ENOUGH SAID: No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) vs. No. 2 St. John Bosco (CA) in hyped matchup that will alter Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. — Call last weekend the quiet before the storm. That’s right the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings for the first time this season were silent: No movement, period.

Well, that’ll change starting Friday when a handful of Elite 25 teams have prominent games that will impact the rankings. It starts at the top, where it’s a No. 1 vs. 2 matchup we’ve all been waiting for from southern California.

Cutting straight to the best game of the weekend and maybe the entire regular season is No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) Friday at 7:30 p.m. PDT. The game will be televised live on Bally Sports SoCal and tape delay in other markets. The importance of this one is immeasurable. Mater Dei last won during an abbreviated spring season earlier this year.

The winner is slotted to capture the Trinity League and earn the top seed in the California Interscholastic League Southern Section Open Division playoffs in November. So, don’t be shocked when the two meet again in the postseason.

A few facts on the all-time series that started in 1966. Mater Dei owns 26-16 lead but St. John Bosco is 14-4 since 2011. In that same stretch, Bosco has five Trinity League titles to Mater Dei’s four. In five CIF-Southern Section title games, Bosco is 3-2 against their rivals.

Staying in the Trinity League, No. 14 Servite (Anaheim) plays Orange Lutheran Thursday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Both teams enter at 5-0 and some think Servite is a dark horse to capture the Trinity title. Servite ends the regular season at Mater Dei (Oct. 23) and SJB (Oct. 29).

In northern California, No. 20 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) travels 2,800 miles for a national matchup at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) on Friday.

In Texas, No. 8 Southlake Carroll travels to Keller in a game pairing two 5-0 teams. The District 4-6A championship will be on the line.

Finally, the Philadelphia Catholic League Red title will likely be decided Saturday afternoon at historical Franklin Field on the campus of University of Pennsylvania. No. 19 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) and La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) tangle in the first of two games. La Salle is 5-0 and the Prep checks in at 2-1. A second meeting could occur in the Class AAAAAA District 12 playoffs.

The top-15 teams in the Elite 25 are undefeated and 20 overall remain unblemished. That number will be reduced by at least one team when Mater Dei and St. John Bosco face off. We’ll have the details next week.

Okay, that’s it for the month of September. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return in Oct. 5.

Until next week, we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 28, 2021

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (3-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated La Mirada, 58-7. It was 24-7 at halftime before the Monarchs poured it on in the third quarter with 28 points. RB Raleek Brown ran for scores of 6 and 82 yards and Ajon Bryant returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards to the house and 31-7 lead. Coach Bruce Rollinson’s squad heads into this weekend’s showdown with their Trinity League blood rivals unbeaten having allowed only 17 points in three games. Let the hype begin!

Next: Friday at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. This weekend’s game needs no introduction.

Next: Friday vs. top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Del Valle (Austin), 63-6. The Chaps opened district play with a lopsided win.

Next: Friday vs. San Marcos.

4. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated East Coweta (Sharpsburg), 34-0. The Eagles have not allowed a point in the last three contests. Region 8-AAAAAAA play opens this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee)

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Springfield (Mass.) Central, 49-0. Penn State-bound RB Kaytron Allen scored four TDs.

Next: Oct. 15 vs. St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.).

6. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (6-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Mountain Brook, 51-0. Four of the six Warrior victories have been shutouts. They’ve allowed 12 points all season.

Next: Friday at Vestavia Hills

7. Katy, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Katy Seven Lakes, 45-3.

Next: vs. Katy Thompkins.

8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Byron Nelson (Trophy Club), 68-7. Junior QB Kaden Anderson was at it again, throwing for 244 yards and three TDs and RB Owen Allen carried 16 times for 146 yards and four TDs.

Next: Thursday at Keller.

9. Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Liberty (Peoria), 41-21. Game was tied 21-all at halftime before the Wolves seized control with 13 unanswered points in the third quarter.

Next: Friday at Pinnacle (Phoenix).

