekend in Orange County.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 14 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in CIF-Southern Section Division I final at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (12-0)*

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Won fourth consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

4. Allen, Texas (13-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Defeated San Angelo Central, 34-21, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region I semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Duncanville in the Class 6A, Division I, Region I final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (11-0)

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (12-0)

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Defeated Bishop Moore (Orlando), 20-7, in Class 5A, Region 4 final. Junior RB Jordan Johnson rushed for 175 yards and two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (Tampa) in Class 5A semifinals.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (10-2)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Crushed Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens), 50-10, in Class 7A, Region 4 final. The Raiders are seeking to become talent rich Broward County’s first program to win three win straight state titles.

Next: Friday vs. Venice in Class 7A semifinals.

8. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (13-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Idle. The Yellow Jackets have won 22 straight games entering the midweek donnybrook on the Plains.

Next: Wednesday vs. Hoover in Class 7A final at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

9. DeSoto, Texas (13-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Edged Abilene, 49-45, in Class 6A, Division II, Region I semifinals. TCU-commit QB Shawn Robinson’s 13-yard TD run with 49 seconds left won it. Robinson finished with 341 passing yards and three TDs and rushed for 119 yards and two scores.

Next: Saturday vs. Cedar Hill in Class 6A, Division II, Region I final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

10. Roswell, Ga. (14-0)

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Defeated North Cobb (Kennesaw), 42-21, in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (College Park) in Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

11. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (12-1)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Defeated Colquitt County (Moultrie), 49-21, in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals. The Rams knocked off the reigning state champions. Huge game on tap.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 Mill Creek in Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

12. Cass Tech, Detroit (14-0)*

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Won Division 1 state championship, wiping out then-No. 25 Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), 49-20. QB Rodney Hall fired five TD passes, including a pair to WR Donovan Peoples-Jones. By the way, Peoples-Jones was named Michigan’s state player of the year and is considering Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida, Florida State and Michigan. Season complete.

13. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (13-0)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Edged McEachern (Powder Springs), 31-28, in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 Roswell in Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

14. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-2)

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Rallied to beat Corona Centennial, 49-47, in the CIF-Southern Section Division I semifinals. Re-al Mitchell’s 63-yard TD run with 5:11 left allowed the Braves to erase a 47-42 deficit. The game featured six lead changes.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in CIF-Southern Section Division I final at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

15. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (14-0)*

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Won Class 5A state championship. The Miners are likely to accept a bid to a prep bowl game in Texas. Regular season complete.

16. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (14-0)*

Previous rank: 18.

Recap: Defeated Catalina Hills (Tucson), 42-14, in 4A Conference final. The

Sabercats won their 25th straight game, earned a ninth state title in 11 years and 10th overall. Don’t be surprised when the four-time state champion Sabercats are invited to major prep bowl game in Texas. Regular season complete.

17. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (12-0)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Defeated Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 38-17, in PIAA Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. The Prep was up 24-17 at halftime, but needed late TDs to ice it. Georgia-bound RB D’Andre Swift ran for an eye-popping 318 yards and two TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. North Penn (Langhorne, Pa.) in Class AAAAAA semifinals in Philadelphia.

18. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (14-0)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Defeated St. Xavier (Louisville), 24-14, in Class 6A semifinals. QB Spencer Blackburn accounted for three TDs, including a pair of scoring throws. Coach Bob Beatty is back in the state final for the 14th time in 17 years.

Next: Saturday vs. Lafayette (Lexington) in the Class 6A final at Western Kentucky University’s Houchens Industries/L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green.

19. The Woodlands, Texas (13-0)

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Defeated Austin Bowie, 52-31, in Class 6A, Division I Region II semifinals. QB Eric Schmid completed 13 of 19 passes for 273 yards and three TDs and rushed for 189 yards and three more scores.

Next: Saturday vs. Round Rock in Class 6A, Division I Region II final at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium.

20. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (13-1)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: The Vikings re-enter the Elite 25 after thumping Williamsport, 62-21, in the PIAA Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. RB J.J. Younger ran for a career-best 212 yards and four TDs in the first half alone. The reigning large-class championships are two wins short of a repeat.

Next: Saturday vs. Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.) in PIAA Class AAAAAA semifinals to be played at Mansion Park in Altoona.

21. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (12-1)

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Defeated Los Fresnos, 54-7, in Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 semifinals. SMU-bound QB Charlie Brewer was flawless, hitting on all 12 passes for 244 yards in the first half for four TDs and ran 27 yards for another score as the Cavaliers were up 44-0. Now it’s a grudge matchup between two District 25-6A rivals.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Austin) in Class 6A, Division I Region 4 final to be played at the Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin.

22. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 17 Maryville, 23-7, in Class 6A semifinals. The Patriots’ staunch defense has allowed only 58 points this season with five shutouts, but this weekend will be a war.

Next: Saturday vs. regionally ranked and undefeated Whitehaven (Memphis) in Class 6A state championship in Cookeville.

23. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (13-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Brother Martin (New Orleans), 18-16, in Division I semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport) in Division I final at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

24. Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)*

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Shocked then-No. 16 Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 36-17, in the 6A Conference final. The Wolves won their second state title in three years and closed on a 12-game win streak. RB T.J. Green rushed for 233 yards and three TDs and sophomore QB Jacob Conover passed for 172 yards and two scores. Season complete.

25. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (13-1)

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Upset by Chandler, 36-17, in the 6A Conference final. The Pride was trumped by a team they thrashed 52-7 earlier this season. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 17 Maryville (Tenn.); No. 20 Loyola Academy (Willamette, Ill.); No. 22 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.); and No. 25 Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (8-2)
2. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (12-0)
3. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (9-2)
4. North Penn, Langhorne, Pa. (14-0)
5. Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (13-0)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. East St. Louis, Ill. (14-0)*
2. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (13-1)
3. Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*
4. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (13-0)*
5. Bellevue (Neb.) West (13-0)*

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (12-0)
2. Whitehaven, Memphis, Tenn. (14-0)
3. Clinton, Miss. (13-1)
4. South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (11-1)
5. Butler, Charlotte, N.C. (12-1)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (14-0)*
2. Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (12-1)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-2)
4. West Linn, Ore. (13-0)
5. O’Dea, Seattle (13-0)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

* Won state or conference/league postseason championship

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.