Key bracket reveal from California’s Southern Section for five Blue Star Media Elite 25 teams with Florida, Georgia and Texas finalizing pairings this weekend

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is an establishment amongst the high school football hierarchy. Arguments and debates aside when California, Georgia, Texas and Florida—in no particular order—reveal their postseason brackets in November, things start taking shape.

Considering the quality of players, coaches and programs in these four states, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will be influenced for the final seven weeks of the high school season. This weekend, the playoffs get underway in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section, where the Division 1 bracket reveal on Sunday, Nov. 3 drove crazy speculation after Friday’s main results.

Essentially, it’s a 10-team bracket with two play-in games this weekend and six teams getting byes to the quarterfinals on Nov. 15. There are five teams from the Elite 25 rankings, all with the coveted bye.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) will play Servite (Anaheim) or Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) on Nov. 15. No. 7 St. John Bosco hosts Inglewood or Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Nov. 15.

The two other quarterfinal games are confirmed: JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) at No. 25 Orange Lutheran and No. 16 Corona Centennial at No. 9 Mission Viejo on Nov. 15.

OLu beat JSerra, 23-17, on Oct. 11 in Trinity League play. It’s pretty much a tossup this time.

The semifinals are at the higher seed on Nov. 22 and the championship game is Nov. 29 or 30. Another Bosco-Mater Dei matchup is anticipated but not in stone with so many powerhouse programs bearing down.

There are 14 Divisions in the Southern Section, so there’s football aplenty in November.

Georgia’s Class AAAAAA and AAAAA brackets are on hold for another week as four from the Elite 25 are off this weekend. Some matchups are in cement but there are games to be played on Friday to determine all the first-round pairings. As for Florida and Texas, we’ll just have to wait until this weekend. The action in those three states will kick off on the weekend of Nov. 14-16.

[Editor’s note: Any scheduling updates will be noted throughout the week and sent out via social media on X.]

There was minimal movement in the Elite 25 and No. 25 Orange Lutheran gets a pass and remains at the foot of the chart. The Lancers have their hands full in the CIF sectional quarterfinals.

That’s a wrap for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Nov. 12.

I’m Just Saying: Thinking Gonzaga, Baylor, Kansas and Duke could be headed to the NCAA Men’s Final Four in April. Prediction: Zags will finally win it all. They are very deep, talented and play a killer schedule, including Baylor on Monday, Nov. 4.

Please donate to the relief efforts for the recent hurricanes at the Red Cross. No amount is too small.

Bye for now. Don’t forget to honor our Veterans on Monday, Nov. 11. It’s very important to reach out to family, friends and complete strangers to thank them for their service to God and country.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Nov. 5, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 21 Orange Lutheran, 38-14. The Monarchs sealed the Trinity League championship with a 5-0 record.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. Servite (Anaheim) or Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

2. Duncanville, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Mesquite, 50-6. QB Keelon Russell completed 11 of 19 passes for 140 yards and two TDs to Zach Turner. RB JaQualon Armstrong rushed for 68 yards and three scores on seven carries. The Panthers head into the regular season finale with a perfect mark.

Next: Thursday at Cedar Hill.

3. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Roswell, 35-20. The Indians clinched the Region 7-AAAAA title.

Next: Nov. 15/16 in Class AAAAA first round.

4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield, 59-11. The Panthers rolled to a 38-3 lead at halftime.

Next: Friday at Crowley.

5. Carrollton, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Douglas County (Douglasville), 49-28, clinching the regional title. USC-bound QB Julian Lewis hit on 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. Lewis is now fifth all-time on Georgia’s career TD passing chart with 132. A tentative playoff opponent is in place.

Next: Nov. 15/16 vs. Dacula in Class AAAAAA first round.

6. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated King (Houston), 42-14.

Next: Friday at Summer Creek (Houston).

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 44-24.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. Inglewood or Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

8. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Coronado (Las Vegas), 51-0. The Gaels earned a bye in the playoffs.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. Foothill (Las Vegas) or Liberty (Henderson) in Nevada Class 5A, Division 1 semifinals.

9. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Los Alamitos, 40-14. QB Luke Fahe threw for 317 yards and three TDs

Next: Nov. 15 vs. No. 16 Corona (Calif.) Centennial in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (8-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 31-0. The Crusaders quest for a fourth straight state championship continues in the playoffs.

Next: Nov. 16 vs. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in Non-Public A quarterfinals.

11. Buford, Ga. (9-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mill Creek (Hoschton), 32-7. A tentative playoff opponent is in place.

Next: Nov. 15/16 vs. East Coweta (Sharpsburg) in Class AAAAAA first round.

12. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (10-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Saratoga Springs), 56-0, in Class 6A second round. Weston Briggs accounted for four TDs, three rushing and one in the air.

Next: Friday vs. Weber (Pleasant Valley) in Class 6A quarterfinals.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-2)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Lost to St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 30-3.

Next: Friday vs. St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.).

14. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (10-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 31-0. The Cavaliers have seven shutouts this season and have allowed only three points over their last eight games. They play the same opponent in the playoffs this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore) in MIAA A Conference semifinals.

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated California (San Ramon), 48-10.

Next: Friday at Clayton Valley Charter (Concord).

16. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-2)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Chaparral (Temecula), 54-12. QB Dominick Catalano, Corona passed for 354 yards and two scores.

Next: Nov. 15 at No. 9 Mission Viejo in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

17. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (8-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Channelview, 55-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Goose Creek Memorial (Baytown).

18. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (8-2)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Nov. 15 in Class 1A, Region 4 playoffs.

19. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Duluth, 50-7. A tentative playoff opponent is in place.

Next: Nov. 15/16 vs. Denmark in Class AAAAAA first round.

20. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (10-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Idle. A big-time rematch is in place this weekend in suburban Philadelphia.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) in Class 6A, District 12 final to be played at Wissahickon High School in Ambler.

21. Lakeland, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Wednesday at Sebring.

22. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (8-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Chaparral (Scottsdale), 63-15.

Next: Friday at Centennial (Peoria).

23. Gaffney, S.C. (7-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Wade Hampton (Greenville), 43-0. This weekend the regional championship will be decided between rivals.

Next: Friday vs. Spartanburg.

24. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (8-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 37-0.

Next: TBA in WCAC playoffs.

25. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (7-3)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 38-14.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-2)
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (7-3)
3. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (9-1)
4. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (9-0)
5. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (9-0)

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

Midwest

1. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (10-0)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (9-1)
3. Mentor, Ohio (11-0)
4. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (10-0)
5. Avon, Ohio (11-0)

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

Southland

1. Venice, Fla. (9-1)
2. Central, Miami (8-1)
3. Boyle County, Danville, Ky. (10-0)
4. Auburn, Ala. (9-0)
5. Owasso, Okla. (9-0)

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

Far West

1. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (8-1)
2. Campbell, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (9-0)
3. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (7-3)
4. Lake Oswego, Ore. (9-0)
5. Bellevue, Wash. (8-0)

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

Records are through Sunday

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August 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 December of the 2024 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.