BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings feature two new teams from the East and Southland regions. Joining are No. 24 Maryville (Tenn.) and No. 25 St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia).
Though No. 8 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 12 Booker T. Washington (Miami) suffered setbacks, the damage was minimal. In the case of St. John Bosco, the loss was to No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), while BTW was simply upset. Don’t read too deep into either of these games. Both teams are bracing for bigger challenges as the season progresses.
The top game of the week is Saturday when No. 20 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) jets down to No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on Saturday. SJC recorded a highly impressive win at the previous ranked St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)—New Jersey’s No. 1 team.
The next Elite 25 rankings are back Sept. 20. Be sure to support your local high schools. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings Sept. 13, 2016
1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (3-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Rallied to beat then-No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 35-20. The Gaels won their 42nd straight game and scored the contest’s final 28 points. Ohio State-bound QB Tate Martell accounted for four TDs. The Gaels are back home for the next three weekends.
Next: Saturday vs. regionally ranked Kahuku (Hawaii).
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (3-0)
Previous rank: 4.
Recap: The Monarchs are on a roll following a 48-0 win over La Mirada. It was the second shutout in three contests.
Next: Friday vs. Upland.
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (2-0)
Previous rank: 5.
Recap: Defeated Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.), 35-7. QB Beau English tossed two TDs in the opening half.
Next: Friday at McDonogh (Owings Mills).
4. Allen, Texas (3-0)
Previous rank: 6.
Recap: Defeated Coppell, 48-20. QB Mitchell Jonke passed for 234 yards and two TDs and RB Tevyn Stevenson ran for two scores. The Eagles head into the bye week with three wins.
Next: Sept. 23 at McKinney Boyd.
5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (3-0)
Previous rank: 3.
Recap: Defeated Washington (Tulsa, Okla.), 49-7. Texas A&M-bound QB Kellen Mond threw for three TDs and rushed for another. The contest was part of the 2016 Landers Battle on the Border at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 20 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).
6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (3-0)
Previous rank: 11.
Recap: Edged Northwestern (Miami), 34-32. QB Jason Brown hit 14 of 19 passes for 253 yards and three TDs. Florida-bound starter Marco Wilson missed the game with a bruised shoulder but returns this weekend.
Next: Friday at Coconut Creek.
7. Central, Miami (3-0)
Previous rank: 12.
Recap: Blasted First Coast (Jacksonville), 62-0. The Rockets defense allowed only 42 yards and forced three turnovers.
Next: Friday vs. Norland (Miami).
8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (2-1)
Previous rank: 2.
Recap: Lost to No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 35-20. At one point, the Brave led, 20-7.
Next: Friday at Crespi (Encino).
9. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (3-0)
Previous rank: 12.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday at South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.).
10. Roswell, Ga. (3-0)
Previous rank: 9.
Recap: Defeated defending Class AAAAAA champion Colquitt County (Moultrie), 34-3.
Next: Sept. 23 at Archer (Lawrenceville).
11. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (3-0)
Previous rank: 10.
Recap: The Yellow Jackets were idle.
Next: Friday at Foley.
12. Booker T. Washington, Miami (2-1)
Previous rank: 7.
Recap: Upset by Jackson (Miami), 12-9. The Tornadoes had six turnovers. Game over.
Next: Friday at Southridge (Miami).
13. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-1)
Previous rank: 13.
Recap: Shut out Plantation, 49-0. QB Jake Allen, a Florida recruit, was pulled early going 3 of 6 for 83 yards and two TDs. The Raiders regroup with a bye week.
Next: Sept. 23 vs. Hallandale.
14. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-0)
Previous rank: 14.
Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 28-27. RB Kairee Robinson scored a TD with 1 minute left, pulling the Spartans within 27-26; then tacked on the two-point conversion on a sweep left run to win it.
Next: Friday vs. East (Salt Lake City, Utah).
15. DeSoto, Texas (2-0)
Previous rank: 15.
Recap: Defeated Midland, 49-43. QB Shawn accounted for 479 yards of offense and six TDs. It was a quality-road win in west Texas. A much needed bye will prep the Eagles for a ballyhooed matchup in District 7-6A.
Next: Sept. 23 at Cedar Hill.
16. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (1-1)
Previous rank: 16.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday vs. Deerfield Beach (Fla.).
17. Cass Tech, Detroit (3-0)
Previous rank: 17.
Recap: Overwhelmed Pershing (Detroit), 57-0.
Next: Friday vs. Southeastern (Detroit).
18. Jenks, Okla. (3-0)
Previous rank: 18.
Recap: Defeated Union (Tulsa), 35-28, in the famed MidFirst Backyard Bowl before nearly 17,000. QB Jordan Curtis scampered 7 yards for the decisive TD with 74 seconds left and the defense came up strong in the waning seconds. Curtis also threw for 326 yards and two scores on 13 completions. The rivals will likely meet again in the postseason with much more at stake.
Next: Friday vs. Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.).
19. Colerain, Cincinnati (3-0)
Previous rank: 19.
Recap: Defeated La Salle (Cincinnati), 6-0. K Ryan Murray booted field goals from 41 and 35 yards and the Cardinals’ defense made several stands
Next: Friday at Princeton (Cincinnati).
20. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (3-0)
Previous rank: 20.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 24 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), 21-0. It was a quality road win for the Cadets, who scored 14 points in the fourth period to erase a 14-10 deficit. QB Kasim Hill threw for two long TDs.
Next: Saturday at No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).
21. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (3-0)
Previous rank: 22.
Recap: Routed Chandler, 52-7. There is no debating that the Pride is Arizona’s top-ranked team.
Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (Mesa).
22. Converse (Texas) Judson (3-0)
Previous rank: 25.
Recap: Defeated Roosevelt (San Antonio), 66-20. The Rockets saw eight players find the end zone.
Next: Friday vs. New Braunfels.
23. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (4-0)
Previous rank: 23.
Recap: Crushed West Jordan, 51-21. RB Jahvontay Smith tallied four TDs, as the score was 44-0 at halftime.
Next: Friday at Copper Hills (West Jordan).
24. Maryville, Tenn. (4-0)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Alcoa, 43-29. Junior QB Dylan Hopkins spearheaded the offense, accounting for three TDs and 302 total yards (211 passing, 91 rushing). It was the Rebels’ 63rd consecutive victory in the regular season.
Next: Friday vs. Science Hill (Johnson City).
25. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-0)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated regionally ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 35-24. The Hawks move onto their Philadelphia Catholic League opener.
Next: Friday at Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.).
Dropped: No. 21 Katy, Texas and No. 24 St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J.
High-Fives by Region
East
- Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (2-0)
- St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (1-0)
- North Penn, Langhorne, Pa. (3-0)
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (1-1)
- Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (1-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (3-0)
- Cathedral, Indianapolis, (4-0)
- Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (2-0-1)
- St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (3-0)
- East St. Louis, Ill. (3-0)…FR-FR
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Trinity, Louisville (4-0)
- Brother Martin, New Orleans (2-0)
- Clinton, Miss. (4-0)
- Lake Travis, Texas (2-1)
- John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (2-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (4-0)
- Kahuku, Hawaii (5-0)
- Corona (Calif.) Centennial (2-1)
- Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (2-0)
- West Linn, Ore. (2-0)
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.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
