BENSALEM, Pa. – It seems like the high school football season opens earlier each year, creeping deeper into the summer. Whereas years ago the season traditionally opened on Labor Day Weekend, now teams in some states such as Alaska and Hawaii are teeing it up the first week in August.

We allowed the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings to marinate for a few weeks. There were more national matchups amongst the ranked teams than in recent years. And that’s just a sign of the times. Coaches want to be challenged. Players want top-notch competition. Fans crave these games because it gives them a true sense of where the best of the best resides. Bragging rights for intersectional matchups simulates a national conversation and the Elite 25 has a fresh look.

Six teams enter the Elite 25 following the first three weeks of the season: No. 5 Carol City (Miami Gardens, Fla.); No. 8 North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.); No. 9 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.); No. 18 Rome (Ga.); No. 23 Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.) and No. 24 Pickerington (Ohio) Central.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Sept. 11. There are several games that again will reshape the rankings. We’ve only just begun and there are plenty of pad-popping and hard plastic collisions over the next four months.

Thanks for checking in and we hop to see you at a game soon.– Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 4, 2018

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Braves swept three opponents—Mililani (Hawaii), 52-14, Garces Memorial (Bakersfield), 56-0 and Timpview (Provo, Utah), 49-0. Against the Hawaiians, Stanford-bound WR Colby Bowman gashed defense for 9 catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns.

Next: Friday vs. Paramount.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: The Monarchs forfeited a 42-14 win over Bishop Amat (La Puente) on opening night for the use of an ineligible player. Apparently a transfer student had already used up his eight semesters of eligibility. Also defeated then-No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 42-0, and La Mirada, 49-0. Junior QB Bryce Young threw for 254 yards and four TDs versus Gorman.

Next: Friday vs. St. Mary’s (Stockton).

3. Allen, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Mesquite Horn, 40-0. Production on both sides of the ball was impressive, but QB Grant Tisdale stood out completing, 13 passes for 122 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday vs. East (Salt Lake City, Utah).

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 49-14, and Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.), 42-0. The Ascenders have outscored two foes, 91-14.

Next: Friday at Liberty (Henderson, Nev.).

5. Carol City, Miami Gardens, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Florida’s overall top-ranked team and Class 6A powerhouse is riding high after a 34=16 thumping of American Heritage (Plantation). Last weekend the Chiefs had an early season bye but the action starts to amp up.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus (Miami).

6. Central, Miami (2-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) 48-21, and Booker T. Washington (Miami), 41-5. Two quality wins and now a pivotal trip to our nation’s capital this weekend.

Next: Saturday at No.  11 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Two stellar wins include DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 38-0, and Piper (Sunrise), 35-6.

Next: Friday vs. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines).

8. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Packers are playing at the top of their game after wiping out three opponents by combined score of 133-24. Most recently they hammered Thomasville, 50-3. This weekend is a rivalry game.

Next: Friday vs. Valdosta.

9. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (2-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: QB Sol-Jay Maiava hit on 9 of 19 passes for 224 yards an two TDs as the Cadets crushed then-No. 12 Hoover (Ala.), 42-14.

Johns Creek (Ga.),

Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 Central (Miami).

10.  St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (0-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: An opening night game with St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) was declared a draw after numerous weather delays suspended action last Friday.

Next: Friday vs. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.).

11. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: The offense finally got going in the third game in a 58-16 blowout of Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland). The Spartans also topped Central Catholic (Modesto), 35-6, and Folsom, 14-0, as sophomore QB Dorian Hale tossed a 17-yard TD pass and ran for one.

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

12. Lake Travis, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Arlington Martin, 35-14. Junior QB Hudson Card was brilliant in his debut under center, competing 20 of 28 passes for 239 yards and TDs of 4, 2 and 42 yards, including a pair to Garrett Wilson.

Next: Friday at Mansfield Summit.

13. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: The Wolves are for real and on a roll after dispatching Pittsburg, 35-7, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, 45-28 and then-No. 8 Chandler (Ariz.), 35-13.

Next: Friday at Narbonne (Harbor City).

14. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 3 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), 34-22. QB Andrew Boel tossed two scoring strikes of 29 yards and Nebraska-bound RB Rahmir Johnson scored on two short runs.

Next: Saturday vs. Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium in New Brunswick.

15. Westlake, Austin, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Belton, 38-17.

Next: Friday vs. Cypress Ranch (Houston).

16. Wekiva, Apopka, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 28-14, and Jones (Orlando, Fla.), 17-3.

Next: Friday vs. Winter Park.

17. Warren Central, Indianapolis (3-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 58-27, and Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 42-21, as RB Romeir Elliott rushed for 233 yards and scored three TDs. The Wildcats trailed 41-21 at the break but scored the game’s final 21 points. They also topped Center Grove, 27-15. The offense is putting up more than 42 points per outing.

Next: Friday vs. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis).

18. Rome, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: The Wolves are the fourth team from Georgia in the Elite 25 rankings. They’ve beaten previously ranked Marietta, 51-41, and North Clayton (College Park), 35-0. Coach John Reid’s team is top-ranked in Georgia’s Class AAAAA.

Next: Friday at Kell (Marietta).

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

Previous: 3.

Recap: Upended by then-No. 23 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 34-22 but opened with a 48-7 victory over Tucker.  Crucial game for the Rams this weekend.

Next: Friday at Marietta.

20. Saint Louis, Honolulu (2-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Waianae, 69-6, and Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.), 47-7. QB Jayden de Laura passed for 234 yards and three TDs in an opening night thrashing of Waianae.  Game with Mililani was cancelled due to Hurricane Lane. This weekend’s game is the battle for supremacy on the island of Oahu.

Next: Friday vs. Kahuku.

21. Hoover, Ala. (1-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: The defending Alabama Class 7A champions had mixed results, beating Pinson Valley (Pinson), 52-14, and then lost to then-No. 13 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 42-14. The Bucs have back-to-back games against quality instate teams.

Next: Friday vs. Thompson (Alabaster).

22. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (3-0)

Previous: 24

Recap: The Miners peeled off wins over Herriman (West Herriman), 27-0, East (Salt Lake City), 30-8, and Orem, 39-22, as QB Peyton Jones fired three TD passes in the opening half in the latter game.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain Pointe (Phoenix).

23. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Arizona’s No. 1 squad is worthy of an Elite 25 ranking following wins over then-No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 13-7, and Casteel (Queen Creek), 42-19.

Next: Friday vs. Cienega (Vail).

24. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 25 Phillips (Chicago), 49-18, scoring the game’s final 28 points. Junior QB Demeatric Crenshaw passed for 227 yards and four TDs. Also crushed West Toronto Prep (Toronto, Ontario), 56-6.

Next: Friday at Trotwood (Ohio)-Madison.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (2-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: After an opening night loss at then-No. 16 Corona (Calif.) Centennial, 35-13, the Wolves have rebounded for back-to-back lopsided instate wins.

Next: Saturday at Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas, Nev.).

Dropped: No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas); No. 9 Marietta (Ga.); No. 17 Katy (Texas); No. 18 Lufkin (Texas); No. 21 Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.); and No. 25 Phillips (Chicago)

High-Fives by Region

East

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

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 (2-0)
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (2-0)
3. Belleville, Mich. (2-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (2-0)
5. Eden Prairie, Minn. (1-0)

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

Southland

1. Converse (Texas) Judson (1-0)
2. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (1-0)
3. Starkville, Miss. (3-0)
4. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (1-0)
5. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (3-0)

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

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.