BENSALEM, Pa. – It was the first heavy dose of playoff football and every team from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings won and advanced. When the calendar strikes November that‘s all you need to do is win and get onto to the next game.

The remainder of the Elite 25 teams were seeded and their brackets revealed. For some the journey is arduous, meaning it can take up to six games (see Texas) to wear the crown. The more likely road is four or five games but that’s still a long road to hoe. Then there’s the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs that feature four powerhouse programs and two rounds that get underway this weekend. The matchups include St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) and DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Gonzaga (Washington) versus Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). There’s strong chance the WCAC champion sneaks into the Elite 25.

In Georgia Class AAAAAAA, the Elite 25 has four teams seeded and ready to go on Friday night in the first round. That is one of the top-four coveted championships this season along with Texas Class 6A (Division I and II), CIF-Open Division Bowl Game in California and Florida Class 7A. Winning Ohio’s Division I title is special as is the PIAA Class AAAAAA and New Jersey Non-Public Group 4 crowns.

Regardless of the state or conference, any champion needs to be congratulated and held in esteem for winning the marathon and not the 100-meter dash. Football has become a year around sport and the 2020 season begins when the last second of 2019 drains from the clock. That’s a credo most coaches adhere to.

No teams enter the Elite 25 rankings and there was no change in the order, but that’s sure to change in the coming weeks.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Nov. 19. Please check out the Elite 25 boys’ basketball preseason rankings. We’ll give a heads up when the girls’ basketball preseason rankings will be revealed. Visit us regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org.

If you haven’t already attended a football game this season you still have time. However, time is running short. We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings November 12, 2019

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle. In 10 regular season games, national player of the year candidate QB Bryce Young (Clemson recruit) has completed 73.8 percent of his passes and thrown for 3,210 yards and 39 touchdowns. That’s production!

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Amat (La Puente) in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

2. Duncanville, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Molina, 49-0. RB Trysten Smith rushed for two TDs and CB Christopher Thompson added a 33-yard pick-six in the first half.

Next: Friday vs. South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle. The Braves won’t have an easy game in the playoff opener but it’s a home game.

Next: Friday vs. Calabasas in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (10-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Shut down South Broward (Hollywood), 52-0, in Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals. The Raiders made quick work of their local rivals in the opening round of the postseason. In 10 games, the Raiders have yielded only 89 points. Junior QB Zion Turner had a field day, rushing 6 yards for a TD and firing scoring passes from 11, 23, 6 and 12 yards while accounting for 30 points. The competition stiffens in the next round.

Next: Friday vs. Plantation in Region 4 semifinals.

5. Katy, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Katy Taylor, 57-0. QB Bronson McClelland threw for three TDs. The Tigers outscored their final four opponents, 193-0, and clinched the District 19-6A title.

Next: Friday vs. Ridge Point (Missouri City) in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

6. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (10-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Shut out Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.), 35-0. The Panthers have one game left.

Next: Friday vs. Royalty Institute (Landover, Md.).

7. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (10-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle. The Crusaders have two bye weekends before resuming play in the postseason.

Next: Nov. 22 vs. Mililani in Hawaii Open Division semifinals.

8. Allen, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Plano West, 34-10. Sam Hunter rushed for 121 yards and two TDs in the third quarter for the District 9-6A champions.

Next: Friday vs. Sachse in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

9. Lakeland, Fla. (11-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Overwhelmed Wiregrass Ranch (Wesley Chapel), 57-7, in Class 7A, Region 2 quarterfinals. The Dreadnaughts set the tone on the opening play when Reggie Kellum darted 80 yards for a score. The Naughts led 35-0 early in the second quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa) in Region 2 semifinals.

10. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (9-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Channelview, 62-0, for the second shutout of the season and the outright District 21-6A championship.

Next: Friday vs. Dobie (Houston) in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

11. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (10-0-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Chapin, 55-10 in Class AAAAA first round. The Silver Foxes extend their unbeaten streak to 36 games and have now won 35 consecutive times against instate competition.

