No. 10 Paramus (NJ) Catholic zooms into Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 7 St. John Bosco (CA) scores big triumph

BENSALEM, Pa. – Flying under the radar this season—and failing to get the respect of the nation—is top-ranked Allen (Texas).

It’s hard to believe.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school national rankings felt the Eagles were worthy of No. 1 from Day 1 this season. Last year when most ranking services tabbed them No. 1, Blue Star stuck with Booker T. Washington (Miami)—mainly because of a superior schedule and talent. This season the Texans are 7-0, playing like champions, and will only get tougher as the schedule and Class 6A Division I playoffs get underway next month. Texas’ postseason is brutal, with teams needing six wins to bag the hardware. The championship is Dec. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Allen is off this weekend and is cruising to another district championship. All this without a home-field advantage—Eagles Stadium was shut down due to cracking in the concrete. In other words, the state-of-the-art 18,000-seat facility had deficiencies in the design, cited Allen Independent School District attorneys.

I’m not sure if Allen sits atop other rankings, but Blue Star Media has pushed their chips to the middle of the table. Going wire to wire would be quite a feat. Then again Booker T. Washington did it our 2013 rankings.

About the biggest game in the Elite 25 rankings, had the biggest impact on the rankings. When No. 10 Paramus (N.J.) Catholic rallied to knock off then-No. 3 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 21-14, on Saturday. That means Paramus Catholic enters the Elite 25 rankings with a mild upset win over the Ironmen. Don’t be surprised when they meet again in the Non-Public Group 4 playoffs.

As we move into the second half of October, three teams in the Top 10 will have byes this week, giving them ample rest for the stretch run. The state of Indiana wraps up the regular season this weekend and then the playoffs. Regionally ranked Carmel (Ind.) recorded a quality 17-14 win over Warren Central (Indianapolis) on Friday and appears the favorite in Class 6A. The Greyhounds are on the verge of clinching a spot in the Elite 25, but then must maintain to hold that lofty position.

Okay, so back to the Elite 25. The game of the week is No. 5 Euless (Texas) Trinity at No. 16 Southlake Carroll on Friday. This marquee contest will help reshape the Elite 25 rankings and give fans a taste of the upcoming Class 6A, Division I tournament in Texas. Other key games on Friday night: No. 8 Central (Miami) vs. Northwestern (Miami); No. 9 Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) at Valdosta; No. 17 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at Servite (Anaheim); and No, 19 Mentor (Ohio) hosts Solon.

So, what’s holding you back from attending one of these games?

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return October 20 with the seventh weekly installment. In the meantime, there are plenty of games to choose from, please support your local schools. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football, Oct. 14, 2014

1. Allen, Texas (7-0)

Previous rank: 1.

What happened: Defeated Hebron (Carrollton), 44-10. RB David Feliciano carried 10 times for 128 yards and two TDs (12.8 yards a pop!) and Texas A&M-bound signal-caller Kyler Murray tossed two scoring strikes. The Eagles enter the bye week with three games left in the regular season.

Next: Oct. 24 vs. Flower Mound.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-0)

Previous: 2.

What happened: Defeated Durango (Las Vegas), 77-0. This one was ugly, real ugly. Now the Gaels prepare for the final two regular season games, sandwiching their bye weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Legacy (North Las Vegas).

3. DeSoto, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 4.

What happened: Defeated Mansfield, 49-21. QB Jaylin Nelson passed for 250 yards and two TDs. The Eagles led 27-21 at the break but scored 15 points in the third period to finally get separation from a pesky foe.

Next: Friday at South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie).

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

Previous: 5.

What happened: Defeated Logan (Union City), 51-7. After rattling off the initial 51 points, the Spartans have a well-deserved weekend off. QB Anthony Sweeney threw three TD passes.

Next: Oct. 24 vs. Foothill (Pleasanton).

5. Euless (Texas) Trinity (7-0)

Previous: 9.

What happened: Defeated L.D. Bell (Hurst), 48-3. QB Tyler Natee passed for two TDs and junior RB Ja’Ron Wilson rushed for two.

Next: Friday at No. 16 Southlake Carroll.

6. Booker T. Washington, Miami (7-0)

Previous: 10.

What happened: Defeated Northwestern (Miami), 27-12. The Tornadoes have won 33 straight games.

Next: Friday at Gulliver Prep (Miami).

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-1)

Previous: 7.

What happened: Edged then-No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 28-25. Wow! What a statement on opening night in the Trinity League—one of the nation’s top prep leagues. The Braves carried a 21-10 lead into the second half, but Traveon Beck’s 70-yard fumble recovery upped the margin to 28-18 early in the fourth quarter.

Next: Friday at JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

8. Central, Miami (6-1)

Previous: 11.

