BENSALEM, Pa. – Finally, the axe fell in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings. After a quiet week nationally, where no Elite 25 teams lost, several lost this week.

We always knew the playoffs take their toll on teams but the third weekend in November claimed four teams, including one from Nevada that suffered a major upset in and saw their dominance of 10 years stopped.

First the four newcomers are No. 12 Chandler (Ariz.), No. 20 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.), No. 22 Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) and No. 25 Rockwall (Texas).

Naturally, Chandler made the biggest splash in the Elite 25, going from the region to No. 12. The Wolves are a juggernaut in Arizona and won the previous three 6A Conference titles. Now they are the top seed in the inaugural Open Division and have week off before they play for the hardware .

St. Peter’s Prep is New Jersey’s top team, playing in the top league. The Marauders play league rival Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) Saturday for the Non-Public Group 4 crown. In Florida, Armwood is one of the top programs annually and booted the defending Class 7A champion from the tournament. Winning the state title with No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) on the other side of the bracket is a tall task but this weekend’s semifinal tilt with Edgewater (Orlando) is next.

Rockwall slips into the final spot after winning a crazy 60-59 decision over then-No. 8 Allen (Texas) in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game.

The Top 7 teams stayed intact but 12 teams moved up two, three and even four spots. The biggest risers were No. 17 Grayson, No. 18 O’Dea and No. 19 Eastside Catholic. Down but not out were No. 23 Lakeland and No. 24 Longview, dropping 14 and 11 spots, respectively.

This weekend sees five schools looking to annex either California sectional chips or two on the cusp of a state title. The big one features from southern California No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 3 St. John Bosco for the CIF-Southern Section Division I final. Mater Dei won the regular season meeting between the Trinity League rivals, but SJB won the 2018 regular season game and fell in the sectional final to the Monarchs.

So much action is on the horizon and we’ll keep you informed. There only three rankings left and the final rankings will be revealed Dec. 24.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will return on Dec. 3. Please check out the Elite 25 boys’ basketball preseason rankings. The girls’ basketball preseason rankings are out.  Visit us regularly at www.bluestarmedia.org. There’s plenty of content from some very talented writers.

Get out and attend a playoff game in your state. In states in the Northeast and New England there are games on Thanksgiving morning. Great place to socialize and see people that return home for the holiday weekend. We hope to see you at a game soon.

Thank you and have a Happy Thanksgiving! — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Nov. 26, 2019

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated previously undefeated Mission Viejo, 49-24, in the CIF-Southern Section Division I semifinals. Alabama-bound QB Bryce Young uncorked seven TD passes, including five to WR Cody Epps.  Young has thrown 14 TD passes in the opening two playoff games with 10 going to Epps.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF-Southern Section, Division I final at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

2. Duncanville, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Flower Mound, 59-13, in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. It was 45-0 at halftime. Game over!

Next: Friday vs. Arlington Martin in Class 6A, Division I Region 1 semifinals to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Crushed Corona Centennial, 52-14,  in CIF-Southern Section Division I semifinals. Clemson-bound QB DJ Uiagalelei threw for four TDs and 192 yards. SJB led 31-14 at halftime as Uiagalelei threw a 42-yard TD to Jode McDuffie and Beaux Collins added two from 11 and 41 yards. The Braves have reached seven straight sectional finals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in Division I final to be played at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Shut out Atlantic (Delray Beach), 26-0, in the Class 7A, Region 4 final. The Raiders recorded their sixth shutout of the season. The Raiders led 7-0 at halftime and put the game away with 12 points in the third quarter. Junior QB Zion Turner accounted for three TDs, tossing a pair of scores from 32 and 33 to Marcus Rosemy and dashed 9 yards for another score.

Next: Friday vs. Venice in Class 7A semifinals.

5. Katy, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Cy-Fair (Cypress), 27-14, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. Junior QB Bronson McClelland threw for 208 yards and two TDs. Huge rivalry game this weekend and the second meeting of the season between the teams.

Next: Friday vs. No. g8 North Shore (Galena Park) in Class 6A, Division I Region III semifinals to be played at NRG Stadium in Houston.

6. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (11-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Season complete.

7. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (11-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Mililani, 35-0, in Hawaii Open Division semifinals. LB Lawai’a Brown had a pick-six and Kaiser Cambra-Cho recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score in a supreme defensive effort. QB Jayden de Laura, a Washington State commit, connected with Michigan-bound Roman Wilson for a pair of scores.

Next: Friday vs. Kahuku in the Open Division final at Aloha Stadium.

8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (11-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Dawson (Pearland), 58-35, in the Class 6A, Division Area playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. No. 5 Katy in Class 6A, Division I Regional III semifinals to be played at NRG Stadium in Houston.

9. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (12-0-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Shut out Fort Dorchester (North Charleston), 48-0, in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Carolina Forest (Myrtle Beach) in the Class AAAAA semifinals.

10. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Norcross, 44-14, in Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. No. 17 Grayson (Loganville) in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

11. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated North Forsyth (Cumming), 42-14, in the Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. North Gwinnett (Suwanee) in the Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

12. Chandler, Ariz. (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Salpointe Catholic (Tucson), 24-16, in Arizona Open Division semifinals. The Wolves won the last three 6A state titles but are competing in the inaugural eight-team bracket to determine Arizona’s best team.

Next: Dec. 7 vs. Saguaro (Scottsdale) in Open Division final at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

14. Mentor, Ohio (13-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated St. Edward (Lakewood), 36-35, in overtime to capture the Division I,  Region 1 championship. Luke Floriea caught a two-point conversion pass from QB Ian Kipp to win it.

Next: Friday vs. Pickerington Central in the Division I semifinals.

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-1)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Monte Vista (Danville), 49-13, in the CIF-North Coast Section Division I semifinals. The Spartans scored 49 unanswered points in the first half.

Next: Friday vs. Pittsburg in the Division I final at Dublin High School.

16. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (12-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated DeSoto, 37-15, in the Class 6A, Region 1 Area playoff game. QB Quinn Ewers tossed five TD passes.

Next: Saturday vs. Midland Lee in Class 6A, Division I Region I semifinals to be played in Abilene.

17. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (11-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated East Coweta (Sharpsburg), 42-21, in the Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday at No. 10 Lowndes County (Valdosta) in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

18. O’Dea, Seattle (12-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Mount Spokane (Mead), 10-3, in Class 3A quarterfinals. QB Milton Hopkins, Jr. scored on 1-yard run in the first quarter and it stood up. RB Saire Washington carried 16 times for 117 yards.

Next: Saturday vs. Kennewick in Class 3A semifinals.

19. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (10-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Bellevue, 50-21, in the Class 3A quarterfinals. Junior QB  Kobe Muasau completed 16 of 18 passes for 284 yards and four scores. WR Gee Scott Jr. caught seven passes for 143 yards and three TDs. The Crusaders trailed 7-0 early but rattled off the next 22 points.

Next: Saturday vs. Lincoln (Tacoma) in the Class 3A semifinals.

20. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (10-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: QB Tahj Bullock scored on a 1-yard run with 20 seconds remaining propelling the Marauders over St. Augustine (Richland), 35-28, in the Non-Public Group 4 semifinals. Bullock threw for 253 yards and accounted for all five TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) in Non-Public Group 4 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

21. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (10-2)

Previous: 24.

Recap: RB Kolbe Burrell carried 15 times for 108 yards and two TDs in a 45-24 rout of Nazareth Area in the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. Sahmir Hagans returned punts for 48 and 52 for scores. The Hawks led 24-10 at halftime but blew open the game in the third quarter with three TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) in the Class AAAAAA semifinals to be played at Mansion Park in Altoona.

22. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 9 Lakeland, 23-10, in the Class 7A, Region 2 final. The Hawks take down the defending 7A champions.

Next: Friday vs. Edgewater (Orlando) in the Class 7A semifinals.

23. Lakeland, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Lost to Armwood (Seffner), 23-10, in Class 7A, Region 2 final. The Dreadnaughts fell three wins short from defending their state title. Season complete.

24. Longview, Texas (11-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Upset by Jesuit (Dallas), 27-25, in Class 6A, Division II Area playoff game. The Lobos had their win streak stopped at 27 games. Season complete.

25. Rockwall, Texas (10-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 8 Allen, 60-59, in the Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game. Coach Rodney has the Yellowjackets peaking at the right time and have peeled off seven straight wins.

Next: Saturday vs. Klein Oak (Spring) in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 2 semifinals to be played at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium in Waco.

Dropped: No. 8. Allen (Texas); No. 19 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas); No. 20 Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) and No. 25 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (12-1)
2. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (10-0)
3. New Rochelle, N.Y. (12-0)
4. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (9-3)*
5. Maury, Norfolk, Va. (12-0)

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

Midwest

1. Muskegon, Mich. (13-0)
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (13-0)
3. Muskego, Wis. (14-0)*
4. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa (12-1)*
5. Bellevue (Neb.) West (12-0)

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

Southland

1. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (11-0)
2. Male, Louisville, Ky. (13-0)
3. Owasso, Okla. (12-0)
4. Marietta, Ga. (10-2)
5. Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (11-0)

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

Far West

1. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (14-0)*
2. Helix, La Mesa, Calif. (10-1)
3. Central, Fresno, Calif. (12-0)
4. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (12-0)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-2)

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

* Won a state or conference postseason championship

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 on December 24. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.