LONE STARS: Texas school slides into Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 14 St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) opens with big win behind QB Tahj Bullock

BENSALEM, Pa. – Finally, there is movement within the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings. The last two weeks in September the Elite 25 were static but deep in the heart of Texas there was a result that went duly noted.

In Denton, Texas, it was a pair of ISD rivals that locked horns last Friday and Ryan edged then-No. 14 Guyer, 23-20. By winning the heated local rivalry, No. 23 Denton Ryan enters the Elite 25 for the first time. Ryan is currently Texas’ top-ranked Class 5A, Division I team and one of the top from the Southwest.

So, here’s a quick breakdown of the Elite 25 this week. As mentioned before there’s one new team, No. 23 Denton (Texas) Ryan and the top-13 teams remained untouched. Nine teams moved up a slot in the rankings and No. 17 Pickerington (Ohio) Central is the first team to begin the postseason. Five schools have yet to see action and that includes three teams from south Florida and one each from Missouri and Pennsylvania. The latter two will open play over the course of the next two weekends.

This weekend is a candidate for Game of the Year when No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) travels to No. 3 Duncanville (Texas). We’ll have all the details on that feature matchup.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall rankings return on Oct. 13.

Stay safe, mask up when possible, practice social distancing and support your local businesses that have taken major financial hits since March. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Fall Rankings, Oct. 6, 2020

1. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (2-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Klein Collins (Spring), 30-23. QB Dematrius Davis, an Auburn commit, totaled 337 yards of offense and accounted for four touchdowns. Davis hit on 15 passes for 2015 yards and a TD and rushed for 112 yards and three scores.

Next: Thursday vs. Willis.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.), 52-8. The Ascenders have their biggest and defining game of the season this weekend in the Lone Star State.

Next: Friday at No. 3 Duncanville (Texas) to be played Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.

3. Duncanville, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 41-3. Baylor-bound WR Roderick Daniels Jr. made 9 catches for 183 yards and two scores. QB Grayson James went 13-for-21 for 205 yards and two TDs. The Panthers, who won have 32 straight games in the regular season, will play in the game of the year this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla,).

4. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle. The Philadelphia Catholic League kicks off an abbreviated schedule next week. The PCL will play games though the weekend of Nov. 6-7 before the playoffs. The state championships are over the Thanksgiving Weekend in Hershey, Pa. Last week, DB Julian Talley committed to hometown Ivy League power Penn.

Next: Saturday vs. Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.) to be played in Leonardtown, Md.

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. The Raiders will open the season in late October and have opted in to the FHSAA Class 7A playoffs. The Broward Cunty public schools won’t participate in the playoffs this year.

Next: TBA.

6. Central, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: TBA.

7. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Mill Creek (Hoschton).

8. Katy, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Routed Cypress Woods (Cypress), 66-21.

Next: Friday vs. Seven Lakes (Katy).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (1-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Liberty (Peoria), 44-10. The Wolves were up 16-0 in the first quarter and were never threatened.

Next: Friday vs. Pinnacle (Phoenix).

10. Northwestern, Miami (0-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle. Miami-Dade County has not released schedules.

Next: TBA.

11. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (3-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 35-10. The Patriots have allowed 13 points in three games.

Next: Oct. 16 vs. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville).

12. Westlake, Austin, Texas (2-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Hewitt Midway, 56-0. The Chaps have scored 109 points in their first two outings. This weekend they commence play in District 26-6A.

Next: Friday at Del Valle (Austin).

13. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (0-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle. The Spartans finally will kick off their season this weekend at nearby Festus High School.

Next: Saturday vs. Christian Brothers College (St. Louis).

14. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated West Orange, 62-21. It was the Tahj Bullock Show as the Virginia Tech-bound signal caller launched his senior campaign with quite a bang. Bullock accounted for six TDs, five in the air and another rushing from 19 yards in the fourth quarter. He threw for scores of 15, 15, 8, 23 and 7 yards and teammate Ryan Adams added a 48-yard pick-six in the first half when the Marauders led, 35-14.

Next: Saturday vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).

15. Trinity. Louisville, Ky. (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated archrivals St. Xavier (Louisville), 48-10. Brad West scored two TDs, one on the ground and another on a punt return. QB Nathan McElroy hit on 12 of 21 passes for 116 yards and a TD to WR Wynton Johnson.

Next: Friday vs. Ballard (Louisville).

16. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (8-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Saratoga Springs), 56-17. QB Jaxson Dart was at it again in record style, throwing for a program mark seven TDs, including three to WR Noah Kjar. Dart’s recruitment has spiked up with Arizona State, Iowa State, Utah State and UCLA extending offers. It’s a short week for the Chargers, who play one of the state’s top teams.

Next: Thursday at Skyridge (Lehi).

17. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Reynoldsburg, 38-13, in the regular season finale. The Tigers led 38-0 at halftime as RB Nick Mosley ran for four TDs and Lorenzo Styles returned a punt 45 yards for score early in the first quarter. Last week, the OHSAA announced all Division I playoff games will be played on Friday nights and the state final is Nov. 13 at a site to be determined.

Next: Friday vs. Grove City in the Division I, Region 3 first round.

18. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle. Big rivalry game lies ahead for the Vikings.

Next: Friday at Valdosta.

19. Owasso, Okla. (4-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Norman North, 33-22.

Next: Friday vs. Edmond North.

20. Bixby, Okla. (5-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Carl Albert (Midwest City), 56-14.

Next: Friday vs. Choctaw.

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

Previous: 22.

Recap: Held off St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 24-21. RB Ryan Butler scored three TDs, including two from QB Steve Agneli. The Crusaders led 24-7 in the fourth quarter only to see SJR storm back late but a sack in the final minute by DE Christian Ross sealed the win.

Next: Saturday at Pope John XIII (Sparta).

22. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (7-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Vestavia Hills, 38-9.

Next: Friday at Gadsden City.

23. Denton (Texas) Ryan (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Knocked off ISD rivals then-No. 14 Denton Guyer, 23-20. The Raiders are ranked No. 1 in Texas’ Class 5A, Division I. RB Ke’Ori and QB Seth Henigan teamed for 271 rushing yards and Texas-bound Billy Bowman Jr. scored two TDs .This weekend opens district play.

Next: Friday at Frisco Reedy.

24. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (7-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Pike (Indianapolis), 57-14. Only two games remain in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

25. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (2-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Chapin, 51-12.

Next: Friday at River Bluff (Lexington).

Dropped out: No. 14 Denton (Texas) Guyer.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (3-0)
2. Central Dauphin, Harrisburg, Pa. (2-0)
3. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (0-1)
4. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (3-0)
5. Williamstown, N.J. (1-0)

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

Midwest

1. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (5-0)
2. Cathedral, Indianapolis (7-0)
3. Belleville, Mich. (3-0)
4. Century, Bismarck, N.D. (4-0)
5. Coffman, Dublin, Ohio (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Allen, Texas (2-0)
2. Hoover, Ala. (7-0)
3. Starkville, Miss. (5-0)
4. Archbishop Rummel. Metairie, La. (1-0)
5. Bryant, Ark. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (0-0)
2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (1-0)
3. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (4-0)
4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (7-1)
5. Skyridge, Lehi, Utah (7-1)

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

^ Will play season in Winter/Spring 2021

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September until the conclusion of the high school season. For the 2020-2021 school year, there will be two separate rankings in the fall and winter/spring due to coronavirus concerns. 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 June 2021. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.