BENSALEM, Pa. – It was considered a quiet week for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings. Twenty-three teams took care of business as the season heads to mid-September.

Two teams lost but only one dropped out. No. 17 Central (Miami) slipped 11 spots after dropping a 37-34 decision in five overtimes to then-No. 9 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.). Central took a 34-31 lead in the fifth OT only to see the Cadets rally for the winning score on the next possession. That’s considered a “quality loss” because the Tornadoes went on the road and nearly knocked off a significant opponent. Strength of schedule favors Central as it returns to south Florida for string of difficult district games in Class 6A.

Entering the Elite 25 rankings is No. 20 North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) after winning its second straight game. The Mustangs turned heads two weekends ago, beating preseason ranked Katy. North Shore is the ranked No. 3 in Texas Class 6A.

The game of the week is No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at No. 8 St. J0hn’s College (Washington, D.C.). It’s game that will reshape the Top 10.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Sept. 18.

There are plenty of quality games in your area so get out and support your local teams. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 11, 2018

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Paramount, 56-12. QB DJ Uiagalelei completed 6 of 8 passes for 76 yards and four TD, including a pair to Jude Wolfe.

Next: Friday at Chaminade (West Hills).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (3-1) #

Previous: 2.

Recap: Blanked St. Mary’s (Stockton), 56-0. The Monarchs enter their bye week with a third consecutive shutout.

Next: Sept. 21 vs. No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

3. Allen, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated East (Salt Lake City, Utah), 52-20. The Eagles were up 45-0 after three quarters.

Next: Friday at Coppell.

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

Previous: 4.

Next: Defeated Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), 35-0.

Next: Saturday at No. 8 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

5. Carol City, Miami Gardens, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Shut out Columbus (Miami), 35-0.

Next: Friday vs. Norland (Miami).

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Flanagan (Pembroke Pines), 62-0. It was the Raiders’ second shutout in three wins.

Next: Friday at Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale).

7. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Crushed Valdosta, 48-13.

Next: Friday vs. Warner Robins.

8. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (3-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Edged then-No. 6 Central (Miami), 37-34, in five overtimes. Trailing 34-31, Rakim Jarrett’s one-handed catch in the end zone won it for the surging Cadets.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), 41-6. The Panthers head into their bye week with a victory.

Next: Sept. 20 at Lee (Jacksonville, Fla.)

10. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (4-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated St. Francis (Mountain View), 33-15.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) to be shown on ESPNU.

11. Lake Travis, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Mother Nature claimed another game last weekend. With the Cavaliers leading Mansfield Summit, 14-0, late in the second quarter, lightning forced a delay and eventually the game. The game won’t count.

Next: Friday vs. Bowie (Austin).

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

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Narbonne (Harbor City), 42-23.

Next: Friday vs. Valley View (Moreno Valley).

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 21-7. QB Andrew Boel accounted for all three Crusader TD, throwing 32 yards to Pierson Tobia in the first period and rushing for two 1-yarders. The league schedule starts with a humdinger this weekend.

Next: Friday at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

14. Wekiva, Apopka, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Winter Park, 25-22. Trailing by 12 points in the third quarter, the Mustangs rallied when Brandon Hill carried over from 2 yards for his third TD of the evening with 45 seconds left. The Mustangs were sloppy with six turnovers.

Next: Sept. 21 vs. Olympia (Orlando).

15. Warren Central, Indianapolis (4-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Blanked Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), 47-0. The Warriors play the defending Class 6A champions this weekend, who are currently ranked fourth in Indiana.

Next: Friday vs. Ben Davis (Indianapolis).

16. Rome, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Kell (Marietta), 35-6.

Next: Friday vs. Carrollton.

17. Central, Miami (2-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 9 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 37-34, in five overtimes. The game was knotted at 24 after four quarters.

Next: Saturday at Edison (Miami)

18. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (1-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Marietta, 38-31. Jonathan Halyard carried 23 times for 219 yards and two TDs and Marvin Lewis returned a blocked punt for a score as the Rams were up 29-0 at the break.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Atlanta).

19. Saint Louis, Honolulu (3-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated rivals Kahuku, 30-14. Don’t be surprised when the Crusaders and Red Raiders meet in the Hawaii Open Division final in November.

Next: Saturday vs. Punahou School (Honolulu).

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Overwhelmed Ridge Point (Missouri City), 44-0. The Mustangs have a short week before heading into their bye week.

Next: Thursday at Westfield (Houston).

21. Hoover, Ala. (2-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Thompson (Alabaster), 45-26. QB Robby Ashford completed 13 passes for 209 yards and two TDs and rushed for 146 yards.

Next: Friday at Hewitt-Trussville.

22. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (4-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Held off Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 21-14. The Miners needed a defensive stand in the final seconds to seal it. MP drove to the Miners 3 but failed to reach the end zone. Evona Hall’s 92-yard TD gallop gave the Miners a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter and Jake Cragun caught a 50-yard scoring pass in the third for a 21-7 edge.

Next: Friday at Pleasant Grove.

23. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (3-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: It was all about the defense in a 35-0 thumping of. Cienega (Vail).

Next: Friday at Ironwood Ridge (Tucson).

24. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (3-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Trotwood (Ohio)-Madison, 42-19.

Next: Friday vs. Groveport-Madison.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (3-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, Nev.), 35-21. The Wolves won their third straight heading into the bye week.

Next: Sept. 21 at Desert Ridge (Mesa).

Dropped: No. 15 Westlake, Austin, Texas.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (3-0)
2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (1-0)
3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (2-0)
4. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (2-0)
5. Coatesville, Pa. (3-0)

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 (3-0)
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (3-0)
3. Belleville, Mich. (3-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (3-0)
5. Burke, Omaha, Neb. (3-0)

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (3-0)
2. Converse (Texas) Judson (2-0)
3. Starkville, Miss. (4-0)
4. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (2-0)
5. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (4-0)

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

Far West

1. Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, Calif. (4-0)
2. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (2-1)
3. Graham-Kapowsin, Graham, Wash. (2-0)
4. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (3-0)
5. Mission Viejo, Calif. (4-0)

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

# Includes a forfeit loss

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.