No. 2 Bishop Gorman (NV), No. 22 Hamilton (AZ) record key wins; Texas school still sits atop Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – It was one of those weeks when the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings took a beating. Whenever seven teams in the Elite 25 lose and five join the rankings it’s the perfect recipe for disaster … at least for some.

In nearly 20 years of doing rankings, this is the biggest fallout in one week for football. Six could have dropped out, but only five did. New to the Elite 25 are No. 19 Mentor, Ohio (5-0); No. 20 Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (5-0); No. 22 Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (5-0); No. 23 Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (5-0); and No. 24 South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (5-0).

One of the most anticipated games of the season did not disappoint last Friday in the desert as No. 2 Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-0) toppled No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 34-31. The Gaels took a 20-3 lead at halftime and held on for the victory. With only games remaining against Nevada schools, the Gaels should run the table and if top-ranked Allen (Texas) falls Gorman will likely ascend to the top spot. There’s plenty football left, though.

The game of the week will be played near Phoenix when No. 22 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) plays neighboring rivals Chandler in Friday.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return October 6 with the fifth weekly installment. In the meantime, there are plenty of games to choose from in the coming weeks, please support your local schools. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football, Sept. 29, 2014

1. Allen, Texas (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

What happened: Defeated Flower Mound Marcus, 35-24. QB Kyler Murray completed 11 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns.

Next: Saturday vs. Lewisville.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-0)

Previous: 4.

What happened: Defeated No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 34-31. The Gaels built a 20-3 at halftime with three rushing TDs and survived a furious comeback.

Next: Thursday vs. Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas).

3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (3-0)

Previous: 3.

What happened: Fort Pierce (Fla.) Central, 41-14. The Ironmen raced to 14-0 and cruised past the Floridians. Now it’s a second bye in three weeks will take the Bosco into Big North Conference United Division play.

Next: Oct. 11 at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic.

4. DeSoto, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 5.

What happened: Defeated Grand Prairie, 53-0. Larry Nixon rushed for 172 yards and four scores.

Next: Oct. 10 vs. Mansfield.

5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)

Previous: 6.

What happened: Defeated Edison (Huntington Beach), 34-12. After a scoreless opening period, the Monarchs exploded for 17 points in the second and third quarters.

Next: Thursday at Westlake (Westlake Village).

6. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 7.

What happened: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 47-24. Antoine Custer rushed for 257 yards and three TDs.

Next: Friday at San Ramon Valley (Danville).

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (3-1)

Previous: 2.

What happened: Lost to then-No. 4 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 34-31. The Braves found themselves trailing by 17 points at the break but the fourth quarter rally fell short.

Next: Friday at Crenshaw (Los Angeles).

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-1)

Previous: 8.

What happened: Defeated Nova (Davie), 59-0.

Next: Thursday vs. South Broward (Hollywood).

9. Armwood, Seffner, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 9.

What happened: Defeated Jefferson (Tampa), 42-0. The Hawks record their third shutout having allowed 20 points in five games.

Next: Oct. 10 at Leto (Tampa).

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

Previous: 10.

What happened: Defeated Colleyville Heritage, 14-0.

Next: Friday at Haltom (Haltom City).

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

Previous: 11.

What happened: Defeated Monsignor Pace (Miami Gardens), 51-6. The Tornadoes head into a bye week.

Next: Oct. 10 at Northwestern (Miami).

12. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 12.

What happened: Idle. The Rockets were grounded for the week.

Next: Friday at Homestead.

13. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 14.

What happened: Idle. The Packers relaxed last weekend, giving them the energy for a championship push.

Next: Friday vs. Lowndes County (Valdosta).

14. Bellevue, Wash. (4-0)

Previous: 16.

What happened: Defeated Sammamish, 42-6.

Next: Friday vs. Glacier Peak (Snohomish).

15. Buford, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 17.

What happened: Idle.

Next: Friday at Chestatee (Gainesville).

16. Moeller, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous: 18.

What happened: Defeated St. Xavier (Cincinnati), 13-7. The game was much closer than the Crusaders would have liked.

Next: Friday at LaSalle (Cincinnati).

17. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (4-0)

Previous: 21.

What happened: Abilene, 62-28. Lil’ Jordan Humphrey rushed for four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Coppell.

18.  Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (4-0)

Previous: 22.

What happened: Defeated Catholic (Baton Rouge), 17-14.

Next: Friday at Dutchtown (Geismar).

19. Mentor, Ohio (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated Brush (Lyndhurst), 48-0. The Cardinals average 47 points per game. They already own a quality win over St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 37-33.

Next: Friday vs. Shaker Heights.

20. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated then-No. 23 American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale), 42-30. Will Collins caught a 17-yard TD with 36 seconds left to rally the Crabbers from a 30-28 deficit.

Next: Friday at Deltona.

21. Male, Louisville, Ky. (5-0)

Previous: 25.

What happened: Defeated Ballard (Louisville), 50-13.

Next: Friday vs. Meade County (Brandenburg).

22. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Upended then-No. 20 Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 30-10. The Huskies have won 64 consecutive home games in the East Valley.

Next: Thursday vs. Chandler.

23. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated Connellsville, 56-7. The Vikings have outscored teams, 115-7.

Next: Friday vs. North Hills (Pittsburgh).

24. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

What happened: Defeated Horn Lake, 63-26.

Next: Friday at Olive Branch.

25. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (5-1)

Previous: 20.

What happened: Lost to Hamilton (Chandler), 30-10. The win streak is halted at 19 games.

Next: Thursday vs. Desert Vista (Phoenix).

Dropped out: No. 13 Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. ; No. 15 Warren Easton, New Orleans (3-0); No. 19 St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-1); No. 23 American Heritage, Plantation, Fla.; and No. 24 St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio

East

1. Canisius, Buffalo, N.Y. (4-0)

2. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (5-0)

3. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (4-0)

4. Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pa. (5-0)

5. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-1)

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

Midwest

1. Clarkston, Mich. (5-0)

2. Carmel, Ind. (6-0)

3. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (5-0)

4. Eden Prairie, Minn. (5-0)

5. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (5-0)

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

Southland

1. Maryville, Tenn. (5-0)

2. Skyline, Dallas (4-0)

3. Pearland, Texas (5-0)

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

5. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Folsom, Calif. (5-0)

2. Alemany, Mission Hills. Calif. (4-0)

3. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (5-1)

4. Punahou School, Honolulu (4-0)

5. Chaminade, West Hills, Calif. (5-0)

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

 About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 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.