No. 7 DeSoto (TX) Eagles move up seven spots in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; four California teams compose robust CIF-Southern Section Division 1 bracket

BENSALEM, Pa. – Okay, we’re down to the final two months of the high school football season and November is full of joy or heartbreak.

The playoffs are up and rolling throughout the nation and the first major player in the game, California, is launching this weekend. More on the California Interscholastic Federation later in this column.

Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are running and paring down their fields. Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Non-Public) get going this weekend while Florida, Georgia and Texas have one weekend of the regular season on tap.

And that means the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will be put to the test. Provided there aren’t any crazy upsets in the next week or two, the Elite 25 is chock full of teams from the power states: Florida has five (only four compete for state titles) while Texas, Georgia and California have four apiece. That’s 17 teams from those four incubators alone.

Having identified the power states—it’s no shock who they are—change is on the horizon. The first power state to pivot into the postseason is California.

Over the weekend, the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 bracket was unveiled and it is loaded with four teams from the Elite 25. The eight teams will have a bye weekend before the action kicks off on Nov. 10. Five teams reside in the almighty Trinity League, including No. 1 and newly minted champions St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

Here are the first round pairings, featuring four Elite 25 teams:

 San Clemente at No. 1 St. John Bosco; Orange Lutheran at No. 25 Corona Centennial; Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) at No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth); and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) at No. 3 Mater Dei.

The sectional semifinals will be staged on Nov. 17 and the final is Nov. 24 in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and will be televised live on Bally Sports SoCal. All games start 7 p.m. PT.

As for this week, the Elite 25 had an impactful game that saw No. 7 DeSoto (Texas) rise five slots after beating then-No. 3 Duncanville, 49-35. DeSoto wins the District 11-6A title and No. 14 Duncanville slipped 11 positions. Both teams will be major forces once the UIL Class 6A, Division I bracket is drawn up.

And for the second straight week, the Elite 25 has movement but no new additions. This weekend nine teams are off because they have fulfilled their regular season schedule totals or the playoff bracket offers a bye for various reasons.

Last thought for the week.

There’s a shoutout to a head coach from the Bayou State and it’s a very special one. Kudos to J.T. Curtis of John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) who forged a tie for the all-time winningest coach after his Patriots defeated Brother Martin (New Orleans), 26-7, on Friday in Metairie, La.

Curtis, who is in his 54^th season in charge, won his 621^st game to equal the late legendary coach John McKissick of Summerville (S.C.). McKissick last coached in 2014. John Curtis Christian has won 28 state championships and is again in the thick of things for Louisiana’s Division I Select after securing the title last year.

The Patriots improved to 6-2 this season and will attempt to push their coach over the finish line Friday at Edna Karr (New Orleans).

One more, coach: 622 will be the new standard!

That’ll do it for another week and month.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Nov. 7.

Happy Halloween … Trick or Treat today! Tomorrow is All Soul’s Day, pray for those faithfully departed family members and friends.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 31, 2023

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Orange Lutheran, 44-22. QB Caleb Sanchez passed for 396 yards and six touchdowns. The Braves won their first outright Trinity League crown since 2018.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. San Clemente in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 first round.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-0)^

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. The Gaels need two wins for another Nevada state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Coronado (Henderson) in NIAA Class 5A, Division 1 semifinals.

3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 35-19. The Monarchs have a week off.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 first round.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.).

5. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated St. John Paul II Academy (Boca Raton), 70-0.

Next: Friday at Lakewood (St. Petersburg).

6. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Dacula, 41-0.

Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (Lawrenceville).

7. DeSoto, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 3 Duncanville, 49-35. QB Darius Bailey threw for four TDs and RB Marvin Duffey rushed for two more scores. The Eagles captured the District 11-6A title.

Next: Thursday at Mansfield.

8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Atascocita (Humble), 61-35. The Mustangs claimed the District 21-6A title.

Next: Thursday vs. Humble Kingwood.

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

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Dillard (Fort Lauderdale), 58-0.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. TBD in Class 3M regional quarterfinals.

10. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (8-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 45-7. The Hawks went 4-0 in the PCL Red Division.

Next: Nov. 10 or 11 vs. Father Judge (Philadelphia) or La Salle College High (Wyndmoor, Pa.) in Philadelphia Catholic League Class AAAAAA final.

11. Buford, Ga. (8-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Lawrenceville), 51-0.

Next: Friday vs. Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville).

12. Westlake, Austin, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Austin Bowie, 62-0. The Chaps clinched the District 26-6A title.

Next: Thursday at Buda Johnson.

13. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Valdosta, 44-28. The regular season ends this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Richmond Hill.

14. Duncanville, Texas (7-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 12 DeSoto,  49-35. The Panthers had their win streak snapped at 22 games.

Next: Thursday vs. Mansfield Legacy.

15. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (9-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Osbourne (Marietta), 35-0. The Raiders sit atop Class AAAAAAA, Region 5 heading into the regular season finale.

Next: Friday at Wheeler (Marietta).

16. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Chaminade (Mission Hills), 44-6. The Trailblazers won the Mission League championship.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 first round.

17. Bixby, Okla. (9-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Moore, 68-5. Huge rivalry game this weekend in the regular-season finale.

Next: Friday at Jenks.

18. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (10-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Grandview (Aurora), 45-22. The Bruins won the Centennial League title with a 5-0 mark and earned the top seed in the large-school playoffs.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. Eaglecrest (Centennial) or Legacy (Broomfield) in Class 5A second round.

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (7-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Hallandale, 55-0.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. TBD in Class 2M regional quarterfinals.

20. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (10-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Layton, 52-0, in the Class 6A second round. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson tossed four TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Lone Peak (Highland) in Class 6A quarterfinals.

21. Norland, Miami (9-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated North Miami Beach, 54-7.

Next: Thursday vs. Killian (Miami).

22. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (11-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Central Crossing (Grove City), 41-6, in Division II, Region 7 first round.

Next: Friday vs. Westerville (Ohio) South in Region 7 quarterfinals.

23. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (10-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Elyria, 42-0, in Division I, Region 1 first round. The Eagles’ defense picked a great time to chalk up their first shutout of the season.

Next: Friday vs. GlenOak (Canton) in Region 1 quarterfinals.

24. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (8-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Paramus Catholic, 42-13. Junior QB Dom Campanile threw for 157 yards and two TDs and Rutgers-bound RB Kaj Sanders rushed for three scores. The Crusaders are the top seed in the playoffs and earned a first-round bye.

Next: Nov. 11 vs. Notre Dame (Lawrenceville) or Paul VI (Haddonfield) in Non-Public A quarterfinals.

25. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-2)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Norco, 55-0. Junior QB Husan Longstreet threw for 438 yards and four TDs. The Huskies enter the postseason on a six-game winning streak.

Next: Nov. 10 vs. Orange Lutheran in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 first round.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (9-0)
2. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (8-0)
3. Central Bucks West, Doylestown, Pa. (10-0)
4. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (7-1)
5. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (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. Belleville, Mich. (10-0)
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (10-0)
3. Mount Carmel, Chicago (9-1)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (10-0)
5. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (9-1)

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

Southland

1. Central, Miami (6-3)
2. Gainesville, Ga. (9-0)
3. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (10-0)
4. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (9-0)
5. Edna Karr, New Orleans (8-0)

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

Far West

1. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (9-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (10-1)^
3. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (9-0)
4. O’Dea, Seattle (8-0)
5. West Linn, Ore. (9-0)

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

^ Includes forfeit victories

Records are through Sunday’s games.

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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.