HOT DOGS!: No. 24 Hamilton Huskies (AZ) erase 18-point deficit late to post improbable win; three teams enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. — Hark, there’s a mid-September shakeup within the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings. Normally this occurs November or December when the postseason is in full swing.

Well, thanks to strong scheduling are three additions to the Elite 25 within teams from Texas, Arizona and California joining the fold.

Let’s begin in the Dallas Metroplex, where No. 18 Denton Guyer cracks the Elite 25 after knocking off then-No. 23 Atascocita (Humble) by 11 points. With the win, the Wildcats move to 4-0 on the young season but more importantly they become the fourth Texas Class 6A team in the rankings. All top-4 are currently ranked by Blue Star Media and that bodes well for a wonderful playoff run that begins in November.

In the Inland Empire outside of Los Angeles, No. 23 Corona (Calif.) Centennial checks in at 4-0 after pummeling Poly (Long Beach). The Huskies are known for their high octane offense and this year is no different. They head into the bye week averaging nearly 50 points per game and that will be needed in the coming weeks. The game of year for Centennial is at rivals Norco on Oct. 15. This one will decide the Big VIII title and set up nicely for the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

No. 24 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) slides in after a miraculous finish in stopping then-No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 25-24. So, what happen in Arizona. Here’s what you need to know. Gorman led 24-7 in late in the fourth quarter. Then the impossible unfolded. A field goal with 1:10 remaining slice the deficit to 14 points (24-10). The Huskies then successfully recovered back-to-back onside kicks. Trailing 24-17 in the final seconds, West Virginia-bound QB Nicco Marchiol tossed a touchdown pass to make it 24-23 and then tacked on the decisive two-point conversion with 8 seconds left to keep the momentum going and complete the fantastic finish.

That’s worthy of game of the year material. With the loss, No. 25 Gorman (3-1) dipped 11 slots but not out of the Elite 25. Hamilton (3-0) is a quality team and the No. 2 in the Arizona 6A rankings behind No. 9 Chandler. So, was it a bad loss? Not necessarily but it was a punch to the gut for the Gaels no doubt. Hamilton and Chandler meet in the final game of the regular season on Nov. 12 and likely again in the Open Division final.

To summarize the week, three teams were added to the Elite 25 rankings. The Top-12 teams were static. Nine teams advanced in the rankings while No. 22 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) rises three spots after a thrilling double-overtime win over a league rival. No. 25 Bishop Gorman dipped 11 after a shock loss.

Okay, that’s it for the third weekend in September. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return in Sept. 28. We’re counting down the days until Oct. 1 when nation’s top two teams face off in southern California. That’s why the games are played!

Until next week, we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 21, 2021

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. La Mirada.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Hammered then-No. 24 Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), 49-0. TE Matayo Uiagalelei caught a pair of TD passes.

Next: Oct. 1 vs. top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

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

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Del Valle (Austin).

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Alpharetta, 42-0. The Eagles post back-to-back shutouts.

Next: Friday vs. East Coweta (Sharpsburg).

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Jones (Orlando), 62-3.

Next: Saturday at Springfield (Mass.) Central.

6. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Hewitt (Ala.)-Trussville, 42-9. The Warriors prevailed in a Region 3 showdown.

Next: Friday at Mountain Brook.

7. Katy, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 21-14. The Tigers opened the season with two easy wins but the last two weeks the margin of victory is seven points.

Next: Thursday at Katy Seven Lakes.

8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (4-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Arlington Martin, 31-7.

Next: Friday at Byron Nelson (Trophy Club).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (3-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated O’Connor (Phoenix), 36-14.

Next: Friday vs. Liberty (Peoria).

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Delbarton (Morristown), 28-19. Princeton-bound RB Ryan Butler rushed for four TDs. The Crusaders travel to northern Bergen County for a rivalry game this weekend.

Next: Friday at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).

11. Bixby, Okla. (3-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Stillwater, 42-14. RB Braylin Presley, an Oklahoma State recruit, ran for 233 yards and four TDs. The Spartans kick off the Class 6AII, Region 2 portion of their schedule.

Next: Friday at Bartlesville.

12. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (6-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated American Fork, 51-22. USC-bound QB Devin Brown showed he can beat teams in multiple ways. He rushed for a season-high four TDs from 1, 5, 17 and 10 yards and then threw for two more to Cody Hagen (21 yards) and Jett Meine (3 yards).

Next: Friday vs. Skyridge (Lehi.).

13. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Moeller (Cincinnati), 49-16. The Bombers won easily over their league rivals and carried a 28-10 lead into the second half. QB Brogan McCaughey completed 14 of 21 passes for 210 yards and four TDs, including two to Terrell McFarlin, who had five receptions for 104 yards. RB Charles Kellom ran 37 times for 210 yards with three TDs runs from 2 and 6 yards. He added a 56-yard scoring catch in the second quarter make it 14-0. Four of St. X’s five remaining regular games will be at home, RDI Stadium at Ballaban Field.

Next: Friday vs. Elder (Cincinnati).

14. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Doubled up Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 44-22. Arizona-bound QB Noah Fifita completed 17 of 27 passes for 238 yards and two TDs and rushed for 53 yards and two scores on 13 carries. WR Tetairoa McMillan caught 11 passes for 163 yards and a TD.

Next: Friday vs. Helix (La Mesa).

15. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (4-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Hillsborough (Tampa), 28-7. The Tigers opened District 10-6A play with a convincing victory. Wake Forest-bound WR Jaydn Girard scored two TDs and racked up 136 all-purpose yards. RB Joquez Smith carried 18 times for 172 yards and QB Luke Knight tossed two scoring passes.

Next: Friday at Plant City.

16. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Monsignor Pace (Miami Gardens), 56-6. This one was never in doubt as the Raiders scored 28 points in the first quarter and 14 more in the second for a 42-0 lead at the intermission.

Next: Friday vs. Western (Davie).

17. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (3-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)

18. Denton (Texas) Guyer (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 23 Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 46-35. The Wildcats are the No. 4 team in Texas Class 6A rankings and fourth in the Elite 25.

Next: Friday at McKinney.

19. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Gonzaga (Washington, D.C), 35-3. RB Josh Barlow rushed for three TDs. Just over a minute into the game, sophomore RB Samaj Jones busted off a 59-yard scoring run and it was 7-0. The Hawks then built a 28-3 lead at halftime and now have a bye week before facing a league rival back at historic Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Next: Oct. 2 vs. La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.).

20. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (2-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 50-7. The Panthers took an early 21-0 lead and rolled.

Next: Oct. 1 at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.).

21. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 53-7. The Trojans won their school-record 19^th consecutive win. QB Tayven Jackson threw for three TDs and 144 yards and Owen Bright added a 25-yard, pick-six.

Next: Friday at Lawrence Central (Indianapolis).

22. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 22-21, two overtimes. Trailing by a point in the second OT, the Marauders executed a trick play with RB Sam Slade taking a direct snap, pitching to WR Hassan Moore, who tossed the winning two-pointer to QB Champ Long. The game would have been over in the first extra session but St. Peter’s blocked a potential game-winning field goal attempt.

Next: Friday vs. DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Poly (Long Beach), 52-7. The Huskies high-powered offense is averaging 48 points per game. They led this one 35-5 at the break and cruised.

Next: Sept. 30 vs. King (Riverside).

24. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Upset then-No. 14 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 25-24. The Huskies trailed 24-7 with 1:10 left but rallied for 18 points to win. A field goal cut the deficit to 24-10 and then two recovered onside kicks resulted in TDs. West Virginia-bound QB Nicco Marchiol won it with a two-conversion late and wound throwing for three TDs in a heroic performance.

Next: Friday at Centennial (Peoria).

25. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (3-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Lost to Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 25-24. The Gaels had a meltdown in the final 70 seconds, surrendering 18 points after leading 24-7. William Stallings Jr. carried the ball 24 times for 160 yards and a score and sophomore QB Micah Alejado ran for a TD and threw another one to Zachariah Branch.

Next: Friday vs. Arbor View (Las Vegas).

Dropped: No. 16 Buford (Ga.) No. 23 Atascocita (Humble, Texas) and No. 24 Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (4-0)
2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (3-1)
3. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (3-0)
4. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (4-0)
5. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (2-1)

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 (5-0)
2. Cathedral, Indianapolis (5-0)
3. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (4-0)
4. Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (4-0)
5. Lakeville (Minn.) South (3-0)

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

Southland

1. Hoover, Ala. (5-0)
2. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (4-0)
3. Chambers, Charlotte, N.C. (5-0)
4. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (3-0)
5. Northwestern, Miami (3-1)

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

Far West

1. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (4-0)
2. Folsom, Calif. (4-0)
3. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (2-0)
4. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (3-0)
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-1)

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.