BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason football rankings are out and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is the top-ranked team. Thirteen or just over half of the Elite 25 are from the Southland Region.

The Raiders are no strangers to winning and receive a stiff challenge in their first game. The season is a marathon not a sprint. It starts with the heat of August and in most state ends in northerly winds and cold gripping the landscape. This is truly an exciting time of the year, so embrace it with both hands.

The Elite 25 has Texas with five selections, Florida, Georgia and California add two apiece.

And … Poof … those are the seeds for the start of the high school football season.

The next set of Elite 25 rankings will appear on September 6th and will continue until the conclusion of the state playoffs in late December. For the most part, high school season kicks off this weekend. Let the games begin. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason High School Football Rankings August 4, 2016

1. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-1)

The Rub: There’s talent aplenty returning to the Broward County school. The Raiders are also flush with a loaded schedule. The major college prospects include the pitch-and-catch combinations of QB Jake Allen (1,69` yards, 18 TDs) and big-time WR Trevon Grimes (27 catches, 496 yards, 7 TDs) and West Virginia-bound Mike Harley. The line is fortified by junior G Jason Swann and OT Zack Sweeney and the Raiders have hearty desire to bag a third straight Class 7A championship. Opening night is a classic trap game. Watch out south Florida!

Opens: Aug. 27 at Booker T. Washington (Miami).

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)

The Rub: The Gaels are simply loaded. The top prospects are QB Tate Martell and DT Haskell Garrett (both headed to Ohio State). Favorite target, WR Maleek Barkley (Arkansas), and Biaggio Ali-Walsh, are main weapons. DB Alex Perry, S Bubba Bolden, DB Malik Hausman (Arizona) and LB Farrell Hester (UNLV) are top-notch defenders. Meanwhile, PK Brandon Ruiz (Alabama) is a difference-maker in a tight game. The reigning Blue Star Media National Champions aim for an eighth straight Nevada state championship. Anything less would be a ginormous upset.

Opens: Aug. 27 at No. 8 Cedar Hill (Texas) on ESPN2.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-0)

The Rub: This place smacks of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) model from the prep basketball world. IMG culls the best talent nationally and accepts a bevy of transfers in high intensity pressure cooker. The 13-game schedule has four quality games—most notably No. 5 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) in the second week. The talent rich squad will rely on OT Cesar Ruiz, WR Jhamon Ausbon (LSU recruit), DB Isaiah Pryor (Ohio State), QB Kellen Mond (Texas A&M) and DE Robert Beal (Georgia) to complement a solid group of juniors and sophomores. The schedule includes games with eight out-of-state opponents.

Opens: Saturday vs. Carol City.

4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-1)

The Rub: The Braves are poised to win it all in California with the ultimate prize being the CIF Open Division Bowl. The squad is buoyed by Ohio State-commit OG Wyatt Davis, WR Terrell Bynum (Washington), DE Jacob Collier and WR Berkeley Holman (Northwestern). Cross Poyer and Tyrel Thomas are featured in a speedy secondary.

Opens: Aug. 27 at St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.

5. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-1)

The Rub: It’s a Class AAAAAAA championship or bust for the Rams. There are oodles of talent on this team and a new head coach. The talent features six players on the first team preseason all-state team: QB Chase Brice (Clemson commit), OT Will Taylor (Duke), LB Breon Dixon (Georgia), RB/DB Jamyest Williams, OL Tony Gray and DB/WR DeAngelo Gibbs. Once again the opening is a whopper.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

6. Lake Travis, Texas (15-1)

The Rub: The Cavaliers return 15 starters (nine on offense) from a squad that fell in the Class 6A, Division II final. The secondary is loaded with Austin Hiller (7 INTs) the main man. QB Charlie Brewer (3,421 passing yards, 51 total scores) triggers the offense, with speedy WR Cade Green (14 TDs), HB Cade Brewer (15 TD catches) and OT Brendan Jaimes all considered highly regarded recruits. The second game features a matchup with area powerhouse Cibolo Steele on Sept. 2.

Opens: Aug. 26 vs. Converse Judson.

