BENSALEM, Pa. – For the most part, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings featured few surprises but did see two new additions.

First, the nation is bracing for this weekend’s showdown in southern California between top-ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) to be played at the sold-out Santa Ana Stadium in Orange County. The winner is the nation’s top team—at least until the CIF-Southern Section playoffs start next month—and gets the inside track for the Trinity League title.

Most observers believe this regular season game is the first of two. Last year, Mater Dei won both meetings en route to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship.

We’ll keep you informed on this one. Follow me Twitter @clawlor.

No. 22 Mentor (Ohio) and No. 23 Oaks Christian School (Westlake Village, Calif.) join the Elite 25 rankings. Mentor is Ohio’s top-ranked Division I school while Oaks Christian is a Top 5 team in California’s deep and talented state rankings. Also in the Far West Region, Mission Viejo (Calif.) forfeited four wins for the use of an ineligible player. The Diablos drop to 4-4 with two games left in the regular season. Earlier this season, No. 2 Mater Dei was stripped of a win for the same reason. We’ll sort through this mess in time for next week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on October 16.

There are plenty of games in your area so get out and support your local teams. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 9, 2018

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Orange Lutheran (Orange), 63-28. Kristopher Hutson scored four touchdowns, including a pair on kickoffs.

Next: Friday at No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-1) #

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 4-7. Junior QB Bryce Young tossed four TDs, two each to Bru McCoy and Mike Martinez.

Next: Friday vs. No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

3. Allen, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Plano East (Plano).

4. Carol City, Miami Gardens, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Blanked Southridge (Miami), 56-0. The Chiefs have shut out four opponents this season.

Next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami).

5. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle. Georgia’s top-ranked team had a much-needed rest last weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Camden County (Kingsland).

6. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (6-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 42-0. The Cadets have a huge league game on Homecoming Night.

Next: Friday vs. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) to be played at Catholic University’s Cardinal Stadium.

7. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (7-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Crushed Monte Vista (Danville), 55-0.

Next: Friday vs. Foothill (Pleasanton).

8. Lake Travis, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Walloped Lehman (Kyle), 64-7. Huge game on tap this weekend.

Next: Friday at Westlake (Austin).

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (7-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Corona, 78-0. The Huskies have three Inland Empire foes left in the regular season.

Next: Friday vs. Norco.

10. Warren Central, Indianapolis (8-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Won the Metropolitan Conference championship, defeating Carmel, 41-17. The regular season finale is on tap this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Bowling Green (Ky.).

11. Central, Miami (6-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Shut out Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach), 51-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes.

12. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (3-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, Ontario), 64-6.

Next: Friday vs. Canada Prep Football (St. Catharines, Ontario).

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

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Superior Collegiate (Clearwater).

14. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Deerfield Beach, 38-6.

Next: Friday at Fort Lauderdale.

15. Rome, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Rolled East Paulding (Dallas), 62-17. The Red Wolves are averaging close to 50 points per game. RB Jamious Griffin ran for a career-high 339 yards and two scores on 24 carries. The North Carolina State recruit is on track to win Georgia’s state player of the year.

Next: Friday at Paulding County (Dallas).

16. Saint Louis, Honolulu (7-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Routed Farrington (Honolulu), 72-6. In less than two quarters, QB Jayden de Laura completed 13 of 17 passes for 254 yards and two TDs. De Laura has thrown for 1,378 yards and 13 scores this season. The defense allowed only four yards. The Crusaders close out the regular against a crosstown rival.

Next: Friday vs. Kamehameha School (Honolulu).

17. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Buried King (Houston), 58-0. The Mustangs have yielded three points in their last four games and that includes three shutouts.

Next: Friday vs. Deer Park.

18. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated River Bluff (Lexington), 56-14.

Next: Friday at Lexington.

19. Colerain, Cincinnati (7-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Mason, 42-7. QB Deante Smith-Moore tossed three TDs to three different receivers. The Cardinals blew open the game in the second quarter with 28 unanswered points.

Next: Friday at Lakota East (Liberty Township)

20. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 24-20. Anthony Corbin’s 10-yard TD run gave the Crusaders the lead for good and completed a rally.

Next: Saturday vs. Pope John XXIII Sparta).

21. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (4-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Beat Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 48-7.

Next: Friday at Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.).

22. Mentor, Ohio (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Shaker Heights, 45-6. Junior RB Brian Trobel rushed for 159 yards and four TDs. Ohio’s top game of the week is ready to play out this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Solon.

23. Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, Calif. (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Newbury Park, 55-0. That’s two straight lopsided shutout wins for the Lions.

Next: Friday at St. Bonaventure (Ventura).

24. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (7-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Sunnyslope (Phoenix), 49-0. The defense pitched their second shutout of the fall. Three games left in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Ironwood (Glendale).

25. Chandler, Ariz. (6-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Hammered Brophy Prep (Phoenix), 56-7.

Next: Friday vs. Basha (Chandler).

Dropped: No. 22 Pickerington (Ohio) Central and No. 24 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (5-1)
2. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (6-0)
3. Coatesville, Pa. (7-0)
4. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (6-1)
5. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (5-1)

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

Midwest

1. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (7-0)
2. Cass Tech, Detroit (7-0)
3. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (7-0)
4. Burke, Omaha, Neb. (7-0)
5. Lakeville (Minn.) North (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Converse (Texas) Judson (4-0)
2. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (6-0)
3. Broken Arrow, Okla. (6-0)
4. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. (7-0)
5. Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C. (6-0)

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

Far West

1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (4-4) &
2. Folsom, Calif. (6-1)
3. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (6-1)
4. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (7-0)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (3-3)

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

# Includes a forfeit loss

& Includes four forfeit losses for use of ineligible player

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 in late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.