SPOOKTACULAR: Halloween weekend yields wacky results, performances in Southern California and new No. 1 Southlake Carroll (TX) rises in Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – A crazy final weekend of football in Southern California left the door wide open and creating an opportunity for the top Texas team to ascend the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings.

Newly minted No. 1 Southlake (Texas) Carroll is the latest top dog in the Elite 25 but first a closer look what occurred last weekend in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section.

Then-No. 16 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) rallied to beat rivals then-No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 36-31. The Monarchs (7-2) were down 24-3 in the second quarter but opened up the playbook and torched the Braves’ strong secondary. The win means the Braves, Monarchs and No. 22 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) at 4-1 settle for a three-way share of the vaunted Trinity League title. All three teams are headed to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs that kick off next weekend.

When Mater Dei’s passing heated up, it was en Fuego. Ohio State-bound WR Chris Henry Jr. caught five balls for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Another future Buckeye WR Kayden-Dixon-Wyatt hit the after burners too. Dixon-Wyatt made his four receptions for 46 yards county because three of them found the end zone. QB Ryan Hopkins hit on 13-of-21 passes for 295 yards and five scores.

Late in the game, the Braves (9-1) were sloppy and two interceptions crushed any comebacks. The second pick came with 94 second remaining and the Braves in the Red Zone on the 10-yard line. Game over.

On Thursday, Oct. 30, another Ohio State recruit had the hottest of hands. Mission Viejo QB Luke Fahey threw for 562 yards and five TDs and ran for another in a wacky 76-49 win over Los Alamitos while clinching the Alpha League championship. The Diablos (9-1) also qualified for the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

WR Jack Junker had 10 receptions for 293 yards and three scores. The Diablos were down 49-48 after three quarters but cranked out four TDs in the fourth.

“Football’s a game of momentum shifts,” MV head coach Chad Johnson told the Orange County Register afterwards. “And you know, we had the big momentum shift at the right time, and then we kind of carried it all the way through the fourth quarter.”

Unbelievable!

Well, the Southern Section Division 1 bracket is out with four appetizing matchups slated for Friday, Nov. 14: Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco; Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon; Mission Viejo at Mater Dei; Servite at Corona Centennial. Five teams from the Elite 25 compose the loaded bracket. The semifinals are Nov. 21.

The Division 1 final will be played at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, Nov. 28 (a.k.a. Black Friday) for the first time since 2022 when Bosco and Mater Dei faced off before 16,000. That’s a destination worth it.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 but plenty of movement thanks to Mater Dei’s victory.  Fifteen teams dropped positions with No. 25 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.) dipping seven. Nine teams moved up with No. 7 Mater Dei ascending nine slots. The Mater Dei effect allowed No. 5 Corona (Calif.) Centennial, No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) all move deep into the top-10. The sectional playoffs will shake the Elite 25 in the coming weeks.

Seventeen team are already involved in the postseason or have concluded their regular-season slates and await the opponents. Elite 25 teams from Maryland, Texas, New Jersey, California, Nevada and Florida will kick off their playoffs on the weekend of Nov. 14.

That includes No. 1 Southlake (Texas) Carroll. The Dragons went 10-0 in the regular season under coach Riley Dodge. In the early 2000s, the Dragons won three straight UIL state titles with father, Todd Dodge, as the head coach and Riley under center. His father is a Texas legend with at least three mythical national championship (I awarded two of them in 2004 and 2006 while at USA TODAY) and now Riley’s Dragons are riding high as the No. 1 team in Class 6A and the playoffs get underway next week with the bi-district games. It takes six wins to capture the University Interscholastic League hardware in Texas.

Elsewhere, the game of the week is No. 10 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on Friday night. It should be knows at the Under Armour Bowl as both teams have healthy deals with the athletic wear giant based in Baltimore. Both teams play national schedules and do not compete for league or state championships.

Well, that’s it for the month of October.

Hard to believe but we are less than a week from November with Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukkah just around the corner. Boy, time flies!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings will return on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Also, don’t forget to vote on Nov. 4 because your voice will be heard and will make difference.

Keep up with us on X (formerly Twitter, @clawlor) for all announcements and other exclusives from the gridiron and the hardwood. The preseason Elite 25 boys basketball rankings will drop this week and the girls in mid-November.

Bye for now.

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

 Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Nov. 4, 2025

1. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (10-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Defeated Keller Central, 49-3. The Dragons complete a perfect regular season.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. TBD in Class 6A, Division I bi-district playoff game.

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

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.), 31-13. The Ascenders close out the term with a stout challenger from Maryland.

Next: Friday vs. No. 10 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

3. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Newton (Covington), 38-12. The Rams rolled to a regional title and perfect season and now chase a second straight Class 6A state championship.

Next: Friday vs. Norcross in Class 6A first round.

4. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (9-1)

Previous: 1.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 16 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 36-31.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. Orange (Calif.) Lutheran in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (9-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Chaparral (Temecula), 60-29.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. Servite (Anaheim) in the CIF-Southern Section quarterfinals.

6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Loyola (Los Angeles), 52-3. The Blazers coasted to the Mission League crown.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. No. 22 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) in the CIF-Southern Section Division quarterfinals.

7. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (7-2)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Upended No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 36-31, in the regular finale. The Monarchs forged a three-way tie for the Trinity League title.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. Mission Viejo in the CIF-Southern Section quarterfinals.

8. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-1)..N14-9

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle. The Gaels will be rested for ready to go after two weeks off.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. Las Vegas High on Nevada Class 5A Open Division semifinals.

9. Buford, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Mill Creek (Hoschton), 35-3

Next: Friday vs. Richmond Hill in Class 6A first round.

10. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (8-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated St. James Performance (Springfield, Va.), 35-0. The Panthers have a last chance to rise in the Elite 25.

Next: Friday at No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

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

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 18 Chaminade Madonna College Prep (Hollywood), 27-21.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. TBD in Class 5A, Region 4 playoffs.

12. Bixby, Okla. (9-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Deep Creek (Edmond), 79-15. Coach Loren Montgomery collected his 150^th victory.

Next: Friday at Norman.

13. Carrollton, Ga. (10-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Douglas County (Douglasville), 55-22. The Trojans won the Region 2 title.

Next: Friday vs. North Forsyth Cumming) in Class 6A first round.

14. Allen, Texas (9-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Shut out McKinney Boyd, 63-0. The Eagles have clinched at least a tie for the District 6-6A title.

Next: Thursday at Plano East.

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

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated archrivals Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 42-14. The Stags won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title and will be the top seed for the playoffs.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. TBD in WCAC semifinals.

16. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (10-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Jackson-Olin (Birmingham) in Class 6A first round.

17. Mount Carmel, Chicago (10-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Loyola Academy, 21-17, in Class 8A first round. Sophomore Marshaun Thornton’s catch-and-run 92-yard TD reception from QB Emmett Dowling with six minutes left rallied the Caravan.

Next: Saturday at Belleville East in the second round.

18. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (9-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 31-6. The Ironmen led 24-0 at halftime as RB  Ka’Si Thomas ran for scores of 3 and 5 yards.

Next: Nov. 14 vs. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) in the Non-Public A quarterfinals.

19. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Cesar Chavez (Laveen), 63-0. This weekend the 6A Fiesta title will be on the line with both teams finishing up the regular season.

Next: Friday at Chandler.

20. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Layton, 63-9, in Class 6A first round. Texas A&M-bound QB Helaman Casuga tossed four TD passes, including two apiece to Kai Meza and Jesean Mayberry.

Next: Friday vs. Syracuse in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

21. Edna Karr, New Orleans (9-0)

Previous: 24.

Recap: John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.), 48-26. The Cougars have a short week heading in to the regular season finale.

Next: Thursday at Archbishop Rummel (Metairie).

22. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (7-3)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 41-14.

Next: Nov. 14 at No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals.

23. Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (8-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated O’Connor (Phoenix), 49-17.

Next: Friday at Boulder Creek (Anthem).

24. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (8-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield, 70-21. The Panthers cliched their fourth straight District 3-6A title. RB G’Yrell Smith ran for 161 yards and two TDs and QB Hayes Cloutier hit on 21 of 25 passes for 197 yards and three scores. One game remaining in the regular season.

Next: Friday vs. Crowley.

25. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Lost to No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 27-21. The Lions remain in the Elite 25 by a thread.

Next: Nov. 14 in Class 1A, Region 4 playoffs.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. La Salle College High, Wyndmoor, Pa. (9-1)
2. Harrisburg, Pa. (10-0)
3. Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (9-1)
4. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. (8-0)
5. St. James Performance Academy, Springfield, Va. (8-1)

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

Midwest

1. Brownsburg, Ind. (10-0)
2. Cass Tech, Detroit (10-0)
3. Elder, Cincinnati (10-0)
4. Detroit Catholic Central, Novi, Mich. (10-0)
5. Olentangy Orange, Lewis Center, Ohio (10-0)

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

Southland

1. Northwestern, Miami (9-0)
2. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (10-0)
3. Ridge Point, Missouri City, Texas (9-0)
4. Bryant, Ark. (9-0)
5. Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tenn. (9-0)

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

Far West

1. Mission Viejo, Calif. (9-1)
2. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (9-0)
3. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (10-0)
4. West Linn, Ore. (9-0)
5. Folsom, Calif. (9-1)

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

Records 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. The final rankings will be released in December. Follow him on X (or Twitter) at @clawlor.