LIONIZED: No. 6 Chaminade-Madonna Lions (FL) rise in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 16 Sierra Canyon (CA) records blowout win over Arizona power

BENSALEM, Pa. – The month of September is nearly over and for the last two weekends, Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings has seen several byes, including last weekend when five teams were off.

That’s fine. Now the heavy lifting comes. Unless teams are granted byes in the playoffs, it’s a sprint to the finish line or in some cases a slog.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 this week. Some shifting among the ranks with a game in South Florida creating biggest change.

In Miami, No. 6 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep Lions (Hollywood, Fla.) jumped three slots after taking down a third straight opponent from the Elite 25, edging No. 20 Central (Miami), 31-28. The Rockets crashed 12 spots after their second loss of the campaign. The Rockets have played four games with a 1-2 record but one game was suspended due to inclement weather. (A.K.A. hurricane season in the south Atlantic and Caribbean waters). The losses are by a total of seven points. The Rockets will right the course by the time the Class 2M playoffs are revealed.

Last Thursday, the Lions (5-0) senior quarterback Cedrick Bailey enjoyed a sumptuous opening half, tossing four touchdowns passes, including two to wideout Jeremiah Smith, for a 31-21. Central’s rally fell short with a stout defense clamping down.

Top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) visited the East Coast and survived a minor scare, beating St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 20-7. The Monarchs (5-0), who tallied a pair of defensive TDs, broke away from 7-all tie in the third quarter. Phew!

The Monarchs are back home for the duration beginning with five straight Trinity League games, including the donnybrook with No. 5 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) on Oct. 13.

Okay, that’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Oct. 3. The month of October is the epitome of the regular season.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 26, 2023

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 20-7. Trinity League play opens this weekend with a rivalry game.

Next: Friday vs. Servite (Anaheim).

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Silverado (Las Vegas), 55-0. The Gaels close out the schedule against Nevada schools and likely won’t be challenged.

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

3. Duncanville, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 56-0. The Panthers recorded their third straight shutout and SMU-bound QB Keelon Russell threw for three first-half touchdowns and ran for another. Russell hit on all nine of his throws for 156 yards and LSU-pledge Dakorien Moore nabbed two scoring passes.

Next: Oct. 6 at Waxahachie.

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Oct. 6 vs. Bartram Trail (St. Johns).

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. The Braves needed the weekend off to regroup after a loss and will play five straight Trinity League games.

Next: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) to be played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

6. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 8 Central (Miami), 31-28. The Lions won’t be challenged until the playoffs.

Next: Friday at Coconut Creek.

7. Buford, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Marietta, 30-3.

Next: Friday vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee).

8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Beaumont United, 49-7.

Next: Friday at C.E. White (Houston).

9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie), 42-6.

Next: Friday vs. Miramar.

10. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) to be played at William Tennent High School in Warminster.

11. DeSoto, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Waxahachie, 56-35. QB Darius Bailey passed for 118 yards and three TDs, including two to WR Antonio Pride Jr.

Next: Oct. 6 at Mansfield Legacy.

12. Westlake, Austin, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Lake Travis (Austin), 20-14.

Next: Friday at Del Valle.

13. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Grove (Ellenwood), 52-40. The Packers win an offensive shootout.

Next: Friday vs. Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.).

14. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Parkview (Lilburn), 30-20.

Next: Friday at Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville).

15. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at North Paulding (Dallas).

16. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 63-6. The visitors from Arizona were blindsided from angles.

Next: Friday vs. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).

17. Bixby, Okla. (4-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Norman North, 60-2. The Spartans opened district play with an overwhelming win.

Next: Thursday at Southmoore (Moore).

18. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Regis Jesuit (Aurora), 47-21.

Next: Thursday vs. Cherokee Trail (Aurora).

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (2-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).

20. Central, Miami (1-2)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Lost to then- No. 9 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood), 31-28. The Rockets were down 31-21 at the break. They remain in the Elite 25 for now.

Next: Friday vs. North Miami Beach.

21. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (6-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Riverton, 55-12. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson threw for four TDs and ran for another.

Next: Friday at Copper Hills (West Jordan).

22. Columbus, Miami (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Northwestern (Miami), 24-7.

Next: Friday vs. Miami (Fla.) Senior.

23. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Middletown (Del.), 41-7.

Next: Friday vs. St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

24. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (5-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated River Rouge (Mich.), 42-6. The Eagles play their archrivals this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

25. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 38-15. Junior QB Dominic Campanile threw for three TDs and 219 yards. This upcoming weekend, the Campanile brothers, Vito (BC) and Nick, hook up in a key game at “The Jack” in Oradell.

Next: Saturday vs. DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (5-0)
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-0)
3. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (5-0)
4. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (3-0)
5. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (4-1)

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

Midwest

1. Mount Carmel, Chicago (5-0)
2. Belleville, Mich. (5-0)
3. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (5-0)
4. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (5-0)
5. Kimberly, Wis. (5-0)

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

Southland

1. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (3-0)
2. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (4-0)
3. Norland, Miami (5-0)
4. Gainesville, Ga. (5-0)
5. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Chandler, Ariz. (5-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (6-1)^
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (3-2)
4. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (4-0)
5. O’Dea, Seattle (4-0)

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

^ Includes a forfeit victory

Records are through Sunday’s games.

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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.