BENSALEM, Pa. – In another week, it’ll full participation in the postseason. The lone holdover is the Lone Star State (or Texas) that has one more week of competition before embarking on a grueling six-week stretch to crown their state champions on the Christmas weekend.

Otherwise power states such as Florida, California, Georgia and New Jersey are ready to join the postseason this weekend. In New Jersey, the only worthwhile bracket is Non-Public Group 4 (remember the public schools do not compete for state titles but crown too many sectional champions). Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA and Class AAAA are the ones to keep on eye on as are Class 8A, 7A, 6A and 5A in Florida.

Florida, Texas and California are playoffs that will reshape the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings before the final rankings appear in late December.

There was an upset in the Elite 25 and it was a pathway for that team to vault into the spotlight. No. 19 Miramar (Fla.) after knocking off then-No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 44-27. The Patriots rallied late and derailed the Raiders, who were cruising towards the Class 7A, Region 4 playoffs. With the big win, Miramar became the top seed in Class 8A, Region 4 and will be a favorite as the 8A playoffs progress. Aquinas slipped 17 spots with the untimely setback.

We’ll have the look at the Texas Class 6A playoff picture and a wrap-up what transpired over the second weekend in November on when the Elite 25 rankings return on Nov. 14.

Hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings Nov. 7, 2017

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (10-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: The Monarchs rolled to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons, stopping rivals Servite (Anaheim), 51-7. Junior QB JT Daniels showed why he is the nation’s top signal-caller from the Class of 2019 going 25 of 32 for 346 yards and five touchdowns. Horace McCoy III caught three TD strikes and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had five receptions for 125 yards and two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

2. Allen, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Plano East, 56-30. Junior QB Grant Tisdale hit on 1o of 15 passes for 206 yards and three TDs and another for another. RB Brock Sturges rushed for 119 yards and two TDs and WR Carson Schleker caught five balls for 101 and a score.

Next: Friday at Wylie.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Hoover (Ala.). 32-21.

The Ascenders close out the regular season this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, Va.).

4. Katy, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Strake Jesuit (Houston), 48-7. The Tigers were up 28-7 at halftime.

Next: Friday at Mayde Creek (Houston).

5. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Blanked Coconut Creek, 37-0. A third shutout sets the tone as the Patriots head into the postseason.

Next: Friday vs. Merritt Island in Class 5A, Region 4 first round

6. Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Shiloh (Snellville), 49-0. The Tigers recorded a second straight shutout. QB Carter Peevy tossed two TDs to Braylon Weems in the third quarter and Trey Messer rushed for two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Meadowcreek (Norcross) in the Class AAAAAAA first round

7. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-2)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 59-0, in Class 4A, Sunset Region quarterfinals. The Gaels are playing with a vengeance and UCLA-bound QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson hit on 10 of 13 passes for 297 yards and four scores. Brevin Jordan caught two TDs and Amod Cianelli rushed for a pair.

Next: Thursday vs. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) in the region semifinals.

8. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (9-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Father Judge (Philadelphia), 41-7, in Philadelphia Catholic League Class AAAAAA semifinals. It was 14-0 after one quarter and 27-0 at halftime.

Next: Friday vs. La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) in the Class AAAAAA final.

9. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (11-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Warren Central (Indianapolis), 36-29, in Class 6A, Sectional 6 final

Next: Friday at Fishers in 6A regional first round.

10. South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (11-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Midland Valley (Graniteville), 67-14, in the Class AAAA Upper State first round.

Next: Friday vs. Belton-Honea Path in the Upper State second round.

11. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (11-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Syracuse, 37-7, in Class 6A quarterfinals

Next: Friday vs. Herriman (West Herriman) in 6A semifinals.

12. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated San Ramon Valley (Danville), 49-14.

Next: Nov.17 vs. Clayton Valley Charter (Concord) in the CIF-North Coast Section Open Division semifinals.

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

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle. The Vikings are considered one of the favorites to reach the state final.

Next: Friday vs. Campbell (Smyrna) in the Class AAAAAAA first round.

14. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (9-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 44-6. Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA is a grind and winning it is an enormous accomplishment.

Next: Friday vs. Norcross in the Class AAAAAAA first round.

15. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-2)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 51-10. The Braves were firing on all cylinders and sophomore QB DJ Uiagalelei was 16 of 25 for 315 yards and tossed four TDs. RB George Holani’s 69-yard TD jaunt gave SJB a commanding 21-7 lead after one period. Holani wound up with 121 rushing yards on 9 carries.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Amat (La Puente) in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

16. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (11-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Seneca (Louisville), 70-0, in the Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Campbell County (Alexandria) in 6A second round.

17. Mission Viejo, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated San Clemente, 49-21. The Diablos clinched their ninth straight South Coast League title and the school’s 17th since coach Bob Johnson took over the program in 1999. It is Johnson’s 23rd league crown overall. Johnson announced earlier this season that he would be retiring after season’s end.

Next: Friday vs. Servite (Anaheim) in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round

18. Northwestern, Miami (8-2)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Crushed Jackson (Miami), 40-0.

Next: Friday vs. Matanzas (Palm Coast) in Class 6A, Region 4 first round

19. Miramar, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: Not ranked

Recap: Upset then-No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 44-27. The Patriots are top-seeded in the regional, eight-team bracket.

Next: Friday vs. Park Vista (Lake Vista) in Class 8A, Region 4 first round.

20. Central, Miami (8-2)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle. The Rockets are ready for a state title run after missing out in 2016.

Next: Friday at Palm Beach Heritage in Class 6A, Region 3 first round.

21. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Shut down King (Riverside), 62-0. The Huskies high-powered offense averaged 59 points per regular-season game.

Next: Friday vs. Serra (Gardena) in CIF-Southern Section Division I first round.

22. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Upset by Miramar, 44-27. The Raiders limp into the Class 7A playoffs with a bad loss.23.

23. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Shaw (Marrero), 35-0. The Patriots won the District 9-5A championship for the second straight year and extend their district-winning streak to 23 games.

Next: Nov. 17 vs. St. Paul (Covington) or Holy Cross (New Orleans) in Division I quarterfinals.

24. Westlake, Austin, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Leander, 59-20. The Chaps wrap the regular season this weekend.

Next: Friday at Vista Ridge (Cedar Park).

25. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (11-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Norwin (Irwin), 49-14, in the WPIAL Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. Notre Dame-bound QB Phil Jurkovec completed 13 of 17 passes for 236 yards and four TDs and rushed for another.

Next: Friday vs. North Allegheny (Wexford) in the WPIAL Class AAAAAA semifinals.

Dropped: No. 5 Converse (Texas) Judson.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (10-0)
2. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (7-2)
3. Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa. (10-0)
4. Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (10-0)
5. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (7-2)

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

Midwest

1. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (10-1)
2. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (10-1)
3. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (10-1)
4. Kimberly, Wis. (12-0)
5. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (10-0)

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

Southland

1. Pearl, Miss. (12-0)
2. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (9-0)
3. Wake Forest, N.C. (11-0)
4. Union, Tulsa (10-0)
5. Central, Phenix City, Ala. (9-0)

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

Far West

1. Saint Louis, Honolulu (8-0)
2. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (9-1)
3. Chandler, Ariz. (9-2)
4. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (10-0)
5. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (9-0)

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 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.