Next: Friday vs. Wando in the Class AAAAA second round.

12. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle. The Vikings are the top-ranked team in Georgia’s largest classification and primed for a deep run that will bring them to Atlanta for a title game. RB/LB Gary Osby might be the top two-way player in Georgia.

Next: Friday vs. Hillgrove (Powder Springs) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

13. Longview, Texas (10-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Mesquite, 49-14. The Lobos wrap up an 11^th perfect regular season and 33^rd outright district title and 40^th overall.

Next: Friday vs. Temple in Class 6A, Division II bi-district playoff game.

14. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated North Paulding (Dallas), 49-19. The Indians bag their first undefeated regular season and will play the same opponent for the second straight week.

Next: Friday vs. North Paulding (Dallas) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

15. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

16. Mentor, Ohio (11-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Wrecked Cleveland Heights, 48-7, in Division I, Region 1 first round. Junior Ian Kipp tossed a 44-yard TD pass and carried six times for 85 yards and two more scores.

Next: Friday vs. Canton McKinley in Region 1 semifinals to be played at Twinsburg High School.

17. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Idle. The top-seed Spartans waited patiently for their opening round section playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Amador Valley (Pleasanton) in CIF-North Coast Section first round.

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

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Timber Creek (Fort Worth), 49-8. The Dragons went undefeated for the second straight year to capture another district title.

Next: Friday vs. Lewisville in the Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

19. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Coronado (Henderson), 52-7, in the Class 4A Desert Region quarterfinals. If anyone thought the Gaels would be challenged it was 38-0 in the first quarter. Game over!

Next: Friday vs. Green Valley (Henderson) in Desert Region semifinals.

20. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (10-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Alliance, 69-6, in Division II, Region 5 first round. The game was essentially over early in the first when Devin Hightower had a pick-six on the first play from scrimmage. Arizona State-bound RB DeaMonte Trayanum dashed 24 yards for a score for a 14-0 lead and four minutes later he carried it in from 2 yards for a 21-point bulge. RB Victor Dawson rushed for two TDs and junior Shane Hamm threw two TDs passes to Brayden Fox in the second quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Mayfair in the Region 5 semifinals to be played at Nordonia High School in Macedonia.

21. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (9-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 35-7. RB LaFayette Gurvin ran for two scores in the first half when the Rams racked up all 35 points. The focus shifts to the state playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (Lawrenceville) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

22. O’Dea, Seattle (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Defeated Ferndale, 42-7, in a Class 3A preliminary round playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Kelso in Class 3A first round.

23. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (8-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Stopped Gig Harbor, 34-14, in a Class 3A preliminary round playoff game.  The Crusaders are the second seed and could play No. 22 O’Dea (Seattle) in the 3A championship game in December.

Next: Friday vs. Squalicum (Bellingham) in the Class 3A first round.

24. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (8-2)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated La Salle College (Wyndmoor), 52-7, in Class AAAAAA Philadelphia Catholic League final. The Ohio State junior connection of QB Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison, Jr. combined for four TD passes in the first half.

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

25. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (8-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle. The Packers are a fixture in the Georgia postseason.

Next: Friday vs. North Cobb (Kennesaw) in Class AAAAAAA first round.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (8-1)
2. Highland Springs, Va. (10-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (10-1)
4. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (6-4)
5. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (9-0)

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

Midwest

1. Muskegon, Mich. (11-0)
2. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (10-1)
3. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (11-0)
4. Muskego, Wis. (12-0)
5. Bellevue (Neb.) West (11-0)

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

Southland

1. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (11-0)
2. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (10-0)
3. Male, Louisville, Ky. (11-0)
4. Owasso, Okla. (10-0)
5. Marietta, Ga. (8-2)

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

Far West

1. Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)
2. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (12-0)
3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-0)
4. Lake Stevens, Wash. (10-0)
5. Tigard, Ore. (10-0)

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 on December 24. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.