BENSALEM, Pa. –  The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings have arrived.

Instead of waiting until the second week of September it’s time to drop the rejigged Elite Fall 25 with nine additions to reflect those schools that will play football in the winter/spring due to COVID-19 novel coronavirus concerns. Simply, we took the 16 teams that were in the original preseason rankings and backfilled with worthy additions.

When the Elite 25 preseason rankings were posted in July, power states such as California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Illinois and Michigan and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ready to play in August. Those plans were dashed. The Far West Region was particularly hard hit but that will change in the new year with California placing at least seven teams in the Elite 15 Winter/Spring rankings.

More on that scenario in December.

As of August 31, 16 states and District of Columbia have delayed the start of their football seasons until 2021. Catholic leagues along the East Coast in metropolitan areas Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington are included in the spring season. That leaves the Elite 25 Fall rankings with 34 states in the fold. The season is three weeks young going into Labor Day Weekend with Georgia, West Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, Kansas and New Hampshire set to kick off starting Thursday.

Two interesting scenarios that will affect the Elite Fall 25 are unfolding. Arizona will announce if its season is shifted to the spring on Sept. 2 and No. 4 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) is in limbo after their league decided to play in the season. Since Prep is not a Philadelphia Archdiocesan school—it is operated by the Jesuit fathers—they could still cobble a schedule together and play in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs, where last year it captured a second straight Class AAAAAA title. The Hawks are heavy favorites for a vaunted three-peat. No. 9 Chandler (Ariz.) is scheduled to open next month but that is a fluid situation.

We’re back on a normal schedule moving forward and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Sept. 8. That means Pennsylvania, Rhode Island Kentucky will be debuting this weekend of weekend of Sept. 11. It’ll be a gradual rollout but soon all 34 fall states will be competing and sprinting to a league, district, sectional or state championship run. Well, that’s it for another week. It will be a marathon this year with the final rankings revealed in June 2021. Phew!

Stay safe, wear a mask, practice social distancing and we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall Rankings, Sept. 1, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (0-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle. The Mustangs have a tough season opener against a defending state champion.

Next: Sept. 25 at Shadow Creek (Alvin).

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (0-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. The Ascenders play on ESPN this weekend. That’s the first of eight games against teams from six states and two from Canada. Don’t be shocked when they add two more games during open dates in November.

Next: Friday at Venice (Fla.).

3. Duncanville, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle. The Panthers will face No. 2 IMG Academy on Oct. 10 in national spotlight game.

Next: Sept. 24 vs. Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth).

 4. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle. The Hawks are contemplating whether to play an independent schedule in the aftermath of the Philadelphia Catholic League opting for spring ball. That decision needs to be made soon.

Next: TBA.

5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (0-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: TBA.

6. Central, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: TBA.

7. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (0-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Jones County (Gray).

8. Katy, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 25 vs. Clear Springs (League City).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle. There’s a chance the mighty Wolves won’t play until the springtime.

Next: Oct. 2 vs. Higley (Gilbert).

10. Northwestern, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: TBA.

11. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (0-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: TBA.

12. Westlake, Austin, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Oct. 2 at Hewitt Midway.

13. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (0-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle. The defending Missouri Class 6 champions face off with a league rival next weekend.

Next: Sept. 11 vs. Christian Brothers College (St. Louis).

14. Denton (Texas) Guyer (0-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 25 at Hebron (Carrollton).

15. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Oct. 2 vs. West Orange.

16. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (0-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 11 vs. Moeller (Cincinnati).

17. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Chargers are rolling after beating Farmington, 49-20, Herriman (West Herman), 56-0 and Bingham (South Jordan), 42-20. QB Jaxson Dart has been nothing short of sensational in three lopsided win, completing 44 of 59 passes for 965 and 13 touchdown and zero interceptions. Against rivals Bingham he hit for six TD tosses. No question he’s Elite 25 Player of the Month for August 2020.

Next: Friday at Jordan (Sandy).

18. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Pickerington North, 35-9, for a ninth straight win over their crosstown rivals. In Ohio, it’s a truncated season with six games and all teams making the playoffs.

Next: Friday at Newark.

19. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (0-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday at Archer (Lawrenceville) in Corky Kell Classic.

20. Bixby, Okla. (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Shut out Union (Tulsa), 34-0. The Spartans are Oklahoma’s top-ranked Class 6A-II squad. Friday’s game is against a true national powerhouse program.

Next: Friday vs. Jenks.

21. Valley, West Des Moines, Iowa (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Roosevelt (Des Moines), 40-20. The Tigers have a rematch of last year’s Class Iowa 4A final, which they dropped to the six-time defending champions.

Next: Friday vs. Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines).

22. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Idle. The Crusaders open with a bitter rival.

Next: Oct. 3 vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).

23. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Oxford, 56-34, and Sparkman (Harvest), 39-7. QB Conner Harrell hit on 13-of-19 passes for 200 yards and two TDs in the latter victory.

Next: Friday vs. Tuscaloosa County (Northport).

24. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (0-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 25 vs. White Knoll (Lexington).

25. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Trojans defeated Decatur Central (Indianapolis), 56-14, and Warren Central (Indianapolis), 20-0, This weekend’s game is a supreme early-season test.

Next: Friday vs. Carmel.

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (0-0)
2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (0-0)
3. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (0-0)
4. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
5. Williamstown, N.J. (0-0)

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

Midwest

1. La Salle, Cincinnati (1-0)
2. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (1-0)
3. Mentor, Ohio (1-0)
4. Cathedral, Indianapolis (2-0)
5. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (1-0).

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

Southland

1. Allen, Texas (0-0)
2. Hoover, Ala. (2-0)
3. Booker T. Washington, Miami (0-0)
4. McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (2-0)
5. Archbishop Rummel. Metairie, La. (0-0)

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

Far West

1. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (3-0)
2. Skyridge, Lehi, Utah (3-0)
3. Sahuaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (0-0)
4. American Fork, Utah (3-0)
5. Coeur D’Alene, Idaho (0-0)

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

^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. For the 2020-2021 school year, there will be two separate rankings in the fall and winter/spring due to coronavirus concerns. 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 June 2021. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.