Three teams from California and Florida enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings; No. 8 Miami (FL) Central vaults six spots with shock win

BENSALEM, Pa. – The change came quickly to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings this term.

Already in two weeks, four teams from the preseason have been dumped after losses. That includes three from last weekend. But with three teams that were dropped opens the door for three additions.

All three of the newcomers are from power states California and Florida. No. 23 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) recorded a lopsided victory over Los Alamitos (Calif.), one of the Golden State’s top squads. No. 24 Mission Viejo (Calif.) slides in after opening with two straight wins. No. 25 Chaminade-Madonna College Prep (Hollywood, Fla.) topped a previously ranked team from Washington, D.C.

As for this week’s rankings, we’ve mentioned the three additions. There were 13 that remained the same, five moved up with No. 8 Central (Miami) rising six spots after a key road win over an Elite 25 fixture and four dipped. This weekend Arizona powers No. 9 Chandler and No. 21 Saguaro (Scottsdale) debut. In fact, Saguaro hosts No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) Friday. BC opened with a blowout win last Saturday.

No. 8 Central slid into the top-10 after dispatching then-No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Three games standout from the Elite 25. Clearly, the game of the week features No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 11 Corona (Calif.) Centennial on Friday. It might be a preview of the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division I playoffs. In Georgia, two of the top Class AAAAAAA team do battle with No. 6 Buford entertaining North Cobb (Kennesaw) Friday. Then in Arizona BC visits Saguaro Friday.

All quality matchups worth monitoring.

So are the following states which start play this week:

Delaware, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey (for some schools that did not play in Week Zero over this past weekend), New York, Oregon, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The following week, Connecticut and Massachusetts get going.

If you are homebound this weekend, GEICO ESPN High School Showcase will televise Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) Friday, 11 p.m. ET, on ESPNU. It’s first of 11 games spread over the next nine weeks into early November. Sit back and enjoy the games!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Sept. 6, chronicling the first four weeks of play.

Finally, Blue Star Media is adding national rankings for girls’ volleyball and they will debut Sept. 7. More details forthcoming regarding the Blue Star Media Elite 25 volleyball rankings.

Until then remain safe over the Labor Day Weekend. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings, Aug. 30, 2022

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

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Routed Allen (Texas), 52-14. The Braves led 38-7 at halftime. Louisville-bound QB Pierce Clarkson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for one.

Next: Friday at Bishop Amat (La Puente).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Rallied to stop then-No. 11 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 24-21. The Monarchs trailed 21-7 but won it with less than four minutes left when senior Andre Medina drilled a 25-yard field goal to snap a 21-all tie. Junior QB Elijah Brown fired three TDs as the Monarchs claimed their 19th consecutive win.

Next: Friday at No. 11 Corona (Calif.) Centennial.

3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Ridge Point (Missouri City), 44-14. Coach Tony Salazar’s regime opened with a blowout win.

Next: Friday at Converse Judson.

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (0-1)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated East St. Louis (Ill.), 20-13.

Next: Saturday at DeSoto (Texas).

5. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 49-21. The Mustangs led 42-7 at the break and coasted.

Next: Saturday at Spring.

6. Buford, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Defeated Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), 56-7. The Wolves host one of Georgia’s top teams in Class AAAAAAA.

Next: Friday vs. North Cobb (Kennesaw).

7. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), 48-37. The Raiders received a scare but came away with the win.

Next: Friday at Fort Myers.

8. Central, Miami (1-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Stunned No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton), 20-14. DB Shawn Smoak had a pick-six TD early in the fourth quarter, which was to be the game-winning score.

Next: Sept. 9 vs. Booker T. Washington (Miami).

9. Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.).

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

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Eastwood (El Paso), 66-14.

Next: Friday at Flower Mound Marcus.

11. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (2-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 42-7.

Next: Friday vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana).

12. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (1-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Lost to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-21. The Gaels coughed up a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter. They are off to the Hawaii this weekend.

Next: Friday at Saint Louis School (Honolulu).

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (0-1)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Lost to then- No. 14 Central (Miami), 20-14.

Next: Saturday at De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, Mo.).

14. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (2-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 42-10. The Eagles host Colorado’s top-ranked Class 5A team this weekend.

Next: Saturday vs. Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.).

15. Duncanville, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 23-10.

Next: Saturday vs. Jones (Orlando, Fla.).

16. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (2-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Eagle’s Landing (McDonough), 44-14.

Next: Saturday vs. Fort Dorchester (North Charleston, S.C.).

17. Denton (Texas) Guyer (1-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Rockwall-Heath, 47-14. QB Jackson Arnold hit on 12 of 18 passes for 204 yards and three scores, including two to WR Landon Sides.

Next: Friday at Aledo.

18. Katy, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Clear Springs (League City), 49-16.

Next: Friday vs. Atascocita (Humble).

19. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 20.

Recap: Defeated Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), 48-28. QB Nicholas Minicucci  threw for 279 yards and three TDs. RB Ronnie Health rushed for 105 yards and two scores on 22 carries.

Next: Friday at Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.).

20. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (1-0)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 49-14.

Next: Friday at No. 21 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

21. Saguaro, Scottsdale, Ariz. (0-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.).

22. Longview, Texas (1-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated McKinney Boyd, 36-10.

Next: Friday vs. Marshall.

23. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Los Alamitos, 56-27. The Patriots record a quality win as Ohio State-bound RB Mark Fletcher rushed for two scores.

Next: Friday vs. Lake Gibson (Lakeland).

24. Mission Viejo, Calif. (2-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim), 42-23.

Next: Friday vs. Poly (Long Beach).

25. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (1-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 23 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 35-28.

Next: Friday vs. Dillard (Fort Lauderdale).

Dropped: No. 23 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.); No. 24 Cathedral (Indianapolis) and No. 25 Martin Luther King (Detroit).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
2. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, N.J. (1-0)
3. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (1-0)
4. St. Joseph Prep, Philadelphia (0-1)
5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (1-0)

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 (2-0)
2. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (2-0)
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (2-0)
4. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (1-0)
5. Ankeny, Iowa (1-0)

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

Southland

1. Lipscomb Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (2-0)
2. Jesuit, Tampa, Fla. (1-0)
3. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (2-0)
4. Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (0-0)
5. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (2-0)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (1-0)
2. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (2-0)
3. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
4. Basha, Chandler, Ariz. (0-0)
5. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (1-0)

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.