BENSALEM, Pa. – OK, we’re less than a week away from some heavy-duty games that could shake, slice and dice and reshuffle the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

In California, No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and No. 12 De La Salle (Concord) Saturday in the CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl Game at Falcon Stadium on the campus of Cerritos College in Norwalk. A Bosco win would go a long way to clinching the No. 1 spot in the final rankings.

This weekend the champions will be crowned in Louisiana, North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Florida and California. The following weekend will be the UIL Texas championships from AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series from Las Vegas. That’s quite a way to conclude the season.

Speaking of the GEICO Bowl Series, there will be a game on Dec. 20 and 21 televised on ESPNU. So far Elite 25 teams Saint Louis School (Honolulu) and Chandler (Ariz.) have committed with more to be added by this weekend. The two-game, two-day event will choose available teams from Georgia, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Washington. We’ll have the matchups once they are set and the games are scheduled for Bishop Gorman High’s Fertitta Field in Las Vegas.

This week the top 11 teams stayed intact. No. 13 St. Peter’s Prep made the biggest leap at seven spots. No. 24 North Gwinnett was dumped eight slots but remained in the Elite 25. Seven teams have already won state championships with nine still vying for the hardware. Meanwhile, two schools do not compete for state titles.

No. 14 Marietta (Ga.) re-enters the Elite 25 after advancing to Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA championship tilt. No. 23 Canyon Corner (Draper, Utah) joins after winning the Utah Class 6A title and is a serious candidate to play in the GEICO Bowl Series.

Both teams deserved their ranking and earned it.

Before signing off for the next two weeks, we recognize the life and times of former Jenks (Okla.) Allan Trimble, who passed away on Dec. 1 from complications  of ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 56.

He will be remembered as a devout Christian, great family man and Oklahoma’s greatest high school football coach. He guided Jenks to 13 state championships in 22 seasons. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2016 and coached until the conclusion of the 2017 season.

We first conversed during the 1999 season during the USA TODAY years. That was when I was the national preps writer and Trimble was just starting to build a dynasty. The coach could not have been more helpful and affable each time I called. Simply put he was a great man.

Trimble cobbled an amazing 242-41 overall record and his Jenks teams made 17 state finals appearances. God’s speed coach and rest easy.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 final rankings will be released on Dec. 24 or Christmas Eve. For one team it will culminate a journey and have the right to be called, “Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions.”

Next week we’ll release updated versions of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ rankings before the heavy holiday tournament schedule is played. Please check back and see if there are any changes since the preseason rankings were dropped in November.

Keep the holiday spirit alive and we hope to see you at a game soon. — Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Dec. 10, 2019

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) in CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl Game at Falcon Stadium on the campus of Cerritos College in Norwalk.

 2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-1)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Last week, QB Bryce Young was named California’s Gatorade player of the year. Well-deserved honor for the future Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller. Season complete.

3. Duncanville, Texas (14-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 14 Southlake Carroll, 49-35, in Class 6A, Division I Region 1 final. QB Ja’Quinden Jackson accounted for five TDs, throwing for 183 yards and two scores and running for three more.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 19 Rockwall in Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney.

4. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle. The Raiders are chomping at the bit to avenge last year’s loss in the state final and face a formidable opponent from central Florida in the process.

Next: Saturday vs. Edgewater (Orlando) in Class 7A final at Daytona Stadium in Daytona.

5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (11-1)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Season complete.

6. Saint Louis School, Honolulu (12-0)*

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle. The Crusaders have one more game after winning the Hawaii Open Division title.

Next: TBD in GEICO Bowl Series on Dec. 20 or 21 in Las Vegas.

7. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (13-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Atascocita (Humble), 76-42, in the Class 6A, Division I Region III final. The Mustangs need two more wins for the state title and made it look easy taking a 41-21 at the break. Virginia Tech-bound QB Demetrius Davis accounted for five TDs as did super senior RB Zach Evans. It was the first time the Mustangs captured back-to-back regional titles.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 16 Lake Travis in the Class 6A, Division I semifinals to be played at Reeves Stadium in Round Rock.

8. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (14-0-1)*

Previous: 8.

Recap: Won Class AAAAA state championship in overtime, topping Dorman (Roebuck), 34-31. The game was tied at 28 heading into the extra session when Dorman took a temporary 34-31 lead. Without fail the pitch-and-catch combo of QB Ty Olenchuk and WR Jalin Hyat hooked up for a final time on a 10-yard fade and the Silver Foxes captured a fourth straight title. Olenchuk threw for 236 yards and four TDs and the Tennessee-bound Hyat made seven catches for 165 yards and three scores. Olenchuk, a baseball signee at Clemson, finished with 9,009 passing yards and 102 TDs. Hyat concluded with 180 career receptions of which 57 found the end zone. For coach Tommy Knotts it’s his 12^th combined title in North and South Carolina and his fifth at Dutch Fork in 10 years. Season complete.

