HEART OF A LION: No. 18 Chaminade-Madonna (FL) re-enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings after big win over national power

BENSALEM, Pa. –  The state of Florida has been in the national crosshairs for the wrong reasons most recently. The names Helene and Milton will live in infamy. The month of October is rife with hurricanes and tropical depressions.

Last week, the Gulf Coast, namely the stretch of Interstate-75 from the Sarasota area north to Tampa, took a jarring hit from Hurricane Milton. The hurricane ripped through the central portion of the state before exiting into the Atlantic on the east coast.

Too much death and destruction for one area and the hurricane season isn’t over, according to meteorologists. More on that later.

Florida is also in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings for all the right reasons. You can always count on schoolboy football, especially in South Florida (Broward and Miami-Dade counties) to provide diversion and a sense of normalcy.

Such was the case on Friday, Oct. 11 when No. 18 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.) found its way back in the Elite 25 after taking down local rival and then-No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) by seven points in a thriller played in Pitbull Stadium (naming rights were bought by the renowned recording artist) on the campus of Florida International University in nearby Miami.

Aquinas (6-2) held a 22-15 lead in the third quarter when junior running back Derrek Cooper’s touchdown run tied it at 22. The Lions (6-2), who opened the season in the Elite 25 but dropped out after an 0-2 start, won it with 6:35 left when Camari Hall ran 3 yards for a TD.

Hard to deny the Lions a place in the Elite 25 but No. 19 Aquinas dips eight spots with the regular season down to two games, most notably a date with American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) on Oct. 25 in the finale. Both teams could repeat as Florida state champions with the playoffs getting underway on Nov. 8 and concluding on the weekend of Dec. 7-9. Aquinas is grouped in Class 5A (7A is the largest), Region 4 and C-M is in 1A (the smallest), Region 4.

This week’s Elite 25 was fluid. No. 18 Chaminade-Madonna is back and the lone newcomer. Nine remained the same, including the top-7. There were 13 risers with eight going up two slots. Two dropped with No. 19 St. Thomas Aquinas taking an eight-spot decrease. Three teams will have byes this weekend.

There are four games of interest on Friday night, with three involving Elite 25 teams from the Far West Region.

In Southern California, the Trinity League continues to churn out quality contests as No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) meets JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) hooks up with Servite (Anaheim) in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game known as the “Brotherhood Bowl” pits two all-male Catholic schools at the home of the Chargers and Rams. Tickets are here. Both games kick at 7 p.m. PT.

In Arizona, No. 25 Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.) goes to Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, considered one of the nation’s top leagues, features a rivalry game between Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.) and DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) Friday at 7 p.m. ET at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Center in Landover. Expect these two to play again in the WCAC playoffs in November.

Additionally, the first state championship will be contested Saturday, the Alaska Division III final, in Wasilla, 1:30 AT. Two weeks remain in the Alaska football season with the Division I and II title games on Oct. 25 and 26 at Colony High School in Palmer or 45 minutes from Anchorage.

In Shreveport, Louisiana, the points were aplenty (153 combined) and sophomore signal-caller, Peyton “Pop” Houston of Evangel Christian Academy threw for 817 yards, completing 53 of 68 passes, and threw for eight TDs and ran for two more in a 77-76 loss to Captain Shreve on Thursday, Oct. 10.

According to the Shreveport Times, Houston’s passing yards fell short of the single-game national record of 837, set in 2012. The numbers are quite impressive even for a program that produced prep QB icons Johnny Booty, Brock Berlin and John David Booty.

Shreve won the game as QB Brodie Savage went 25 of 33 for 505 yards and five scores and RB Jamarcea Plater ran for a school-record 352 yards and four TDs, three of them from 63, 73 and 56 yards after halftime.

By the way, all that scoring stretched the game to 3½ hours or more than an hour longer than an average high school game. At least the fans were entertained by the offensive fireworks.

 We’re out of here for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Oct. 22.

I’m Just Saying: Two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene cut a path of destruction in Florida and the Carolinas and now Milton. If you can please donate to the relief efforts for these natural disasters at the Red Cross. No amount is too small. All the best.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Oct. 15, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 28-6. QB Dash Beierly hit on 19 of 22 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

Next: Friday at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 13-0. Taj Martin returned a blocked punt midway through the fourth quarter for a touchdown to break the scoreless game.

