BENSALEM, Pa. – Two teams from Florida were in the national headlines for different reasons while a team from California picked up a win for the ages. It was a wild weekend in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

First, the big one from California, where No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) wore down then-No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 28-24, in game that drew more than 10,000 spectators to the Santa Ana Bowl. Mater Dei, the reigning Blue Star Media National Champions, improved to 4-1 and has a whale of a schedule on tap, including the showdown with No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) on Oct. 12 at home.

Next in Broward County, Florida, No. 10 Central (Miami) defeated then-No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 43-27, using a big run in the fourth quarter.

No. 14 IMG Academy drops 10 spots with the loss while No. 15 St. Thomas Aquinas dips nine slots

And there’s a new face to welcome.

No. 25 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) enters the Elite 25 rankings after a 5-0 start. The Eagles are the second team from the uber competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference—the other is No. 6 St. John’s College (Washington)—and have a tough schedule ahead in the month of October. This week they entertain conference rivals Archbishop Carroll (Washington).

Speaking of No. 6 St. John’s College, the Cadets are off to Missouri this weekend for an appetizing match at undefeated Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) on Saturday. We’ll be monitoring this one closely.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on October 2.

There are always plenty of games in your area so get out and support your local teams. The Friday lights are bright but are only around for a few more weeks in some states. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 25, 2018

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle. Huge test this weekend as the Trinity League schedule commences.

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

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-1) #

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 28-24. QB Bryce Young hit on 21 of 30 passes for 309 yards and three TDs and scored the game-winner on a six-yard run with 69 seconds remaining. That’s considering a quality win.

Next: Friday at Servite (Anaheim).

3. Allen, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Plano, 49-14.

Next: Friday at McKinney.

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Dr. Krop (Miami), 76-0. It was 48-0 after one quarter.

Next: Thursday vs. Hialeah-Miami Lakes.

5. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 22 Grayson (Loganville), 26-14. The Packers trailed 14-3 in the second period but a 99-yard kick return by Camari Louis for a score was the ultimate spark. RB Ty Leggett’s scoring runs of 5 and 43 in the second half sealed it.

Next: Friday vs. Alcovy (Covington).

6. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (4-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Marietta (Ga.), 21-14. QB Sol-Jay Maiava’s 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter snapped a 14-all tie and completed the rally from down 14 points. The Cadets complete the national portion of their schedule in the Midwest before returning for league play in October.

Next: Saturday at Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Mo.).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Buchanan (Clovis), 31-24. The Spartans enter their bye week.

Next: Oct. 5 vs. Monte Vista (Danville).

8. Lake Travis, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Akins (Austin), 51-13. QB Harrison Card hit on 13 of 18 passes for 165 yards and four TDs and ran for another. The Cavaliers jumped to a 30-0 lead after one period and never looked back.

Next: Friday at Austin.

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday at Santiago (Corona).

10. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap:  The Tornados recorded a statement win with a 43-27 triumph at then-No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale). Trailing 21-14, Central rattled off 23 unanswered points to ice it, and 26 in the fourth quarter alone.

Next: Thursday at Norland (Miami).

11. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (1-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: For the second time this season, the Panthers lost a game to inclement weather, this time at Lee (Jacksonville, Fla.).

Next: Friday vs. Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.).

12. Wekiva, Apopka, Fla. (4-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Olympia (Olympia), 43-7.

Next: Friday at West Orange (Winter Garden).

13. Warren Central, Indianapolis (6-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Rolled past Pike (Indianapolis), 59-7. The Warriors’ high-powered offense is averaging 50.5 points per outing. QB Jayden George tossed four TD passes and Elijah Price returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score. Only three weeks left in the regular season.

Next: Friday vs. Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

14. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (3-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Lost to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 28-24.

Next: Saturday vs. Northwestern (Miami).

15. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 16 Central (Miami), 43-27. The Raiders were up 21-14 but faltered in the second half. The bye week came at a good time.

Next: Oct. 5 at Deerfield Beach.

16. Rome, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Cass (White), 49-14. RB Jamious Griffin rushed for 147 yards and two TDs as the Wolves for the 32ndconsecutive time.

Next: Friday at Woodland (Cartersville).

17. Saint Louis, Honolulu (5-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Kapolei, 30-22. The Crusaders won for the 20thconsecutive time as starting QB Jayden de Laura sat out with a sore shoulder. It was 23-0 before things became interesting.

Next: Friday at Campbell (Ewa Beach).

18. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (3-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at La Porte.

19. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (6-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Saratoga Springs), 45-7. The Miners scored all 45 points in the first half as QB Peyton Jones tossed two TDs and Raymond Lewis returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score. There are three weeks left in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Lone Peak (Highland).

20. Colerain, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Sycamore (Cincinnati), 45-0. JJ Davis caught two TD passes and Deante Smith-Moore ran for a pair of scores.

Next: Friday at Hamilton.

21. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (3-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 14-13. The second straight season the Crusaders have beaten their local rivals.

Next: Saturday vs. Irvington.

22. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Millennium (Goodyear), 35-9.

Next: Friday vs. Apollo (Glendale).

23. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (5-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Edged Hilliard Davidson (Hilliard), 17-14, in overtime. The Tigers forced overtime with a late TD and won it when Drew Bookman drilled a 21-yard FG. Junior QB Demeatric Crenshaw threw for two TDs.

Next: Thursday vs. Lincoln (Gahanna).

24. Chandler, Ariz. (4-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Desert Ridge (Mesa), 48-13.  BYU-bound QB Jacob Conover fired three TDs passes for DeCarlos Brooks rushed for two scores. The Wolves have a rematch of last year’s state title game on tap this weekend.

Next: Friday at Perry (Gilbert).

25. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Peddie School (Hightstown, N.J.), 30-20. The Eagles enter the Elite 25 rankings after taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. They open Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Carroll (Washington).

Dropped: No. 22 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (2-0)
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (3-1)
3. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (4-0)
4. Coatesville, Pa. (5-0)
5. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (5-0)

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

Midwest

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

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (4-0)
2. Converse (Texas) Judson (3-0)
3. Starkville, Miss. (5-0)
4. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (4-0)
5. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (6-0)

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

Far West

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

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

# Includes a forfeit loss

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.