BENSALEM, Pa. – The nationalization and in some cases the allure of playing on national television is reshaping the perception of high school football. At the highest level, the sport is enjoying unprecedented success with school seeking to challenge themselves booking games against competition from different regions. All this is reflected in the latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings.
The serious contenders in the Elite 25 have mostly played “national” themed games in the first month of their terms before shifting focus to league, conference, district or region schedules, and then the postseason. In many cases these games are barometers and give programs exposure. And that means colleges unearthing prospects while scouting games on TV.
No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) is in the driver’s seat for another Blue Star Media National Championship after opening with four wins against big-time competition—the Gaels still have one more national game before closing out the campaign in Nevada.
With only a few made-for-TV games left on the docket, the Elite 25 rankings are starting to settle. No. 14 Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) and No. 24 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) enter the Elite 25 rankings both undefeated and ranked at the top or last near it in their state polls. Mill Creek has plenty of competition in Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA rankings while Loyola still has to navigate the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division and the Class 8A playoffs.
About the only upset is previous No. 14 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) going down at home against East (Salt Lake City). East is no slouch, improving to 5-0 and it is currently Utah’s No. 2 ranked large school (Class 5A) team. De La Salle should rebound but it’s time to monitor the progress of the Utahans.
This weekend there’s one of the great games of the entire season being played in south Florida. Sunny, fashion trendy Miami is the site for nationally ranked Miami powerhouses Booker T. Washington and Miami Central to tangle Saturday at the 7,500-seat Traz Powell Stadium, 7 p.m. EDT. The stadium is located on the Miami Dade College North Campus. Better call early for tickets if they haven’t already been gobbled up.
On the Florida Gulf Coast, No. 25 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) dropped five spots by losing to No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 35-15. The Cadets tumbled five spots in the Elite 25 but not out. With a tough schedule on the horizon, the Cadets are still in it and deserve to stay after taking a game with IMG, a team composed of players nationwide. IMG does not play for a state championship.
The next Elite 25 rankings are back Sept. 27. Be sure to support your local high schools. In the coming week, there will be several byes for the Elite 25 and then it’s a run to the finish. In some states, we have reached midseason, with the month of October signaling the end. So with that in mind, we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings Sept. 20, 2016
1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (4-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Kahuku (Hawaii), 35-7. The Gaels have won 44 straight games. QB Tate Martell accounted for all five touchdowns, throwing for four and running for another. The ballyhooed matchup with nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) can be renamed the 2016 Vatican Bowl.
Next: Friday vs. Bonanza (Las Vegas).
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)
Previous rank: 2.
Recap: Crushed Upland, 62-7. QB J.T. Daniel threw for 369 yards and six TDs before getting yanked for the subs. The Monarchs play Friday before heading into the bye week and then finish off the regular season with five straight games in the Trinity League, including an Oct. 21 date at nationally ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower).
Next: Friday at Edison (Huntington Beach) played locally in Costa Mesa.
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (3-0)
Previous rank: 3.
Recap: Defeated McDonogh (Owings Mills), 49-28. QB Beau English was a perfect 15-of-15 for 219 yards and totaled three TDs.
Next: Friday at St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.).
4. Allen, Texas (3-0)
Previous rank: 4.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday at McKinney Boyd.
5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (4-0)
Previous rank: 5.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 20 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 35-14. QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M commit, completed nine passes for 191 yards and three TDs and ran for another.
Next: Friday vs. Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes).
6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (4-0)
Previous rank: 6.
Recap: Routed Coconut Creek 48-6.
Next: Friday vs. Norland (Miami).
7. Central, Miami (4-0)
Previous rank: 7.
Recap: Defeated Norland, 29-27. Willie Davis’ 49-yard TD run provided the Rockets with the decisive score in the fourth quarter. QB Tijuane Morten served a one-game suspension but will return for Saturday’s slobberknocker with crosstown rival Booker T. Washington.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 11 Booker T. Washington (Miami).
8. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (3-1)
Previous rank: 8.
Recap: Defeated Crespi (Encino), 56-7. The Braves needed a bounce back win after losing to top-ranked Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) the previous week.
Next: Friday vs. St. Mary’s (Stockton) to be played locally at Whittier College.
9. Roswell, Ga. (3-0)
Previous rank: 10.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday at Archer (Lawrenceville).
10. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (4-0)
Previous rank: 11.
