No. 7 Buford (GA) flexes muscles in blowout win over Alabama power; Texas school enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – The first set games are in the books and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings is off having moved into its second decade.

We debuted 10 years ago and we’re still standing.

Okay, enough of the reminiscing. The second week of the high school season saw nine Elite 25 teams commence their seasons with one team losing in lopsided fashion.

No. 7 Buford (Ga.), the defending Georgia Class AAAAAA champion, whupped then-No. 17 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 38-7. Special teams busted open this one as Alabama’s preseason top-ranked squad and defending Class 7A title holders traveled to the Atlanta area and left with a loss. Thompson will recover but it’s surely an experience it will look back on when the season concludes.

Thus, No. 17 Denton (Texas) Guyer slides into the Elite 25 and kicks off their campaign on Friday. Seven others from the Elite 25 will do the same, including five others from Texas and two New Jersey powers.

No. 9 Chandler (Ariz.) and No. 19 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.) won’t tee it up until Sept. 2.

This weekend a slew of states will join the football fray with season openers in Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

We’re especially interested in Florida, Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Additionally, there is a treat on the ESPN family of networks with the GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff. It’s a four-day gridiron bonanza that runs Thursday through Sunday. All total seven games.

Here’s the GEICO lineup (All times are Eastern):

Thursday, August 25
Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) vs. Arlington (Texas) Martin, 8 p.m. on ESPNU from Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Friday, August 26
Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.) at Norcross (Ga.), 7 p.m. on ESPN2

Saturday, August 27
St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) at No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 12 p.m. on ESPN.

Los Alamitos (Calif.) vs. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 4 p.m. on ESPN2 from Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

No. 15 Duncanville (Texas) at South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 7 p.m. on ESPN2 from Dallas ISD Kincaide Stadium.

 Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) at Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 9 p.m. on ESPNU.

Sunday, August 28
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Expect some shuffling with so many nationally themed matchups and that includes the super game of the week in the Nevada desert when No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) opens at No. No. 11 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on Friday. That’s a whopper!

So is No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) hosting reigning state champion and No. 14 Central (Miami) on Friday. The loser may drop out depending on the margin of victory.

 The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Aug. 30, reflecting first three weekends of play.

And as a teaser, Blue Star Media is adding national rankings for girls’ volleyball and they will debut in early September. More details forthcoming regarding the Blue Star Media Elite 25 volleyball rankings.

Until then remain safe and we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings, Aug. 23, 2022

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Allen (Texas).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (1-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Shut down West (Salt Lake City, Utah), 42-0. Additionally, the Monarchs took a preseason hit when LB Tanner Williams (torn ACL) was lost for the season and prolific WR Jurrion Dickey never did transfer from a Northern California school instead staying locally at new landing spot Menlo-Atherton.

Next: Friday at No. 11 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

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

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Ridge Point (Missouri City).

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

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. East St. Louis (Ill.).

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Thursday vs. The Woodlands.

6. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (0-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 14 Central (Miami).

7. Buford, Ga. (1-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Thumped then-No. 17 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 38-7. The Wolves were up 7-0 at the break and blew open the game in the third quarter. Alabama-bound RB Justice Hayes returned a kick 97 yards for a score. This weekend it’s another out-of-state opponent.

Next: Friday vs. Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.).

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 2 at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Eastwood (El Paso).

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (1-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah), 42-7. The Gaels have a huge challenge this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

12. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (1-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Santiago (Corona), 85-0. The score was 71-0 at halftime but the Huskies won’t have it as easy this weekend in San Diego.

Next: Friday at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).

13. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (1-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Edged Toledo Central Catholic, 23-20. QB Casey Bullock accounted for three TDs, including a 59-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter for a 23-14 lead. The Eagles trailed 14-13 after three quarters. LB Wyatt Gideon, a Coastal Carolina recruit, had 3.5 sacks to pace the defense.

Next: Friday vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) at the Tom Benson Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

14. Central, Miami (12-2)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton).

15. Duncanville, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday at South Oak Cliff (Dallas).

16. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (1-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Marietta, 32-12.

Next: Friday vs. Eagle’s Landing (McDonough).

17. Denton (Texas) Guyer (0-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Idle. Reid Heim is the new head coach and his first order of business is to get the Wildcats a third state championship after reaching the Division 6A, Division II final for two of the last three seasons. The Wildcats have a prolific pro-style QB and strength in the O-line and secondary. Oklahoma-bound QB Jackson Arnold threw for 3,931 yards and 34 TDs and ran for 659 yards and 11 more scores. The Bowen brothers are back as Eli had a school-record 10 INTs, and he’s flanked by Peyton (59 tackles, 6 INTs) and CB Ryan Yaites. The District 5-6A title could come down to a date with Allen on Oct. 21.

Next: Thursday vs. Rockwall Heath.

18. Katy, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Clear Springs (League City).

19. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Sept. 2 vs. No. 21 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.).

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

Previous: 20.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.).

21. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (0-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.).

22. Longview, Texas (0-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. McKinney Boyd.

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

Previous: 23.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday at Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.).

24. Cathedral, Indianapolis (1-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Jefferson (Lafayette), 43-12. The Fighting Irish opened with 22 unanswered points in the first quarter. Junior QB Danny O’Neil threw for 160 yards and four TDs, including a pair to Brennan Wooten.

Next: Friday at Brownsburg.

25. Martin Luther King, Detroit (0-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Warren Central (Indianapolis).

Dropped: No. 17 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (0-0)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (0-0)
4. St. Joseph Prep, Philadelphia (0-0)
5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (0-0)

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

Midwest

1. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (1-0)
2. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (1-0)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (1-0)
4. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (0-0)
5. Ankeny, Iowa (0-0)

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

Southland

1. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (0-0)
2. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (0-0)
3. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (1-0)
4. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (1-0)
5. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (1-0)

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

Far West

1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (1-0)
2. Los Alamitos, Calif. (1-0)
3. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
4. Basha, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
5. Folsom, Calif. (1-0)

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. 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.