No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) rolls in showdown with archrival; teams from California, Maryland and Florida join Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – It wasn’t much of a game but simply a good old fashion blowout. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is the best schoolboy football team in the land. And that’s not an exaggeration.

In a dreamy matchup of the No. 1 vs. 2 from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings, quickly turned into a rout with Mater Dei trouncing St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 59-14, on Friday night. That victory clinched the Trinity League championship for the 8-0 Monarchs, who have their season finale this weekend.

The Braves (8-1) will look to regroup this weekend hosting JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano). The teams could meet again in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The Monarchs will be a heavy favorite to win it all again and run the table with four playoff games. They face No. 21 Orange Lutheran on Friday.

The Monarchs were up 45 points by halftime and to make matters worse for the Braves, there was a running clock in the fourth quarter. It was the worst loss for coach Jason Negro since taking over the program in 2010.

Quarterback Dash Beierly carved up Bosco, hitting on 20 of 28 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns, including three in the opening half.

No. 7 St. John Bosco dipped five positions with the lopsided loss.

Three familiar teams enter the Elite 25 after a topsy-turvy week that saw six teams absorb losses.

No. 15 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) is unbeaten in eight games and would likely be the opponent for Mater Dei in the CIF Open Bowl game in December. No. 22 Lakeland (Fla.) is 8-0 and one of the favorites to win the FHSAA Class 5A state championship. A year ago, the Dreadnaughts won the program’s ninth state title. They close out the season on Nov. 6 at Sebring.

No. 25 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) is 7-1 after knocking off Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rival St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.). The Stags finish up the regular season this weekend with the playoffs on the horizon. Their lone loss was on opening night at No. 14 Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.). The WCAC Capitol Division final is Nov. 24 at the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

As for the rest of the Elite 25, three teams dropped, including No. 24 Gaffney (S.C.) 11 slots; 12 ascended, including three teams by three spots; and seven teams remained the same.

In Alaska, Dimond (Anchorage) beat West Anchorage, 14-7, in the Division I final and Soldotna topped Lathrop (Fairbanks), 49-28, for the Division II crown. Last week, Homer won the Division III title. So, with it the first three state championships of the season. Congratulations to the winners!

That’s a wrap for another week. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Nov. 5.

I’m Just Saying: In less than a week, college basketball season tips off. Hard to believe it’s already here and for the next five months the hardwoods will be rocking. We’ll have a prediction next time.

Please donate to the relief efforts for the recent hurricanes at the Red Cross. No amount is too small.

Finally, Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3., so turn your clocks back an  hour.

Bye for now and have a Happy Halloween.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Oct. 29, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 59-14. QB Dash Beierly passed for 309 yards and four touchdowns and ran 40 yards for another.

Next: Friday vs. No. 21 Orange Lutheran.

2. Duncanville, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Mesquite Horn, 52-7.

Next: Friday vs. Mesquite.

3. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Johns Creek, 56-0.

Next: Friday vs. Roswell.

4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Saginaw Boswell, 67-0.

Next: Friday vs. Mansfield.

5. Carrollton, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Douglas County (Douglasville).

6. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated No. 17 Humble Atascocita, 27-23.

Next: Friday vs. King (Houston).

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 59-14.

Next: Friday vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).

8. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Desert Pines (Las Vegas), 61-0.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. TBD in Nevada Class 5A, Division 1 semifinals.

9. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated East St. Louis (Ill.), 14-13.

Next: Friday at St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (7-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 28-17. Ohio State-bound RB Najee Calhoun rushed for 115 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.

Next: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange).

11. Buford, Ga. (8-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Lawrenceville), 49-7.

Next: Friday vs. Mill Creek (Hoschton).

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

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach), 49-24.

Next: Friday vs. Los Alamitos.

13. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (9-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Westlake (Saratoga Springs) in Class 6A second round.

14. Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Loyola Blakefield (Towson), 56-3.

Next: Saturday at Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore).

15. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Monte Vista (Danville), 42-7.

Next: Friday at California (San Ramon).

16. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (7-2)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Norco, 60-21.

Next: Friday at Chaparral (Temecula).

17. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (7-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Lost to No. 7 North Shore (Galena Park), 27-23.

Next: Friday at Channelview.

18. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (8-2)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 62-17.

Next: Nov. 15 vs. TBD in Class 1A regional quarterfinals.

19. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Norcross, 27-21. The regular season ends this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Duluth.

20. La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (10-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 35-16. The Explorers captured the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division title.

Next: Nov. 9 vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) in Class 6A, District 12 final to be played at Wissahickon High School in Ambler.

21. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (7-2)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 38-0.

Next: Friday vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

22. Lakeland, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Kathleen (Lakeland), 47-6.

Next: Nov. 6 at Sebring.

23. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (7-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Saguaro (Scottsdale), 43-14.

Next: Friday vs. Chaparral (Scottsdale).

24. Gaffney, S.C. (6-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Upset by Dorman (Roebuck), 9-7.

Next: Friday at Wade Hampton (Greenville).

25. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (7-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 31-15.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).

Dropped: No. 19 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); No. 20 DePaul Catholic and No. 21 Belleville (Mich.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-2)
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (6-3)
3. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (8-1)
4. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (8-0)
5. Phoebus, Hampton, Va. (8-0)

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

Midwest

1. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (9-0)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (8-1)
3. Mentor, Ohio (10-0)
4. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (9-0)
5. Avon, Ohio (10-0)

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

Southland

1. Venice, Fla. (8-1)
2. Central, Miami (8-1)
3. Boyle County, Danville, Ky. (9-0)
4. Norland, Miami (7-2)
5. Owasso, Okla. (8-0)

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

Far West

1. Basha, Chandler, Ariz, (7-1)
2. Campbell, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (8-0)
3. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (6-3)
4. Lake Oswego, Ore. (8-0)
5. Bellevue, Wash. (6-0)

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

Records are through Sunday

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 of the 2024 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.