7. Katy, Texas (16-0)

The Rub: The Class 6A, Division II state champions return eight starters (five on offense). Sophomore RB Deondrick Glass (14 TDs) is the primary ball carrier and WR J.C. Angulo (37 receptions, 808 yards, 13 TDs) the vertical threat. All-State DE Corey Bethey (16 sacks) leads the Tigers’ green defense.

Opens: Aug. 26 at No. 13 Westlake (Austin).

8. Cedar Hill, Texas (9-2)

The Rub: The Longhorns’ offense is simply loaded with 10 returning starters, including QB Avery Davis, who accounted for 3,000 yards of offense and 38 TDs a year ago. WRs Charleston Rambo and Camron Buckley are back and so is Jaylen Jackson after sitting last year with an injury. LB Dimitri Moore and FS Josh Newman are the top defenders. DeSoto poses a serious threat in District 7-6A and opening night assignment is another chance to turn heads.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on ESPN2.

9. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (10-3)

The Rub: WR Osiris St. Brown (Stanford) and safeties Xavier Bell (Arizona) and Quentin Lake are lockdown defenders. Ballyhooed sophomore QB J.T. Daniels (3,042 passing yards, 33 TDs) and junior WR Amon-Ra St. Brown will be together for two more seasons and LB Fa’avae Fa’avae recently committed to Colorado. The Monarchs are grouped with powerhouse rivals in the always-tough Trinity League, including Oct. 21 date at No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

Opens: Aug. 26 at Bishop Amat (La Puente).

10. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-1)

The Rub: Coach Elijah Brooks’ teams have won three consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference titles and return nine starters. RB Anthony McFarland and DE Chase Young are the prime recruits, with QB Beau English spraying the ball to Delante Hellams Jr., and sophomores DeMarcco Hellams and Jermaine Johnson.

Opens: Aug. 26 at Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.).

11. Allen, Texas (14-1)

The Rub: Terry Gambill inherits a program that is used to winning really big. The Class 6A, Division I semifinalists rely on QB Mitchell Jonke (1,902 passing yards, 772 rushing yards, 32 total TDs). Opening night at Eagle Stadium will present an interesting out of state powerhouse.

Opens: Aug. 26 vs. (Hoover (Ala.).

12. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (14-2)

The Rub: The Mavericks are gunning for a fourth straight Class 4AA state crown with key parts returning in 11 starters. They include: linemen Eric Douglas (South Carolina and Grant Gibson (North Carolina State), WR Ryan Jones (North Carolina) and RB Darnell Walker.

Opens: Friday at Dillon (S.C.).

13. Westlake, Austin, Texas (14-2)

The Rub: Coach Todd Dodge has the good fortune to have all-everything QB Sam Ehlinger (3,833 yards passing, 50 TDs; 1,386 yards rushing, 20 TDs), who accounted for 70 scores and was the Class 6A player of the year. Unfortunately, the Chaps reside in District 25-6A with No. x Lake Travis. Oh, the opener, is another doozy.

Opens: Aug. 26 vs. No. 7 Katy.

14. Roswell, Ga. (14-1)

The Rub: The dream matchup in Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA final would be the Hornets and No. 5 Grayson (Loganville). RB Sheldon Evans and WR Jayden Comma punctuate the offensive attack and DB Xavier McKinney is the defense’s top recruit. DB LeAthony Williams Jr. is headed to Clemson and OT Jordan Tucker will sign with Tennessee.

Opens: Friday vs. Buford.

15. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (15-1)

The Rub: The Vikings aim for a second consecutive state title after bagging the Class AAAA chip in 2015. It starts with the muscle of G C.J. Thorpe (Penn State) and DT Kurt Hinish and LB David Adams (both committed to Notre Dame), WR Justice Evans is a smallish pass-catcher with a knack to find the openings.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

16. Northwestern, Rock Hill, S.C. (14-1)

The Rub: The Class AAAA state champions look to dominate South Carolina’s largest group with pass-happy QB Gage Maloney (3,969 yards, 47 TD passes), an Ohio pledge; East Carolina-bound RB Jerry Howard (1,570 yards); and DE sack master Logan Rudolph (Clemson). Nine starters are back for first-year coach David Pierce.

