BENSALEM, Pa. – The month of October oozes high school football.  And with fall officially ushered in on Sept. 22, we are hitting the midpoint of the regular season in some states.

Once teams hit five games that usually indicates midseason such is the case in Alaska, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Utah and Indiana. In some areas, we are less than a month from the playoffs.  But let’s not rush the agenda, there’s too much ball to be played and the rivalry matchups roll out weekly.

It was a relatively pedestrian week for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings. There were four teams in their bye weeks and only two newcomers to the Elite 25. The Top-10 remained untouched.

Joining the Elite 25 are No. 22 Madison (Miss.) Central and No. 23 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.). Madison currently is Mississippi’s top-ranked team regardless of classification. St. Peter’s Prep plays in the East Coast’s top league, the Super Football Conference United Red, and posted a thrilling win over league rivals Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) last weekend. Coach Rich Hansen’s team still has fixtures with Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and No. 8 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) on Nov. 2.

The top games of the week see No. 9 St. Frances (Baltimore) heading north on I-95 to face No. 8 St. Joseph Regional Saturday. In Georgia, No. 20 Grayson (Loganville) visits No. 21 Colquitt County (Norman Park) for supremacy in Class AAAAAAA. The two could square off again in the playoffs.

The biggest recruiting news of September occurred Sunday afternoon when dual-threat quarterback prospect Bryce Young of No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) flipped his verbal commitment from USC to Alabama. Young visited Alabama last weekend and apparently was convinced he needed to play in the SEC. In four games this season, Young has passed for 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns and only one interception, completing nearly 75% of his throws.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Oct. 1.

Before we call it a wrap, we need to reach out to our Jewish readers and extend “shanah tovah” or a Happy New Year. Sunday September 29 is Rosh Hashanah (Year 5780 on the Hebrew calendar). Best wishes to all.

With the weather starting to cool and the is fall officially here, be sure to check out a game locally. You’ll be glad you did. We hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Sept. 24, 2019

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Overwhelmed Mililani (Hawaii), 42-10. QB DJ Uiagalelei hit on an efficient 21 of 29 passes for 347 yards and three scores and added one on the ground. After a long trip to the South Pacific, the Braves have a week off before opening a brutal stretch of five games in the Trinity League.

Next: Oct. 4 vs. Servite (Anaheim).

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. QB Bryce Young de-committed from the USC Trojans and will now sign with Alabama.

Next: Friday at St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) to be played at Catholic University’s Cardinal Stadium in Washington.

3. Duncanville, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Berkner (Richardson).

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 35-20. Quality win recorded last weekend in our nation’s capital.

Next: Friday vs. Booker T. Washington (Miami).

5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Miramar, 36-0. Sophomore QB Zion Turner threw a pair of 7-yard TD passes to Marcus Rosemy in the first quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Carol City (Miami Gardens).

6. Katy, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 6

Recap:  Defeated Clear Springs (League City), 49-7. The Tigers enter their bye week with a heavy dose of district play when it returns in October.

Next: Oct. 3 at Tompkins (Katy).

7. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (3-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Edged Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.), 21-19. Ohio State-bound WR Gee Scott, Jr. caught eight balls for 209 yards and two TDs, including an 87-yarder. Scott’s second score gave the Crusaders a 21-16 early in the fourth quarter. Junior Zion Scott (Gee’s younger brother) hauled in a 22-yard TD strike from QB Kobe Muasau to make it 15-6 with 8:43 to go in the second quarter.

Next: Friday at Rainier Beach (Seattle).

8. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated DePaul Catholic (Wayne), 55-14. The Green Knights rolled to a 31-14 lead at the break as RB Audric Estime ran for scores of 6 and 69 yards. Andre Epps also scored twice on runs of 26 and 48 yards.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

9. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (4-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: After an embarrassing loss last weekend, the Panthers stopped Norland (Miami, Fla.), 49-0, for their second shutout of the campaign.

Next: Saturday at No. 8 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.).

10. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (6-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Punahou School (Honolulu), 25-19. The Crusaders avoided disaster against their league rivals. QB Jayden de Laura became the sixth player in program history to threw for at least 400 yards after totaling 404 (ninth most in program history). He hit on 34 of 40 passes and two TDs of 10 and 46 yards to Michigan-bound WR Roman Wilson. Koali Nishigaya capped the late comeback win with a 4-yard TD, his second of the contest, with 3:36 left. The big games keep coming for coach Cal Lee’s squad this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Mililani (Hawaii) at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

11. Allen, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Plano, 56-20. QB Raylen Sharpe completed 16 of 25 passes for 235 yards and 37-yard TD to WR Darrion Sherfield. The Eagles scored on their first four drives for a 28-0 edge. RB Celdon Manning added 99 yards rushing and two TDs.

Next: Friday vs. McKinney.

12. Lakeland, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Hialeah, 37-6.

Friday vs. Strawberry Crest (Dover).

13. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C (4-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Avalon School (Wheaton, Md.), 47-8. The Eagles flew to a 40-0 lead at the intermission and never looked back.

Next: Friday vs. Plant (Tampa, Fla.).

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. La Porte.

15. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Edison (Miami), 44-14.

Next: Friday vs. Belen Jesuit (Miami).

16. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (4-0-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Blythewood, 49-13. QB Ty Olenchuk, a Clemson baseball recruit, threw for 204 yards and two TDs. RB John Hall rushed for 97 yards and four scores.

Next: Friday at Northwestern (Rock Hill).

17. Longview, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated West Monroe (La.), 17-7. Quality win in this interstate matchup.

Next: Friday vs. Rockwall.

18. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (3-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Crushed Landry-Walker (New Orleans), 72-12. The Patriots won their 16^th straight contest as QB Collin Guggenheim accounted for three TD rushing and passing while Georgia-bound RB Corey Wren found the end zone on two runs.

Next: Saturday at St. Augustine (New Orleans).

19. Valdosta, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Beaufort (S.C.), 44-7. The Wildcats polish off an out-of-state opponent just in time for a crosstown rivalry game.

Next: Friday at Lowndes County (Valdosta).

20. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Atlanta), 35-21. The Rams head to south Georgia for a slobberknocker.

Next: Friday at No. 21 Colquitt County (Norman Park).

21. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (3-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Warner Robins, 31-14. The Packers bounce back from a loss.

Next: Friday vs. No. 20 Grayson (Loganville).

22. Madison (Miss.) Central (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Mississippi’s top-ranked Class 6A team had a bye last weekend, but has a tough road on tap. The Jaguars have outscored four opponents, 128-42.

Next: Friday at Clinton.

23. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Rallied to beat Bergen Catholic (Oradell), 33-30. QB Tahj Bullock tossed a 27-yard TD pass to Jelani Mason with 24 seconds remaining, erasing a 30-27 deficit in the key league road win.

Next: Friday vs. Union City.

24. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (3-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated West Toronto Prep (Canada), 49-13. QB Shane Hamm fired a 58-yard TD to Brayden Fox, his first of two on the day, on the first play from scrimmage to set the tone. Hamm finished with three TD passes. Additionally, Arizona State-bound RB DeaMonte Trayanum sprinted 19 yards for a score and Jasean Cogburn returned a kick 80 yards for a TD.

Next: Friday vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron).

25 Marietta, Ga. (3-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle. The Blue Devils are off for two weeks. When they return it’s an undefeated power from central Florida making a house call.

Next: Oct. 4 vs. Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.).

Dropped: No. 21 Northwestern (Miami) and No. 23 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (1-2)
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (3-1)
3. Highland Springs, Va. (4-0)
4. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (5-0)
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. Mentor, Ohio (4-0)
2. Muskegon, Mich. (4-0)
3. Muskego, Wis. (5-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (4-0)
5. Lakeville North, Lakeville, Minn. (4-0)

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

Southland

1. Guyer, Denton, Texas (3-0)
2. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (5-0)
3. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (5-0)
4. Columbia, Lake City, Fla. (4-0)
5. Male, Louisville, Ky. (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. (4-1)
2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (3-1)
3. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (4-1)
4. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (6-0)
5. Mission Viejo, Calif. (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 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.