No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) edges archrivals No. 7 St. John Bosco (CA), 31-24, for CIF-Southern Section Open Division title; No. 20 Moeller (OH) joins Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings could crown a national champion on Dec. 14, barring an unforeseen result.

Last Friday, the undefeated No. 1 Mater Dei Monarchs of Santa Ana, California moved within a step of a second straight but it wasn’t easy. The Monarchs held off their bitter rivals and fellow Trinity League combatant, No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 31-24, in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division final in Long Beach. When they met in October, the Monarchs dominated in a 59-14 decision.

The Braves (11-2), who saw their season end with a mighty effort, lost twice to their rivals but could very well start the 2025 season atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings with a trio of talented junior wide receivers and a freshman quarterback. It was Mater Dei’s 14^th sectional championship.

However, the night belonged to the Monarchs (12-0) and head coach Raul Lara. The Monarchs will play for their fifth CIF Open Division crown in the last seven years. Up next is No. 14 De La Salle (Concord) on Dec. 14 at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo or 22 miles from the Mater Dei campus. Mater Dei beat the Spartans in 2016 and 2017 in the state finals.

So, the waiting begins.

This weekend there are four games of interest.

In Texas, the UIL playoffs are winding down with three games or weekends remaining. No. 6 North Shore (Galena Park) faces No. 16 Atascocita (Humble) in the Class 6A, Division I Region 3 final Saturday in Houston.

No. 5 Carrollton (Ga.) hosts No. 10 Buford (Ga.) Friday night in the Class AAAAAA semifinals.

On Saturday, No. 24 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) plays Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) for the PIAA Class 6A state championship at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg. In Tempe, Ariz., No. 19 Liberty (Peoria) meets Basha (Chandler) for the AIA Open Division final at Mountain America Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University.

This week in the Elite 25 there was some movement and No. 20 Moeller (Cincinnati) was added after reaching the Ohio Division I state final and improving to 14-1. Friday the Crusaders play Olentangy Liberty (Powell) for the state crown in Canton. Twenty-two teams remained the same and two others moved up.

With No. 8 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 9 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) successfully defending their state championships, there are five state or conference winners in the Elite 25 with teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania going for state titles this weekend.

That’s it for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Dec. 10. Three more weeks of the season are left. The Elite 25 final rankings will be released on Sunday, Dec. 22.

I’m Just Saying: Since I’m a New York Giants season ticket holder, it looks like they will draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. That’s a big “if” because the Giants currently hold the No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sanders won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually to the nation’s top quarterback.

The Giants are in desperate need of a quarterback and from what I gather, the front office and scouts love Sanders. The Giants have too many holes but the signal-caller of the future makes sense. Or do they sign a bridge quarterback for two or three years and trade the pick? Two-way player Travis Hunter of Colorado appears to have sewn up the Heisman Trophy and would help the Giants on both sides of the ball. If the Giants were smart, start rebuilding the O-Line. That means dumping the pick for more draft capital and signing a veteran quarterback to bridge the next three seasons.

Quite the tangled mess in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Finally, don’t forget to donate to the relief efforts for those who were affected by hurricanes this fall in the Carolinas and along the East Coast. Go to the American 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, Dec. 3, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 31-24, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final. Oregon-bound RB Jordon Davison carried 28 times for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

Next: Dec. 14 vs. No. 14 De La Salle (Concord) in the CIF Open Division final.

2. Duncanville, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 42-20, in the Class, Division I Region 2 semifinals. QB Keelon Russell passed for 440 yards and six TDs, including four to WR Dakorien Moore.

Next: Saturday vs. Cypress Bridgeland in the Class, Division I Region 2 final to be played at Hewitt’s Panther Stadium.

3. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Houston County (Warner Robins), 56-14, in Class AAAAA quarterfinals. It’s battle of the unbeatens this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Lee County (Leesburg) in Class AAAAA semifinals.

4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Coppell, 35-24, in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 semifinals. RB Cornelius Warren ran for 204 yards and three scores on 30 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Allen in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 final to be played at Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.

5. Carrollton, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Hillgrove (Powder Springs), 46-6, in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 Buford in Class AAAAAA semifinals.

6. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Katy, 42-28, in Class 6A, Division I Region 3 semifinals. QB Kaleb Bailey passed for five TDs and 274 yards.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 16 Atascocita (Humble) in Class 6A, Division I final to be played at Thorne Stadium in Houston.

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-2)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 31-24, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final. Freshman QB Koa Malau’ulu completed 14 of 26 passes for 297 yards and two TDs. When the 2025 season commences, expect the Braves to be ranked No. 1. Season complete.

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Won the Class 5A, Division 1 state championship, defeating Arbor View (Las Vegas), 69-7, in the final. It was the fourth straight state crown for the Gaels, who led 21-0 after one quarter and 48-0 at halftime. Junior QB Maika Eugenio passed for 274 yards and five scores in the first half. Season complete.

9. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (11-1)*

Previous: 9.

Recap: Won a fourth consecutive NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship, defeating Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 25-7, in the final. The Crusaders were only up 9-7 through three quarters. Bryan Porter scored a pair of TDs in the fourth quarter to ice it. The dynasty continues for coach Vito Campanile. Season complete.

10. Buford, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 18 North Gwinnett (Suwanee), 43-7,in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 5 Carrollton in Class AAAAAA semifinals.

11. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (13-1)*

Previous: 11.

Recap: Won a second consecutive Class 6A state champion. Season complete.

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

Previous: 12.

Recap: Season complete.

13. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (12-0)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Won a third consecutive MIAA A Conference championship. Season complete.

14. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Dec. 14 vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in CIF Open Division final.

15. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-3)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Season complete.

16. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (12-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Fulshear, 47-42, in Class 6A, Division I Region 3 semifinals. Oklahoma-bound RB Tory Blalock ran for five scores.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 North Shore (Galena Park) in Class 6A, Region 3 final to be played at Houston’s Thorne Stadium.

17. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (11-2)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Edison (Miami), 49-6, in Class 1A, Region 4 final.

Next: Friday vs. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) in Class 1A state semifinals.

18. Lakeland, Fla. (12-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Tampa Bay Tech, 24-21, in Class 5A, Region 2 final. Calum Muldoon kicked a 34-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to win it.

Next: Friday vs. Manatee (Bradenton) in Class 5A state semifinals.

19. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (11-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Hamilton (Chandler), 56-24, in AIA Open Division semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Basha (Chandler) in the AIA Open Division final at Arizona State University’s Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.

20. Moeller, Cincinnati (14-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Centerville, 49-10, in the Division I semifinals. Junior QB Matt Ponatoski threw for 431 yards and six TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Olentangy Liberty (Powell) in the Division I state championship to be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

21. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-1)

Previous:21.

Recap: Season complete.

22. Gaffney, S.C. (10-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated T.L. Hanna (Greenville), 21-7, in Class 5A, Division II Upper State semifinals.

Next: Friday at Northwestern (Rock Hill) Class 5A, Division II in Upper State final.

23. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (10-1)*

Previous: 23.

Recap: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

24. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (11-2)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Downingtown West, 36-7, in PIAA Class 6A semifinals. The Hawks will make their ninth straight state championship game appearance.

Next: Saturday vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) in PIAA Class 6A final to be played at Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

25. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (8-4)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Advanced to in CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 semifinals.

Dropped: No. 18 North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (7-3)
2. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (11-1)*
3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (14-0)
4. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (12-0)
5. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (12-2)*

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. (13-1)*
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (12-2)*
3. Avon, Ohio (15-0)
4. Brownsburg, Ind. (13-1)*
5. Maple Grove, Minn. (13-0)*

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

Southland

1. Venice, Fla. (12-1)
2. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-0)
3. Owasso, Okla. (12-0)
4. Edna Karr, New Orleans (12-0)
5. Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (12-0)

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

Far West

1. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (11-1)
2. Folsom, Calif. (12-1)
3. O’Dea, Seattle (12-0)
   4. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (9-3)*
4. West Linn, Ore. (11-1)*

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

* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion [Note: a second asterisk indicates a team has multiple postseason titles.]

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.