BENSALEM, Pa. – Black Friday unleashed its fury on the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings. Five teams took it on the chin and were vanquished from the playoffs.

It was a shakeup weekend but there were three state championship winners from the Midwest. In Illinois, No. 19 Loyola Academy (Wilmette) easily won the Class 8A tile and just to the south in St. Louis, No. 25 Blue Springs South captured the Missouri Class 6 championship in the Gateway City of St. Louis. In Grand Island, N.Y., No. 21 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) bagged the New York State Catholic State High School Athletic Association crown. Because five tumbled out of the Elite 25 rankings five more have been added.

Welcome a handful of schoolboy teams that are enjoying fantastic seasons: No. 11 Roswell (Ga.); No. 20 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh); No. 23 Maryville (Tenn.); No. 24 Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio); and No. 25 Blue Springs (Mo.) South.  Central Catholic, which was ranked previously this season, won its second WPIAL Class 4A crown in three years. Now it’s off to the state quarterfinals for the Vikings.

This weekend there are five great games involving Elite 25 teams: No. 24 Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) vs. No. 15 St. Edward (Lakewood) for the Division I state title, Saturday in Columbus; No. 10 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) hosts No. 11 Roswell in the Class AAAAAA state semifinals, Friday; No. 22 Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, La.) vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge) in Division I final in New Orleans; No. 14 Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) in the Class 3A final in Tacoma, Friday; and No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. No. 4 Corona Centennial in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division final in Anaheim, Saturday.

The next Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will appear December 8. We will then skip a week until the final rankings are posted on December 22. Until then please support your local high schools in the playoffs and perhaps we’ll see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Dec. 1, 2015

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Reed (Sparks), 41-13, in Division I semifinals. The Gaels are one win away from another state title and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship. Running back Biaggio Ali Walsh scored four touchdowns, including three on the ground.

Next: Saturday vs. Liberty (Henderson) in Division I final at Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas.

2. Allen, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Arlington Martin, 36-11 in Class 6A, Division I, Region 1 semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Denton Ryan in Region 1 final at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Thumped Bishop Amat (La Puente), 63-10, in , CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 4 Corona Centennial in sectional final at Angels Stadium, Anaheim

4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 42-36, in CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in section final at Angels Stadium, Anaheim.

5. Katy, Texas (13-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Friendswood, 66-0, in Class 6A, Division II, Region 3 semifinals. It was the Tigers’ seventh shutout of the season and second of the playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Manvel in Region 3 final at NRG Stadium, Houston.

6. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated South Forsyth (Cumming), 49-31, in Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 3 final. The Packers trailed 31-28 with 10:30 left but defense responded.

Next: Friday at Mill Creek (Hoschton) in Class AAAAAA semifinals.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Season complete.

8. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Pasted Pittsburg, 70-14, in CIF-North Coast Section Division I semifinals. Andrew Hernandez rushed for four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Foothill (Pleasanton) in sectional final at Dublin High.

9. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (14-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Austin (Decatur), 45-35, in Class 6A semifinals. QB Ty Pigrome was the star of the game, scoring five TDs as the Cougars won for the 29^th straight time.

Next: Friday vs. Spanish Fort in Class 6A final at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa.

10. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Atlanta), 35-28, in Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 2 final.

Next: Friday vs. No. 11 Roswell in Class AAAAAA semifinals.

11. Roswell, Ga. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Collins Hill (Suwanee), 17-10 in the Class AAAAAA, Quadrant 1 final.

Next: Friday at No. 10 Grayson (Loganville) in Class AAAAAA semifinals.

12. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (13-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Del Rio, 28-10, in Class 6A, Division II Region 4 semifinals. Bryson Denley rushed 15 times for 151 yards and two TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Schertz Clemens in Region 4 final at Alamodome, San Antonio.

13. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Crushed Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens). 60-7, in Class 7A, Region 4 final. The Raiders soundly defeated former head coach Rocco Casullo, who led the program for the previous four years going 47-9 with two state titles, including last year.

Next: Friday at Braden River (Bradenton) in Class 7A semifinals.

14. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (12-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Lakes (Lakewood), 49-21, in Class 3A semifinals. Now it’s a rematch of last year’s championship game, which was won by the Crusaders. This one is unquestionably the national game of the week.

Next: Friday vs. Bellevue in Class 3A final at the Tacoma Dome.

15. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (13-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Stow-Munroe Falls, 45-7, in Division I, Region 1 final. The Eagles raced to 38-0 lead at the break.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 24 Wayne (Huber Heights) in Division I final in Ohio Stadium, Columbus

16. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-1)*

Previous: 17.

Recap: The Stags won their third straight WCAC championship. Season complete.

17. Male, Louisville, Ky. (14-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Central Hardin (Cecilia), 50-0, in Class 6A semifinals. QB Hyaden Stone threw for two TDs in the first quarter as the Bulldogs took a 36-0 lead at halftime.

Next: Saturday vs. Lafayette (Lexington) in Class 6A final, at Smith Stadium, Bowling Green.

18. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Tampa Catholic, 47-14, in Class 3A semifinals

Next: Saturday vs. American Heritage (Delray Beach) in Class 3A final at Citrus Bowl, Orlando.

19. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (14-0)*

Previous: 22

Recap: Trounced Marist (Chicago), 41-0, in Class 8A final. It was the Ramblers’ second state championship and the first for coach John Holecek after previously finishing second on two occasions (in 2011 and ’13). Dara Laja rushed for 152 yards and two scores and QB Emmett Clifford hit on 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards and a TD and ran for another. Season complete

20. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (12-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Penn-Trafford (Harrison City), 24-17, in WPIAL Class 4A final. The Vikings have won two of the last three large-class WPIAL titles and five overall. Ronnie Jones ran for 146 yards on 20 carries and struck for two TDs. With the score tied at 14 early in the fourth period, Jones sped 72 yards for the decisive score and Jacob Rocchi iced it with a late 24-yard field goal.

Next: Saturday vs. State College in PIAA Class 4A state quarterfinals.

21. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (12-0)*

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated St. Francis (Athol Springs), 42-28, in New York State Catholic State High School Athletic Association final in Grand Island. Season complete.

22. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (11-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated John Curtis Christian (River Ridge), 24-10, in Division I semifinals. QB Chase Fourcade passed for 262 yards and two TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge) in Division I final at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans.

23. Maryville, Tenn. (14-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Oakland (Murfreesboro), 27-13 in Class 6A semifinals. RB Joel Hopkins rushed for two TDs as the Rebels head to their 12^th straight state championship game.

Next: Saturday vs. Ravenwood in Class 6A final at Tucker Stadium, Cookeville.

24. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (14-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated regionally ranked Colerain (Cincinnati), 28-21, in Division 1, Region 2 final.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 15 St. Edward (Lakewood) in Division I final in Ohio Stadium, Columbus.

25. Blue Springs (Mo.) South (14-0)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Upset then-No. 18 Christian Brothers College (St. Louis), 37-28, in Class 6 final. The Jaguars have defeated the Cadets three times in the state final. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 11 Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va.; No. 14 Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga.; No. 18 Christian Brothers College, St. Louis; No. 21 Atlantic, Delray Beach, Fla.; and No. 23 Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (12-0)

2. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (13-0)

3. Gilman School, Baltimore, (10-1)

4. Imhotep Prep, Philadelphia (12-0)

5. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (11-0)

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

Midwest

1. Center Grove, Ind. (14-0)*

2. Martin Luther King, Detroit (14-0)*

3. Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*

4. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa (13-0)*

5. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)*

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

Southland

1. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (13-0)

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

3. Central, Miami (10-2)

4. Columbus, Miami (12-1)

5. Spartanburg, S.C. (12-1)

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

Far West

1. Folsom, Calif. (13-0)

2. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (13-0)

3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (13-0)

4. Kahuku, Hawaii (13-0)*

5. Elk Grove, Calif. (13-0)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

* Won state, sectional or postseason conference championship

 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.