BENSALEM, Pa. — There are two additions to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.
No. 23 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) and No. 24 Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) debut after teams from Ohio and Texas stumbled.
The Loyola Academy Ramblers (8-0) are ranked No. 1 in the Illinois Class 8A and finish the regular season this weekend at Chicago Catholic League rivals Mount Carmel (Chicago).
Valor Christian (8-0) is the Colorado’s top-ranked Class 5A team and is winding down the regular season.
The game of the week is No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) versus No. ghgh Servite (Anaheim) on Saturday at the Santa Ana Stadium. The winner has the inside track to the Trinity League championship. There’s a strong chance the two could meet again in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs.
In Alabama, it’s No. 6 Thompson (Alabaster) visiting No. 19 Hoover in a showdown game that will determine the top ranking in Class 7A.
So, that’s a wrap for the third weekend in October. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return on Oct. 26. Stay safe!
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 19, 2021
1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 56-3. The Trinity League title could be on the line this weekend.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 12 Servite (Anaheim).
2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (7-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated Hayes Consolidated (Buda), 77-0.
Next: Friday vs. Akins (Austin).
3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-1)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated Orange Lutheran, 49-25. The Braves jumped to a 21-6 lead at the break. Rayshon Luke scored three TDs and QB Pierce Clarkson passed and rushed for a TD.
Next: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).
4. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (8-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Defeated North Gwinnett (Suwanee), 35-7. Two games remain in the regular season.
Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (Lawrenceville).
5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.), 24-14.
Next: Friday at East St. Louis (Ill.).
6. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (9-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Defeated Oak Mountain (Birmingham), 48-0. The Warriors post their fifth shutout of the season. They have allowed 26 points in nine games. Looks like the Region 3-7A title is on the line this weekend.
Next: Friday at No. 19 Hoover.
7. Katy, Texas (8-0)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Defeated Cinco Ranch (Katy), 49-3.
Next: Oct. 28 at Katy Taylor.
8. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (6-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Thursday at Northwest Eaton (Haslet).
9. Chandler, Ariz. (6-0)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday at Queen Creek.
10. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (7-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 21-10. The Crusaders fell behind 10-0 in the second quarter but rallied. Princeton-bound RB Ryan Butler scored on runs of 2 and 1 yards. Notre Dame-bound QB Steve Angeli tossed a 16-yard TD pass to Christian Carti in the fourth quarter to wrap it up.
Next: Saturday at Seton Hall Prep (West Orange).
11. Bixby, Okla. (7-0)
Previous: 11.
Recap: Defeated Page (Sand Springs), 58-14.
Next: Friday vs. Muskogee.
12. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (8-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 53-0. Arizona-bound QB Noah Fifita completed 15 of 16 passes for 192 yards and six TDs. Fifita has 29 TD passes on the season. Oregon commit Tetairoa McMillan caught a touchdown pass and had two interceptions on defense. Keyan Burnett added two TD catches and a team-high 74 yards receiving.
Next: Saturday at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).
13. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (7-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Shut down Jefferson (Tampa), 24-0. The defense records the second shutout of the season.
Next: Friday vs. Blake (Tampa).
14. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (7-1)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 39-14. Junior RB Gemari Sands scored three TDs. Sands’ 65-yard run in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring.
Next: Friday vs. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale).
15. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (6-1)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Friday at Roswell.
16. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (5-1)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.), 47-8.
Next: Oct. 29 vs. West Toronto Prep (Ontario).
17. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (9-0)
Previous: 18.
Recap: Defeated Cathedral (Indianapolis), 21-6.
Next: Oct. 29 vs. Franklin Central (Indianapolis) in Class 6A sectionals.
18. Corona (Calif.) Centennial 8-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated Norco, 48-24. Two games remain in the regular season.
Next: Friday vs. Roosevelt (Eastvale).
19. Hoover, Ala. (9-0)
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated Tuscaloosa County (Northport), 49-7.
Next: Friday vs. No. 6 Thompson (Alabaster).
20. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (7-0)
Previous: 21.
Recap: Defeated Desert Vista (Phoenix), 63-17.
Next: Oct. 29 vs. Highland (Gilbert).
21. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (9-1)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Defeated Pleasant Grove, 56-8. The Chargers bounced back from a rare loss scoring 56 unanswered points before conceding a late score. QB Devin Brown threw for six TDs, including three to BYU-bound WR Cody Hagen from 77, 25 and 10 yards. Brown also hooked up with Jeff Meine for two TD strikes. The Chargers tied Skyridge (Lehi) and Lone Peak (Highland) for the Region 4-6A title.
Next: Oct. 29 vs. Fremont (Plain City) or Kearns Class 6A second round.
22. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (7-1)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Palo Verde (Las Vegas), 49-0. The Gaels recorded a fourth straight shutout.
Next: Friday at Foothill (Henderson).
23. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (8-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated St. Patrick (Chicago), 35-6.
Next: Friday at Mount Carmel (Chicago).
24. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (8-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Recap: Defeated Highlands Ranch, 48-6.
Next: Friday vs. Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch).
25 St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (8-1)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Lost to Moeller (Cincinnati), 28-21, in overtime.
Next: Friday at Archbishop Hoban (Akron).
Dropped: No. 16 Denton (Texas) Guyer No. 25 St. Xavier (Cincinnati).
High-Fives by Region
East
- St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (6-0)
- Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (7-0)
- Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (8-0)
- Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (6-1)
- La Salle College, Wyndmoor, Pa. (6-1)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Millard South, Omaha, Neb. (8-0)
- Lakeville (Minn.) South (7-0)
- Kennedy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (8-0)
- Cathedral, Indianapolis (8-1)
- Rockford, Mich. (8-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (7-0)
- Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (8-0)
- Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (7-0)
- Venice, Fla. (7-0)
- Male, Louisville, Ky. (7-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (6-0)
- Graham (Wash.)-Kapowsin (7-0)
- De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (5-2)
- Lake Oswego, Ore. (7-0)
- Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (7-0)
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 August until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.
