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BENSALEM, Pa. – After a crazy week in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings, this time the rankings were relatively quiet. Hurricane Matthew forced the cancellation and postponement of games from Florida to North Carolina.

Only one teams enters this week. No. 25 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) is unbeaten and no stranger to the national rankings. The Patriots play in one of the toughest leagues in the nation District 9-5A—essentially the New Orleans Catholic League. They still have four games left before the postseason.

Two games standout this week: No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) travels to bitter rival Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in a game that will draw an overflow crowd and then back to Florida, where No. 20 Central (Miami) plays rival Northwestern (Miami) in a District 16-6A donnybrook. The Rockets need a win to assure them of a playoff berth. Since this is their final game, a loss would be devastating and likely no playoffs.

The next Elite 25 rankings are back October 18. Please support your local high schools. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, October 11, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (7-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Routed Spring Valley (Las Vegas), 69-13. Ohio State-bound QB Tate Martell threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the Gaels were up 49-6 at the break.

Next: Friday vs. Clark (Las Vegas).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 62-14. The Monarchs open Trinity League play with an easy victory.

Next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran.

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (6-0)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Defeated Bishop McNamara (Forestville), 49-12. The Stags have a huge rivalry game this weekend.

Next: Saturday at Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).

4. Allen, Texas (7-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Defeated Plano, 38-15.

Next: Friday vs. Denton Guyer.

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (5-0)

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Game with Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) was cancelled.

Next: Thursday at Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach, Fla.).

6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (6-0)

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (3-2)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Game against Deerfield Beach was officially cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew. It won’t be made up.

Next: Friday vs. Fort Lauderdale.

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

Previous rank: 8.

Recap: Trounced Servite (Anaheim), 70-6. The Braves recorded a rarely thrashing of a quality program from the Trinity League.

Next: Friday vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) to be played at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

9. Roswell, Ga. (6-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Defeated Lassiter (Marietta), 45-14. The Hornets have four games left in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Walton (Marietta).

10. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (6-0)

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Crushed Mary G. Montgomery (Semmes), 45-7. QB Bubba Thompson passed for three TDs and the Yellow Jackets captured their 16th straight win.

Next: Friday vs. Baker (Mobile).

11. DeSoto, Texas (5-0)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Defeated Grand Prairie, 52-17.

Next: Friday vs. Irving.

12. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (7-0)

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Defeated Discovery (Lawrenceville), 62-0. The Hawks recorded their third shutout.

Next: Friday vs. Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee).

13. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (6-1)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Waxed Shiloh (Snellville), 70-6. Homecoming was a blast.

Next: Friday vs. Archer (Lawrenceville).

14. Cass Tech, Detroit (7-0)

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Defeated Osborn (Detroit), 34-0. It’s playoff time for the Technicians.

Next: Friday vs. Pershing (Detroit) in Detroit Public School League Division 1 semifinal.

15. Jenks, Okla. (7-0)

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Defeated Edmond Memorial, 59-21. The Trojans enter their bye week.

Next: Oct. 21 at Yukon.

16. Colerain, Cincinnati (7-0)

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Defeated Middletown, 47-8.

Next: Friday vs. Fairfield.

17. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (7-0)

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Shut out Highland (Gilbert), 48-0.

Next: Friday at Desert Ridge (Mesa).

18. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (8-0)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Defeated Taylorsville, 52-7. RB Jahvontay Smith scored two TDs and QB Matt Degn passed and ran for scores.

Next: Thursday vs. Jordan (Sandy).

19. Maryville, Tenn. (7-0)

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Idle. The regular season win streak sits at 66 games.

Next: Friday vs. William Blount (Maryville).

20. Central, Miami (6-1)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Defeated Jackson (Miami), 48-6. QB Tijuane Morten threw for 169 yards and two TDs and James Cook rushed for two scores. The Rockets conclude the regular season this weekend with a key District 16-6A contest.

Next: Friday vs. Northwestern (Miami).

21. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (5-0)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Defeated Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 22-10. Georgia-bound RB D’Andre Swift was named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 7 in San Antonio.

Next: Friday vs. Father Judge (Philadelphia) to be played at Widener University’s Quick Stadium in West Chester, Pa.

22. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (7-0)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Crushed Leo Catholic (Chicago), 51-8.

Next: Saturday vs. Providence Catholic (New Lenox).

23. Trinity, Louisville (8-0)

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Defeated Eastern (Louisville), 56-0. RB Roderick Thomas ran for 115 yards and two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Seneca (Louisville).

24. Clinton, Miss. (7-0)

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Blanked Murrah (Jackson), 54-0.

Next: Friday vs. Northwest Rankin (Brandon).

25. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (5-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Jesuit (New Orleans), 14-7. Collin Guggenheim scored two TDs in the second half, propelling the Patriots.

Next: Saturday at St. Augustine (New Orleans).

Dropped: No. 25 Booker T. Washington, Miami.

High-Fives by Region

East

  1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (5-2)
  2. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (6-1)
  3. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (3-2)
  4. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)
  5. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (5-1)

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

Midwest

  1. East St. Louis, Ill. (7-0)
  2. Kimberly, Wis. (8-0)
  3. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (6-0-1)
  4. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (6-0)
  5. North, Omaha, Neb. (7-0)

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

Southland

  1. Lake Travis, Texas (5-1)
  2. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (6-0)
  3. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (6-0)
  4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (7-0)
  5. Apopka, Fla. (6-0)

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

Far West

  1. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (8-0)
  2. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (8-0)
  3. Mission Viejo, Calif. (7-0)
  4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-1)
  5. Kahuku, Hawaii (7-1)

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 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 in late December. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.

Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.

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