No. 24 St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) re-enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; 13 teams resume play after late season byes

BENSALEM, Pa. – It was an atypical week for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings. The weekend of November saw 13 teams sit idle, one team completed their season and another rejoined the rankings.

The byes were enjoyed in California (four teams), Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland and Nevada. No. 13 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) wrapped up their season. The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship.

No. 24 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) returns to the Elite 25 after knocking then-No. 20 and archrivals La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) in the PIAA Class 6A District 12 playoffs. The Hawks (7-2) dropped their regular season meeting between the teams in Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division play in October. La Salle, which won the Red Division title, finishes 10-1.

With so many byes, the Elite 25 had some movement with four teams moving up a slot. There was one addition and no teams dipped. This week there is one team on a bye before starting the playoffs in Arizona and 23 teams involved in the second season. No. 14 Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) plays for the MIAA A Conference championship Saturday night at Calvert Hall College (Towson, Md.) at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers go for the three-peat against McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.).

In Florida, Central (Miami), a team that was featured in the Elite 25 preseason rankings, forfeited eight games dropping it to 0-9 for the season. The Rockets lost an opening day game to No. 20 Lakeland (Fla.) but self-reported to Florida High School Athletic Association it used an ineligible player in those games. The student-athlete in question was a fifth-year player.

Central was reprimanded by the FHSAA and placed on administrative probation until Nov. 1, 2025. Central could appeal the decision. The state released the playoff brackets over the weekend and the Rockets would have been the top seed in Class 3A but are headed home.

Well, that’s it for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Nov. 19.

I’m Just Saying: Last week, we took Gonzaga to win the NCAA Men’s Basketball championship; this time we envision Connecticut and South Carolina advancing to the Women’s National Championship game.

Please donate to the relief efforts for the hurricanes at the Red Cross. No amount is too small.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Nov. 12, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

2. Duncanville, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 48-6. The Panthers won the District 11-6A title.

Next: Friday vs. Temple in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

3. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle

Next: Friday vs. Woodstock in Class AAAAA first round.

4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Crowley, 65-21. The Panthers are District 3-6A with a 6-0 mark.

Next: Saturday vs. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club) in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

5. Carrollton, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Dacula in Class AAAAAA first round.

6. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Summer Creek (Humble), 35-10. It was the sixth straight perfect regular season for the Mustangs, bringing the District 23-6A crown.

Next: Thursday vs. Deer Park in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Liberty (Henderson) in Nevada Class 5A, Division 1 semifinals.

9. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 16 Corona (Calif.) Centennial in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (8-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinals.

11. Buford, Ga. (9-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. East Coweta (Sharpsburg) in Class AAAAAA first round.

12. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (11-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Weber (Pleasant Valley), 59-34, in Class 6A quarterfinals. QB Bronson Evans tossed three TDs and RBs Zion Finau and Weston Briggs ran for two scores apiece.

Next: Thursday vs. Lehi in Class 6A quarterfinals to be played at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.), 28-7. Season complete.

14. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (11-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Shut out Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 38-0, MIAA A Conference semifinals. The Cavaliers have eight clean sheets in the last nine games and go for their third straight MIAA title.

Next: Saturday vs. McDonogh School (Owings Mills) in MIAA A Conference final.

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Clayton Valley Charter (Concord), 48-3. The Spartans recorded a perfect regular season, outscoring the opposition, 407-103.

Next: Friday vs. San Marin in CIF-North Coast Section Open/Division I quarterfinals.

16. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-2)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at No. 9 Mission Viejo in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

17. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (9-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Goose Creek Memorial (Baytown), 73-7.

Next: Friday at Dickinson in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

18. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (8-2)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. St. John Paul II Academy (Boca Raton) in Class 1A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

19. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Nov. Friday vs. Denmark in Class AAAAAA first round.

20. Lakeland, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Sebring, 22-12.

Next: Friday vs. Spoto (Riverview) in Class 5A, Region 2 quarterfinals.

21. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (9-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Centennial (Peoria), 45-17.

Next: Nov. 22 vs. Higley (Gilbert) in AIA Open Division quarterfinals.

22. Gaffney, S.C. (8-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Spartanburg, 27-24. Down 24-7, the Indians rallied for 20 points in the fourth quarter to clinch the Region 2 title. QB Jayvon Gilmore tossed three TDs to WR Shane Davidson.

Next: Nov. 22 vs. Riverside (Greer) or Greenville in Class 5A Division 2 Upper State quarterfinals.

23. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (8-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) in the WCAC Capital semifinals.

24. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (7-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 20 La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 21-14. The Hawks return to the Elite 25 after avenging one of their losses. Junior RB Khyan Billups rushed for two TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia) in Class 6A first round.

25. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (7-3)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Dropped: No. 20 La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (7-3)
2. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia 10-1)
3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (10-0)
4. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (10-0)
5. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (10-1)

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

Midwest

1. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (11-0)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (10-1)
3. Mentor, Ohio (12-0)
4. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (11-0)
5. Avon, Ohio (12-0)

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

Southland

1. Venice, Fla. (9-1)
2. Boyle County, Danville, Ky. (11-0)
3. Auburn, Ala. (10-0)
4. Owasso, Okla. (10-0)
5. Ravenwood, Brentwood, Tenn. (11-0)

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

Far West

1. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (9-1)
2. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (8-3)
3. Lake Oswego, Ore. (9-0)
4. Bellevue, Wash. (9-0)
5. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (6-4)

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.