BENSALEM, Pa. – The excitement of another high school football season, especially when teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings match up, is palpable. On any given weekend when the Elite 25 teams collide, it will shake up the rankings.

Take this weekend where two games featured Elite 25 team playing one another. No, 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) survived against No. 25 Northwestern (Miami), 24-7, but then-No. 3 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) wasn’t so fortunate on a neutral field in New Jersey. No. 18 SJC tumbled 15 spots after a 34-30 loss to No. 17 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia). The Prep moved up five slots and if they had lost would have been banished from the Elite 25 for the time being. Coincidentally, The Prep will host IMG this weekend in a battle of ranked teams back in New Jersey.

Two teams enter the Elite 25 rankings: no. 23 Longview (Texas) and No. 24 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.). Longview (2-0) crushed Marshall, 53-0, last Friday and will travel to John Tyler (Tyler) in a game televised on the ESPN family of networks. John Curtis recorded a 42-39 win over local powerhouse Edna Karr (New Orleans) and play Westlake (Atlanta) Saturday at Landers Dodge Battle on the Border in Shreveport, La.

Perhaps the game of the week is Saturday when No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) plays No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) in a much anticipated game to be played on a neutral field in southern California. We are really looking forward to it.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Sept. 17. Don’t forget to keep those who perished during the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 in your thoughts and prayers. Wednesday is the 18thanniversary of the attacks and ceremonies are planned in Lower Manhattan at Ground Zero.

With the weather still cooperating and two weeks of summer remaining check out a game in your hometown this weekend. We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Sept. 10, 2019

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (3-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), 49-7, at the Polynesian Football Classic in Las Vegas. Clemson-bound QB DJ Uiagalelei passed for 290 yards and four TDs on six completions. WR Beaux Collins had four receptions for 178 yards and four scores. It took Uiagalelei just 16 seconds to make it 7-0 after connecting with Collins on an 80-yard scoring strike. Rayshon Luke sped 65 yards in the first half when the Braves led 35-7. Keeping with the Polynesian theme, the Braves are off to Hawaii this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (3-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Crushed Centennial (Phoenix), 71-21. USC-bound QB Bryce Young was on fire in the Arizona desert completing 31-for-38 passes for 528 yards and seven TDs. WR Kody Epps had a monster game with 10 receptions for 197 yards and three scores. The Monarchs face their biggest challenge to date on a neutral field in their backyard.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) to be played at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif.

3. Duncanville, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 59-3. RB Cameron Gray rushed for 86 yards and two TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 18 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (3-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Blanked American Collegiate Academy (Clearwater, Fla.), 64-0.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 19 Northwestern (Miami), 24-7.

Next: Friday at No. 17 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia).

6. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at South Plantation (Plantation).

7. Marietta, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Collins Hill (Suwanee), 28-9. The Blue Devils hit the road for a key matchup.

Next: Friday at Grayson (Loganville).

8. Katy, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Walloped Atascocita (Humble), 38-14.

Next: Friday vs. IPN (Mexico).

9. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (1-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Grant Union (Sacramento, Calif.), 47-20. RB Gio Ursino rushed for TDs from 1, 40 and 20 yards. Junior QB Lohgan Muasau threw two TDs and DB Ayden Hector had a pick-six in the first quarter. Coach Dominic Daste’s team heads to Oregon for a challenging game.

Next: Friday at Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) to be played at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro.

10. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

11. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (4-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Kamehameha School (Honolulu), 42-7. QB Jayden de Laura has thrown for 1,012 yards and four TDs in four games. His favorite target is WR Koali Nishigaya with 25 receptions for 274 yards and three scores.

Next: Saturday vs. Kahuku

12. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Thomasville, 45-3.

Next: Friday vs. Valdosta.

13. Allen, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Dickinson, 34-28. QB Raylen Sharpe threw for 201 yards and four TDs, including two to Blaine Green. The Eagles will celebrate Homecoming this weekend.

Next Friday vs. Coppell.

14. Lakeland, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated George Jenkins (Lakeland), 38-6. The Dreadnaughts crush their crosstown rivals.

Next: Friday at Plant City.

15. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (2-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Routed Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown), 49-0. DeaMonte Trayanum ran for 250 yards and four touchdowns on eight carries. Trayanum scored on runs of 25, 73, 35 and 64 yards and Devin Hightower returned an interception 32 yards for six points.

Next: Friday vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

16. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C (2-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 35-21. The game was tied 14-all at the break before the Eagles tallied the final 21 points of the contest. Junior QB Caleb Williams showed why he’s a dangerous dual threat, tossing three TD passes and busting loose for an 81-yard scoring run. Next is the Jesuit Gridiron Bowl in the nation’s capital.

Next: Saturday vs. Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda, Md.).

17. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (1-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Edged then-No. 3 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 34-30. Ohio State-bound junior QB Kyle McCord went 17-for-35 for 284 yards and three TDs. Additionally, junior LB Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., verbally committed to Clemson.

Next: Friday vs. No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) to be played at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in New Brunswick, N.J. Game is on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. EDT.

18. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (2-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 22 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), 34-30, in the Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.

Next: Saturday at No. 3 Duncanville (Texas).

19. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (1-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Ridge Point (Missouri City), 38-7. QB Dematrius Davis accounted for all five TDs, including three in the air and two on the ground.

Next: Friday vs. Westfield (Houston).

20. Central, Miami (2-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Thumped Carol City (Miami Gardens, Fla.), 49-26.

Next: Friday vs. Southridge (Miami).

21. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (2-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Irmo, 47-7. QB Ty Olenchuk went 14-of-21 for 252 yards and four TDs and became the school’s leader in passing TDs with 68.

Next: Friday vs. Boiling Springs.

22. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego (3-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated No. 25 Corona (Calif.) Centennial, 44-41. DJ Ralph scored from the 1 in the final minute to win it after trailing 41-37.

Next: Friday at Helix (La Mesa).

23. Longview, Texas (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Marshall, 53-0. Kaden Meredith scored three TDs, including a 79-yard kickoff, and QB Haynes King went 11-for-17 for 208 yards and a score.

Next: Thursday at John Tyler (Tyler).

24. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Edna Karr (New Orleans), 42-39. Georgia-bound RB Corey Wren scored on runs of 33 and 42 and added 184 yards rushing. QB Collin Guggenheim, an Army West Point recruit, also scored two TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Westlake (Atlanta) at Landers Dodge Battle on the Border in Shreveport, La.

25 Northwestern, Miami (2-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton), 24-7.

Next: Thursday vs. Killian (Miami).

Dropped: No. 15 Parkview, Lilburn, Ga., and No. 25 Corona (Calif.) Centennial.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (1-1)
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (2-0)
3. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (3-0)
4. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (2-0)
5. Highland Springs, Va. (2-0)

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

Midwest

1. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (2-0)
2. Muskegon, Mich. (2-0)
3. Mentor, Ohio (2-0)
4. Muskego, Wis. (3-0)
5. Lakeville North, Lakeville, Minn. (2-0)

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

Southland

1. Broken Arrow, Okla. (2-0)
2. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (3-0)
3. Madison (Miss.) Central (3-0)
4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (3-0)
5. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (2-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (2-1)
2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (2-1)
3. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (2-1)
4. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (4-0)
5. Folsom, Calif. (2-0)

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

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 on December 24. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.