9. Lowndes County, Valdosta, Ga. (14-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 16 North Gwinnett (Suwanee), 49-28, in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 14 Marietta in Class AAAAAAA final at Georgia State University Stadium in Atlanta.

10. Chandler, Ariz. (13-0)*

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated No. 25 Saguaro (Scottsdale), 42-35, in the inaugural Arizona Open Division final. The Wolves raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and 28-7 by halftime. However, a second half rally made it interesting. RB Dae Dae Hunter rushed for 244 yards and two TDs, including a 4-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 42-28. It marked the fourth consecutive state title and fifth in six seasons. The regular season is over but the Wolves are ticketed for one more game.

Next: TBD in GEICO Bowl Series on Dec. 20 or 21 in Las Vegas.

11. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

12. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (12-1)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) in CIF State Championship Open Division Bowl Game at Falcon Stadium on the campus of Cerritos College in Norwalk.

13. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (11-1)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Non-Public Group 4 state championship. Season complete.

14. Marietta, Ga. (12-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 15 Parkview (Lilburn), 42-21, in Class AAAAAAA semifinals. QB Harrison Bailey carved up the defense, hitting on 22 of 26 passes for 367 yards and five TDs. The Blue Devils are aiming for their first state title since 1967.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 9 Lowndes County (Valdosta) in Class AAAAAAA final in Atlanta.

15. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (12-2)*

Previous: 18.

Recap: Won second consecutive Class AAAAAA state championship, stopping Central Dauphin (Harrisburg), 35-13. Buffalo-recruit Kolbe Burrell ran for two scores and 193 yards and LB Liam Johnson, who is headed to Princeton, recorded an eye-popping five sacks. Junior backup QB Malik Cooper tossed TD passes to Sahmir Hagans from 7 yards and Ohio State-bound junior WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from 34 yards and Maurice Clark returned blocked punt 20 yards to up the score to 21-0 in the second frame. For the Hawks it was their fifth crown since 2013 and first under coach Tim Roken. Season complete.

16. Lake Travis, Texas (13-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Converse Judson, 48-35, in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 final. The Cavaliers won a shootout and play this weekend in the semifinals close to home but against a ferocious foe.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 North Shore (Galena Park) in Class 6A, Division I semifinals in Round Rock.

17. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (12-1)*

Previous: 21.

Recap: Won second straight Class 3A state championship, rallying past then-No. 19 O’Dea (Seattle), 20-12. The Crusaders led 7-0 to start the fourth quarter before O’Dea took a 12-7 edge. Junior JT Tuimoloau then caught a 29-yard pass from QB  Kobe Muasau with 1:11, capping a four-play, 67-yard march to make it 13-12. With O’Dea desperately trying to mount a winning drive, the Crusader defense stiffened and scored when Peter Taoipu returned a fumble 23 yards for a score with :06 remaining to ice the title for first-year coach Dominic Daste. The Crusaders are still in the mix for GEICO Bowl Series on Dec. 20 or 21 in Las Vegas. Regular season is complete.

18. Katy, Texas (12-1)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Season complete.

19. Rockwall, Texas (12-2)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Prosper, 59-42. in the Class 6A, Division I, Region 2 final. The Yellowjackets are in the state semifinals for the first time since 1987.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Duncanville in the Class 6A, Division I semifinals in McKinney.

20. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (13-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Lost to No. 3 Duncanville, 49-35, in Class 6A, Division I Region I final. Season complete.

21. Parkview, Lilburn, Ga. (12-2)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Lost to Marietta, 42-21, in Class AAAAAAA semifinals. Season complete.

22. Lakeland, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Season complete.

23. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (14-0)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Utah Class 6A state championship. Last year, the Chargers took home the 5A crown. Regular season is complete but they are in the mix for an invitation to the GEICO Bowl Series.

24. North Gwinnett, Suwanee, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Lost to No. 9 Lowndes County (Valdosta), 49-28, in the Class AAAAAAA semifinals. Season complete.

25. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (12-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Advanced to Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 19 O’Dea (Seattle) and No. 25 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. New Rochelle, N.Y. (13-0)*
2. Maury, Norfolk, Va. (14-0)
3. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (9-3)*
4. South County, Lorton, Va. (14-0)
5. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (12-2)

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

Midwest

1. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (14-0)*
2. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (14-0)*
3. Mount Carmel, Chicago (14-0)*
4. Muskego, Wis. (14-0)*
5. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa (12-1)*

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

Southland

1. Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La. (13-0)*
2. Maryville, Tenn. (15-0)*
3. Owasso, Okla. (14-0)*
4. Covington Catholic, Park Hills, Ky. (15-0)*
5. Northwestern, Miami (12-2)

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

Far West

1. Central, Fresno, Calif. (14-0)
2. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (14-0)*
3. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-2)
4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (14-1)
5. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (12-2)*

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

* Won a state or conference postseason championship

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings are released weekly from September 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 on December 24. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.