Opens: Friday vs. South Pointe (Rock Hill).

17. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (13-1)

The Rub: WR Marlon Williams, a South Carolina recruit, is one of the top players at his position in the nation. The Yellow Jackets excelled in 7-on-7s this summer. The defense features DB Trey Young (Troy State) and LB Carlton Martial.

Opens: Friday vs. regionally ranked Spanish Fort.

18. Cass Tech, Detroit (12-3)

The Rub: Jaylen Kelly-Powell (4.5 40) is a jack-of-trades, lining up at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. QB Rodney Hall (2,384 passing yards, 19 TDs; 1,127 rushing yards, 16 TDs), who verballed to Northern Illinois, missed the Division 1 final in November, but gets a second chance to put the Technicians back in that position this season.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. Oak Park.

19. Jenks, Okla. (11-1)

The Rub: The two-headed backfield monster of Rueben Thompson and Jordon Curtis combined for more than 1,700 rushing yards and 26 TDs. At 6-4, WR Brett Standlee is a big target. The road to a 17th state championship starts in earnest on Sept. 9 against rivals Union (Tulsa). The Trojans have plenty of incentive this season with Allan Trimble coaching while battling ALS.

Opens: Aug. 26 at Owasso.

20. Colerain, Cincinnati (12-2)

The Rub: The Cardinals reached the Division I semifinals last year and now they are on a mission to complete the run. A powerful defense is one of the best in the nation, featuring Ohio State-bound DB Amir Riep, who is joined in the secondary by Keontae Jones and Darrian Beavers, while LBs Kyle Holden and junior Dan Bolden are rock solid. RB Monalo Caldwell (1,343 rushing yards, 18 TDs) is the main offensive weapon.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. Warren Central (Indianapolis).

21. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (12-1)

The Rub: The Pride is loaded with at least 12 returning starters, featuring size and speed on both sides of the ball. QB Noah Grover will hook up with WRs Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jaydon Brooks. Circle Sept. 9 because that’s the date of a donnybrook with instate rival Chandler.

Opens: Aug. 19 vs. O’Connor (Phoenix).

22. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (9-3)

The Rub: The Ironmen are tough on both sides of the ball with Syracuse-bound QB Tommy DeVito and DE Marquez Valdez (Boston College). Once again a merciless schedule will put coach Greg Toal’s squad in contention for another state crown, but an opening weekend trip to south Florida is pure excitement.

Opens: Sept. 2 at American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.).

23. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (14-0)

The Rub: Coach Eric Moore (209-59 record, 22nd season) won’t duck anyone with a murderous schedule, including the opener with a local rival. The athletic Russ Yeast II (5-10, 180) holds offers from SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 schools.

Opens: Friday vs. Warren Central (Indianapolis)

24. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (12-2)

The Rub: The Eagles return 12 starters, but their star is QB Dylan McCaffrey, who totaled 40 TDs and nearly 3,400 offensive yards in winning the Class 5A state championship. DT Noah Elliss (6-5, 330) has offers from the multiple elite programs.

Opens: Aug. 27 vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

25. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (12-2)

The Rub: The main push comes from the D-line with Jay Tufele (6-3, 200, 10.5 sacks) and Langi Tuifua (6-3, 205, 14.5 sacks), an Oregon recruit, leading the way. Before Labor Day, the Miners have games with last year’s Class 5A finalists Herriman and Lone Peak (Highland), giving Utahans a firm grip on the state’s large-classification rankings.

Opens: Friday at Westlake (Saratoga Springs).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (7-4)
2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (7-3)
3. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (7-4)
4. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (8-3)
5. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (7-4)

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 (14-1)
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (14-0)
3. Warren Central, Indianapolis (8-4)
4. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)
5. La Salle, Cincinnati (13-2)

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

Southland

1. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. (14-0)
2. Central, Miami (12-2)
3. Spanish Fort, Ala. (15-0)
4. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (8-3)
5. Maryville, Tenn. (14-1)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (13-1)
2. Folsom, Calif. (14-1)
3. Kahuku, Hawaii (13-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (13-1)
5. West Linn, Ore. (12-2)

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.