BRYCE IS NICE: Top-rated QB prospect leads No. 24 Belleville Tigers (MI) into Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; showdown in Philadelphia highlights schedule

BENSALEM, Pa. – Two items that defined the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings as the page is turned on the month of September.

Both good and bad news, so here goes.

No. 24 Belleville (Mich.) joins the Elite 25 as Michigan’s top-ranked team in Division I, the large school classification and an unbeaten run in five games. The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 228-62. They reached the Division I final a year ago after winning it in 2021 and ’22.

The trigger man for the Tigers is quarterback Bryce Underwood, who is a prolific passer and LSU commit. Underwood is rated the nation’s No. 1 signal caller from the Class of 2025. Edge rusher Rashad Jones anchors the D-line and will sign with Purdue. Wide receiver Elijah Dotson is off to Pittsburgh but LSU offered last week. Sophomore wide receiver Charles Britton III has offers from Eastern Michigan and Massachusetts. Pittsburgh is eyeing Britton too but no offer … yet.

Now for the negativity regarding Hurricane Helene.

One independent game between Elite 25 teams IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and Phenix City (Ala.) Central was cancelled by the hurricane. No. 15 Gaffney (S.C.) also lost a game. The Indians hoped to play Spartanburg on Monday but those plans were dashed.

This week’s Elite 25 featured no movement. No. 24 Belleville (Mich.) moves into the ranks but that’s it. Seven teams had byes last weekend leading to the lack of movement especially at the top. Four teams have byes this weekend with the schedule picking up with less than a month remaining in the regular season in some states.

There are a few notable games this week in California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In Philadelphia, No. 14 St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia) tangles with unbeaten La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.) Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, to be played at Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, Pa. The winner gets the inside track for the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division title.

Two hours to the north, No. 23 DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.) has a very tricky game at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) Friday, 7 p.m. The two Super Football Conference powers play uber-competitive nonleague schedules and last weekend, Bosco lost at No. 12 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 24-20. Dual threat QB Deven Sisler left that game with an injury and his status is unknown. DePaul (5-0) is rolling with two quality wins over regional opponents (Cardinal Hayes of the Bronx and Good Counsel of Olney, Md.) and the favorite to capture the NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship. The Spartans feature several BCS players who will play at programs such as Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Northwestern.

If the Super Football Conference United Red and White divisions are two of the best on the East Coast, then the Trinity League in southern California is clearly the best and kicks off a run of five weekends in league play. No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) hosts No. 21 Orange Lutheran Friday at 7 p.m. PT. The Braves are 5-0 and OLu is 4-1, with the lone setback to No. 9 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

Three others I’d pay to see are Mililani (Hawaii) and Campbell (Eva Beach, Hawaii) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. HT. On Friday, No. 10 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) visits Venice (Fla.) Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Venice (6-0) is one of the top teams in Florida and knocked off another strong team in Cocoa, 54-51, on Sept. 20 and Northwestern (Miami), 48-42, in overtime on Aug. 30. In Houston, No. 20 Summer Creek (Humble) faces Atascocita (Humble) Friday for district supremacy.

We’ll call it a wrap for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Oct. 8.

I’m Just Saying: Hurricane Helene took lives, ruined them and destroyed homes, businesses and communities in its destructive path. If you are so inclined please donate to aid the recovery efforts. I did it with the Red Cross. No amount is too small for those who lost everything, including family and friends.

Finally, Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year (Year 5785) begins at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and ends after nightfall on Friday, Oct. 4. To all our Jewish friends, “Shanah Tova” or Good Year. God’s Blessings to all.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Oct. 1, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle. The Trinity League schedule is ahead for the next five weeks.

Next: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) to be played at Trabuco High School in Mission Viejo.

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. The Braves rested for the stretch run of five games in the brutal Trinity League, including donnybrook with top-ranked Mater Dei on Oct. 25. The countdown has officially commenced.

Next: Friday vs. No. 21 Orange (Calif.) Lutheran.

3. Duncanville, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Skyline (Dallas), 63-14. QB Keelon Russell, an SMU recruit, threw for 474 yards and six TDs and the Panthers totaled 628 yards and 30 first downs. The high-powered offense, which averages 41 points per game, gets a break this weekend before a District 11-6A showdown.

Next: Oct. 11 at No. 8 DeSoto.

