STREAKING: No. 25 Bixby (OK) slide into Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; Spartans riding a 57-game winning skein

BENSALEM, Pa. – It seems the deeper the high school football gets, the better the play becomes for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 national rankings.

The regular season has wrapped up in certain states. This weekend playoffs will begin in power states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada and New Jersey. Others are playing and next weekend is the finale for California.

With all the hubbub about the postseason, the were games from the Elite 25 that are worth noting.

In Florida, No. 8 Central (Miami) had its hands full but came away with a 42-35 victory over Columbus (Miami) in a shootout among teams that were undefeated. Well, the Rockets piled up 28 points in the second quarter for a 35-7 lead at halftime. The Explorers rallied late but fell short. When the newly drawn up Florida High School Athletic Association playoff format is introduced next month, Columbus will the top seed in Class 4A, Region 4. The Rockets will be top seeded in 2M, Region 4. Both regions are loaded and some of the nation’s top prospects will be on display.

In northeast Ohio, No. 22 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) crushed previously unbeaten Archbishop Hoban (Akron), 41-20. Both teams enter the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs on Friday as top seeds from Region 1. St. Edward competes in Division I and Hoban in Division II.

Back on the East Coast there was a dandy game on Saturday afternoon in New Jersey that I was fortunate to attend. No. 24 Bergen Catholic (Oradell) stopped rivals St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 42-27, in a wild one. There’s a good chance they will meet again in the Non-Public A state playoffs in November.

Finally, the action was heavy in Chicagoland on Saturday when No. 21 Mount Carmel (Chicago) upended then-No. 25 Loyola Academy (Wilmette), 42-37. The Caravan clinched the league title with the crazy win and head into the Illinois High School Association Class 7A 32-team bracket as No. 1 and the favorite. Loyola will be one of the favorites in 8A.

So, that result opened the door for the No. 25 Bixby (Okla.) Spartans (8-0) to enter the Elite 25 rankings. The Oklahomans have won a nation best 57 straight games and have done it in dominating fashion, averaging 68 points. They beat Westmoore (Oklahoma City), 73-6, making it four consecutive contests where they notched 70 or more points. The Spartans have two games left in the regular season, including with Jenks in national television.

Only two weekends remain in the 2022 GEICO ESPN High School Showcase schedule. No. 9 Chandler (Ariz.) hosts crosstown rivals Basha on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU. That one should be a real cracker!

Lastly, congratulations to the three state champions from Alaska, the initial three of the 2022 season nationally. The Colony (Palmer) Knights beat top-seeded Juneau-Douglas/Thunder Mountain, 14-7, Saturday in the ASAA First National Bowl Division I final. In Division II, the Lathrop (Fairbanks) Malemutes went 10-0 and stopped Soldotna, 21-18, in the battle of the unbeatens. The Homer Mariners downed Houston (Big Lake), 22-20, for the Division III title. In all three games, the top seed lost and each one went down to one score or 12 points combined as the margin of victory.

Let’s hope the rest of the states can duplicate those heroics. Wonderful times at the top of the world.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Nov. 1. Have a Happy Halloween.

Until then stay safe and get out to a high school sporting event in your home state. The football playoffs look awfully appetizing, don’t they? We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 25, 2022

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (9-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, 52-7. Coach Bruce Rollinson circles this date every year. Beating their local rival means everything.

Next: Friday at Servite (Anaheim).

2. Westlake, Austin, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Austin, 70-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Austin Bowie.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Orange (Calif.) Lutheran, 48-7. The regular season heads into the final weekend.

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

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (5-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Arundel (Gambrills, Md.).

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

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated Humble, 56-14.

Next: Thursday at Atascocita (Humble).

6. Buford, Ga. (8-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Defeated Dacula, 50-7.

Next: Friday at Mountain View (Lawrenceville).

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

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Monarch (Coconut Creek), 37-6. The regular season concludes this weekend for the Raiders.

Next: Friday at Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes).

8. Central, Miami (8-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Columbus (Miami), 42-35. The Rockets won the battle of unbeatens.

Next: Friday vs. Monsignor Pace (Miami Gardens, Fla.).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (7-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Mesa), 49-6.

Next: Friday vs. Basha (Chandler).

10. Southlake (Texas) Carroll (8-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Haslet Eaton, 42-7.

Next: Friday vs. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club).

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Foothill (Henderson), 75-0.

Next: Thursday vs. Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas) in NIAA Class 5A Southern Region quarterfinals.

12. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (5-1)

Previous:12.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Middletown (Del.).

13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (8-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Avant Garde Academy (Hollywood), 63-0.

Next: Friday vs. St. John Paul II (Boca Raton).

14. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (8-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated Murietta Valley (Murietta), 50-7.

Next: Thursday vs. Norco.

15. Duncanville, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Dallas Skyline, 63-0. The District 11-6A title is on the line this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. DeSoto.

16. Denton (Texas) Guyer (8-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Allen, 49-7. Oklahoma-bound signal caller Jackson Arnold completed 25 of 28 for 334 yards and four TDs.

Next: Thursday at McKinney.

17. Katy, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Katy Cinco Ranch, 56-28.

Next: Thursday vs. Katy Seven Lakes.

18. Longview, Texas (8-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated McKinney North, 49-7.

Next: Friday at Tyler.

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (8-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Naples 35-17.

Next: Friday vs. Hallandale.

20. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (9-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville), 43-21.

Next: Friday vs. Battle Ground Academy (Franklin).

21. Mount Carmel, Chicago, (9-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 25 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), 42-37.

Next: Saturday vs. Buffalo Grove in Class 7A first round.

22. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (9-1)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated previously unbeaten Archbishop Hoban (Akron), 41-20.

Next: Friday vs. Stow-Munroe Falls in Division 1, Region 4 first round.

23. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (6-2)

Previous: 23

Recap: Defeated Paramus Catholic, 56-21. Logan Bush rushed for three TDs. The Ironmen head into their season-finale this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. DePaul Catholic (Wayne).

24. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (7-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 42-27.

Next: Saturday vs. Paramus Catholic.

25. Bixby, Okla. (9-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Westmoore (Oklahoma City), 73-6.

Next: Thursday at Moore.

Dropped: No. 25 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-1)
2. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (7-1)
3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (7-1)
4. Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury, Mass. (6-0)
5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (7-0)

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

Midwest

1. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati (9-1)
2. Belleville, Mich. (9-0)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (10-0)
4. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (9-0)
5. Cathedral, Indianapolis (7-1)

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

Southland

1. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (8-0)
2. Bryant, Ark. (7-0)
3. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (7-1)
4. Destrehan, La. (8-0)
5. Columbus, Miami (8-1)

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

Far West

1. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (8-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (9-2)
3. Folsom, Calif. (8-1)
4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (9-0)
5. Los Alamitos, Calif. (7-2)

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. 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 at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.