No. 1 Mater Dei (CA), No. 8 St. Frances Academy (MD) record big wins against Blue Star Media Elite 25 ranked football teams

BENSALEM, Pa. – Well, the Broward County Showcase did not disappoint last weekend in south Florida. Six teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings went head to head.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) made the trip from the West Coast and held off host and No. 15 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) by three points (26-23) after rolling to a 23-point edge at the break. No. 8 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) jumps three spots after defeating No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 42-13. No. 22 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) also beat a team from the Elite 25.

So, with the latest rankings dropping, there are no additions to the Elite 25. That will change with finally all the teams playing games—save No. 10 Duncanville (Texas). Aquinas and No. 23 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) dipped nine positions while Chaminade-Madonna slid seven. No. 11 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) and No. 12 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) vaulted five spots after quality victories.

Looking ahead to this weekend, Thompson travels to No. 7 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) Friday night in the top game of the week. Another quality game is No. 18 East St. Louis (Mo.) playing No. 15 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) Thursday in the Battle at the Boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J. On Saturday, three venues host intriguing clashes No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) flies nearly 2,800 miles to face Kahuku (Hawaii); No. 19 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) tangles with Illinois powerhouse Mount Carmel (Chicago) in the fourth annual Ohio vs. The USA Gridiron Classic in Ironton, Ohio; and St. Joseph’s Prep has a tricky contest at DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

Gotta love it. The action is coming fast and furious in the opening weeks of the season.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Key states such as Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Michigan and New Jersey all get going. Four teams from Texas are in action with a fifth (Duncanville) kicking off on Friday, Sept. 5.

Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter) for big announcements and other stories on the football field and the hardwood. School is back in session and the news will continue to generate headlines.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Aug. 26, 2025

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 26-23. Ohio State-bound WR Chris Henry Jr. caught a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter when the Monarchs charged to a 26-3 lead. Henry caught three passes for 122 yards.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Montgomery (Torrance).

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (1-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), 31-0. The game was called at halftime due to lightning.

 Next: Friday vs. Eastwood (El Paso, Texas).

3. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (0-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle. The Dragons have a tricky road game in West Texas.

Opens: Aug. 29 at Midland.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 4.

Opens: Defeated Hoover (Ala.), 34-13.

Next: Thursday at Winslow Township (Atco, N.J.) to be played in Ocean City, N.J.

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Centennial (Las Vegas), 52-0.

Next: Saturday at Kahuku (Hawaii).

6. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Thursday vs. Lancaster.

7. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Rabun Gap (Ga.)-Nacooche School, 24-19.

Next: Friday vs. No. 12 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.).

8. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (1-0)..fr

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated at No. 9 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.), 42-13.

Next: Sept. 5 at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).

9. Buford, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Benedictine Military (Savannah), 42-14.

Next: Sept. 5 vs. Roswell.

10. Duncanville, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle. The Panthers have a late opening game.

Opens: Sept. 5 vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas).

11. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (2-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated West Broward (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 38-13. QB Helaman Casuga and RB Weston Briggs each scored two TDs apiece.

Next: Friday at Fremont (Ogden).

12. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (1-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Carver (Montgomery), 37-6. The game was tied at halftime before the Warriors poured it on.

Next: Friday at No. 7 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.).

13. Westlake, Austin, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Friday vs. Prosper.

14. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Thursday vs. No. 18 East St. Louis (Ill.) at Battle By the Beach in Ocean City, N.J.

15. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 26-23. The Raiders trailed 26-3 at halftime but a late rally fell short.

Next: Friday vs. Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes).

16. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 11 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 42-13.

Next: Friday at McArthur (Hollywood).

17. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (1-1)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.), 24-17.

Next: Friday at Alpharetta.

18. East St. Louis, Ill. (0-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Thursday vs. No. 14 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)  in Ocean City, N.J.

19. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (1-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Princeton (Cincinnati), 41-20.

Next: Saturday vs. Mount Carmel (Chicago) to be played in Ironton, Ohio.

20. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Thursday vs. Mountain View (Mesa).

21. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (1-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 42-14.

Next: Thursday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

22. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated No. 14 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), 31-28.

Next: Sept. 5 vs. No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood).

23. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Lost to then- No. 23 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 31-28.

Next: Saturday at DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

24. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Idle.

Opens: Friday at South Oak Cliff (Dallas).

25. Bixby, Okla. (0-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: The Spartans open against a rival they faced in last year’s Class 6A-I state final.

Opens: Thursday vs. Owasso to be played at University of Tulsa’s H.A. Chapman Stadium.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (0-0)
2. La Salle College High, Wyndmoor, Pa. (1-0)
3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (0-0)
4. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
5. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (0-1)

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

Midwest

1. Brownsburg, Ind. (1-0)
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (1-0)
3. Mount Carmel, Chicago (0-0)
4. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (1-0)
5. Cass Tech, Detroit (0-0)

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (0-0)
2. Douglas County, Douglasville, Ga. (2-0)
3. Vandegrift, Austin, Texas (0-0)
4. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (1-0)
5. Edna Karr, New Orleans (0-0)

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

Far West

1. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (1-0)
2. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. ( 1-0)
3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (1-0)
4. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (1-0)
5. Serra, Gardena, Calif. (1-0)

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. 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 December. Follow him on X (or Twitter) at @clawlor.