SHOWDOWN: No. 1 St. John Bosco (CA) to meet No. 3 Mater Dei (CA) in CIF-Southern Sectional Division 1 final; No. 19 Corner Canyon (UT) claims Class 6A title

BENSALEM, Pa. – There are only four weekends remaining in the regular season and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings could have a new No. 1 team by this time next week.

No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will play for the second time this season in the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 1 final Friday in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on Bally Sports SoCal.

St. John Bosco won the first meeting 28-0 on Oct. 13 and claimed the Trinity League title. RB Cameron Jones scored twice in the first half for a 14-0 lead. Jones rushed 1 yard for TD and caught a pass for 20 yards for another. He also carried 21 times for 134 yards.

This time the stakes are much more and a potential national championship is on the line. We’ll have that result and plenty more.

Congratulations to No. 19 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) for winning the Utah Class 6A state championship in beating Skyridge (Lehi), 41-27, in the final. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson ran for 160 yards and three TDs and passed for 251 yards and two more scores. The Chargers concluded 13-1.

This weekend state championships will be decided in Hawaii, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Nevada and Illinois. If live in these states it’s last chance to attend a game until next summer.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 rankings. That will change in the coming weeks when state brackets are whittled down. No. 24 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) dipped eight slots after a loss in the Southern Section playoffs to No. 3 Mater Dei.

Finally, if you live in certain pockets of the country, Thanksgiving Day means Turkey Bowl games. That’s right, a tradition that is quickly dying is still alive in areas of the Northeast especially in New England states such as Connecticut and Massachusetts and there are 24 games being played in New Jersey starting Wednesday through Friday. Even New York City has two games involving Catholic schools.

Well, that’s it for another week in November.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Nov. 28.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Enjoy some time with family and friends and drive safely. The roads are usually crowded this week.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 21, 2023

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated No. 25 Corona Centennial, 43-42, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. The Braves needed to stuff a two-point conversion with 8 seconds left to avoid the upset. QB Caleb Sanchez passed for 330 yards and six touchdowns.

Next: Friday vs. No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final to be played the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (11-0)^

Previous: 2.

Recap: Idle. The state championship hardware will have to wait.

Next: Tuesday vs. Liberty (Henderson) in Class 5A, Division 1 final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 42-14, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 17-14. Season complete.

5. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (11-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Avant Garde Academy (Hollywood), 67-0, in Class 1M, Region 3 semifinals

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) in Class 1M, Region 3 final.

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

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee), 59-20, in Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. Camden County (Kingsland) in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

7. DeSoto, Texas (11-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Wylie East, 42-20, in Class 6A, Division II Area playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Willis in Class 6A, Division II Region 2 semifinals to be played at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (12-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Clear Springs, 49-21, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game.

Next: Friday vs. Cy-Fair (Cypress) in Class 6A, Division I Region 3 semifinals.

9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (11-1)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach), 40-0, in Class 3M, Region 3 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Coconut Creek in Class 3M, Region 3 final.

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Abraham Lincoln (Philadelphia), 35-0, in PIAA District 12 Class AAAAAA final.

Next: Saturday vs. Nazareth in PIAA Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

11. Buford, Ga. (11-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Norcross, 28-25, in Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. Grayson (Loganville) in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

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

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated San Antonio Reagan, 45-28, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game.

Next: Saturday vs. Laredo United in Class 6A, Division I Region 4 semifinals to be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

13. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Westlake (Atlanta), 38-19, in Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. Milton (Alpharetta) in Class AAAAAAA quarterfinals.

14. Duncanville, Texas (10-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Rockwall Heath, 62-24, in Class 6A, Division I Area playoff game.

Next: Saturday vs. The Woodlands in Class 6A, Division I, Region II semifinals to be played at Memorial Stadium in Hutto.

15. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (12-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated North Gwinnett (Suwanee), 48-19, in Class AAAAAAA second round.

Next: Friday vs. Carrollton in Class AAAAAAAA quarterfinals.

16. Bixby, Okla. (11-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Norman, 59-20, in the Class 6A-I quarterfinals.

Next: Friday at Owasso in Class 6A-I semifinals.

17. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (12-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch), 51-24, in Class 5A quarterfinals.

Next: Saturday vs. Ralston Valley (Arvada) in Class 5A semifinals.

18. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (9-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated . King’s Academy (West Palm Beach), 49-7, in Class 2M, Region 3 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) in Region 3 final.

19. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (13-1)*

Previous: 20.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship, defeating Skyridge (Lehi), 41-27, in the final. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson ran for 160 yards and three TDs and passed for 251 yards and two more scores. Season complete.

20. Norland, Miami (12-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Monsignor Pace (Miami), 52-27, Class 2M, Region 4 semifinals.

Next: Friday vs. Central (Miami) in Region 4 final.

21. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (14-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Green, 31-6, in Division II, Region 7 final.

Next: Friday vs. Cincinnati Anderson in Division II semifinals to be played at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.

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

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Median, 42-7, in Division I, Region 1 final.

Next: Friday vs. Hilliard Bradley in Division I semifinals.

23. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (10-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Donovan Catholic (Toms River), 42-13, in Non-Public A semifinals. Rutgers-bound RB Kaj Sanders rushed for 188 yards and three TDs.

Next: Nov. 28 vs. Delbarton (Morristown) in Non-Public A final to be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

24. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (11-1)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Lost to No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 42-14, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Season complete.

25. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-3)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Lost to No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 43-42, in CIF-Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (12-0)
2. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (11-0)
3. Central Bucks South, Warrington, Pa. (12-1)
4. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (9-1)
5. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (9-1)

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. (13-0)
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (13-0)
3. Mount Carmel, Chicago (12-1)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (13-0)
5. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (12-1)

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

Southland

1. Central, Miami (8-3)
2. Gainesville, Ga. (12-0)
3. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (13-0)
4. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (11-0)
5. Destrehan, La. (11-0)

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (12-0)
2. O’Dea, Seattle (11-0)
3. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (10-1)
4. Mililani, Hawaii (11-1)
5. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (12-0)

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

^ Includes forfeit victories

 * Denotes a state or conference postseason champion

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.