Next: Friday at Servite (Anaheim) to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

3. Duncanville, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 8 DeSoto, 42-20. The Panthers led 28-6 at halftime. QB Keelon Russell completed 27-of-36 passes for 427 yards and six TDs, including four to WR Dakorien Moore.

Next: Friday vs. Lancaster.

4. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (8-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Gainesville, 42-24.

Next: Oct. 25 vs. Johns Creek.

5. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield Lake Ridge, 66-7.

Next: Friday vs. Weatherford.

6. Carrollton, Ga. (8-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Shut out Chapel Hill (Douglasville), 42-0.

Next: Friday at East Coweta (Sharpsburg).

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Goose Creek Memorial (Baytown), 70-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Channelview.

8. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated previously-unbeaten Arbor View (Las Vegas), 49-14.

Next: Friday vs. Basic (Las Vegas).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Oct. 25 at East St. Louis (Ill.).

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Paramus Catholic, 34-0, for a 20^th straight in-state victory. The Crusaders defense was airtight. QB Dominic Campanile, a Holy Cross recruit, completed 21of 25 passes for 192 yards and three scores. Ohio State-bound Quincy Porter had five receptions for 81 yards and scores from 4 and 54 in the second quarter. The Crusaders have a tricky road game this weekend.

Next: Saturday at Delbarton (Morristown).

11. Buford, Ga. (6-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Dacula, 51-14.

Next: Friday vs. Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville).

12. Mission Viejo, Calif. (7-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle. Three games remain after the bye week.

Next: Friday vs. San Clemente.

13. Gaffney, S.C. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Byrnes (Duncan), 15-9, in two overtimes. The game was knotted at 6 after regulation.

Next: Friday at Riverside (Greer).

14. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (8-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Bingham (South Jordan), 30-21. QB Bronson Evans threw three TDs passes to Kai Meza.

Next: Friday at Herriman.

15. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (8-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Concordia Prep (Towson), 47-0.

Next: Oct. 25 vs. Loyola Blakefield (Towson),

16. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Humble, 53-3.

Next: Friday vs. Humble Kingwood.

17. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-2)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Vista Murrieta (Murrieta), 63-0.

Next: Friday vs. Murrieta Valley (Murrieta).

18. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (6-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Lions re-enter the Elite 25 after rallying to beat then-No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 29-22. They trailed 22-15 before scoring the final 14 points.

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

19. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (6-2)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Upset by Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood), 29-22.

Next: Friday vs. Monarch (Coconut Creek).

20. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (6-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) to be played at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson.

21. Belleville, Mich. (7-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Wayne (Mich.) Memorial, 41-0.

Next: Friday vs. Dearborn Fordson.

22. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Berkmar (Lilburn), 35-0.

Next: Friday at Meadowcreek (Suwanee).

23. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (8-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Bonner-Prendergast (Drexel Hill, Pa.), 35-13.

Next: Saturday vs. Father Judge (Philadelphia) to be played at Wissahickon High School in Ambler.

24. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (5-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 23-17. Coach Rod Sherman picked up his 100^th victory.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) to be played at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

25. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (5-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Pinnacle (Phoenix), 32-29. QB Hayden Fletcher, a Northern Arizona pledge, had three TDs in the opening half and Dominic Lombardo added a receiving and rushing score.

Next: Friday at Salpointe Catholic (Tucson).

Dropped: No. 8 DeSoto (Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (4-2)
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (5-1)
3. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (4-3)
4. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (7-1)
5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (6-0)

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. (7-0)
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (7-0)
3. Mentor, Ohio (8-0)
4. Brownsburg, Ind. (8-0)
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. (6-0)
2. Venice, Fla. (6-1)
3. Central, Miami (5-1)
4. Norland, Miami (5-1)
5. Boyle County, Danville, Ky. (7-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (6-0)
2. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (6-1)
3. Campbell, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (7-0)
4. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (6-1)
5. Lake Oswego, Ore. (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.