BENSALEM, Pa. – One of the nation’s most powerful brackets produced a major upset, allowing a team from the preseason rankings to re-enter the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

Traditionally, Ohio’s Division I Region 4 playoffs, comprised of Cincinnati area schools, are a group of death. Last weekend, St. Xavier (Cincinnati) knocked off then-No. 15 Colerain (Cincinnati) in the region semifinals. That’s a brutal way to conclude the season for the Cardinals, who boasted one of the state’s top defensive units and had already beaten the Bombers in the regular season.

So one door closes and that opens another for No. 25 Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), who easily won its opening round playoff game in ultra-competitive UIL Class 6A, Division I. The Cavaliers are 10-1 heading into this week’s Area playoff game with Smithson Valley (Spring Branch).

This weekend there are four appetizing games that will impact the Elite 25 rankings, including two for championships.

In College Park, Md., No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) takes on St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference final at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on Saturday. The Stags won a close one during the regular season. No. 21 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) plays Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) in the Class 8A semifinals also on Saturday.

Friday features two rivalry laced matchups. In Salt Lake City, No. 17 Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) plays Long Peak (Highland) in the Class 5A final at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Bingham lost last year in the semifinals to Lone Peak and you can bet there is revenge in the air. Finally, one of the nation’s top rivalries is renewed in Owasso, Okla., as No. 14 Jenks (Okla.) faces Union (Tulsa) in the Class 6A, Division I semifinals. The Trojans knocked off Union in a regular season thriller in September.

That should keep everyone busy and two champions will be crowned. The next Elite 25 rankings are back November 22. Please support your local high schools as they play in the postseason. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings. Nov. 15, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Crushed Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 59-0, in Class 4A Sunset Region first round. QB Tate Martell carried 12 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and RB Biaggio Ali Walsh scored four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) in region semifinals.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Defeated Tesoro (Santa Margarita), 69-0, in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

Next: Friday vs. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) in CIF-Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Defeated Good Counsel (Olney), 28-13, in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference semifinals. QB Beau English threw three TD passes to WR Delante Hellams.

Next: Saturday vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) in WCAC final at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.

4. Allen, Texas (11-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Defeated Euless Trinity, 34-25, in the Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Belton in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game in Mesquite.

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Defeated St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 38-0. The Ascenders were leading 31-0 at halftime.

Next: Saturday at Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, Va.)

6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (10-0)

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Defeated Westwood (Fort Pierce), 55-12, in Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) in Class 5A, Region 4 semifinals.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (8-2)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Blanked Palm Beach Lakes (West Palm Beach), 35-0, in Class 7A, Region 4 first round.

Next: Friday vs. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) in Class 7A, Region 4 semifinals.

8. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (12-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Edged Enterprise, 27-23, in Class 7A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Central (Phenix City) in 7A semifinals.

9. DeSoto, Texas (11-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Defeated Killeen, 51-7, in the Class 6A, Division II bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Southlake Carroll in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game to be played at Kimbrough Stadium in Murphy.

10. Roswell, Ga. (11-0)

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Defeated Pebblebrook (Mableton), 45-7, in Class AAAAAAA first round.

Next: Friday vs. Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee) in Class AAAAAAA second round.

11. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (10-1)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Lawrenceville), 56-7, in Class AAAAAAA first round.

Next: Friday vs. Woodstock in Class AAAAAAA second round.

12. Cass Tech, Detroit (12-0)

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Defeated Saline, 43-42, in Division I region final. RB Donovan Johnson rushed for 287 yards and four TDS on 13 carries. Donovan Peoples-Jones caught a two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter to win it.

Next: Friday vs. Eisenhower (Utica, Mich.) in the Division I semifinals.

13. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (11-0)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Defeated Newton (Covington), 41-0, in Class AAAAAAA first round.

Next: Friday vs. Cherokee (Canton) in Class AAAAAAA second round.

14. Jenks, Okla. (11-0)

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Defeated Southmoore (Moore), 56-42, in the Class 6A, Division I first round. Huge rivalry game this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Union (Tulsa) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played in Owasso.

15. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-2)

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Defeated Upland, 47-20, in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita in CIF-Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.

16. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (12-0)

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Defeated Desert Ridge (Mesa), 47-21, in 6A Conference quarterfinals. The Pride recorded four defensive TDs, including two pick-sixes from Isaiah Pola-Moa in the second quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Red Mountain (Mesa) in 6A semifinals to be played in Tempe.

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

Previous rank: 18.

Recap: Routed Fremont (Plain City), 35-12, in Class 5A semifinals. The Miners play the team that knocked them out of the playoffs a year ago.

Next: Friday vs. Lone Peak (Highland) in 5A final to be played at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

18. Maryville, Tenn. (12-0)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Defeated Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport),42-14, in Class 6A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Blackman (Murfreesboro) in 6A quarterfinals.

19. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (12-0)

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Defeated Peoria, 61-6, in in 4A Conference quarterfinals. Junior QB Max Massingale accounted for five TDs during a 15-minute span of the opening half.

Next: Friday vs. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) in 4A semifinals.

20. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (10-0)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Defeated La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 35-14, in Class AAAAAA Catholic League Red Division final. Georgia-bound RB D’Andre Swift rushed for 177 yards and three TDs on 18 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Northeast (Philadelphia) in Class AAAAAA District 12 final.

21. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (12-0)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Defeated Huntley, 24-0, in Class 8A quarterfinals. The Ramblers are back in the state semifinals for seventh time in eight seasons.

Next: Saturday vs. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) in 8A semifinals.

22. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (12-0)

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Shut out Eastern (Louisville), 49-0, in Class 6A second round. The Shamrocks have not allowed a point in the playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Ballard (Louisville) in the 6A quarterfinals.

23. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (9-0)

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Idle. The Patriots received a first-round bye.

Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Rummel (Metairie) in Division I quarterfinals.

24. The Woodlands, Texas (11-0)

Previous rank: 25.

Recap: Defeated Mesquite Horn, 41-21, in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game. The Highlanders take on a unbeaten team in the second round.

Next: Friday vs. Sachse in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game in Waco.

25. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (10-1)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated San Antonio Madison, 56-7, in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game. The Cavaliers are back in the Elite 25 rankings after dropping out in September.

Next: Friday vs. Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game to be played at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.

Dropped: No. 15. Colerain, Cincinnati

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (11-1)
2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (7-2)
3. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (10-0)
4. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (8-2)
5. North Penn, Langhorne, Pa. (12-0)

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

Midwest

1. East St. Louis, Ill. (12-0)
2. Kimberly, Wis. (13-0)
3. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (11-0-1)
4. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (11-0)
5. North, Omaha, Neb. (12-0)

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (10-0)
2. Northwestern, Miami (11-1)
3. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (10-0)
4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (12-0)
5. Whitehaven, Memphis, Tenn. (12-0)

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

Far West

1. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (13-0)
2. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (10-1)
3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (11-0)
4. Kahuku, Hawaii (11-1)
5. West Linn, Ore. (11-0)

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.