What happened: Defeated Norland (Miami), 35-0.

Next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami).

9. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 12.

What happened: Defeated Lee County (Leesburg), 58-14.

Next: Friday at Valdosta.

10. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Upset then-No. 3 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 21-14. QB Willy Hansen fired a 20-yard TD pass to Marquise Spence midway through the fourth period and RB Ahmad Thomas added two TD runs. The Paladins have a bye coming their way and are 2-0 in the ultra competitive Big North Conference United Division.

Next: Oct. 24 vs. Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.).

11. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (3-1)

Previous: 3.

What happened: Upended by Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, 21-14. RB Malik Bakker gave the Ironmen a 14-13 lead early in the fourth with a 2-yard TD plunge, but it wasn’t enough. The two teams will likely meet again in the Non-Public Group 4 state playoffs.

Next: Friday vs. Passaic County Tech (Wayne).

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

Previous: 8.

What happened: Defeated Northeast (Oakland Park), 63-0.

Next: Friday at Cypress Bay (Weston).

13. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 13.

What happened: Clipped Leto (Tampa), 62-3.

Next: Friday vs. Lennard (Ruskin).

14. Bellevue, Wash. (6-0)

Previous: 14.

What happened: Defeated Juanita (Kirkland), 38-6. The Wolverines have won 60 straight games. The defense won this game as Jack Michael and Mustafa Branch scored TDs on pick-sixes—with the Wolverines totaling four INTs.

Next: Friday at Liberty (Issaquah).

15. Buford, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 15.

What happened: Shut out North Hall (Gainesville), 56-0.

Next: Friday at Monroe.

16. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (6-0)

Previous: 16.

What happened: Defeated Richland (North Richland Hills), 38-0. RB Lil’ Jordan Humphrey was the star for the third straight game, carrying the rock 21 times for 224 yards and three TDs as the Dragons built a 17-0 lead at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. No. 9 Euless Trinity.

17. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-1)

Previous: 6.

What happened: Lost to then-No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 28-25. The Monarchs coughed up the ball three times, including one that was returned for six points in the fourth period. The slate won’t get any easier for coach Bruce Rollinson’s club.

Next: Friday at Servite (Anaheim) at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

18.  Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (6-0)

Previous: 17.

What happened: Defeated Archbishop Shaw (Marrero), 56-14. The Raiders cruised to a 42-point bulge at intermission.

Next: Saturday at St. Augustine (New Orleans).

19. Mentor, Ohio (7-0)

Previous: 18.

What happened: Defeated Brunswick, 21-14. QB Jake Floriea fired three TDs passes, including a pair to Eddie Daugherty. Now it’s a showdown in Northeast Ohio between two bitter rivals.

Next: Friday vs. Solon.

20. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 19.

What happened: Defeated Oviedo, 41-7. RB Adrian Killins rushed for 144 yards and scored three TDs. Seniors RB Kaylo Hannah and CB Meiko Dotson (Georgia Tech recruit) suffered significant injuries.

Next: Friday at New Smyrna Beach.

21. Male, Louisville, Ky. (7-0)

Previous: 20.

What happened: Defeated St. Xavier (Louisville), 30-13. The Bulldogs have another formidable task as the postseason nears.

Next: Friday at Trinity (Louisville).

22. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (7-0)

Previous: 21.

What happened: Blanked Seneca Valley (Harmony), 45-0. It is the Vikings’ fourth shutout of the season.

Next: Friday vs. Pine-Richland (Gibsonia).

23. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (7-0)

Previous: 22.

What happened: Defeated Hernando, 52-3. The Tigers led, 24-3, at the break.

Next: Friday at Tupelo.

24. Clarkston, Mich. (7-0)

Previous: 24.

What happened: Defeated Troy, 43-14.

Next: Friday at Lake Orion.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (6-1)

Previous: 23.

What happened: Defeated Gilbert, 56-14.

Next: Friday at Perry (Gilbert).

Dropped out: No. 25 Mountain Pointe (Phoenix).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (6-0)

2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (4-1)

3. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (7-0)

4. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (6-0)

5. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (6-0)

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

Midwest

1. Carmel, Ind. (8-0)

2. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (7-0)

3. Eden Prairie, Minn. (7-0)

4. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (7-0)

5. Cass Tech, Detroit (7-0)

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

Southland

1. Maryville, Tenn. (7-0)

2. Skyline, Dallas (6-0)

3. Pearland, Texas (7-0)

4. First Coast, Jacksonville, Fla. (6-0)

5. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (6-0)

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

Far West

1. Folsom, Calif. (7-0)

2. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (6-1)

3. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (7-1)

4. Punahou School, Honolulu (6-0)

5. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (6-1)

Geography: 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 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 December 22. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.