New Jersey team loses but remains in Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings; playoffs kicking off nationwide

BENSALEM, Pa. – OK, it’s official the entire nation is headed or knee-deep in the football playoffs.

With that in mind, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football national rankings will have a different look as the state championship start piling up.

There are no additions but No. 24 Paramus N.J.) Catholic tumbles 15 slots after an upset loss to league rivals St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.).

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return November 17 with the 11th weekly installment. In the meantime, there are plenty of playoff and rivalry games to choose from, please support your local schools. Be on the lookout for the boys and girls’ preseason basketball rankings. They will be here by mid-November. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football, Nov. 11, 2014

1. Allen, Texas (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

What happened: Defeated Plano East, 35-13. Texas A&M-bound QB Kyler Murray completed 24 of 37 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 131 yards and one score on 11 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Keller Central in Class 6A, Division 1 bi-district playoff game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-0)

Previous: 2.

What happened: Blanked Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 63-0, in Division I Sunset Region playoffs. QB Danny Hong completed 10 of 11 passes for 147 yards and two TDs and Alize Jones rushed for a pair of scores.

Next: Friday vs. Centennial (Las Vegas) in regional semifinals.

3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 3.

What happened: Defeated California High (San Ramon), 42-0. The Spartans close the regular season with their fourth shutout and received first-round bye in playoffs.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. James Logan (Union City) or San Ramon Valley (Danville) in CIF North Coast Division I quarterfinals.

4. Booker T. Washington, Miami (10-0)

Previous: 4.

What happened: Idle. The Tornadoes caught their breath before the postseason starts.

Next: Thursday vs. Somerset (Pembroke Pines) in Class 4A regional semifinals.

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

Previous: 5.

What happened: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 58-34. The Braves bag their third straight Trinity League title.

Next: Friday vs. Cabrillo (Long Beach) in CIF-Southern Section Pac-Five Division first round.

6. Central, Miami (9-1)

Previous: 6.

What happened: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Boynton Beach in Class 6A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

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

Previous: 7.

What happened: Defeated Camden County (Kingsland), 28-24. The Packers rallied in the final period to pull this one out of the fire.

Next: Friday vs. Rockdale County (Conyers) in Class AAAAAA first round.

8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (10-0)

Previous: 8.

What happened: Defeated L.D. Bell (Hurst), 38-14. QB Ryan Agnew hit on 13 of 18 passes for 189 yards and three TDs of 7, 17 and 19 yards.

Next: Friday vs. Mansfield Class 6A, Division II bi-district playoff game at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

9. Folsom, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 10.

What happened: Defeated Woodcreek (Roseville), 71-7.

Next: Saturday vs. Stagg (Stockton) in CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I first round.

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

Previous: 11.

What happened: Defeated Deerfield Beach, 45-7.

Next: Friday vs. Mater Academy Charter (Hialeah Gardens) in Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

11. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

What happened: Defeated Strawberry Crest (Dover), 42-0. The Hawks recorded their eighth straight shutout of the season. They have allowed 14 points all season.

Next: Friday vs. Largo in Class 6A, Region 2 quarterfinals.

12. Bellevue, Wash. (10-0)

Previous: 13.

What happened: Defeated Bishop Blanchet (Seattle), 44-0. The Wolverines’ defense chalked up their fifth shutout.

Next: Friday vs. Sumner in Class 3A first round.

13. Buford, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 14.

What happened: Defeated Stephens County (Toccoa), 56-0. The Wolves coasted to a 42-point lead at the break.

Next: Friday vs. South Whitfield (Dalton) in Class AAAA first round.

14.  Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (10-0)

Previous: 15.

What happened: Defeated Brother Martin (New Orleans), 45-24.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette) or Holy Cross (New Orleans) in Division I second round.

15. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (10-0)

Previous: 16.

What happened: Defeated Fort Pierce Central, 28-17.

Next: Friday vs. Southlake (Groveland) in Class 6A, Region 3 quarterfinals.

16. Male, Louisville, Ky. (11-0)

Previous: 17.

What happened: Defeated Marshall County (Benton), 62-2, in Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Trinity (Louisville) in 6A second round.

17. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (11-0)

Previous: 18.

What happened: Defeated DeSoto Central (Southaven), 28-0.

Next: Friday vs. Northwest Rankin (Brandon) in Class 6A first round.

18. Clarkston, Mich. (11-0)

Previous: 19.

What happened: Defeated Lapeer, 23-20, in Division 1 district final.

Next: Friday vs. Walled Lake Central in Division 1 quarterfinals

19. Euless (Texas) Trinity (9-1)

Previous: 20.

What happened: Idle. The second season begins.

Next: Saturday vs. South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff at AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

20. Carmel, Ind. (12-0)

Previous: 21.

What happened: Defeated Carroll (Fort Wayne), 56-6, in 6A regional playoff.

Next: Friday vs. Penn (Mishawaka) in 6A semi-state.

21. Ware County, Waycross, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 22.

What happened: Defeated Brunswick, 48-19.

Next: Friday vs. Starr’s Mill (Fayetteville) in Class AAAAA first round.

22. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (9-0)

Previous: 23.

What happened: Idle. The Crusaders are the clear favorites to reach the state final but first must take care of business in Western New York.

Next: Thursday vs. St. Francis (Athol Springs) in Monsignor Martin Athletic Association semifinals at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.

23. Hudson, Ohio (11-0)

Previous: 24.

What happened: Defeated Perry (Massillon), 29-0, in Division I, Region 1 first round.

Next: Saturday vs. St Ignatius (Cleveland) in Region 1 quarterfinals.

24. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (8-1)

Previous: 9.

What happened: Upended by St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 27-0. The Paladins get a bye in the opening round of a brutal playoff bracket.

Next: Nov. 21 vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) or St. Augustine (Richland) in Non-Public Group 4 semifinals.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (10-1)

Previous: 25.

What happened: Defeated Red Mountain (Mesa), 54-14, in Division 1 first round.

Next: Friday vs. Basha (Chandler) in Division 1 quarterfinals.

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (8-1)

2. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (11-0)

3. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (10-0)

4. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (10-0)

5. Central Valley, Monaca, Pa. (11-0)

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

Midwest

1. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (11-0)

2. Eden Prairie, Minn. (11-0)

3. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (11-0)

4. Cass Tech, Detroit (11-0)

5. Omaha (Neb.) North (11-0)

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

Southland

1. Manvel, Texas (10-0)

2. Maryville, Tenn. (11-0)

3. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (10-0)

4. Skyline, Dallas (10-0)

5. First Coast, Jacksonville, Fla. (10-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (10-1)

2. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (11-1)

3. Punahou School, Honolulu (7-0)

4. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (9-1)

5. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (9-1)

Geography: 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 in December. 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 December 28. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.