BENSALEM, Pa. – October is the bewitching month. Halloween is still four weeks away but already there’s a whiff of playoff fever in the air. Sure the pigskins are flying and so it the time.

For some parts the country, it’s only three weeks away from the postseason and that means Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings are on high alert with the season in some cases winding down. Scattered in the this week’s rankings are teams that are headed into or coming off their bye weeks. States such as Indiana, Illinois, Utah and Michigan will be playoff-bound soon and by the second week of November the entire nation will be aiming for championships.

After seven weeks, the Elite 25 add two teams from the East and Southland Regions. Both feature solid resumes and have cultivated championship pedigrees.

No. 18 Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) has won 17 straight games dating back to last year during the Class AAAAA state championship run. The Silver Foxes (5-0) are an offensive juggernaut, averaging 64 points per game. Coach Tommy Knotts is an offensive savant and his teams score points in gobs. They should be fun to monitor as the season progresses.

In Philadelphia, No. 25 St. Joseph’s Prep, a regular in the Elite 25, is back after peeling off four straight quality wins to open the season. The Hawks lost in last year’s PIAA Class AAAAAA final and are currently Pennsylvania’s top-ranked team. They are strong favorites to complete another perfect regular season and capture another Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division title. Coach Gabe Infante’s teams are usually fun to watch and this year’s squad is no exception.

Two games involving Elite 25 teams to keep an eye on are No. 14 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) traveling up I-95 for a matchup with Class 8A powerhouse Deerfield Beach on Friday. No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) visits longtime rivals St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) in a showdown of Bergen County and league foes.

Both results should impact the Elite 25 rankings. We’ve got both covered.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on October 9.

There are plenty of games in your area so get out and support your local teams. The Friday lights are bright but are only around for a few more weeks in some states. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 2, 2018

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (6-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 35-28. RB George Holani scored four TDs, including one on a 43-yard run with 7:14 left to give the Braves a 14-point cushion. Watch out this weekend for a trap game in the Trinity League a week before a meeting with No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

Next: Friday vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange).

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

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 35-0. It was the fourth shutout of the season. The Monarchs can’t look past the next game in anticipation of the meeting with top-ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower).

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

3. Allen, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Rolled over McKinney, 54-14. QB Grant Tisdale threw for 279 yards and four TDs. It’s time for a much-needed break as the Eagles reach the midpoint of the regular season.

Next: Oct. 12 vs. Plano East (Plano).

4. Carol City, Miami Gardens, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Shut out Hialeah-Miami Lakes, 47-0. The Chiefs have blanked three opponents this term,

Next: Friday at Southridge (Miami).

5. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Routed Alcovy (Covington), 56-0.

Next: Oct. 12 vs. Camden County (Kingsland).

6. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Mo.), 59-49, in a wild shootout. QB Sol-Jay Maiava put on a show throwing for five TDs. The Cadets have five games remaining all in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

Next: Saturday vs. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).

7. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (6-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle. The Spartans are rest and ready to defend their sectional title.

Next: Friday vs. Monte Vista (Danville).

8. Lake Travis, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Routed Austin, 66-21. QB Hudson Card was on fire in the opening half, tossing four TD passes and ran for another. Eight different players found the end zone for the Cavaliers.

Next: Friday vs. Lehman (Kyle).

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (6-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Overwhelmed Santiago (Corona), 59-6. The Huskies rolled in their Big 8 opener.

Next: Friday at Corona.

10. Central, Miami (5-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Norland (Miami), 38-7.

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

11. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (2-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Stopped Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va.), 51-6. The Panthers finally played another game.

Next: Friday vs. Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, Ontario).

12. Warren Central, Indianapolis (7-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 72-25. That’s the second time this season the Warriors scored at least 70 points.

Next: Friday vs. Carmel.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Northwestern (Miami), 34-7. The Ascenders head into their bye week

Next: Oct. 12 vs. Superior Collegiate (Clearwater).

14. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle. The Raiders refocus for the rest of the regular season and the Class 7A playoffs.

Next: Friday at Deerfield Beach.

15. Rome, Ga. (6-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Woodland (Cartersville), 48-7. QB Knox Kadum tossed three TD passes and North Carolina State-bound RB Jamious Griffin ran for three scores from 3, 13 and 6 yards.

Next: Friday vs. East Paulding (Dallas).

16. Saint Louis, Honolulu (6-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Campbell (Ewa Beach), 55-7. The Crusaders raced to a 35-0 lead through one quarter and cruised.

Next: Friday at Farrington (Honolulu).

17. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Crushed La Porte, 55-0. The Mustangs romped to a 42-0 lead at the intermission.

Next: Thursday vs. King (Houston).

18. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (5-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Trounced Chapin, 70-7. Coach Tommy Knotts’ high-powered offense is averaging 64 points per game.

Next: Friday at River Bluff (Lexington).

19. Colerain, Cincinnati (6-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: The Cardinals blew open a tight game in the second period scoring 28 points en route to a 48-6 win over Hamilton. QB Deante Smith-Moore completed five passes for 46 yards and two TDs and scampered 11 yards in the third for another.

Next: Friday at Mason.

20. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Irvington, 47-7. QB Andrew Boel threw four TDs—all in the second quarter.

Next: Saturday at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).

21. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (6-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Apollo (Glendale), 45-6.

Next: Friday at Sunnyslope (Phoenix).

22. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Lincoln (Gahanna), 27-13. The Tigers are 6-0 for the first time since 2014 and have captured 16 straight games. QB Demeatric Crenshaw passed for two TDs and ran for another.

Next: Friday at Lancaster.

23. Chandler, Ariz. (5-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Perry (Gilbert), 45-34. The Wolves trailed 7-3 after one quarter, but tallied 20 unanswered points in the second for a 23-7 edge at the break.

Next: Friday vs. Brophy Prep (Phoenix).

24. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (6-0)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 48-12. The Eagles held a 41-6 lead at the break. The final three WCAC games feature matchups with No. 6 St. John’s DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.).

Next: Saturday vs. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).

25. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (3-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated La Salle College (Wyndmoor), 49-12. The Hawks are Pennsylvania’s top-ranked Class AAAAAA squad the loaded with young talent.

Next: Saturday at Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) to be played at Northeast High in Philadelphia.

Dropped: No. 12 Wekiva, Apopka, Fla., and No. 19 Bingham (South Jordan, Utah).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (5-0)
2. Coatesville, Pa. (6-0)
3. DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (4-1)
4. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pa. (5-1)
5. North Allegheny, Wexford, Pa. (6-0)

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

Midwest

1. Mentor, Ohio (6-0)
2. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (6-0)
3. Cass Tech, Detroit (6-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (6-0)
5. Burke, Omaha, Neb. (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Converse (Texas) Judson (4-0)
2. John Curtis Christian, River Ridge, La. (5-0)
3. Deerfield Beach, Fla. (6-0)
4. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (7-0)
5. Broken Arrow, Okla. (5-0)

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

Far West

1. Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, Calif. (6-0)
2. Mission Viejo, Calif. (7-0)
3. Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (6-0)
4. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (5-1)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (2-3)

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

# Includes a forfeit loss

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.