BENSALEM, Pa. – Welcome to the postseason, America. Well, after nearly three months of games, states have are in playoff mode, while one crowned state champions last weekend.

In Alaska, where they open the season in early August, two state champions were crowned: East (Anchorage) in the large-school division and Eielson (Eielson AFB) in the small school. Actually Eielson, located on an Air Force Base, won the title the previous week so are officially the first champion of the year.

As the season is ready to turn the page on October, a slew of states will finish their seasons this weekend. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings has seen little turnover in the last two weeks with No. 25 The Woodlands (Texas), a serious contender in Class 6A from the Houston area, entering with two weeks left in the regular season. The Highlanders have quality wins and are on the verge of clinching their District 12-6A title.

As for the post season four teams from the Elite 25 are ready to play first round games this weekend: No. 14 Cass Tech (Detroit), No. 18 Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), No. 22 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) and No. 23 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.).

There two games of intrigue No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) travels to Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) and No. 12 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), a battle tested team, has a slippery slope at powerhouse Hoover (Ala.)—both are Friday.

As for last Friday, No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) prevailed over then-No. 8 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 26-21, which is filed under “Game of the Year” category. The Monarchs rallied in the fourth quarter to win it and gain the inside tract on the Trinity League title with two weeks left. Expect these two rivals to meet again in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs.

The next Elite 25 rankings are back November 1. Please support your local high schools as they enter the postseason or attend a Senior Night celebration that fetes the football lives of players from the Class of 2017. The weather is turning in the Midwest and East, so bundle up and enjoy the brilliance of the fall foliage. This is one of God’s gifts that are free. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

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

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 71-0. Ohio State-bound QB Tate Martell threw for two touchdowns and 138 yards and rushed for more three scores and 84 yards on six carries. The Gaels racked up 42 points in the first half.

Next: Thursday at Durango (Las Vegas).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Rallied to stop No. 8 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 26-21. Trailing 21-12 in the final quarter, the Monarchs Shakobe Harper’s 1-yard TD run won with 7:91 left. Jalen Cole’s interception set up the winning score. Osiris St. Brown hauled in a 15-yard TD pass with 8:47 to go to pull with two points. What a game! The Monarchs are in firm control of the Trinity league race but will likely see their rivals in the sectional playoffs that kick in November.

Next: Friday vs. Servite (Anaheim) at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (9-0)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Shut out Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 42-0. The Stags are off this weekend in anticipation of a huge rivalry game that will determine the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoff seeds.

Next: Nov. 4 at Good Counsel (Olney).

4. Allen, Texas (8-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: Crushed McKinney, 59-7. Brock Sturges rushed for 83 yards and three TDs and Juwan Robinson added ran for two more. The Eagles are 5-0 in District 6-6A.

Next: Friday at Plano East.

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

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Rolled past Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 34-21. Texas A&M-bund QB Kellen Mond scored four TDs on a game televised by ESPN2.

Next: Friday at Poly (Long Beach, Calif.).

6. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (8-0)

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Overwhelmed Jackson (Miami), 44-21. The Patriots are 4-0 in Class 5A District 16 play.

Next: Friday at Hallandale.

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-2)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Crushed Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 42-7. The Raiders scored the game’s first 28 points en route to the blowout win.

Next: Friday vs. Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach).

8. Roswell, Ga. (8-0)

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Edged Etowah (Woodstock), 17-14. A quarter TD rallied the Hornets from a 14-10 deficit.

Next: Friday vs. Woodstock.

9. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (9-0)

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Drilled Theodore, 43-0. The Yellow Jackets are on course to be the top seed in Region 1 when the playoffs kick off.

Next: Friday vs. Fairhope.

10. DeSoto, Texas (8-0)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: Defeated Duncanville, 41-17. QB Shawn Robinson accounted for 351 yards and three TDs, rushing for 86 yards and a TD and threw for 265 yards and two more scores, moving the Eagles to 5-0 in District 7-6A.

Next: Friday vs. Irving Nimitz.

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

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Lawrenceville), 35-23. A fourth quarter TD by the Hawks put the game away. A late season bye gives coach Shannon Jarvis’ team a rest before the final regular season game.

Next: Nov. 4 at Duluth.

12. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (7-1)

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Defeated Newton (Covington), 34-0, for the team’s second straight shutout. Now it’s another big-time road challenge across state lines.

