SMACKDOWN: No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) takes care of business in Texas; No. 22 Atascocita (TX), No. 24 St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – The game failed to match the pregame hype. For those who do not think Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is not the nation’s top-ranked high school football team, please raise your hand.

For the second straight week to open the current term, Mater Dei remains atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings. Here’s why.

The Monarchs opened the season last weekend demolishing then-No. 18 Duncanville (Texas), 45-3, in Texas. Mater Dei rarely travels to Texas and put this one away early. The debate regarding supremacy among the top teams from California and Texas is over for another year. Chalk one up for the Golden State. Duncanville came in as one of the top Texas Class 6A, Division I teams and nationally ranked. When the dust settled on their home turf, Mater Dei left with an easy victory. Perhaps No. 3 Westlake (Austin, Texas) or No. 7 Katy (Texas) would have been more compelling opponents. We’re hearing next year, No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) is scheduled to play in the Lone Star State. Let’s hope the Braves receive a competitive pairing.

To some the result and the lopsided result was stunning but to insiders it wasn’t. Mater Dei is loaded and won’t have another serious challenge until they face league rivals St. John Bosco on Oct. 1. That will be a terrific matchup and always lives up to the hype.

No. 16 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) slips two spots after a loss in Florida and won’t play again until Sept. 11. This weekend’s game with St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) has been nixed over COVID-19 concerns.

There are more changes.

No. 22 Atascocita (Humble, Texas) and No. 24 St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) enter the Elite 25 rankings after registering opening night victories. Atascocita is No. 5 team in the Class 6A rankings and St. Peter’s Prep is No. 2 in New Jersey (behind league rivals No. 12 Bergen Catholic).

That’s it for now. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings return Sept. 7. At the conclusion of this weekend, everyone from the Elite 25 will have played at least one game. Have a safe Labor Day Weekend and do yourself a favor and get vaccinated.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, August 31, 2021

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (1-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Wiped out then-No. 18 Duncanville (Texas), 45-3. QB Elijah Brown completed on 18 of 23 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. The Monarchs made it 31-3 at the intermission and then tacked on 14 points in the third quarter to cap a perfect road trip to the Dallas Metroplex.

Next: Sept. 10 at Liberty (Henderson, Nev.).

2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills), 24-3. Junior signal-caller Pierce Clarkson fired a pair of TD passes.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Amat (La Puente).

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Temple, 54-13.

Next: Friday vs. Euless Trinity.

4. Collins Hill, Suwanee, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: The Eagles claimed a forfeit win over Sprayberry (Marietta).

Next: Friday vs. Greenville (Miss.) Christian in Freedom Bowl, Alpharetta, Ga,

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Bishop Sycamore (Columbus, Ohio), 58-0.

Next: Friday at La Salle (Cincinnati, Ohio).

6. Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (2-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Shut out Sparkman (Harvest), 55-0. North Carolina-bound QB Conner Harrell completed 15 passes for 270 and six TDs. The Warriors open Class 7A, Region 4 play this weekend.

Next: Friday at Albertville.

7. Katy, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Clear Springs (League City), 40-7. The Tigers piled up 518 yards on offense.

Next: Saturday vs. Cypress Woods (Cypress).

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 14 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 38-23. QB Zion Thomas threw for 298 yards and accounted for three scores (two passing, one running) in a quality win on ESPN.

Next: Friday at Plantation.

9. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (1-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Highland Park (Dallas), 45-21. Junior QB Kaden Anderson completed 16 of 24 passes 261 yards and three TDs and rushed for another in his first varsity start at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Next: Thursday vs. Rockwall Heath.

10. Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Centennial (Peoria).

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

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.) to be played in Piscataway, N.J.

12. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Pummeled Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 42-7. The Crusaders led 21-7 at the break and the defense clamped down. It was a total smackdown for the Crusaders, who received two rushing scores from RB Ryan Butler and QB Steve Angeli, a Notre Dame recruit, completed 16 of 18 passes for 208 and two TDs and ran for another.

Next: Saturday vs. Smyrna (Del.).

13. Bixby, Okla. (1-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Routed Mansfield (Texas) Timberview, 69-14. The Spartans prepare to play one of their toughest games on the road.

Next: Friday at Jenks.

14. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (3-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Bingham (South Jordan), 35-7. QB Devin Brown passed for four TDs and rushed for one. WR Cody Hagen moved in 12^th on Utah’s all-time TD receptions list following 97-yard catch-and-run from Brown.

Next: Friday vs. Jordan (Sandy).

15. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Shadow Creek (Pearland), 33-10. The Mustangs won it with defense as Jayven Anderson and Jacoby Davis had pick-sixes from 57 and 45 yards, respectively.

Next: Friday at Klein Collins.

16. St Frances Academy, Baltimore (0-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Lost to No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 38-23. The Panthers were in a 14-point hole but made a game of it. This week’s game with St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) was cancelled over COVID issues.

Next. Sept. 11 at Franklin (Reisterstown, Md.)

17. St. Xavier, Cincinnati (2-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Colerain (Cincinnati), 42-7. QB Brogan McCaughey hot on 12 of 14 passes for 222 yards and three TDs and RB Charles Kellom ran for scores of 3 and 6 yards. The Bombers did all their scoring in the opening half.

Next: Friday at Olentangy Liberty.

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

Previous: 19.

Recap: Last weekend’s game with Bishop Manogue (Reno) was cancelled over wildfire concerns.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 25 Central (Miami).

19. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (1-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated St. Mary’s (Stockton), 52-16.

Next: Friday vs. Monterey Trail (Elk Grove).

20. Servite, Anaheim, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Crushed Mission Viejo, 44-7. The Friars rolled to a 24-0 lead at halftime as Arizona-bound QB Noah Fifita threw for four TDs ahead of their bye weekend.

Next: Sept. 9 at Bishop Amat (La Puente).

21. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (2-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Decatur Central (Indianapolis), 56-7. After this blowout, the Spartans have big early season test.

Next: Friday at Carmel.

22. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Klein Collins, 48-7.

Next: Friday at Allen.

23. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (1-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Deep Creek (Chesapeake), 49-3. The Tigers have a bye week.

Next: Sept 10 at Grassfield (Chesapeake).

24. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Hammered Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, 61-0. The Rich Hansen III coaching era began with an emphatic bang. The Marauders hang 35 points in the second quarter to carry a 54-point lead into the break. The two-headed running attack of Sam Slade (three TDs) and Paul Lefkowitz (two) teamed for five rushing scores and Erik Perez added a 31-yard pick-six for good measure.

Next: Friday vs. West Orange.

25. Central, Miami, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday at No. 19 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

Dropped: No. 18 Duncanville (Texas) and No. 21 Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (1-0)
2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (1-0)
3. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (1-0)
5.  Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (1-0)

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

Midwest

1. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (2-0)
2. East St. Louis, Ill. (1-0)
3. Cathedral, Indianapolis (2-0)
4. Carmel, Ind. (2-0)
5. Muskego, Wis. (2-0)

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

Southland

1. Northwestern, Miami (1-0)
2. Hoover, Ala. (2-0)
3. Denton (Texas) Ryan (1-0)
4. Buford, Ga. (2-0)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (2-0)

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

Far West

1. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
2. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (2-0)
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (1-0)
4. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (1-0)
5. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (2-0)

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 August until the conclusion of the high school season in December. 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 Twitter at @clawlor.