Recap: Defeated Foley, 38-10. The Yellow Jackets are 3-0 in regional play.
Next: Friday at Blount (Eight Mile).
11. Booker T. Washington, Miami (3-1)
Previous rank: 12.
Recap: Defeated Southridge (Miami), 20-6. DE Robert Hicks was the star in a defensive battle, recovering three fumbles and scoring a TD.
Next: Saturday at No. 7 Central (Miami).
12. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2-1)
Previous rank: 13.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday vs. Hallandale.
13. DeSoto, Texas (2-0)
Previous rank: 15.
Recap: A much needed bye will rejuvenate the Eagles for a much anticipated matchup in District 7-6A with a Class 6A state contender.
Next: Friday at Cedar Hill.
14. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (4-0)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Idle. After allowing 27 points in the opening game, the Eagles have surrendered just seven in the last three, including two straight shutouts.
Next: Friday at Collins Hill (Suwanee).
15. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (3-1)
Previous rank: 16.
Recap: Defeated Deerfield Beach (Fla.), 39-14. South Carolina-recruit CB Jamyest Williams had a pick-six in the third quarter to blow it open.
Next: Friday vs. Ramsay (Birmingham, Ala.).
16. Cass Tech, Detroit (4-0)
Previous rank: 17.
Recap: Blanked Southeastern (Detroit), 48-0. The Technicians just keep rolling. Can’t wait for the Motor City showdown on Oct. 1 against Martin Luther King (Detroit).
Next: Saturday vs. East English Village (Detroit).
17. Jenks, Okla. (4-0)
Previous rank: 18.
Recap: Defeated Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.), 44-22. Rueben Thompson ran for three TDs and the Trojans exploded for 20 points in the fourth period to pull away.
Next: Friday at Norman.
18. Colerain, Cincinnati (4-0)
Previous rank: 19.
Recap: Defeated Princeton (Cincinnati), 38-7. Coach Tom Bolden picked victory No. 100 in his 10th season at the helm. The Cardinals have captured 53 straight conference games dating back to 2008.
Next: Thursday vs. Sycamore (Cincinnati)
19. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (4-0)
Previous rank: 21.
Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Mesa), 56-0. Jaydon Brooks tallied for three TDs, QB Noah Grover completed 13 passes for 172 yards and three TDs and Gary Bragg rushed for 148 yards and two scores.
Next: Friday at Pinnacle (Phoenix).
20. Converse (Texas) Judson (4-0)
Previous rank: 25.
Recap: Defeated New Braunfels, 54-13. The Rockets lay their most difficult game to date this weekend on the road.
Next: Friday at Cibolo Steele.
21. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (5-0)
Previous rank: 23.
Recap: Defeated Copper Hills (West Jordan), 52-6. RB Jahvontay Smith scored two TDs in the lopsided win.
Next: Friday vs. Hunter (West Valley City).
22. Maryville, Tenn. (5-0)
Previous rank: 24.
Recap: Topped Science Hill (Johnson City), 35-14. It was the Rebels’ 64th consecutive victory in the regular season.
Next: Friday vs. Bearden (Knoxville).
23. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-0)
Previous rank: 25.
Recap: Defeated Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 43-24, in a game televised nationally on ESPNU.
Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.).
24. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (4-0)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Recap: Overwhelmed St. Francis (Wheaton), 55-0.
Next: Friday at Fenwick (Oak Park) to be played locally at Triton College in River Grove.
25. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (3-1)
Previous rank: 20.
Recap: Fell to No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 35-14. The Cadets enter play in the rugged Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
Next: Saturday vs. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).
Dropped: No. 9. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C.; and No. 14 De La Salle, Concord, Calif.
High-Fives by Region
East
- Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (3-0)
- St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (2-0)
- North Penn, Langhorne, Pa. (4-0)
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (2-1)
- Westfield, Chantilly, Va. (3-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (3-0-1)
- East St. Louis, Ill. (4-0)
- Kimberly, Wis. (5-0)
- Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (3-0)
- Walled Lake (Mich.) Western (4-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Trinity, Louisville (5-0)
- Clinton, Miss. (4-0)
- Lake Travis, Texas (3-1)
- John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (3-0)
- Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (4-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (5-0)
- East, Salt Lake City, Utah (5-0)
- Corona (Calif.) Centennial (3-1)
- Kahuku, Hawaii (5-1)
- Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (3-0)
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 in late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
