No. 22 Orange Lutheran (CA) shocks No. 18 St. John Bosco (CA) in CIF-Southern Section playoffs and enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – The rise and fall of No. 18 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) is nothing short of bizarre.

Three weeks ago, the Braves (9-2) were the top team in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings and cruising into the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. OK, there was a stub of the toe when the Braves lost to archrivals and No. 5 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 36-31, on Halloween night resulting in a three-way tie for the Trinity League title.

The eight-team bracket had a week off to prepare for the three games it takes to win the Division 1 crown. The Braves failed to even win one game in a tournament dominated by them and Mater Dei. Well, it took a shocker and indeed there was one last Friday when the Braves lost to league rival Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, 20-19, in the quarterfinals.

This was the same team the Braves destroyed 48-0 on Oct. 10 in a Trinity League matchup. In just over a month, OLu somehow made up 49 points and ousted the Braves. For their efforts, No. 22 Orange Lutheran (3-8 overall with two forfeits) return to the Elite 25 as the lone newbie of the week. Bosco tumbled 14 spots in the Elite 25, losing its final two games by a total of six points.

OLu led 20-13 on King Rich Johnson’s 45-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. The Braves pulled within a point when Madden Williams caught a 12-yard TD pass with just over one minute remaining. However, the Braves missed the extra-point and the Lancers recovered the ensuing onside to seal the stunner.

OLu will remain in the rankings as long as it wins and play No. 11 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) on Friday in the sectional semifinals. Mater Dei visits No. 4 Corona (Calif.) Centennial in the other semifinal. The Division 1 final will be played at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, Nov. 28 (a.k.a. Black Friday) for the first time since 2022 when Bosco and Mater Dei faced off before 16,000.

As for games of the week, we’ve eyeing four matchups from the Elite 25. We’ve already mentioned the two CIF-Southern Section semifinals on Friday.

On Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m. MT), No. 20 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) faces rival Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) for the UHSAA Class 6A state championship at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Lone Peak handed the Chargers their lone loss this season in a 42-21 thrashing on Sept. 19.

Friday’s games are all rivalry contests: No. 10 Bixby (Okla.) hosts Union (Tulsa) in the Class 6A-I quarterfinals; Elder (Cincinnati) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) in OHSAA Division I Region 4 final; and Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at No. 17 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) in the Non-Public A semifinals.

On Sunday, No. 15 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) plays archrival Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Kickoff is 6 p.m. ET.

This week’s rankings 14 teams move up in the Elite 25 rankings with one newcomer; nine remained the same and one team dipped 14 slots. Three teams from the Elite 25 have completed their seasons.

Lastly, a special shoutout to senior quarterback Myles McLaughlin of Knox (Ind.), who eclipsed single-season records for touchdowns scored and rushing yards in a 28-21 victory over Angola in the Class 3A regionals on Friday.

On the night, McLaughlin carried 53 times for 372 yards and four touchdowns. He upped his season totals to 71 TDs (previous mark was 68) and 4,768 rushing yards (previous yardage was 4.704).

Knox (13-0) advanced to the Class 3A semifinals this weekend against Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne).

Well, that’s it for the second weekend in November.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter, @clawlor) for all announcements and other exclusives from the gridiron and the hardwood. The preseason Elite 25 boys basketball rankings dropped on Oct. 31 and the girls will be revealed this week.

Bye for now.

Stay safe. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 18, 2025

1. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Crowley, 35-0, in Class 6A, Division II Region 2 bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. San Angelo Central in Class 6A. Division II Region 2 Area playoff game to be played at Briles Stadium in Stephenville.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Season complete.

3. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (11-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Norcross, 44-7, in the Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Colquitt County (Norman Park) in Class 6A second round.

4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (10-1)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 41-6, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 5 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-2)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Mission Viejo, 20-0, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday at No. 4 Corona (Calif.) Centennial in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

6. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-1)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Foothill (Henderson, Nev.), 56-6, in Nevada Class 5A Open Division semifinals.

Next: Nov. 25 vs Arbor View (Las Vegas) in Nevada Class 5A Open Division final to be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

7. Buford, Ga. (11-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Richmond Hill, 45-0, in Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Newton (Covington) in Class 6A second round.

8. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Season complete.

9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (10-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Heritage (Palm Bay), 58-7, in the Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Coconut Creek in Class 5A, Region 4 semifinals.

10. Bixby, Okla. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Union (Tulsa) in the Class 6A-I quarterfinals.

11. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (8-3)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 21-9, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 22 Orange (Calif.) Lutheran in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

12. Carrollton, Ga. (11-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated North Forsyth (Cumming), 58-17, in Class 6A first round.

Next: Friday vs. Harrison (Kennesaw) in Class 6A second round.

13. Allen, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Lewisville, 22-15, in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Lake Highlands (Dallas) in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 Area playoff game.

14. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (10-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 42-0, in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference semifinals.

Next: Sunday vs. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship game in Annapolis, Md.

15. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (12-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Gadsden City (Gadsden), 44-7, in Class 6A second round.

Next: Friday vs. Homewood in Class 6A quarterfinals.

16. Mount Carmel, Chicago (12-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), 48-7, in the IHSA Class 8A quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Fremd (Palatine) in IHSA Class 8A semifinals.

17. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (10-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 42-7, in the NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinals. The Ironmen renew one of the nation’s fiercest rivalries with so much on the line.

Next: Friday vs. Bergen Catholic (Oradell)  in Non-Public A semifinals.

18. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Upset by Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, 20-19, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals. A missed PAT late in the game doomed the Braves, who bowed out in the opening round of the playoffs. Season complete.

19. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (Mesa) in Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

20. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (11-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Mountain Ridge (Herriman), 59-20, in the Class 6A semifinals.

Next: Thursday vs. Lone Peak (Highland)in the Class 6A final to be played at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

21. Edna Karr, New Orleans (10-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Jesuit (New Orleans) in the LHSAA Select Division I Regional playoff game.

22. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (3-8)^

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Upset then-No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 20-19.

Next: Friday vs. No. 11 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

23. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Red Mountain (Mesa) in Arizona Open Division quarterfinals.

24. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (10-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Keller, 42-20, in Class 6A, Division I Region 1 bi-district playoff game.

Next: Saturday vs. Midland Legacy in the Class 6A, Division I Region 1 Area playoff game to be played at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.

25. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (8-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated St. John Paul II (Boca Raton), 63-0, in the Class 1A, Region 4 quarterfinals.

Next: Friday vs. Edison (Miami) in the Class 1A, Region 4 semifinals.

Dropped: No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. La Salle College High, Wyndmoor, Pa. (10-1)
2. Harrisburg, Pa. (12-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (11-1)
4. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. (10-0)
5. St. James Performance Academy, Springfield, Va. (8-1)

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

Midwest

1. Brownsburg, Ind. (12-0)
2. Cass Tech, Detroit (12-0)
3. Elder, Cincinnati (12-0)
4. Detroit Catholic Central, Novi, Mich. (12-0)
5. Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, Ohio (12-0)

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

Southland

1. Northwestern, Miami (10-0)
2. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (11-0)
3. Ridge Point, Missouri City, Texas (11-0)
4. Bryant, Ark. (11-0)
5. Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (10-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-0)
2. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-1)
3. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (11-0)
4. West Linn, Ore. (11-0)
5. Folsom, Calif. (10-1)

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

Records through Sunday’s games

^ Includes two forfeits

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from August 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 December. Follow him on X (or Twitter) at @clawlor.