BENSALEM, Pa. – For the second straight week, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings took a hit with three teams going down in the playoffs. Conversely that opened the door for two that debuted in the preseason rankings to find their way back into the picture.

No. 17 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) is back after winning its third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, beating archrival Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 48-17. In Philadelphia, No. 23 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) captured its eighth consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Class AAA title but have a monstrous game this weekend with Public League powerhouse Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia) in the District 12 final. The winner of this one could be the favorite for PIAA Class AAA state crown. In New Orleans, No. 25 Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) is back after advancing to the Division 1 semifinals but will have no easy time with John Curtis Christian (River Ridge).

The season is winding with state championships in Missouri, Indiana, New York and Illinois on tap this weekend. All four results will impact the Elite 25 rankings.

There’s also a ton of tradition this week with Thanksgiving Day games (some on Wednesday night) kicking off in states such as New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Those games are more social gathering for the locals and alumni but the games are intense for the competitors and usually end the playing days for seniors. If you live in an area where these games are played (kickoff is around 10 a.m.), I implore you to go. These traditions are disappearing and remain priceless.

In the meantime, have a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the turkey or ham with your family, friends and loved ones. This is an American holiday that must be cherished. If you have time, volunteer at a soup kitchen and help feed the needy.

The next Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will appear December 1. Until then please support your local high schools in the playoffs (and Thanksgiving Day too) and perhaps we’ll see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Nov. 24, 2015

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (13-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Arbor View (Las Vegas), 28-10, in Division I Sunset Region final. QB Tate Martell threw for two touchdowns to Tyjon Lindsey and RB Biaggio Ali Walsh ran for two scores.

Next: Saturday at Reed (Sparks) in Division I semifinals.

2. Allen, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated DeSoto, 41-40, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff. Allen lucked out when DeSoto missed an extra-point late in the fourth period or the game would have been deadlocked and who knows the final result. QB Mitchell Jonke passed and ran for TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Arlington Martin in Region 1 semifinals at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles), 52-14, CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division quarterfinals. The Braves rolled to a 31-0 lead at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Amat (La Puente) in semifinals.

4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Rolled over Orange Lutheran, 49-27, in in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division quarterfinals. An explosive offense jumped to a 49-7 lead after three quarters before the backups allowed 20 points in the fourth. The Huskies have a true test in the semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in semifinals.

5. Katy, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Cypress Ranch (Houston), 59-20, in Class 6A, Division II Region 3 Area playoff. The Tigers struggled early but rallied to score 35 unanswered points.

Next: Friday vs. Friendswood in Region 3 semifinals at NRG Stadium, Houston.

6. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville), 62-21, in Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 3 second round.

Next: Friday vs. South Forsyth (Cumming) in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Season complete.

8. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Crushed California High (San Ramon), 47-0, in CIF-North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Pittsburg in sectional semifinals.

9. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (13-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Crushed Minor (Adamsville), 50-14, in Class 6A quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Austin (Decatur) in semifinals.

10. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap:Defeated Valdosta, 54-14, in Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 2 second round.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Atlanta) in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

11. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (12-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Cox (Virginia Beach), 36-3, in Class 6A South Region quarterfinals. Khalan Laborn rushed for 117 yards and two TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) in semifinals.

12. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (12-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Brennan (San Antonio), 38-7, in Class 6A, Division II Region 4 Area playoff.

Next: Friday vs. Del Rio in Region 4 semifinals, Bobcat Stadium, San Marcos.

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

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), 24-7, Class 7A, Region 4 semifinals. The Raiders move onto the region final against former head coach Rocco Casullo, who led the program for the previous four years going 47-9 with two state titles, including last year.

Next: Friday vs. Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens) in Region 4 final.

14. Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga. (11-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Edged McEachern (Powder Springs), 24-21, in Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 4 second round.

Next: Friday vs. Mill Creek (Hoschton) in Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

15. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (11-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Trounced Bonney Lake, 47-7, in Class 3A quarterfinals. The Crusaders’ high-powered attack is averaging 50 points per game.

Next: Friday vs. Lakes (Lakewood) in semifinals.

16. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (12-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Shut out Euclid, 33-0, in Division I Region 1 semifinal. RB Cole Gest ran for 191 yards and three TDs on 17 carries. Gest broke the school rushing mark and now has 3,764 yards heading into next weekend’s game.

Next: Saturday vs. Stow in Region 1 final.

17. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-1)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 48-17, in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game. The Stags won their third straight WCAC championship.

Next: Season complete.

18. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (13-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle. A state title repeat is one win away for the Cadets.

Next: Friday vs. Blue Springs South in Class 6 final at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis.

19. Male, Louisville, Ky. (13-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Trimmed Trinity (Louisville), 20-19, in Class 6A Region 2 final. Zackery Smith scored two TDs and Devin Gentry ran for 110 yards and a score. The Bulldogs are two wins from their first state title since 2000.

Next: Friday at Central Hardin (Cecilla) in state semifinals.

20. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. (12-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Blanked Taylor County (Perry), 51-0, in in Class 3A Region 1 final.

Next: Friday vs. Tampa Catholic in state semifinals.

21. Atlantic, Delray Beach, Fla. (12-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Boca Raton, 29-14, in Class 8A, Region 3 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) in Region 3 final.

22. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (13-0)

Previous: 22

Recap: Defeated Palatine, 24-22, in Class 8A semifinals. Dara Laja rushed for 209 yards and a TD on 34 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Marist (Chicago) in state final in DeKalb.

23. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia), 35-7, to capture an eighth straight Philadelphia Catholic League Class AAA crown. QB Anthony Russo fired two TD passes for threw for 124 yards.

Next: Saturday vs. Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia) in District 12 AAA final.

24. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (11-0)*

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), 20-12, in CHSFL AAA final.

Next: Saturday at St. Francis (Athol Springs) in New York State Catholic State High School Athletic Association final in Grand Island.

25. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (10-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Jesuit (New Orleans), 44-14, in Division 1 quarterfinals. The Raiders return to the Elite 25 rankings after moving on in the postseason with a win over their archrivals. QB Chase Fourcade threw for 361 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday vs. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) in semifinals.

Dropped: No. 16. Chandler, Ariz.; No. 23 Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh; and No. 24. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (12-0)

2. Gilman School, Baltimore, (10-1)

3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (11-0)

4. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (11-1)

5. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (10-0)

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

Midwest

1. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (13-0)

2. Center Grove, Ind. (13-0)

3. Colerain, Cincinnati (12-1)

4. Martin Luther King, Detroit (13-0)

5. Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*

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

Southland

1. Roswell, Ga. (12-0)

2. Maryville, Tenn. (13-0)

3. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (12-0)

4. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (11-1)

5. Spartanburg, S.C. (11-1)

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

Far West

1. Folsom, Calif. (12-0)

2. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (12-0)

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

4. Kahuku, Hawaii (13-0)*

5. Elk Grove, Calif. (12-0)

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

 * Won state, sectional or postseason conference championship

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September 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 late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.