No. 23 Mount Carmel Caravan (IL) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (NJ) with shock blowout win

BENSALEM, Pa. – Welcome to the fall, football fans. We’re officially less than a week into autumn and the Blue Media Elite 25 football rankings are just popping.

In about month, we’ll be playing playoff but until then there are far too many games that will shape the remainder of the regular seasons nationwide.

Let’s review last weekend and look ahead. First, what did happen over the final weekend in September.

There are two additions to the Elite 25 rankings, with one team returning after a one week absence. No. 23 Mount Carmel (Chicago) debuts following a 5-0 start and No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) returns.

Mount Carmel, which has an Illinois record 17 state championships, is rolling along and the No. 1 overall team from the Land of Lincoln. They play in the highly competition Chicago Catholic League and still have some heavy lifting before the playoffs. Same goes for Don Bosco (3-2), which bombed then-No. 11 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 31-7, on Saturday afternoon. Don Bosco now leads the all-team rivalry series 41-34-2. The Ironmen have a stout test Friday night at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

With the additions, there are subtractions but it was especially difficult to drop Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Saguaro lost to No. 9 Chandler (Ariz.) 31-21, after scoring the game’s first 14 points. We expect Saguaro and Chandler to meet again in the Arizona Open Division playoffs in November. Last year, the teams met in the final with Saguaro winning.

This weekend, the 2022 GEICO ESPN High School Showcase schedule continues with No. 6 Buford (Ga.) hosting Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. It’s a battle of Class 7A titans.

More action on Friday: No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at Kahuku (Hawaii); No. 19 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.); Elder (Cincinnati) at No. 21 Moeller (Cincinnati); No. 24 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) at St. Ignatius (Cleveland) and No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.).

The Moeller-Elder game is for a league title and will be staged at University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. There’s plenty of room at Nippert but here’s where to purchase online tickets.

Also, the No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) showdown is slated for Oct. 7 inside the cozy, 9,000-seat Santa Ana Bowl. A link for tickets, which will sell out in a nanosecond, will be posted here on Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. PT. You better queue up early for this game.

Well, that’s it for another week. Before we signoff, “Shanah tovah umtukah,” or a Happy New Year to our Jewish friends. On Monday evening at sundown is Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year. For your information it is year 5783.

Our best to all who celebrate this holiday.

Finally, we’re hearing that several games will be postponed or canceled in the path of Hurricane Ian, which will make a direct hit early Thursday in the Tampa, Florida area. In south Florida, eight games have been postponed on Thursday night. Schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, and probably beyond in some locations. Apparently the track of the hurricane heads north into the Carolinas. Keep all those affected by this event in your prayers. It appears to be a Category 3 hurricane and that usually means damage to lives and structures.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Oct. 4, chronicling the first eight weekends of play.

Don’t forget to check out the latest Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings.

Until then stay safe and attend a high school sporting event in your area. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Sept. 27, 2022

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Central Catholic (Modesto), 65-0. All three Louisville recruits contributed with quarterback Pierce Clarkson clicking on 6 of 9 passes for three touchdowns and 149 yards; wideout DeAndre Moore caught three passes for 125 yards and two scores in less than a half and defensive back Aaron Williams added a pick-six in a game that was 34-0 at the interval.

Next: Friday at Servite (Anaheim) to be played at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. We are less than two weeks from the No. 1 vs. 2 matchup.

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

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Lake Travis (Austin), 35-20. The Chaparrals held off their crosstown rivals with a strong second half.

Next: Friday at Del Valle.

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (4-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Dutch Fork (Irmo), 26-7. The Panthers will travel nearly 4,900 miles to the south Pacific for their next game.

Next: Friday at Kahuku (Hawaii).

5. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Beaumont United, 62-0. The Mustangs offense has churned out 49, 42, 55 and 62 points in four wins.

Next: Thursday vs. C.E. King (Houston).

6. Buford, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Marietta, 14-0. This weekend’s key game will be televised on ESPN2.

Next: Friday vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie), 21-7. The Raiders broke open the game late after a scoreless first half.

Next: Friday vs. Miramar.

8. Central, Miami (4-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), 43-7.

Next: Friday at North Miami Beach.

9. Chandler, Ariz. (4-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Rallied to defeat then-No. 24 Saguaro (Scottsdale), 31-21. The Wolves were down 14-0 before rattling off the next 31 points. Junior RB Ca’lil Valentine caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Ohio State-bound junior QB Dylan Raiola and then peeled off a back-breaking 79-yard TD run that gave the Wolves a 31-14 lead in the third.

Next: Friday vs. Red Mountain (Mesa).

10. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (5-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Haltom, 62-0.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Keller.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Arbor View (Las Vegas), 63-0. The Gaels rolled up 28 points in the first quarter and weren’t challenged. Junior QB Micah Alejado hit on 11 of 14 passes for 214 yards and four TDs.

Next: Friday at Canyon Springs (North Las Vegas).

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

Previous:13.

Recap: Defeated Phenix City (Ala.) Central, 41-26.

Next: Friday vs. Jones (Orlando, Fla.).

13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Gulliver Prep (Miami), 28-0. The game was called in the second quarter due to inclement weather.

Next: Friday vs. Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie).

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Chaparral (Corona).

15. Duncanville, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Cedar Hill, 59-28.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Waxahachie.

16. Denton (Texas) Guyer (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Little Elm, 42-7.

Next: Friday vs. McKinney Boyd.

17. Katy, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Katy Mayde Creek, 59-3.

Next: Thursday vs. Katy Jordan.

18. Longview, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Lancaster, 21-13.

Next: Oct. 7 vs. Forney.

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).

20. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Davidson Academy (Nashville).

21. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated La Salle (Cincinnati), 47-14. The GCL-South title will be up for grabs this weekend  on the campus of the University of Cincinnati.

Next: Friday vs. Elder (Cincinnati).

22. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Lost to archrivals and No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 31-7. Kaj Sanders sped 69 yards to knot the game at 7 in the first stanza but the Crusaders were shut out the rest of the way. It’s the Campanile Bowl this weekend as brothers Vito (BC) and Nick (DePaul) square off for the first time in the regular season.

Next: Friday at DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

23. Mount Carmel, Chicago, (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated St. Ignatius (Chicago), 41-17. It was a happy Homecoming for the Caravan and the offense continued to put up points. In five wins, the point totals are 35, 44, 42, 42 and 41. The defense has two shutouts. That’s very good balance on both sides of the ball.

Next: Friday at Brother Rice (Chicago).

24. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (5-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Rock Creek Christian Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 37-6. One of America’s top rivalries is renewed this weekend at Byers Field in Parma.

Next: Saturday at St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

25. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (3-2)

Recap: Defeated then-No. 11 Bergen Catholic (Oradell), 31-7. The Ironmen now lead the all-time series 41-34-3 over their Bergen County rivals. QB Nick Minicucci tossed two TD passes and 159 yards and RB Nolan James rushed for a 6-yard score in the third quarter.

Next: Friday at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

Dropped: No. 17 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) and No. 24 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (4-1)
2. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (3-1)
3. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-1)
4. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-1)
5. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (2-0)

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

Midwest

1. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (5-0)
2. Mukwonago, Wis. (6-0)
3. Westside, Omaha, Neb. (5-0)
4. Belleville, Mich. (5-0)
5. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (5-0)
2. Bixby, Okla. (4-0)
3. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (5-0)
4. Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-0)
5. Columbus, Miami (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (4-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (6-1)
3. Folsom, Calif. (4-1)
4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (5-0)
5. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (2-2)

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. 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 at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.