BENSALEM, Pa. – We are down to two weekends left in the regular season for the most part and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings are calm before the storm

In some states, the playoffs have begun and for others they will roll out over the next three weekends. If you live in Texas, it takes six games to win a state championship, culminating a week before Christmas. Yes, folks, we are on the cusp of the holidays. We need to get our trick or treats out of the way and the countdown begins for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah.

This week there’s one addition that being No. 24 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), the top-seeded team in the Illinois Class 8A state tournament.

There are two games of note on Friday. In the East Valley of Phoenix, No. 20 Chandler hosts crosstown rival Hamilton. The two could meet in the Arizona Division I playoffs in the coming weeks. In suburban Cleveland, No. 21 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) entertains bitter rivals St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in battle of northeast Ohio all-male Catholic schools. St. Ignatius is in dire need of a win or would be in danger of missing the Division I playoffs. St. Ed’s are favorite in a loaded bracket.

The next Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will appear November 3. Enjoy Halloween and please watch out for all those little ghouls, ghosts, witches and goblins out with their parents looking for a bag of candy or treats. Go slow motorists! Until then please support your local high schools and perhaps we’ll see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Oct. 27, 2015

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 30-16. Trailing 7-0 early, the Gaels roared back on defense.

Next: Thursday vs. Palo Verde (Las Vegas).

2. Allen, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Shut out Flower Mound, 42-0. RB Kirby Bennett rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles coast to a 6-0 mark in the district and the defense gets a second shutout.

Next: Friday vs. Plano West.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Crushed JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 60-7. RB Sean McGrew ran for three TDs in the Homecoming victory. The Braves were treated to a preseason speech from former heavyweight champion George Foreman. Knockout!

Next: Thursday vs. Orange Lutheran.

4. Euless (Texas) Trinity (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Coppell, 49-14. RB Ja’Ron Wilson rushed for a career-high 343 yards and five TDs on 23 carries. In the previous game, he had 338 yards. This kid is real good!

Next: Friday vs. Richland (North Richland Hills).

5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Santiago, 79-31. Talk about a wild, wild affair.

Next: Thursday vs. Corona.

6. Katy, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Strake Jesuit (Houston), 56-0. That’s five shutouts, 18 points surrendered in eight contests.

Next: Thursday at Katy Tompkins.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, 28-20. Two games left in the season for a team that won’t play for a state title.

Next: Friday vs. Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.).

8. Cedar Hill, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated DeSoto, 26-2. Three different running backs scored TDs for the Longhorns, who held DeSoto without a touchdown for the first time in a decade.

Next: Thursday at Mansfield.

9. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (7-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Del Oro (Loomis), 41-3. It was business as usual in the East Bay.

Next: Friday vs. James Logan (Union City).

10. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (8-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle. A last respite before the Packers defend their Class AAAAAA title.

Next: Friday vs. Tift County (Tifton).

11. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (9-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Gardendale, 52-27.

Next: Friday vs. Hewitt-Trussville.

12. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Shut out Dacula, 40-0.

Next: Friday at Brookwood (Snellville).

13. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (8-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Bayside (Virginia Beach) 58-6. That was the 39^th consecutive Beach District win for the Dolphins.

Next: Friday vs. Cox (Virginia Beach).

14. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (8-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Converse Judson, 20-13. The Knights are in control of District 25-6A.

Next: Friday vs. New Braunfels Canyon.

15. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Southaven, 41-3. The Tigers host Homecoming this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus.

16. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (6-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Idle. It’s another local rivalry this weekend with the playoffs on the horizon.

Next: Friday at Ely (Pompano Beach).

17. Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga. (7-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Routed Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville), 42-6.

Next: Friday at Dacula.

18. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (7-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Ballard (Seattle) in Metro League championship.

19. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (9-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Brighton (Salt Lake City). 30-0.

Next: Friday vs. American Fork in Class 5A first round.

20. Chandler, Ariz. (8-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Brophy Prep (Phoenix), 28-6.

Next: Friday vs. regionally ranked Hamilton (Chandler).

21. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (8-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Trounced Moeller (Cincinnati), 49-17. The Eagles stormed back to score the game’s final 49 points. WRs Matt Gonzalez scored two TDs and Teddy Gordon caught one. RB Cole Gest ran for 147 yards and three scores on 22 carries.

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

22. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (10-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis), 63-14.

Next: Friday vs. Ritenour (Overland).

23. Male, Louisville, Ky. (9-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Manual (Louisville), 43-7.

Next: Friday vs. Western (Louisville).

24. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Defeated Mount Carmel (Chicago), 49-21. Earned the top-seed in the Class 8A state bracket.

Next: Saturday vs. West Aurora (Aurora) in Class 8A first round.

25. Columbus, Miami (9-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Routed Booker T. Washington (Miami), 40-13.

Next: Friday at Coral Gables.

Dropped: No. 24 Homewood-Flossmoor, Ill.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (8-0)

2. Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh (8-0)

3. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (8-0)

4. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (7-0)

5. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (7-0)

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

Midwest

1. Eden Prairie, Minn. (10-0)

2. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (9-0)

3. Center Grove, Ind. (10-0)

4. Colerain, Cincinnati (8-1)

5. Martin Luther King, Detroit (9-0)

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. (8-0)

2. Maryville, Tenn. (9-0)

3. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (8-0)

4. West Monroe, La. (8-0)

5. Wake Forest, N.C. (9-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (9-0)

2. Folsom, Calif. (8-0)

3. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (8-0)

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

5. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (7-1)

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.