BENSALEM, Pa. – Seems there are always one or two games that help shape, reshape or give the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings more credence each week. In south Florida, No. 7 Central (Miami) was supposed to lock horns with then-No. 11 Booker T. Washington (Miami) but it failed to materialize.

See the Central Rockets would have no part of it, beating their local rivals by 28 points and won the donnybrook for the second straight year. Coach Roland Smith is a genius when it comes to these games. He doesn’t allow his teams to get too high or ever sink low. That’s the sign of great coaching and players—the ones who respond to that mentoring. The Rockets still heavy a few tough patches left before the playoffs, namely Jackson (Miami) and Northwestern but they are in fine shape for another long run in the Class 6A playoffs. Meanwhile, No. 25 BTW tumbled 14 spots and stayed in the Elite 25 thanks to a signature win over preseason No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

Speaking of No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas, it will be a memorable trip to Nevada, where No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) awaits on Friday night (10 p.m. EDT, ESPNU). That’s the current No. 1 vs. the preseason No. 1. That’s must-see TV.

There are other games of note this week.

First, a pair of teams from Western Pennsylvania that started the season the Elite 25 rankings—at least one of them was in the East Region and the other in the national rankings—now on the road for redemption. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) and Pine-Richland (Gibsonia) tangled Friday night at Highmark Stadium, 7:30 p.m. The 3,500-seat venue will be packed to the rafters to see the WPIAL Class 6A Northern Seven Conference showdown, featuring team that lost on opening day to out-of-state opponents. Expect the two teams to meet again in the WPIAL playoffs in November.

In Louisville, Ky., one of the great Catholic school rivalries is referred to as The Battle of the Shillelagh and pits No. 23 Trinity (Louisville) and St. Xavier (Louisville) Friday at University of Louisville’s Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The game usually attracts a big crowd, sometimes more than 40,000. The series began in 1956 with Trinity leading 38-37-2. Trinity enters with a 6-0 record and St. X is 4-1.

Also keep tabs on No. 15 Cass Tech (Detroit) and Martin Luther King (Detroit) Saturday and No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville) plays No 24 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) on Friday in a mega Washington Catholic Athletic Conference showdown.

As for the lone newcomer, it’s No. 23 Trinity (Louisville). The Shamrocks are no strangers to the Elite 25.

The next Elite 25 rankings are back October 4. Be sure to support your local high schools. In the coming week, there will be several byes for the Elite 25 and then it’s a run to the finish. In some states, we have reached midseason, with the month of October signaling the end. So with that in mind, we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings Sept. 27, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Bonanza (Las Vegas), 42-0. The Gaels are unbeaten in Nevada since 2008. WR Tyjon Lindsey, who made his season debut after a collarbone injury in the preseason, caught a pair of TD passes from Tate Martell in the first quarter when the Gaels scored 30 points. Now it’s time for the Duel in the Desert.

Next: Friday vs. No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

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

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach), 42-0. The Monarchs posted a third shutout of the campaign. After a weekend off, the coach Bruce Rollinson’s team enters Trinity League play.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-0)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Defeated St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 56-12. The Stags have a stout test this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. No. 24 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

4. Allen, Texas (4-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Defeated McKinney Boyd, 69-17. RB Kirby Bennett scored two TDs and the defense recorded seven sacks in the District 6-6A opener.

Next: Friday vs. Plano West.

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

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Defeated Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 38-0. The Ascenders head into a bye week with momentum.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.).

6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (5-0)

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 24-0.

Next: Friday vs. Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale).

7. Central, Miami (5-0)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Routed then-No. 11 Booker T. Washington (Miami), 42-14. The Rockets rattled off 26 unanswered points in the second half. Willie Davis carried five times for 135 yards—a bulk came on a 94-yard TD gallop. Kord Jenkins’ 88-yard kickoff return after BTW cut the lead to 16-14 in the third turned on the afterburners.

Next: Friday vs. Carol City (Miami).

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

Previous rank: 8.

Recap: Defeated St. Mary’s (Stockton), 55-16. The Braves trailed 10-7 early but rallied with 21 points for a 28-10 at halftime.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Servite (Anaheim) to be played at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

9. Roswell, Ga. (4-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Defeated Archer (Lawrenceville), 47-0.

Next: Friday at Milton (Alpharetta).

10. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (5-0)

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Crushed Blount (Eight Mile), 45-12. South Carolina-bound WR Marlon Williams scored four TDs—two on the ground and two on receptions—and QB Bubba Thompson, an Auburn baseball recruit, passed for 292 yards and three scores.

Next: Friday vs. Alma Bryant (Irvington).

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

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Shut out Hallandale, 42-0. The Raiders have a chance to knock off the nation’s top-ranked team this week but must travel across the country.

Next: Friday at No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

12. DeSoto, Texas (3-0)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 33-18. The Eagles jumped to a 26-10 lead at the break. QB Shaw Robinson (13 of 21, 295 yards) accounted for three TDs, including two in the air.

Next: Friday vs. MacArthur (Irving).

13. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (5-0)

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Defeated Collins Hill (Suwanee), 43-7.

Next: Friday vs. North Gwinnett (Suwanee).

14. Grayson, Boganville, Ga. (4-1)

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Defeated Ramsay (Birmingham, Ala.), 38-6.

Next: Friday at Rockdale County (Conyers).

15. Cass Tech, Detroit (5-0)

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Defeated East English Village (Detroit), 56-16. Finally, the Motor City showdown with Martin Luther King (Detroit) is upon us. This one pits two of Detroit’s top schoolboy programs and is Michigan’s feature game of the season.

Next: Saturday vs. Martin Luther King (Detroit).

16. Jenks, Okla. (5-0)

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: The Trojans were dominant again, crushing Norman, 55-0.

Next: Friday vs. Broken Arrow.

17. Colerain, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous rank: 18.

Recap: Defeated Sycamore (Cincinnati), 52-7. Monalo Caldwell and Deante Smith-Moore rushed for two TDs apiece.

Next: Friday at Mason.

18. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (5-0)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Defeated Pinnacle (Phoenix), 62-34. The Pride trailed 13-7 after one, but scored 41 points in the middle two quarters to turn the game into a rout.

Next: Friday vs. Desert Vista (Phoenix).

19. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (6-0)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Defeated Hunter (West Valley City), 42-7. QB Matt Degn threw for a pair of TDs and Tate Peterson rushed for two more scores.

Next: Friday vs. Cottonwood (Murray).

20. Maryville, Tenn. (6-0)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Defeated Bearden (Knoxville), 38-0. The regular season win streak reached 65 games.

Next: Friday at Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport).

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

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Drubbed Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 42-6. RB Khari Jones carried 11 times for 119 yards and two TDs and QB Marquez McCray threw for two more scores.

Next: Oct. 7 at Roman Catholic (Philadelphia).

22. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (5-0)

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Defeated Fenwick (Oak Park), 52-21. Four games remain in the regular season.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Rita (Chicago).

23. Trinity, Louisville (6-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Jeffersontown (Louisville), 70-0. The Shamrocks scored on all10 drives. QB Spencer Blackburn went 10-of-12 for 208 yards and three TDs. The game dubbed the Vatican Bowl is this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. St. Xavier (Louisville) to be played at University of Louisville’s Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

24. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (4-1)

Previous rank: 25.

Recap: Defeated Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 39-22. Keilan Robinson scored three TDs as the Cadets took a 23-7 lead into intermission.

Next: Friday at No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) to be played at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Hyattsville.

25. Booker T. Washington, Miami (3-2)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Lost to No. 7 Central (Miami), 42-14.

Next: Friday at Keys Gate Charter (Homestead).

Dropped: No. 20 Converse (Texas) Judson.

 High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-0)
2. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (4-1)
4. North Penn, Langhorne, Pa. (5-0)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-1)

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

Midwest

1. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (4-0-1)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (5-0)
3. Kimberly, Wis. (6-0)
4. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (4-0)
5. Walled Lake (Mich.) Western (5-0)

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

Southland

1. Clinton, Miss. (5-0)
2. Lake Travis, Texas (4-1)
3. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (4-0)
4. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (5-0)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (6-0)
2. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (6-0)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (4-1)
4. Mission Viejo, Calif. (5-0)
5. Kahuku, Hawaii (6-1)

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.