No. 25 Loyola Academy (IL) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; Ramblers offense is cooking with QB Jake Stearney at the controls

BENSALEM, Pa. – The regular season for many states is ending. With one week left in Illinois, No. 25 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) enters the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings.

The Ramblers are 8-0 and have showdown with rivals Mount Carmel (Chicago) in what will determine the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Blue Division title. Clearly, it’s the game of the week in Illinois and one of the nation’s top encounters this weekend.

Both teams have identical records and the intensity level will be a season high. The Ramblers have tallied 352 points in eight games, averaging 44 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the Caravan have yielded just 48 points or 6 per outing.

Something must give. We’ll have the update next week here.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Oct. 25.

Until then stay safe and get out to a high school sporting event in your home state. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 18, 2022

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, 48-16.

Next: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) to be played at Saddle College in Mission Viejo.

2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Dripping Springs, 29-17.

Next: Friday vs. Austin.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 31-0. The Braves notch their third shutout of the season.

Next: Friday vs. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran.

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (5-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Oct. 28 at Arundel (Gambrills, Md.).

5. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated West Brook (Beaumont), 56-7.

Next: Friday at Humble.

6. Buford, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Mill Creek (Hoschton), 39-27.

Next: Friday vs. Dacula.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Fort Lauderdale High, 49-13.

Next: Friday vs. Monarch (Coconut Creek).

8. Central, Miami (7-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 53-7. It was 7-0 after one quarter and 34-7 at the intermission. The Rockets have a late-season showdown this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus (Miami).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (6-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Mountain View (Mesa).

10. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (7-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Keller Central, 49-3.

Next: Friday vs. Haslet Eaton.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 70-0. Clinched top seed in the Class 5A Desert League and have outscored four league opponents, 260-0.

Next: Friday vs. Foothill (Henderson).

12. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (5-1)

Previous:12.

Recap: Defeated American Collegiate Academy (Clearwater), 55-0.

Next: Oct. 28 vs. Middletown (Del.).

13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Somerset Academy Key (Deerfield Beach), 90-0.

Next: Friday vs. Avant Garde Academy (Hollywood).

14. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (7-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Vista Murietta (Murietta), 42-7.

Next: Friday vs. Murietta Valley (Murietta).

15. Duncanville, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield, 38-3.

Next: Thursday at Dallas Skyline.

16. Denton (Texas) Guyer (7-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Denton Braswell, 62-7.

Next: Friday vs. Allen.

17. Katy, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Katy Cinco Ranch.

18. Longview, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated North Mesquite, 49-19.

Next: Friday vs. McKinney North.

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (7-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale), 24-0.

Next: Friday at Naples.

20. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (8-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated PURE Academy (Memphis), 42-13.

Next: Friday at Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville).

21. Mount Carmel, Chicago, (8-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated St. Viator (Arlington Heights, Ill.), 60-0.

Next: Saturday at No. 25 Loyola Academy (Wilmette).

22. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (8-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 21 Moeller (Cincinnati), 6-0.

Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Hoban (Akron).

23. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (5-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 35-21. The Ironmen clinched the Super football Conference United Red title.

Next: Friday at Paramus Catholic.

24. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (6-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 31-21.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

25. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated St. Patrick (Chicago), 53-7.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 21 Mount Carmel (Chicago).

Dropped: No. 21 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati).

 High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-1)
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (6-1)
3. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (5-0)
4. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (6-0)
5. Coatesville, Pa. (7-0)

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

Midwest

1. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (9-0)
2. Belleville, Mich. (8-0)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (9-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (8-0)
5. Cathedral, Indianapolis (8-1)

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

Southland

1. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (7-0)
2. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (6-1)
3. Bixby, Okla. (8-0)
4. Columbus, Miami (8-0)
5. Bryant, Ark. (6-0)

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (7-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (8-2)
3. Folsom, Calif. (7-1)
4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (8-0)
5. Los Alamitos, Calif. (6-2)

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 August 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 at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.