Next: Friday at Hoover (Ala.).

13. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (6-2)

Previous rank: 8.

Recap: Lost to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 26-21. The Braves were up 21-12 after three quarters but could not hold on.

Next: Thursday vs. JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) to be played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

14. Cass Tech, Detroit (9-0)

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Stopped King (Detroit), 41-20, in Public League Division 1 final. The Technicians win their fourth Division 1 City Title since 2010.

Next: Saturday vs. Fordson (Dearborn) in Division I pre-district round.

15. Jenks, Okla. (8-0)

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Defeated Yukon, 55-13. The Trojans hammer another opponent. RB Jordon Curtis ran for scores of 86, 15 and 40 yards. The next challenge will occur in the Class 6A Division I playoffs. In the mean time, it’s Homecoming week in Jenks.

Next: Friday vs. Westmoore (Oklahoma City).

16. Colerain, Cincinnati (9-0)

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Defeated Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), 31-0. Ohio’s top defense pitched another goose egg.

Next: Friday vs. Oak Hills (Cincinnati).

17. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (9-0)

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Shut out Corona del Sol (Tempe), 38-0. It was the Pride’s third blanking of the season. The regular season concludes this weekend. The defense starred, scoring 21 points, led by LB Xaiver Cota with an interception and blocked a punt and recovered the loose ball for a TD.

Next: Friday at Gilbert.

18. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (10-0)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Defeated Brighton (Salt Lake City), 28-7. The Miners aced the regular season but must await Tuesday’s three-way winner of a play-in game against the winner of Hunter (West Valley City) vs. Granger (West Valley City) matchup, who then plays Layton for the last seed in Region 2. Confusing, right? Regardless who wins, the Miners will roll.

Next: Friday vs. TBD in Class 5A first round.

19. Maryville, Tenn. (9-0)

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Defeated Bradley Central (Cleveland), 48-21. The Rebels took advantage of three turnovers in the opening half for 17 points en route to a 27-0 lead at the break. The regular season win streak is 68 games and coach George Quarles won his 260th game in 16 seasons.

Next: Friday vs. Hardin Valley Academy (Knoxville).

20. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (9-0)

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Defeated Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), 63-0. The regular season comes to a close this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Cactus Shadows (Cave Creek).

21. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-0)

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Thrashed La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 63-35. Prep led 35-7 at halftime and made it 42-21 in the third when Georgia-bound RB D’Andre Swift sped 75 yards for a TD. He finished carrying 19 times for 275 yards and scored seven TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia) to be played the Widener University’s Quick Stadium in Chester.

22. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (9-0)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Defeated Brother Rice (Chicago), 48-37, to clinch the Chicago Catholic League Blue title as Duke-bound Wildcat QB/TE Jake Marwede rushed for five TDs. The Ramblers trailed, 23-21, at halftime but rallied.

Next: Saturday vs. O’Fallon in the Class 8A first round.

23. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (10-0)

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Defeated Ballard (Louisville), 55-0. The Rocks are district champions heading in to the playoffs.

Next: Nov. 4  vs. TBD in Class 6A first round.

24. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (7-0)

Previous rank: 25.

Recap: Defeated Holy Cross (New Orleans), 27-7. RB Collin Guggenheim rushed for two TDs as the Patriots upped their mark to 4-0 in District 15-5A.

Next: Saturday at Archbishop Rummel (Metairie).

25. The Woodlands, Texas (8-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Conroe, 48-7. The Highlanders are 4-0 in District 12-6A with two games remaining.

Next: Friday vs. Montgomery.

Dropped: No. 24 Clinton, Miss.

High-Fives by Region

 East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (6-2)
2. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (8-1)
3. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (5-2)
4. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (6-1)
5. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (7-0)

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. (9-0)
2. Kimberly, Wis. (10-0)
3. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (8-0-1)
4. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (8-0)
5. North, Omaha, Neb. (9-0)

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

Southland

1. Lake Travis, Texas (7-1)
2. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (8-0)
3. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (8-0)
4. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (9-0)
5. Apopka, Fla. (8-0)

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

Far West

1. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (10-0)
2. Mission Viejo, Calif. (9-0)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (7-1)
4. Kahuku, Hawaii (9-1)
5. West Linn, Ore. (8-0)

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 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.