BRAVES (NEW) WORLD: No. 1 St. John Bosco (CA) is the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions; 16 teams win football state titles

BENSALEM, Pa. – Ultimately, the Braves of St. John Bosco from Bellflower, California held destiny in their hands. The Braves started the season top-ranked in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

Everyone knew it came down to archrivals St. John Bosco and then-No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), two powerhouse teams from the Trinity League. Mater Dei won the regular season meeting and just a month ago, the Braves returned the favor in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 1 championship, 24-22. The Braves stopped a potential game-tying two-point conversion with 3:08 left and held on for the win.

On Dec. 10, coach Jason Negro’s team won the whole thing, capturing the CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl, crushing previously undefeated Serra (San Mateo), 45-0. It could have been worse. There is that much a gulf between Bosco and Mater Dei and the rest of California.

And so goes it! The Braves finished 14-1 with two postseason crowns and now a third: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship!

Take a bow, Braves, you are in rarified air!

There’s one addition to the Elite 25 and it’s from the Lone Star State, where No. 22 Aledo (Texas) enters after winning the UIL Class 5A, Division I state title. The Bearcats began 0-2 but rallied to win their final 14 games. It’s the 11th state title for the Bearcats. Kudos!

The biggest jump in the Elite 25 is No. 2 Duncanville (Texas), which moves up seven spots, after winning the UIL Class 6A, Division I state championship over then-No. 3 North Shore (Galena Park), 28-21. Junior RB Caden Durham, the game’s MVP, rushed for three touchdowns. It was the Panthers’ first state title since 1998. The Panthers (15-0) ended North Shore’s win streak at 28 games and a loss in last year’s final before 40,056 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Veteran coach Reginald Samples, who finally won a state title, led the first Dallas-area team to a Class 6A, Division I crown since Allen in 2017. Samples closed the season with 323 career victories.

So, here’s a breakdown of the Elite 25 final rankings.

Texas leads the way with eight teams, Florida has five and California checks in with two. The Southland Region had 16 teams, Far West with four, East three and Midwest two. There were 16 state champions and two schools that are independent and do not compete for state titles.

We’ve reached the end of the line for another season. Things will change between now and next summer when preseason camps reconvene and the 7-on-7 tournaments will be conducted. The Class of 2027 enters as the next group of prospects and more storylines will unfold.

Blue Star Media will bring it all to you, bet on it.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason football rankings will drop in August 2023. In the meantime, check out the Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ high school basketball rankings that will continue through the remainder of the season into mid-April. The boys are released Tuesdays and the girls on Wednesdays. However, we’ll update them both at the end of this week (Christmas Eve) to reflect holiday tournament results.

Until next season, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

There are not enough thanks for our loyal readers; you truly are the difference makers.

God’s Blessings to you, your family and friends.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 18, 2022

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-1)**!

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. Won the CIF State Championship Bowl Open Division championship for the fourth time since 2013.

2. Duncanville, Texas (15-0)*

Previous: 9.

Recap: Won UIL Class 6A, Division I state championship, defeating then-No. 3 North Shore (Galena Park), 28-21, in the final.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Won Trinity League championship and advance to the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 final.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14-0)*

Previous: 4.

Recap: Won Class 3M state championship, beating Homestead, 38-21, in the final. It was the Raiders’ fourth straight state title after winning three last three in Class 7A. QB Hezekiah Harris accounted for 185 yards from scrimmage and two scores, one running and another passing. RB Gemari Sands rushed for 86 yards, including an 8-yard TD run late in the contest.

5. Central, Miami (14-0)*

Previous: 5.

Recap: Won Class 2M state championship, defeating No. 12 American Heritage (Plantation), 38-31, in the final. The Rockets built a 38-21 lead after three quarters as QB Keyone Jenkins threw for three TDs and ran for another. It was Central’s fourth straight Florida state title.

6. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-1)* #

Previous: 6.

Recap: Won the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series championship, defeating then-No. 8 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 49-14. Junior Elija Lofton was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring five TDs, including four on the ground and another on a 15-yard pass from junior QB Micah Alejado. Also won Class 5A state championship. It was the Gaels’ 12th Nevada state title in the last 13 terms. Regular season complete.

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (15-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 9 Duncanville, 28-21, in Class 6A, Division I final. The Mustangs moved deep into Duncanville territory in the final minute but were stopped inches short of a first down that would have extended the drive.

8. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a postseason championship. Season complete.

9. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (13-1)*

Previous: 8.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 6 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 49-14, in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series. The setback snapped the Lions’ 24-game win streak. Expect the Lions to be in the Elite 25 preseason rankings in 2023 after capturing the Class 1M state championship.

10. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Advanced to Class 6A, Division I semifinals.

11. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: The Panthers do not compete for a postseason title.

12. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (13-0)*

Previous: 13.

Recap: Won Division II, Class AA state championship for second straight year.

13. Mount Carmel, Chicago, (13-0)*

Previous: 14.

Recap: Won Class 7A state championship. It was the program’s 14th Illinois state title.

14. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (15-1)*

Previous: 15.

Recap: Won a second consecutive Division I state championship.

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

Previous: 16.

Recap: Won the Non-Public A state championship for the second straight season.

16. DeSoto, Texas (14-2)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won the Class 6A, Division II state championship, defeating then-No. 21 Vandegrift (Austin) in the final. Super sophomore RB Deondrae Riden Jr. ran for 187 yards and three TDs and QB Darius Bailey completed 1 of 18 passes for 297 yards and three scores of 42, 10 and 64 yards.

17. Basha, Chandler, Arizona (12-1)*

Previous: 17.

Recap: Won first-ever Arizona Open Division state championship.

18. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (14-1)*

Previous: 18.

Recap: Won Class AAAAAAA state championship.

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

Previous: 19.

Recap: Won the PIAA Class 6A state championship.

20. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (13-2)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Lost to No. 6 Central (Miami), 38-31, in Class 2M final. The Patriots were down 38-21 early in the third but the rally fell short.

21. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (11-3)*

Previous: 22.

Recap: Won a fourth straight Class 7A state championship.

22. Aledo, Texas (14-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Class 5A, Division I state championship, defeating College Station, 52-14, in the final. It was Aledo’s 11th UIL state title. Coach Tim Buchanan’s Bearcats started 0-2 but peeled off 14 straight wins to end the season, including a District 3-5A crown with a 9-0 mark. QB Hauss Hejny ran for two TDs and threw for two more.

23. Vandegrift, Austin, Texas (14-2)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Lost to No. 20 DeSoto, 42-17, in the Class 6A, Division II final.

24. Denton (Texas) Guyer (14-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Advanced to Class 6A, Division II semifinals.

25. Katy, Texas (14-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Advanced to Class 6A, Division II semifinals.

Dropped: No. 25 Longview (Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (8-4)*
2. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (11-1)*
3. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (15-0)*
4. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (12-0)*
5. St. Anthony’s, Mehlville, N.Y. (12-1)**

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

Midwest

1. Belleville, Mich. (14-0)*
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (13-1)*
3. De La Salle Collegiate, Warren, Mich. (13-1)*
4. Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic (15-1)*
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. Langston Hughes, Fairburn, Ga. (15-0)*
2. Columbus, Miami (14-1)*
3. Destrehan, La. (14-0)*
4. Lakeland, Fla. (14-0)*
5. Bixby, Okla. (14-1)*

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (13-1)*
2. Los Alamitos, Calif. (9-3)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-2)
4. Kahuku, Hawaii (12-2)*
5. Lincoln, San Diego (13-1)**

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.]

 ! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

 # GEICO State Champions Bowl Series champions

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 2022 season. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.