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 17-0. RB Ryan Butler tallied TD runs and 3 and 1 yards in the first and fourth quarters, respectively. The Crusaders led 10-0 late when Butler punched in his second score to cap a 97-yard drive with 5:10 remaining and the win over their archrivals.

Next: Saturday vs. Pope John XXIII (Sparta).

11. Bixby, Okla. (4-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Bartlesville, 71-0. The Spartans scored 22 points in the first quarter and 35 more in the second for a 57-point lead at the break.

Next: Friday vs. Putnam City West (Oklahoma City).

12. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (7-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Skyridge (Lehi.), 38-23. It was a matchup between Utah top two Class 6A teams as QB Devin Brown threw for four TDs, including two of 80 and 69 yards to WR Jett Meine.

Next: Friday at Westlake (Saratoga Springs).

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

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 52-14. Leading 24-14 at halftime, the Bombers exploded for 21 points in the third quarter for a commanding 45-14 edge. QB Brogan McCaughey completed 13-of-19 passes for 214 yards and three TDs. RB Charles Kellom carried 22 times for 164 yards and scored on a pair of 1-yard runs. WR Terrell McFarlin caught five balls for 100 yards and two TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.).

14. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Helix (La Mesa), 42-7. The Friars scored all their points before halftime and coasted the rest of the way. Arizona-bound QB Noah Fifita threw for four TDs and ran for another. WR Tetairoa McMillan had seven receptions for 185 yards and three scores all in the first quarter.

Next: Thursday vs. Orange Lutheran.

15. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Plant City, 35-13. The Tigers led 22-13 at halftime powered by their running game. RB Joquez Smith scored on runs of 1, 1, 1, and 2 yards for the Tigers who head into their bye week before facing a big rival.

Next: Oct. 8 at Central Catholic (Clearwater).

16. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Western (Davie), 31-21. The Raiders were up 17-7 at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. Cooper City.

17. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (4-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 42-29.

Next: Friday vs. Alpharetta.

18. Denton (Texas) Guyer (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated McKinney, 44-26. QB Jackson Arnold threw for two TDs and rushed 73 yards for another.

Next: Friday vs Prosper.

19. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle. The Hawks finished their bye week before facing a league rival at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Next: Saturday vs. La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.).

20. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (2-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Idle. The Panthers have another road game on the West Coast.

Next: Friday at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.).

21. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (6-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), 48-0.

Next: Friday vs. Pike (Indianapolis).

22. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated DePaul Catholic (Wayne), 10-7. For a second week in a row, the Marauders won a thriller with big defensive stand in the waning seconds. C.J. Wesley scooped a blocked field goal and sped 97 yards for a score in the second quarter for a 7-0 lead. Nico Duarte’s 25-yard field goal with 10 minutes left proved to be the decisive points. The defense also recovered two fumbles in the fourth. Another bitter rivalry game on is tap this weekend.

Next: Friday at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).

23. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Citrus Valley (Redlands), 63-20.

Next: Thursday vs. King (Riverside).

24. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Centennial (Peoria), 33-15.

Next: Friday at Perry (Gilbert).

25. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (4-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Shut out Arbor View (Las Vegas), 45-0. After a disappointing loss in Arizona the previous week, the Gaels bounce back with their first shutout of the campaign. It was 17-0 after one quarter and 38-0 at the intermission. Quincy Davis returned a punt 50 yards for a score in the first quarter and sophomore QB Micah Alejado tossed a TD pass to favorite target WR Zachariah Branch from 29 yards in the second quarter. Four others rushed for TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Canyon Springs (North Las Vegas).

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (5-0)
2. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (5-0)
3. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (5-0)
4. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (3-1)
5. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (3-1)

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

Midwest

1. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (5-0)
2. Cathedral, Indianapolis (6-0)
3. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (5-0)
4. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (5-0)
5. Lakeville (Minn.) South (4-0)

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

Southland

1. Hoover, Ala. (6-0)
2. Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (4-0)
3. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (6-0)
4. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (4-0)
5. Venice, Fla. (4-0)

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

Far West

1. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (5-0)
2. Folsom, Calif. (5-0)
3. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (3-0)
4. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (4-0)
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-1)

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 August until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.