ELECTRIC! No. 8 Corner Canyon Chargers (UT) jolt No. 10 IMG Academy (FL) in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football early stunner; No. 1 Mater Dei (CA), No. 2 St. John Bosco (CA) record quality wins

BENSALEM, Pa. – The eyes of the nation gazed upon notable nationally-themed games in California and Florida but it was another locale that commanded the respect.

Last weekend four games involving eight teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings earned the marquee. After all No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and then-No. 14 Corona (Calif.) Centennial hooked up in a local donnybrook and three sumptuous games were staged in Southern Florida.

But the game of the week was played at altitude in Utah with the Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop. Utah powerhouse Corner Canyon (Draper) pulled a stunner and perhaps the most important victory in program history in a thrilling 35-34 comeback win over then-No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) last Thursday. No one saw this one and junior transfer quarterback Helaman Casuga is a household name and the next great gunslinger from a program that claims Zach Wilson, Jaxson Dart, Devin Brown, Cole Hagen and Isaac Wilson as alumni.

Casuga’s four-touchdown, 330-yard passing effort propelled Chargers (2-0) into the Elite 25 rankings and with eight games remaining, and second consecutive Class 6A state title the goal. The Chargers entered the season having won four titles in the previous six seasons.

Last week, Casuga’s sensational debut featured 482 passing yards and six TDs in a 70-42 rout of American Fork (Utah). For the second straight week, the numbers did not lie.

It appeared IMG (0-1) was destined for an opening night victory and led 21-7 and 28-14 before the Chargers tallied 21 unanswered points for a 35-28 edge with 4:45 left. IMG scored with 93 seconds remaining to pull within a point but did not convert the two-point conversion and the Chargers recovered an onsides kick.

Cue the celebration in Utah!

In Fort Lauderdale, three games featuring Elite 25 teams televised by ESPN and lived up to the national billing. No. 2 St. John Bosco outlasted then-No. 11 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 34-27. The game had seven lead changes and the final one came with less than four minutes left as RB Maliq Blackwell-Allen bolted 71 yards for the winning TD. Bosco played with 10 sophomores and two freshmen on the field. That’s a scary thought moving forward.

No. 4 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) stopped then-No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 29-21. QB Melvin Spicer threw two TDs and Gaels won for the 27^th consecutive time. The Gaels enter a bye week and will travel to No. 1 Mater Dei, which beat then-No. 15 Corona Centennial, 42-25. The Monarchs are also off next weekend and the Santa Ana Bowl is the place to be on the evening of Sept. 6.

Centennial QB and Texas A&M pledge Husan Longstreet was sidelined with a toe injury. Backup Dominick Catalano, a junior, showed he’s a baller, tossing for 188 yards and two scores against the nation’s No. 1 team on the road. Longstreet threw for more than 3,000 yards and 24 TDs as a junior. Centennial and Mater Dei could meet again in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division I playoffs in November.

On Friday in Fort Lauderdale, No. 6 Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) defeated an Elite 25 team for the second straight week, toppling then-No. 18 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 37-28. The Indians (2-0) were up by two points (30-28) late in the fourth before tight end Ethan Barbour ended it with a 73-yard, catch-and-run TD.

The first casualty of the season was No. 22 Central (Miami), which dropped a 16-8 decision to Lakeland. It was a quality opponent but the game was at home. The Tornadoes will need to regroup while Dreadnaughts chalk up a big road win.

No. 8 Corner Canyon joins the Elite 25 after a massive win; nine teams, including the top-3, were stable; eight dropped with No. 25 American Heritage going down seven slots and No. 10 IMG six while seven moved up with No. 6 Milton ascending three in a tight Top 10.

Absorbing early season losses against nationally ranked opponents does not hurt Elite 25 teams because strength of schedule is a key criterium.

Well, that will do it for the fourth weekend in August. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 returns on Sept. 3. It’s Labor Day Weekend and nine Elite 25 teams, including four from Texas, open their seasons. Teams from South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Illinois start up too.

Finally, the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings will debut Sept. 4 and appear weekly on Wednesdays through the conclusion of the season in November.

Bye for now.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

 Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, August 27, 2024

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 15 Corona (Calif.) Centennial, 42-25. The Monarchs used a 20-7 second-half showing to put away the Huskies. RB Jordon Davison ran for 121 yards and a 44-yard TD on 20 carries. Last week, junior OT Kodi Greene verbally committed to Oregon.

Next: Sept. 6 vs. No. 4 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

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

Previous: 2. Defeated Recap: then-No. 11 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 34-27. With the score tied at 27 late in the fourth quarter, sophomore RB Maliq Blackwell-Allen scampered 71 yards for the winning TD. QB Matai Fuiava passed for three scores and 303 yards. Also, last week junior DL Dutch Horisk committed to Oregon.