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Seckinger (Buford), 44-7.

Next: Friday at Lanier (Sugar Hill).

5. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield Legacy, 56-0. North Texas-bound QB Chris Jimerson Jr. was on fire, going 18 of 22 for 342 yards and five TDs. The Panthers won the first of six remaining games in District 3-6A.

Next: Oct. 11 vs. Mansfield Lake Ridge.

6. Carrollton, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Atlanta).

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Humble, 42-0. The Mustangs recorded a second shutout this term.

Next: Friday at Humble Kingwood.

8. DeSoto, Texas (4-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Waxahachie, 39-24. It was 22-13 after one quarter and the Eagles relied on the ground game with Deondrae Riden Jr. carrying 22 times for 226 and two scores and Myles Johnson-Cook ran for 88 yards and two more TDs. The Eagles enter their bye week with the next game likely to decide the District 11-6A title.

Next: Oct. 11 vs. No. 3 Duncanville.

9. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (4-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Shut out Liberty (Henderson), 49-0. The Gaels rolled in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A Division I final. RB Myles Norman carried nine times for 81 yards and a 24-yard TD.

Next: Saturday vs. Foothill (Las Vegas).

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Game with No. 19 Phenix City (Ala.) Central was cancelled by Hurricane Helene.

Next: Friday at Venice (Fla.).

11. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Bishop Moore (Orlando), 50-15.

Next: Friday vs. Hollywood Hills (Hollywood).

12. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated archrival Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 24-20. QB Dominic Campanile threw for 170 yards and two TDs. Naiim Parrish picked off two passes to pace the defense. The Crusaders have a bye week with four games left in the regular season.

Next: Oct. 12 vs. Paramus Catholic.

13. Buford, Ga. (4-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee).

14. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Father Judge (Philadelphia), 42-13. The Hawks will renew a Philadelphia Catholic League rivalry with one of the state’s top Class 6A teams and the Red Division likely on the line.

Next: Saturday at La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.) to be played at Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington.

15. Gaffney, S.C. (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Game with Spartanburg was cancelled due to the hurricane.

Next: Friday vs. Eastside (Taylors).

16. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (6-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Riverton, 49-21. The normally pass-happy Chargers took to the ground, rushing for six TDs, including a pair each from RBs Zion Finau and Weston Buggs.

Next: Friday at Copper Hills (West Jordan).

17. Mission Viejo, Calif. (6-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Chaparral (Temecula), 51-10. WR Vance Spafford caught five passes for 186 yards and four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Poly (Long Beach) to be played in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

18. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Gilman School (Baltimore), 51-0.

Next: Friday at St. Mary’s (Annapolis).

19. Phenix City (Ala.) Central (5-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Game with No. 10 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) was cancelled by Hurricane Helene.

Next: Friday vs. Auburn.

20. Summer Creek, Humble, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Channelview, 59-0.

Next: Friday vs. Atascocita (Humble).

21. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (4-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

22. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (3-2)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday at Roosevelt (Eastvale).

23. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Paramus Catholic, 55-28. Junior QB Derek Zammit hit on 14 of 19 passes for 270 yards and three TDs. Two-way back Nolan James rushed for season-high 202 yards and two scores and picked off two passes on defense. This is the Spartans biggest challenge to date at a very difficult venue for visitors.

Next: Friday at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).

24. Belleville, Mich. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Franklin (Livonia), 35-6. LSU-bound QB Bryce Underwood threw for 196 yards and two TDs in the first half when the Tiger went up 21-6.

Next: Friday at John Glenn (Westland).

25. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (3-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Chandler.

Dropped: No. 24 Massillon (Ohio) Washington.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (3-1)
2. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (6-0)
3. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (3-3)
4. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (5-1)
5. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (3-0)

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. (5-0)
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (5-0)
3. Mentor, Ohio (6-0)
4. Brownsburg, Ind. (6-0)
5. Cardinal Ritter College Prep, St. Louis (5-0)

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

Southland

1. Lakeland, Fla. (5-0)
2. Venice, Fla. (6-0)
3. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (4-2)
4. Norland, Miami (4-1)
5. Boyle County, Danville, Ky. (6-0)

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

Far West

1. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (5-0)
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (5-0)
3. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (6-1)
4. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (4-1)
5. Mililani, Hawaii (6-0)

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

Records are through Sunday

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.