BENSALEM, Pa. – It was a lost weekend for seven teams in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

For three teams it meant dropping from the Elite 25.

There’s always a weekend early in the season when upsets occur or a team is exposed for overscheduling or isn’t that good after all. Well, that weekend was September 12-14 and the losses mounted.

Instead of focusing on the negative, we’ll address the three teams that earned their way into the Elite 25. All three are from the Southland Region, starting with No. 19 Valdosta (Ga.), which entered as Georgia’s top-ranked Class AAAAAA team. The Wildcats nipped then-No. 12 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.), 50-49, in a wild one. Staying in Georgia, No. 20 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) hops aboard after doubling up then-No. 7 Marietta, 28-14. The Rams are no stranger to the Elite 25 having been ranked in recent years in the top-five.

In Kentucky, No. 23 Trinity (Louisville) is the third newcomer after running their record to 4-0. The Shamrocks are Kentucky’s top-ranked Class 6A club and rounding into early season form.

The biggest jumps this week are six spots in the Elite 25, going to No. 17 Longview (Texas) and No. 18 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.).

The biggest drop saw No. 25 Marietta (Ga.) tumble 18 spots followed by No. 22 Colquitt County at 10 spots and No. 24 Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) falling nine.

So, there you have it. A little more than a month in the books and looking forward to the teams settling into conference, league, region or district play.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Sept. 24.

With the weather warm and summer on the way out, be sure to check out a game locally. We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Sept. 17, 2019

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (4-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Braves defeated Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.) 31-8, at the Trinity League vs. the USA Showcase. The Braves survived a sloppy game, building a 14-0 lead at the intermission. Coach Jason Negro takes his team to the South Pacific for a nonleague game this weekend.

Next: Saturday at Mililani (Hawaii).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Drilled then-No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 34-18, at the Trinity League against the USA Classic in Bellflower, Calif. USC-bound QB Bryce Young rushed for four TDs, including three in the first half when the Monarchs raced to a 24-6 lead.

Next: Sept. 27 vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) to be played at Catholic University in Washington.

3. Duncanville, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 18 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 35-14.

Next: Sept. 27 vs. Berkner (Richardson).

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated No. 17 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), 31-25. QB DJ Boney fired TD passes from 14 and 15 yards and Dekel Crowdus scored on a 92-yard punt return. RB Kaytron Allen sped 63 yards for another score.

Next: Saturday vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated South Plantation (Plantation), 61-0. The Raiders were up 14-0 in the first quarter and 48-0 at halftime. Sophomore QB Zio Turner hit on 6 of 10 passes for 99 yards and two TDs in limited action. Turner tossed 21-yarder to The’Andris Freeman and then hooked up with TE Jacob Ray from 19 yards and added a 1-yard TD run of his own. The Raiders’ defense was rarely challenged and received a boost from junior CB Ja’Den McBurrows, who had a 30-yard pick six. RB Jaedon Henry carried only three times for 96 yards, but had an 85-yard TD run.

Next: Friday vs. Miramar.

6. Katy, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Routed Aguilas Blancas IPN (Mexico City, Mexico), 65-0.

Next: Friday vs. Clear Springs (League City).

7. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (2-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.), 44-21. The Crusaders scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull away in Oregon. QB Kobe Muasau hit on 21 of 29 passes for 307 yards and three scores. RB Gio Ursino carried 11 times for 116 yards and two TDs, and WR Gee Scott, Jr., an Ohio State recruit, had five receptions for 146 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.).

8. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.), 33-7, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. RB Audric Estime rushed for 119 yards and three TDs, including an 89-yarder on his first touch of the game.

Next: Saturday vs. DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

9. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (3-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Lost to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 34-18, at the Trinity League against the USA Classic in Bellflower, Calif.

Next: Friday vs. Norland (Miami).

10. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (5-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: QB Jayden de Laura threw two TD passes in a 28-0 blanking of Kahuku (Hawaii). The game was halted at halftime by weather and flickering lights at Aloha Stadium.

Next: Friday vs. Punahou School (Honolulu).

11. Allen, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Coppell, 28-21.

Next: Friday at Plano.

12. Lakeland, Fla. (4-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Plant City, 55-19.

Next: Friday vs. Hialeah.

13. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda, Md.), 31-7, at the Jesuit Gridiron Bowl. RB Joseph Hammond II scored two TDs and Malcolm Terry had one.

Next: Friday vs. Avalon School (Wheaton, Md.)

14. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (2-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Edged Westfield (Houston), 24-21.

Next: Sept. 27 vs. La Porte.

15. Central, Miami (3-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Southridge (Miami), 35-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Edison (Miami).

16. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (3-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Boiling Springs, 50-6.

Next: Friday vs. Blythewood.

17. Longview, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Embarrassed John Tyler (Tyler), 42-0. Junior RB Kaden Meredith ran for 95 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. The Lobos have a key interstate game this weekend.

Next: Friday at West Monroe (La.)

18. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (2-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Atlanta), 55-27, at Landers Dodge Battle on the Border in Shreveport, La. Georgia-bound RB Corey Wren rushed for 209 yards and two scores. He also caught one from QB Collin Guggenheim.

Next: Friday at Landry-Walker (New Orleans).

19. Valdosta, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 12 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.), 50-49. RB TJ Dailey’s 1-yard plunge with 1:03 left made it 48-47 and Will White caught a two-point conversion to take the lead for good. Colquitt could have won it on the last play but missed a 41-yard field goal. South Florida-bound QB Tate Rodemaker completed 17-of-24 passes for 281 yards and two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Beaufort (S.C.).

20. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 7 Marietta, (Ga.), 28-14. The Rams are back in the Elite 25 after dismantling Georgia’s previous top-ranked Class AAAAAAA team. QB CJ Dixon fired a 29-yard scoring strike to Jamal Haynes for a 21-14 lead with 5 minutes left.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Atlanta).

21. Northwestern, Miami (3-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Killian (Miami), 48-13.

Next: Friday at Lowndes County (Valdosta, Ga.).

22. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (2-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Lost to Valdosta, 50-49. The Packers misfired on a last-second field goal attempt that would have won it.

Next: Friday vs. Warner Robins.

23. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Waubonsie Valley (Aurora, Ill.), 60-6. Kentucky’s top-ranked team has outscored opponents, 159-34. The Shamrocks have a rough stretch of two weeks against local rivals.

Next: Friday at Male (Louisville).

24. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (2-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Lost to St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 42-41. The Knights blew a 35-10 lead and saw their win streak halted at 31 games. Arizona State-commit RB DeaMonte Trayanum scored three TDs and rushed for 169 yards.

Next: Friday vs. West Toronto Prep (Canada).

25. Marietta, Ga. (3-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to Grayson (Loganville), 28-14. Tennessee-bound QB Harrison Bailey threw for 226 yards and a score, but was picked off four times. Next: Oct. 4. vs. Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.).

Dropped: No. 17 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia); No. 18 St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. ; and No. 22 Cathedral Catholic, San Diego.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (2-0)
2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (1-2)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (2-1)
4. Highland Springs, Va. (3-0)
5. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (4-0)

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

Midwest

1. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (3-0)
2. Muskegon, Mich. (3-0)
3. Mentor, Ohio (3-0)
4. Muskego, Wis. (4-0)
5. Lakeville North, Lakeville, Minn. (3-0)

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

Southland

1. Madison (Miss.) Central (4-0)
2. Guyer, Denton, Texas (3-0)
3. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (4-0)
4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (4-0)
5. Columbia, Lake City, Fla. (4-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-1)
2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (3-1)
3. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (3-1)
4. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (5-0)
5. Mission Viejo, Calif. (4-0)

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.