BENSALEM, Pa. – The Sunshine State powers took it on the chin last week. Two defending Florida state champions—Apopka and Central (Miami)—suffered defeats. For the Central Rockets, it was their second of the young season and huge loss to Carol City. However, expect both teams to bounce back, but for now they are out of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings.

No. 14 Spartanburg (S.C.) moves in with a huge regional win over archrival Byrnes (Duncan) and No. 19 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) continues to roll, earning a spot.

The nation’s top games will be contested in Ohio this weekend. In Cincinnati, the most competitive league, Greater Cincinnati League South, has No. 22 La Salle (5-0) visiting St. Xavier (4-1) on Friday. Then up along the shores of Lake Erie, No. 18 Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.) goes to regionally ranked St. Edward (Lakewood) on Saturday. St. Edward, Ohio’s top-ranked large school team (Division I) plays an uber tough schedule while the Floridians are in for a battle—something they might see in the postseason. No doubt, the Buckeye State has the must-see gridiron clashes for early October.

The next Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will appear October 13. Until then please support your local high schools and perhaps we’ll see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Oct. 6, 2015

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Overwhelmed Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas), 70-7. Can you believe it? After playing five straight out-of-state opponents the Gaels actually played a local school. They still have Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) at home on Oct. 23.

Next: Friday vs. Durango (Las Vegas).

2. Allen, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Lewisville, 52-7. The Eagles exploded for 28 points in the third period. RB Kirby Bennett carried 12 times for 135 yards and three TDs, improving to 4-0 in district play.

Next: Friday vs. Hebron (Carrollton).

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Idle. The Braves kickoff their Trinity League schedule.

Next: Friday at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

4. Euless (Texas) Trinity (6-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Haltom (Haltom City), 68-0. Dylan McGinnis ran for 97 yards and two TDs as six different ball carriers found the end zone.

Next: Thursday vs. L.D. Bell (Hurst).

5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (5-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Crushed Valencia, 59-7.

Next: Friday at Martin Luther King (Riverside)

6. Katy, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Saturday vs. Seven Lakes (Katy).

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), 24-12. The Ascenders were pushed hard by New Jersey’s top team.

Next: Friday vs. Southern Lab (Baton Rouge, La.).

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Deerfield Beach.

9. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (5-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Trounced St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 40-0. The Stags took to the air as junior QB Beau English threw for 311 in the rout.

Next: Saturday at Bishop McNamara (Forestville).

10. Cedar Hill, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Midlothian, 52-13. RB Avery Davis rushed for three TDs.

Next: Friday vs. Duncanville.

11. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (4-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Blanked Granite Bay, 37-0. QB Anthony Sweeney fired three TDs passes, including a 73-yarder to Isaiah Randle in the third. The Spartans won’t be looking pas their next but Poly (Long Beach) looms on Oct. 16.

Next: Friday vs. San Ramon Valley (Danville).

12. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Lowndes (Valdosta), 42-20. It was a struggle in the rain but the Packers pulled away in the second half.

Next: Friday at Lee County (Leesburg).

13. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (5-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Shut out Center Point, 21-0.

Next: Friday vs. Shades Valley (Birmingham).

14. Spartanburg, S.C. (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated regionally ranked Byrnes (Duncan), 17-7. The Vikings recorded 12 sacks in the Region II-4A showdown.

Next: Friday vs. Dorman (Roebuck).

15. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 34-0.

Next: Friday vs. Shiloh (Snellville).

16. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (5-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Crushed Kempsville (Virginia Beach), 49-6. RB Khalan Laborn rushed for 287 yards and five TDs all in the first half, including a 99-yard score.

Next: Friday at Kellam (Virginia Beach).

17. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (6-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Schertz Clemens, 31-7.

Next: Friday at San Antonio Wagner.

18. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Deltona, 42-14. The Buccaneers head north for their toughest regular season game.

Next: Saturday at regionally ranked St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).

19. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Olive Branch, 47-29. The Tigers return to the Elite 25 rankings with five games left in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Hernando.

20. Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga. (4-1)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Berkmar (Lilburn), 49-0.

Next: Friday vs. South Gwinnett (Snellville).

21. Fayetteville, Ark. (5-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Fort Smith Southside, 67-21. It was a happy homecoming in southwest Arkansas.

Next: Friday at Springdale.

22. La Salle, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Moeller (Cincinnati), 13-7, in overtime. QB Nick Watson scored on a 19-yard run in overtime and the defense added a goal-line stance to subdue their league rivals. This weekend another tough game against a bitter Great Cincinnati League South rival.

Next: Friday at St. Xavier (Cincinnati).

23. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Crushed Seattle Prep, 54-10. First place in the Metro Mountain Division is up for grabs this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Bishop Blanchet (Seattle).

24. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (6-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Cottonwood (Salt Lake City), 28-0. Brady Atkin’s 5-yard TD run in the first minute was the game-winner.

Next: Thursday vs. Taylorsville.

25. Chandler, Ariz. (6-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Basha (Chandler), 55-28.

Next: Friday vs. Perry (Gilbert).

Dropped: No. 14 Central, Miami and No. 19 Apopka, Fla.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (5-0)

2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (4-1)

3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (3-1)

4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (5-0)

5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (4-0)

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

Midwest

1. Homewood-Flossmoor, Ill. (6-0)

2. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (7-0)

3. Eden Prairie, Minn. (7-0)

4. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (5-1)

5. Colerain, Cincinnati (5-1)

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

Southland

1. Male, Louisville, Ky. (7-0)

2. Jenks, Okla. (4-0)

3. Maryville, Tenn. (7-0)

4. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. (5-0)

5. West Monroe, La. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-0)

2. Folsom, Calif. (6-0)

3. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (5-0)

4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (4-1)

5. Bishop Amat, La Puente, Calif. (5-1)

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.