No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) meets No. 10 Corona (CA) Centennial in CIF-Southern Section Division I semifinal showdown this weekend; no additions to Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. — The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

The rankings will return on Nov. 23.

Last thought: Get out and see a playoff game in your area. The season is winding down and high drama is sure to ensue.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 16, 2021

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Norco, 49-14 in CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 quarterfinals. Sophomore Elijah Brown’s six TD passes were more than enough to subdue an Inland Empire squad looking to spring an upset. The Monarchs have a huge challenge this weekend at an Elite 25 ranked team.

Next: Friday at No. 10 Corona Centennial in CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 semifinals.

2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Hutton, 54-9, in Class 6A, Division II bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. New Braunfels in the Class 6A, Division II Area playoff game.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (10-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Los Alamitos, 62-38, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals. The Braves renew a rivalry in the semifinals this weekend. The Braves were unstoppable rushing the ball as three runners amassed better than 100 yards, totaling nearly 600 yards and eight TDs, including Rayshon Luke’s 249 yards and three score on 10 carries. Jabari Bates added 194 yards and two scores and Michael Hayes had 140 and a TD.

Next: Friday vs. No. 17 Servite (Anaheim) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

4. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (11-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Lambert (Suwanee), 56-13, in Class 7A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Pebblebrook (Mableton) in Class 7A second round,

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 19 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

6. Katy, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land), 56-7, in Class 6A, Division II bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Stratford (Houston) in the Class 6A, Division II Area playoff game.

7. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (11-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated North Crowley (Fort Worth), 42-20, in the Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game. Junior QB Kaden Anderson completed 13 passes for 214 yards and three TDs. RB Owen Allen carried 28 times for 129 yards and three scores.

Next: Saturday vs. Midland Legacy in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game to be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

8. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (10-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Donovan Catholic (Toms River), 35-7, in the Non-Public A quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City) in the Non-Public A semifinals.

9. Hoover, Ala. (12-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Hewitt-Trussville, 24-23, in overtime in the Class 7A quarterfinals. The Bucs took a 24-17 lead when QB Bennett Meredith tossed a scoring pass to R.J. Hamilton. Hewitt-Trussville closed within one point on the next possession and elected to go for the two-point conversion and the win but LB Terrell Jones got a fingertip on it, deflecting the pass. Game over!

Next: Friday vs. No. 13 Thompson (Alabaster) in Class 7A semifinals.

10. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Mission Viejo, 62-16, in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 quarterfinals.

The Huskies led 35-17 at the break.

Next: Friday vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 semifinals.

11. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 8 Chandler, 21-14. The Huskies are Arizona’s top team until proven otherwise. They have a week off before three weeks of playoffs open at home.

Next: Nov. 26 vs. American Leadership Academy (Queen City) in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

12. Bixby, Okla. (11-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Putnam City North (Oklahoma City), 78-7, in Class 6A-II quarterfinals. The Spartans piled on 30 points in the first quarter.

Next: Friday vs. Stillwater in Class 6A-II semifinals.

13. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (11-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Oak Mountain (Pelham), 45-7, Class 7A quarterfinals. The Warriors have a rematch with the team that handed them their lone loss this season. The Class 7A final will be played on Dec. 1.

Next: Friday vs. No. 9 Hoover in the Class 7A semifinals.

14. Chandler, Ariz. (9-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 20 Hamilton (Chandler), 21-14. The Wolves had their win streak halted at 45 games. Now the Wolves lick their wounds and get ready for the postseason with a bye week.

Next: Nov. 26 vs. Queen Creek in the Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

15. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (11-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Boca Ciega (Gulfport), 50-0, in Class 6A, Region 3 quarterfinals. Caleb Williams had a 99-yard, pick-six to make it 42-0 at halftime. QB Luke Knight threw four TD passes in the first half, including three to junior WR Jarriett Buie.

Next: Friday vs. Braden River (Bradenton) in the Class 6A, Region 3 semifinals.

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Atlantic (Delray Beach), 43-7, in Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals. The Raiders rolled to a 29-0 lead at the intermission. RB Anthony Hankerson ran for 124 yards and three TDs and QB Zion Turner added two rushing scores to pace the offense.

Next: Friday vs. Miramar in Class 7A, Region 4 semifinals.

17. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 34-3, in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 quarterfinals. Just when the Friars were getting a serious challenge in the fourth quarter, Oregon-bound Tetairoa McMillan stepped up three interceptions, including a pick-six to keep an arm’s length distance from their plucky Trinity League rivals. Arizona-recruit QB Noah Fifita hit on 17-of-30 passes for 182 yards with a TD. This weekend is one of the great games in America that will be played. Must see schoolboy football!

Next: Friday at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 semifinals.

18. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (10-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Duluth, 45-14, in Class 7A first round

Next: Friday vs. Marietta in Class 7A second round.

19. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (7-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

20. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (12-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 29-19, in Class 6A region final. Two more wins and the Trojans are repeat state champions.

Next: Friday vs. Ben Davis in Class 6A Semistate.

21. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (12-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Weber (Pleasant View), 48-13, in the Class 6A semifinals. QB Devin Brown had the hot hand, hitting on 21-of-29 passes for 341 yards and six TDs as the Chargers jumped to a 21-0 lead after one period. BYU-bound WR Cody Hagen had six receptions for 80 yards and three scores.

Next: Friday vs. Lone Peak (Highland) in the Class 6A championship to be played the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

22. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Liberty (Henderson), 35-14, in the Class 5A Southern Region final. Zachariah Branch found the end zone on a 93-yard punt return and 53-yard catch-and-run. Sophomore QB Micah Alejado passed for 238 yards and three TDs. The Gaels avenged an overtime loss to Liberty in the 2019 Desert Regional title game.

Next: Thursday vs. McQueen (Reno) in Class 5A championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

23. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (12-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort), 3-0, in the Class 8A quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Lockport in the Class 8A semifinals.

24. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (11-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Fort Collins, 52-2, in the Class 5A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Columbine (Littleton) in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

25. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (12-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Canton McKinley, 42-0, in the Division I, Region 1 semifinals. RB Danny Enovitch scored three TDs in the second half. The Eagles were up 14 points through one quarter and never looked back. Coach Tom Lombardo recorded his 73^rd victory to tie John Gibbons for the most football wins in program history.

Next: Friday vs. Medina in the Division I, Region 1 final.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (10-0)
2. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (11-0)
3. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (9-1)
4. Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh (11-0)
5. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (8-2)

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

Midwest

1. Medina, Ohio (13-0)
2. Lakeville (Minn.) South (11-0)
3. Grand Blanc, Mich. (12-0)
4. Cathedral, Indianapolis (12-1)
5. Upper Arlington, Ohio (12-0)

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

Southland

1. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (12-0)
2. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (10-0)
3. Male, Louisville, Ky. (11-0)
4. Central, Miami (8-2)
5. Zachary, La. (11-0)

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

Far West

1. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (10-0)
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-2)
3. Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (11-0)
4. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (11-0)
5. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (9-2)

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 August 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.