HOLD THAT TIGER: No. 19 Tampa Jesuit (FL) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings after shock win; QB  Micah Alejado powers No. 16 Bishop Gorman (NV)

BENSALEM, Pa. – There was a huge upset and a coming-of-age moment last weekend involving teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

With teams playing national matchups on a regular basis and streaming services more than glad to stream them, the pairing then No. 18 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 25 Central (Miami), powerhouse programs from Nevada and Florida, respectively. Well, this one did not disappoint as Gorman used a sensational three-touchdown performance from sophomore signal-caller Micah Alejado in a thrilling 21-20 win.

Alejado threw for two scores, including the game-winner with less than four minutes remaining to comeback from a 20-14 deficit. He also ran 21 yards in the first quarter to give the Gaels a 7-0 edge.

Central could have won it on the final play but a 35-yard field goal missed. Central dipped to 0-2 and out of the Elite 25. The Rockets face crosstown rivals Booker T. Washington Friday and need to right the ship as September progresses.

Joining the Elite 25 is No. 19 Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.). The Tigers also went down to the wire and upset then-No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 24-21. The No. 20 Raiders (1-1) fell 12 spots with the loss. Jesuit QB Luke Knight tossed a 9-yard TD pass to Jaydn Girard with 9 seconds left in the game.

The top-notch games keep rolling this week and there a few teams on their bye weeks. In particular, the Polynesian Football Classic will be contested Friday and Saturday at Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Three southern Nevada schools will meet national opponents, including No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). Here’s the information on the event.

Okay, that’s it for the first weekend in September. Labor Day is over and now school is in session nationwide. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return in Sept. 14.

Don’t forget Saturday it’s the 20^th anniversary of 9/11. Say a prayer for all those citizens, police, firemen and first responders who perished that day of infamy. And keep those in your thoughts as they still battle ailments from the tragedy in New York City.

Monday at sundown is Rosh Shannah or the Jewish New Year (Sept. 6-8). We’d like to wish our friends a “Shanah Tovah” or Good Year in Hebrew.

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 7, 2021

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle. The Monarchs will have their hands full this weekend against one of Nevada’s top-ranked teams.

Next: Friday at Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) to be played at Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Bishop Amat (La Puente), 47-7. Tayvion Banks and Jabari Bates scored two TDs apiece. It was 26-0 at halftime before the Braves tacked on 21 points in the third quarter.

Next: Friday vs. East St. Louis (Ill.).

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Euless Trinity, 34-14.

Next: Friday vs. Mansfield Summit.

4. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Greenville (Miss.) Christian, 37-22.

Next: Friday at Rome.

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated La Salle (Cincinnati), 58-7. The Ascenders won easily but this weekend’s game will pose more of a challenge.

Next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami).

6. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (3-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Tuscaloosa County Northport), 58-0. The Warriors recorded their third straight shutout of the season.

Next: Friday vs. Spain Park (Hoover).

7. Katy, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Cypress Woods (Cypress), 42-7.

Next: Friday at Dickinson.

8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (2-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Rockwall Heath, 36-35. Junior QB Kaden Anderson threw for 354 yards and two TDs and RB Owen Allen rushed for 117 yards and two scores, including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter to erase a 35-30 deficit.

Next: Friday at Prosper.

9. Chandler, Ariz. (1-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Centennial (Peoria), 28-7. QB Blaine Hipa threw three TDs passes for the Wolves.

Next: Friday vs. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.).

10. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (1-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Blanked St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 40-0. Sophomore RB Kahseim Phillips rushed for two TDs. The Hawks face one of the nation’s top teams in a true test.

Next: Saturday vs. Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.).

11. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Smyrna (Del.), 52-6. The Crusaders rolled to a 38-6 lead at the break. Notre Dame-bound QB Steve Angeli’s five-TD passing performance was highlighted by sharing the wealth connecting with five different receivers. Coach Vito Campanile’s squad enters the bye week and then starts league play.

Next: Sept. 18 vs. Delbarton (Morristown).

12. Bixby, Okla. (2-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Jenks, 23-15, for its 38^th straight victory. Oklahoma State-bound RB Braylin Presley dashed 74 yards for a score. The Spartans enter their bye week.

Next: Sept. 17 vs. Stillwater.

13. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (4-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Jordan (Sandy), 70-7. QB Devin Brown passed for four TDs, including three to Jett Meine. Tyler McDonald and Owen Borg each had a pick-six.

Next: Friday at Lehi.

14. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Klein Collins, 34-7.

Next: Friday at Spring Westfield.

15. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (3-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Olentangy (Ohio) Liberty, 49-0. The Bombers scored 42 points in the first half and never looked back. QB Brogan McCaughey threw three TD passes, including two to Terrell McFarlin and another one to Duke-bound TE Max Klare, and hit on 13 of 14 attempts for 236 yards. The defense also produced a pair of TDs.

Next: Friday at Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.).

16. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (2-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Knocked off then-No. 25 Central (Miami), 21-20, at the Battle at the Beach in Naples, Fla. Sophomore QB  Micah Alejado was the hero, firing a 37-yard TD pass to junior WR Zachariah Branch with 3:48 left in the game to rally from a six-point hole (20-14). Central had a shot to win it at the gun but misfired on a 35-yard field goal. Alejado accounted for all three scores, including a 21-yard sprint for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Next: Saturday vs. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) in the Polynesian Football Classic.

17. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), 68-6. The Spartans led 28-0 after one quarter and cruised to their second straight win to open the season. The offense is averaging 60 points per contest.

Next: Friday at St. Francis (Mountain View).

18. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday at Bishop Amat (La Puente).

19. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 24-21. In a shocker, the Tigers enter the Elite 25 after rallying for the winning TD with 9 seconds remaining. Trailing 21-17 in the fourth quarter, QB Luke Knight hit Jaydn Girard from 9 yards for the winning score. The game was only arranged two days in advance of last Friday.

Next: Friday vs. Bloomingdale (Valrico).

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Lost to Jesuit (Tampa), 24-21. The Raiders have a tall task this weekend in their backyard.

Next: Friday at American Heritage (Plantation).

21. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (0-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle. Last weekend’s game with St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) was cancelled over COVID-19 concerns.

Next. Saturday at Franklin (Reisterstown, Md.)

22. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (3-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Carmel, 41-14. RB Daniel Weems rushed for 133 yards and scored on runs of 3, 1 and 67 yards.

Next: Friday vs. Ben Davis (Indianapolis).

23. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Allen, 41-20.

Next: Saturday vs. Klein Oak.

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

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Grassfield (Chesapeake).

25. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated West Orange, 49-8. The senior backfield of Paul Lefkowitz and Sam Slade rushed for two TDs apiece and QB Champ Long tossed a pair of scoring passes in the opening quarter when the Marauders held a 14-0 lead. Avery Powell added a 56-yard, pick-six in the second and Slade’s 91-yard dash closed out the scoring.

Next: Friday at Northeast (Philadelphia).

Dropped: No. 25 Central (Miami).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (2-0)
2. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (2-0)
3. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (2-0)
4. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (2-0)
5. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J.

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

Midwest

1. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (3-0)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (2-0)
3. Cathedral, Indianapolis (3-0)
4. Muskego, Wis. (3-0)
5. Bellevue (Neb.) West (2-0)

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

Southland

1. Northwestern, Miami (2-0)
2. Buford, Ga. (2-0)
3. Hoover, Ala. (3-0)
4. Denton (Texas) Ryan (2-0)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (3-0)

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

Far West

1. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (2-0)
2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (1-0)
3. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (2-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (2-0)
5. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (1-0)

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