BENSALEM, Pa. – As the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings head into the third month, there the action will kick into a higher gear with the stakes becoming higher.

There was an upset in Arizona last week when newly promoted No. 25 Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) upset then-No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 12-0. The Raiders season is slowly getting back to normal after Hurricane Irma ravaged south Florida last month. Aquinas did not play for three weeks and had two games last week, including a long trip cross-country trek. Give credit to Centennial, Arizona’s top-ranked in Class 5A team. The Coyotes have four shutouts and pushing hard for a state championship.

No. 25 Centennial is the lone addition to the Elite 25. Expect more changes in the coming weeks.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Oct. 3, 2017

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

2. Allen, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Boyd (McKinney), 61-10. The Eagles hit a season high for points.

Next: Thursday at Plano West.

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated No. 13 Northwestern (Miami), 21-0.

Next: Friday vs. Venice.

4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Ramsay (Birmingham, Ala.), 42-16. The Rams hit the road for three straight games.

Next: Friday at Shiloh (Snellville).

5. Katy, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Katy Taylor, 37-0. The Tigers recorded their second straight shutout.

Next: Oct. 13 at Seven Lakes (Katy).

6. Converse (Texas) Judson (5-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Steele (Cibolo), 35-28. QB Julon Williams accounted for all five TDs, rushing for three and throwing for two more.

Next: Oct. 13 at East Central (San Antonio).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-1)

Previous: 2.

Recap: The Raiders played twice last week, topping Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale), 44-0, before traveling out west losing to Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.), 12-0.

Next: Friday vs. Deerfield Beach.

8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (4-1)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. The Trinity League opener has arrived.

Next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran.

9. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 23-12.

Next: Friday at Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach).

10. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (4-2)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Spring Valley (Las Vegas), 63-0. Amod Cianelli and Zavien Ragsdale each run for two TDs and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for three scores.

Next: Friday at Clark (Las Vegas).

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

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia).

12. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale).

13. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (7-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Lone Peak (Highland), 28-10. The Miners have won 24 straight games in the regular season. Tanner Merrill intercepted two passes, including one for a pick-six.

Next: Friday at Hunter (West Valley City).

14. DeSoto, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 21-7.

Next: Thursday at MacArthur (Irving).

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (5-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland), 45-24. RB Henry To’oto’o scored two TDs for the Spartans.

Next: Friday vs. California (San Ramon).

16. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (7-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Carmel, 28-10.

Next: Friday at Lawrence Central (Indianapolis).

17. South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Ridge View (Columbia), 56-19.

Next: Friday at Westwood (Blythewood).

18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (3-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle. The Huskies had rare double bye.

Next: Friday at Roosevelt (Eastvale).

19. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (6-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 14-6. QB Wisconsin-commit QB Chase Wolf threw TD passes of 5 and 8 yards to Cameron Specht. The Bombers go for a league title with a win,

Next: Friday vs. La Salle (Cincinnati).

20. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle. The Stags play their archrivals this weekend coming off a bye.

Next: Friday vs. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).

21. Hoover, Ala. (4-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Oak Mountain (Birmingham).

22. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (4-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Warren Easton (New Orleans), 27-21. Collin Guggenheim rushed for two TDs from 1 and 5 yards. The Patriots continue District 9-5A play this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (New Orleans).

23. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (7-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated archrivals St. Xavier (Louisville), 28-0, before 24,000 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. QB Nick Bohn completed 32 of 42 passes for 237 yards and four TDs to different players.

Next: Friday vs. Eastern (Louisville).

24. Mission Viejo, Calif. (6-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated El Toro (Lake Forest), 49-17. The Diablos were up 42-0 at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita).

25. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Upset then-No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 12-0. The Coyotes caught the Raiders at the right time.

Next: Friday at Shadow Ridge (Surprise, Ariz.).

Dropped: No. 13 Northwestern, Miami.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (6-0)
2. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (6-0)
3. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-1)
4. Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (5-0)
5. Parkland, Allentown, Pa. (6-0)

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

Midwest

1. Kimberly, Wis. (7-0)
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (6-0)
3. Omaha (Neb.) Burke (6-0)
4. Eden Prairie, Minn. (5-0)
5. Belleville, Mich. (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (6-0)
2. Northwestern, Miami (3-1)
3. Central, Phenix City, Ala. (5-0)
4. Union, Tulsa (5-0)
5. Pearl, Miss. (7-0)

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

Far West

1. Saint Louis, Honolulu (6-0)
2. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (5-0)
3. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (5-1)
4. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (5-1)
5. Camas, Wash. (5-0)

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

 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.