BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 high school football rankings feature one addition and a few new state champions.

Entering the Elite 25 is No. 24 East (Salt Lake City, Utah), the second program from Utah, after winning a second straight Class 4A crown last month in impressive fashion. The Texas state championships this weekend will help reshape the Elite 25 final rankings with four ranked teams going for Class 6A Division I and II crowns.

Only two weekends are left and the season is complete. The Elite 25 final rankings are back on December 24. Please support your local high schools as they play in the postseason. Don’t forget to check out our boy and girls’ basketball rankings as the scene has shifted indoors to the hardwood. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Dec. 13, 2016

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Won Class 4A championship. The Gaels have won eight straight state crowns. Season complete.

2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (12-0)*

Previous rank: 2.

Recap: Won fourth consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship. Season complete.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (11-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Recap: The Ascenders do not compete for a state championship. Season complete.

4. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (14-0)*

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: The Patriots are state champions for the third time in four seasons after defeating Ponte Vedra, 35-33, in Class 5A final. QB Jason Brown led the offense with four TDs. Brown’s 1-yard TD plunge with 5:39 left gave the Patriots a nine-point lead and they held on. Patrick Surtain, who played for the Miami Dolphins, picked up the title his first year as head coach. Season complete.

5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (12-2)*

Previous rank: 6.

Recap: Won Class 7A championship, hammering Plant (Tampa), 45-6, for the program’s 10th overall state crown and third straight. The Raiders raced to a 31-6 lead at the intermission and 45-6 after three quarters. QB Jake Allen, a Florida recruit, hit on 17 of 29 passes for 327 yards and five TDs, including three to WR Mike Harley. The Raiders are headed to the GEICO Bowl Series on Dec. 23. Regular season complete.

6. DeSoto, Texas (15-0)

Previous rank: 7.

Recap: Defeated Klein Collins, 42-31, in Class 6A, Division II semifinals. The Eagles rallied for 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win. QB Shawn Robinson threw for 133 yards and a score and carried 15 times for 114 yards and a TD.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 22 Cibolo Steele in Class 6A, Division II final.

7. The Woodlands, Texas (15-0)

Previous rank: 17.

Recap: Defeated No. 4 Allen, 36-28, in Class 6A, Division I semifinals.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Lake Travis (Austin), in Class 6A, Division I final.

8. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (13-1)*

Previous rank: 9.

Recap: Will VanPamelen kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the Rams over then-No. 10 Roswell, 23-20, in the Class AAAAAAA final. The Rams captured their second state title and the first since 2011. Jeff Herron because the first coach in state history to win state titles at three Georgia schools. Season complete.

9. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (12-2)*

Previous rank: 10.

Recap: Idle. After a week of rest, the Braves go for the gusto this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. regionally ranked De La Salle (Concord) in CIF Open Division final at Sacramento State’s Hornets Stadium.

10. Lake Travis, Austin, Texas (14-1)

Previous rank: 19.

Recap: Drilled Atascocita (Humble), 63-21, in Class 6A, Division I semifinals. SMU-bound QB Charlie Brewer passed for 261 yards and five TDs.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 7 The Woodlands in Class 6A, Division I final.

11. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-1)

Previous rank: 11.

Recap: The Monarchs won the Trinity League title but fell in the in CIF-Southern Section Division I final. Season complete.

12. Allen, Texas (14-1)

Previous rank: 3.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 17 The Woodlands, 36-28, in Class 6A, Division I semifinals. QB Mitchell Jonke, a Brown recruit, threw for 309 yards and two TDs. Season complete.

13. Roswell, Ga. (15-0)

Previous rank: 8.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 11 Grayson (Loganville), 23-20, in overtime in Class AAAAAAA final. Season complete.

14. Cass Tech, Detroit (14-0)*

Previous rank: 12.

Recap: Won Division 1 state championship. Season complete.

15. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (14-0)*

Previous rank: 13.

Recap: Won Class 5A state championship. The Miners accepted a bid to the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series on Dec. 23 in Frisco, Texas. Regular season complete.

16. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (14-0)*

Previous rank: 14.

Recap: Won their 25th straight game, earned a ninth state title in 11 years and 10th overall. Season complete.

17. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (14-0)*

Previous rank: 15.

Recap: Hammered then-No. 18 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh), 42-7, in the Class AAAAAA final at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa. It was the program’s third state championship in four seasons. RB D’Andre Swift, a Georgia commit, carried 26 times for 140 yards and three TD—he concluded a brilliant career with 4,252 yards and went for 1,543 yards and 25 scores this campaign. Season complete.

18. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (15-0)*

Previous rank: 16.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

19. Whitehaven, Memphis, Tenn. (15-0)*

Previous rank: 20.

Recap: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

20. Hoover, Ala. (12-2)*

Previous rank: 21.

Recap: Won Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

21. McGill-Toolen, Mobile, Ala. (13-1)

Previous rank: 22.

Recap: Advanced to Class 7A final. Season complete.

22. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (14-1)

Previous rank: 23.

Recap: Defeated Cinco Ranch (Katy), 35-14, in the Class 6A, Division II semifinals.

Next: Saturday vs. No. 6 DeSoto in Class 6A, Division II final.

23. Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)*

Previous rank: 24.

Recap: Won 6A Conference championship and will play in the GEICO Bowl Series. Regular season complete.

24. East, Salt Lake City, Utah (14-0)*

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Recap: Won Class 4A state championship. The Leopards won a second straight title in November. Season complete.

25. Mountain Pointe, Phoenix (13-1)

Previous rank: 25.

Recap: Advanced to 6A Conference championship game. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 18 Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (9-2)*
2. Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (10-2)*
3. Wise, Upper Marlboro, Md. (14-0)*
4. Highland Springs, Va. (14-1)*
5. Troy, N.Y. (13-0)*

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

Midwest

1. East St. Louis, Ill. (14-0)*
2. Kimberly, Wis. (14-0)*
3. Totino-Grace, Fridley, Minn. (13-0)*
4. Bellevue (Neb.) West (13-0)*
5. Roncalli, Indianapolis (15-0)*

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

Southland

1. Dutch Fork, Irmo, S.C. (14-0)
2. Clinton, Miss. (14-1)*
3. South Pointe, Rock Hill, S.C. (13-1)
4. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (13-1)
5. Oakland, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (14-1)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (11-1)*
2. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego (14-0)*
3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (11-2)
4. West Linn, Ore. (14-0)*
5. Camas, Wash. (14-0)*

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

* Won state or conference/league/sectional postseason championship

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.