FACEOFF: No. 1 St. John Bosco (CA), No. 2 Mater Dei (CA) meet for Blue Star Media Elite 25 football supremacy; No. 21 Moeller (OH) clinches GCL South title

BENSALEM, Pa. – If the St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)-Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) game doesn’t move the needle then what will.

It’s game that has gripped the nation over the past decade in particular and the winner rest atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school rankings … at least for the next two months. Regardless of the outcome, the Trinity League blood rivals are expected to renew the series when the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section playoffs are revealed in November. The game is scheduled for Thanksgiving Weekend at the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Before we fast forward the season there are too many factors that make this regular season encounter worthwhile. First, the winner will likely secure the Trinity League championship.

Last weekend, Mater Dei (6-0) won for the 23rd consecutive game when it outlasted league rival JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 21-13, after trailing early. The Braves (6-0) toppled Servite (Anaheim), 49-3, to open Trinity action.

Mater Dei, which captured the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship in 2021, has triumphed in the seven of the last 10 meetings. A year ago, the Monarchs won, 42-21, in the regular season. The Braves last won in 2019 in the CIF-Southern Section Division I final.

The game will be played at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. PDT and since the 9,000 seats were accounted for in a nanosecond after they went on sale, you can watch it on Bally Sports SoCal.

The Braves will lean on a stingy defense that has yielded only 31 points in six games and offense that puts up nearly 50 points. Obviously, Mater Dei’s defense won’t allow that kind of production.

Buckle up, because this one is expected to be an instant classic.

As for the first weekend in October, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Florida and the Carolinas. They took a beating from Hurricane Ian. Three games were from teams in the Elite 25 were either cancelled or postponed.

To aid the Red Cross in the relief you can donate here.

It was also a weekend where Elite 25 teams exploded offensively. Some of the point totals were 73, 38, 41, 59, 56, 58, 48, 70, 58 and 42. Margin of victories were 46, 66, 35, 41, 22,58, 42, 49, 49, 42, 52 and 28 points. There were a handful of games that were decided by single digits with Mater Dei, No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and No. 23 Mount Carmel (Chicago) holding on for road wins.

The first weekend of the 10th month did not see anyone enter the Elite 25. Everyone held serve and that’s the second time this has occurred this season.

This weekend, the 2022 GEICO ESPN High School Showcase schedule continues with a doubleheader on EPSNU. In Louisiana, defending Class 5A champions Zachary visits Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) Thursday at 7 p.m. ET and in Utah Corner Canyon (Draper) goes to Lone Peak (Highland).

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Oct. 11, reflecting the first two-plus months of play. In some states we’re down to three weeks remaining in the regular season but in Alaska the playoffs kick off on Friday.

Don’t forget to check out the latest Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings. There are interesting results from national tournaments in Mesa, Arizona and Chicago.

Until then stay safe and get out to a high school sporting event in your area. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 4, 2022

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (6-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 49-3. The game was scoreless after one quarter before the Braves led 21-3 at the break. QB Pierce Clarkson, a Louisville recruit, threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns, including two to DeAndre Moore. Clarkson also caught a scoring pass off a gadget play.

Next: Friday at No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 21-13. The Monarchs trailed 6-0 after one quarter but rallied for a 14-13 edge at halftime. Junior QB Elijah Brown tossed two TD passes to Marcus Harris.

Next: Friday vs. No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Del Valle, 73-7.

Next: Friday vs. Anderson (Austin).

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (5-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Kahuku (Hawaii), 22-15.

Next: Friday vs. West Toronto Prep (Toronto, Ontario).

5. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated C.E. King (Houston), 38-3.

Next: Friday at Summer Creek (Humble).

6. Buford, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Collins Hill (Suwanee), 23-3. The Wolves have week off before facing their biggest challenge of the season.

Next: Oct. 14 vs. Mill Creek (Hoschton).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Game with Miramar was cancelled.

Next: Friday at Dillard (Fort Lauderdale).

8. Central, Miami (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated North Miami Beach, 41-0.

Next: Friday at Northwestern (Miami).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (5-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Red Mountain (Mesa), 59-27.

Next: Friday at Casteel (Queen Creek).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Keller.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Canyon Springs (North Las Vegas), 58-0.

Next: Friday vs. Legacy (North Las Vegas).

12. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (3-1)

Previous:12.

Recap: Game with Jones (Orlando) was canceled by Hurricane Ian.

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

13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle. Game with Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie) was postponed until Tuesday.

Next: Friday vs. Venice.

14. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Chaparral (Corona), 70-28.

Next: Thursday at Roosevelt (Eastvale).

15. Duncanville, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Waxahachie.

16. Denton (Texas) Guyer (6-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated McKinney Boyd, 56-7. Oklahoma-bound QB Jackson Arnold threw for 193 yards and two TDs and RB Ahmed Yussuf ran for two scores.

Next: Oct. 14 at Denton Braswell.

17. Katy, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Katy Jordan, 70-21.

Next: Thursday at Katy Paetow.

18. Longview, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Forney.

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 21-2.

Next: Friday vs. Western (Davie).

20. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (6-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Davidson Academy (Nashville), 58-6.

Next: Friday vs. Knoxville Catholic.

21. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (7-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Elder (Cincinnati), 42-14. The Crusaders clinched the Greater Catholic League South Division title. Junior RB Jordan Marshall ran for four TDs in the second quarter, giving the Crusaders a 35-point lead at the interval.

Next: Saturday at St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

22. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated DePaul Catholic (Wayne), 35-7. The Crusaders win the Campanile Bowl as older brother Vito defeated his younger sibling Nick in the first-ever matchup between them in the regular season.

Next: Oct. 15 at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).

23. Mount Carmel, Chicago, (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Brother Rice (Chicago), 28-21. The Caravan needed a late defensive stand to hold on.

Next: Friday at St. Laurence (Chicago).

24. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (6-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 48-6.

Next: Friday vs. Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, Ontario).

25. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (4-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 35-26. The Ironmen were up 21-7 at halftime but needed a 6-yard TD run from Logan Bush and an interception from Nick Severin late in the fourth quarter.

Next: Oct. 14 vs. Seton Hall Prep (South Orange).

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (4-1)
2. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (5-1)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-1)
4. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (5-0)
5. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (3-0)

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

Midwest

1. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (6-0)
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (7-0)
3. Mukwonago, Wis. (7-0)
4. Belleville, Mich. (6-0)
5. Brownsburg, Ind. (7-0)

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

Southland

1. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (6-0)
2. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (6-0)
3. Bixby, Okla. (5-0)
4. Columbus, Miami (6-0)
5. Bryant, Ark. (4-0)

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (5-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (6-2)
3. Folsom, Calif. (5-1)
4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (6-0)
5. Basha, Chandler, Ariz. (5-0)

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 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.