Next: Friday vs. Eastwood (El Paso, Texas).

3. DeSoto, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Saturday vs. Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.).

4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (2-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 29-21. The Gaels stretched their win streak to 27 games by scoring the game’s final 19 points. QB Melvin Spicer threw for 190 yards and two TDs. The Gaels have a week off before their biggest test of the season.

Next: Sept. 6 at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

5. Duncanville, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle. The two-time UIL defending Class 6A, Division champions have a late start date.

Opens: Sept. 6 vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas).

6. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 18 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 37-28. Georgia-bound TE Ethan Barbour ha

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Saturday at No. 18 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).

8. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 35-34. In one of the bigger upsets in recent years, the Chargers return to the Elite 25 on the strength of five TD passes from junior transfer QB Helaman Casuga tossed four TDs of 45, 33, 25 and 44 yards, including three to WR Jerome Myles and ran 1 yard for another. The Chargers rallied from 28-14 down and led 35-28 with 4:45 when Casuga and Myles teamed for the decisive score of 44 yards. Now the Chargers must defend against an instate trap game this weekend.

Next: Friday at Lone Peak (Highland, Utah).

9. Carrollton, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Columbia, 35-7.

Next: Friday vs. Rome.

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Lost at Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah), 35-34. The Ascenders coughed up a 14-point lead. Trailing 35-28, RB Tranard Roberts scored from 8 yards to pull within a point with 1:33 left but the Ascenders failed to convert the two-point conversion. The Utahns then recovered the ensuing onsides kick. The Ascenders play on the Jersey Shore this weekend.

Next: Thursday vs. No. 16 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) to be played in Ocean City, N.J.

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 29-21. QB Daniel Indorf threw for two TDs.

Next: Friday at Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes).

12. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Friday vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas).

13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Lost to No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 34-27. Junior QB Tyler Chance threw for three scores.

Next: Friday at Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach).

14. Westlake, Austin, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Thursday vs. Prosper.

15. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (0-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Lost at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 42-25. The Huskies look to rebound against another Trinity League opponent. Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet, one of the nation’s top QBs, sat this one out with a toe injury.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

16. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday vs. No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at the Battle of the Beach in Ocean City, N.J.

17. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (1-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated NFL Academy (England), 35-20, at the Nike Kickoff Classic in Beaverton, Ore. QB Jalen Slaughter fired three TD passes, including a pair to Jacques Carter. Slaughter’s 387 passing yards were third most in the storied program’s history and the team’s 17^th straight win.

Next: Friday at GlenOak (Canton).

18. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (1-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Shut out Pickerington (Ohio) North, 28-0.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia).

19. Buford, Ga. (1-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Benedictine Military (Savannah), 29-28. The Wolves trailed 21-13 after three quarters.

Next: Sept. 6 at Roswell.

20. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (1-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Serra (Gardena), 21-13.

Next: Friday at Rancho Cucamonga.

21. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle. The Panthers confirmed senior RB Daniel Bray (5-9, 165), the 12^th rated player at his position in Texas, has transferred in from Abilene Cooper. Bray ran for 1,359 yards and tallied 22 TDs as a junior. He has 19 offers from mostly power conference schools.

Opens: Friday at Lancaster to be played in the Star Ford Center in Frisco.

22. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Friday at Desert Edge (Goodyear).

23. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (0-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Saturday vs. East St. Louis (Ill.) to be played at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State.

24. Gaffney, S.C. (0-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle. Recently, WR Jamarcus Smith verbally committed to James Madison.

Opens: Friday at J.L. Mann (Greenville).

25. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Lost to No. 6 Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), 37-28. The Patriots trailed 30-28 with 3:24 left but Texas-bound junior QB Dia Bell was stuffed short of the goal line on a potential tying two-point conversion and then the defense let up a long TD reception.

Next: Friday vs. Western (Davie).

Dropped: No. 22 Central (Miami).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (1-0)
2. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (0-0)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (0-0)
4. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (1-0)
5. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (1-0)

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

Midwest

1. Belleville, Mich. (0-0)
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (0-0)
3. Cathedral, Indianapolis (1-0)
4. Cardinal Ritter College Prep, St. Louis (0-0)
5. East St. Louis, Ill. (0-0)

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

Southland

1. Phenix City (Ala.) Central (1-0)
2. Summer Creek, Humble, Texas (0-0)
3. Cocoa, Fla. (1-0)
4. Norland, Miami (1-0)
5. Douglas County, Douglasville, Ga. (2-0)

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

Far West

1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (2-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (2-1)
3. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (1-0)
4. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (0-0)
5. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (0-0)

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 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 in December of the 2024 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.