AIR RAID: No. 18 Walton (GA) Raiders join Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 3 Bishop Gorman (NV) continues to beat up national competition

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is a thought the top-3 teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings are from the Far West Region.

That’s a fair statement because No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) are all unbeaten while playing wild national schedules.

The former two from the Trinity League in southern California each have one nonleague game remaining while Gorman finishes off their schedule against Nevada foes.

Gorman’s dossier is sparkling with wins over Elite 25 schools in Corner Canyon (Utah), Central (Miami, Fla.) and Corona (Calif.) Centennial. The latter was a 56-28 pasting on Friday.

Mater Dei has a quality schedule too with a win over Corona Centennial. Bosco triumphed at No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Both schools have Hawaiian power Kahuku scheduled and will play a league game on Oct. 13. They’ll likely meet again in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section playoffs in November.

By then Mater Dei and Bosco may split two games and Gorman coasts to another state championship, boasting an unblemished record.

As you see, Gorman is building a case to be No. 1 … and it’s a legitimate one

We’ll let the schedule play out because each week we enter the unknown.

Here’s what we do know.

The lone newcomer this week hails from the Peach State. No. 18 Walton (Marietta, Ga.) becomes the fifth Georgia school in the Elite 25 and is one of the top teams in an uber-potent GHSA Class AAAAAAA grouping.

The Walton Raiders is 3-0 and averaging nearly 60 points per game. They have a few bumps in the road before the playoffs and are top pick in Region 5.

Elsewhere, there’s always room for a feel-good story and this one is out of Colorado.

Carlos Briggsdale (Colo.) caught his first touchdown pass recently in a 60-13 six-man football loss at Otis (about 130 miles east of Denver). What’s amazing about the sophomore and first-year player Valdez is he lost both legs as a youth in as a result of a boating accident.

Valdez, who’s arms don’t communicate, make it more difficult to do simple tasks let along catch a football. Well, he dropped the first two 7-yard passes in the end zone before trapping the third on his left bicep for the TD.

“I was so nervous but when I caught it, it was so exciting, and everyone came out on the field and picked me up and started to throw me around and everyone was giving me high fives,” Valdez told the Otis Telegraph.

In spite of the misfortune, Valdez snow skis and rides horses. His long-term goal is to study medicine with aspirations of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Way to go, Carlos! A truly indominable spirit.

Last week, we dropped the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings. Here’s the link to the Net 25 and the next set will be posted by Wednesday afternoon. Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter).

Okay, time to hit pause and move forward.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Sept. 19.

Before we go, two things.

Please wish all of our Jewish friends “Shanah Tovah,” or Good Year later this week. According to the Hebrew calendar it’s the new year of 5784. Actually, Rosh Hashanah starts Friday evening and ends at sundown on Sunday (Sept. 17). All the best, folks.

Finally, I hope you find or found time to say a silent prayer this week, mostly Monday morning, to commemorate 9/11. There is no further explanation needed.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 12, 2023

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Kahuku (Hawaii), 55-8. The Monarchs make a rare trip this weekend to the East Coast to face a struggling team.

Next: Sept. 22 at St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (4-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 37-14. QB Caleb Sanchez threw for 265 yards and four TDs. The Braves hit the road for a more than 2,500-mile trek to Hawaii this weekend.

Next: Saturday at Kahuku (Hawaii).

3. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 19 Corona (Calif.) Centennial, 56-28. The Gaels were in control the entire game and received three TDs apiece from RB DeVon Rice and TE Elija Lofton.

Next: Thursday vs. Liberty (Henderson).

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Ben Davis (Indianapolis), 34-14.

Next: Friday vs. Glenville (Cleveland).

5. Duncanville, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Mansfield Lake Ridge.

6. Buford, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Carver (Atlanta).

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Spring Westfield, 45-9.

Next: Sept. 22 vs. Beaumont United.

8. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (4-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 34-33. The Edmen recorded a quality win at The Pit on the campus of Elder. Kellen Moyer’s 29-yard field goal with 6 seconds left completed the comeback.

Next: Friday at Massillon.

9. Central, Miami (1-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Booker T. Washington (Miami), 38-28.

Next: Saturday vs. Carol City.

10. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated No. 18 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 61-21. The Lions led 27-0 after one quarter and 40-7 at halftime. It was never a game. Ohio State-bound WR Jeremiah Smith had 16 receptions for 316 yards and three TDs. QB Cedrick Bailey, a North Carolina State pledge, threw for three scores and rushed for two more before heading to the sidelines.

Next: Friday at No. 17 American Heritage (Plantation).

11. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Rallied to beat Cocoa, 37-36. Francesco Pileggi kicked a 19-yard field goal with 6 seconds left after trailing 36-34.

Next: Friday vs. Western (Davie).

12. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Lakeland (Fla.), 45-24.

Next: Friday at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

13. DeSoto, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 54-14.

Next: Friday vs. Skyline (Dallas).

14. Westlake, Austin, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Akins (Austin), 64-0. The Chaps enter the bye week and then travel to their archrivals in a District 26-6A showdown.

Next: Sept. 22 at Lake Travis (Austin).

15. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Lee County (Leesburg), 37-20. The Packers are off this weekend.

Next: Sept. 22 vs. Cedar Grove (Ellenwood).

16. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Cedar Grove (Ellenwood)

17. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood).

18. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Pope (Marietta), 67-7. The Raiders have outscored three opponents, 179-49, and are the favorites to win Class AAAAAAA, Region 5.

Next: Friday vs. Marietta.

19. Bixby, Okla. (3-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Sandy Springs, 61-7. The Spartans average 59 points per game.

Next: Sept. 22 vs. Norman North.

20. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (3-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Chatfield (Littleton), 34-17.

Next: Friday at Arvada (Colo.) West.

21. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (4-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Syracuse, 42-14. The Chargers have reached the midway point of the regular season. QB Isaac Wilson accounted for four TDs, throwing for three and running for one.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain Ridge (Herriman).

22. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (3-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Orange Lutheran.

23. Columbus, Miami (3-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Jesuit (Tampa), 42-14. The Explorers record a key win in the Tampa Bay area.

Next: Saturday vs. Palmetto (Miami).

24. Langston Hughes, Fairburn, Ga. (2-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at New Manchester (Douglasville).

25. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (2-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 13 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 61-21. The Crusaders fell behind early and never recovered but hang on by a thread to stay in the Elite 25.

Next: Saturday at Seton Hall Prep (West Orange).

Dropped: No. 19 Corona (Calif.) Centennial.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (3-0)
2. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (3-0)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (2-0)
4. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (3-0)
5. Toms River (N.J.) North (3-0)

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

Midwest

1. Mount Carmel, Chicago (3-0)
2. Belleville, Mich. (3-0)
3. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (3-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (3-0)
5. Kimberly, Wis. (3-0)

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

Southland

1. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (1-0)
2. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (2-0)
3. Starkville, Miss. (3-0)
4. St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (3-0)
5. Gainesville, Ga. (4-0)

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

Far West

1. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (3-0)
2. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (3-0)
3. O’Dea, Seattle (2-0)
4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (2-2)
5. Kahuku, Hawaii (4-1)^

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

^ Includes a forfeit victory

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 at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.