TOMAHAWK CHOPPED: No. 1 St. John Bosco Braves (CA) ascend Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings after statement win; No. 25 Corona Centennial (CA) returns

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is a new No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings and it’s familiar one: St. John Bosco of Bellflower, California.

Whenever these southern California rivals hook up, the unbelievable becomes reality. St. John Bosco never trailed and won the nationally-themed matchup over previous No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 28-0. The ballyhooed game sold out in three minutes (about 6,200 fans) and home team hammered their rivals into submission.

Quite impressively.

No. 4 Mater Dei dipped three positions after being shutout for the first time since 2011.

We needed the Braves (7-1) to roll out a dominating victory and they did. In its first seven games, Mater Dei (7-1) did not trail for a single second until last Friday. The Braves controlled the line of scrimmage and the defense flew to the ball. It was a sight to behold. Mater Dei dropped to 5-8 in the last 13 meetings and have now lost two straight in the series, including playoffs.

Expect the Braves to win their final two games and clinch the Trinity League title and the top seed in the upcoming California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 1 playoffs that get underway next month.

No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) or No. 3 Duncanville (Texas) were in line to take over the top spot if Mater Dei slipped but the Braves overachieved and are the new No. 1 … for now. Gorman won’t be challenged the rest of the way in Nevada and will go unbeaten. Adding Gorman to the Trinity League for football would be a great option but the 277-mile one-way trip to southern California is an obstacle. The Gaels (9-0) would play six California parochial schools, including five Catholics, and return to Nevada for the state playoffs.

Doubt it would happen but it’s a powerful thought.

In the Long Star State, Duncanville has a tougher path to the Texas Class 6A, Division I championship but would be worthy Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champion.

Elsewhere in the Elite 25, No. 11 Buford (Ga.) dipped four slots after falling at No. 7 Mill Creek (Hoschton), 31-24, in a meeting of Georgia’s top two Class AAAAAAA teams. Mill Creek was promoted seven positions into the top-10. Great theater but with a Heidi Bowl finish. Here’s why.

As good as the game was, ESPN2 dropped the ball at a critical time. With less than a minute left and Buford driving for a potential tying touchdown and the nation’s top-rated quarterback and Georgia recruit Dylan Raiola directing the offense, the game was abruptly switched to a streaming service. Apparently, a meaningless NBA exhibition game between Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers took precedence. Most viewers missed the ending, similar to the 1968 AFL game between the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders in which NBC broke away from the game with a one left, leaving the East Coast viewers missing the final minute rally by the Raiders.

Really? ESPN is unwatchable for the most part and now this? Too bad. Rotten call. Shame on ESPN!

In New Jersey, the State Game of the Year was pushed back a day due to inclement weather and it did not disappoint as No. 24 Bergen Catholic (Oradell) edged rival St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 28-23, on Sunday at The Jack in Oradell. The teams could meet again in the NJSIAA Non-Public A playoffs next month with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Nov. 28.

The game was tied at 7 in the third quarter when BC junior QB Dom Campanile fired two TD passes during a stretch of 2 minutes, 18 seconds and a 21-7 lead. SJR (5-2) fought back as RB Yasmin Willis rushed for three scores. BC’s opportunistic defense intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line but the offense could not pick up a first down and conceded a safety to end the scoring with 1:42.

SJR had a final chance to win down five points but BC brought the pressure and sacked QB Patrick Grusser twice, including second time on fourth down on the BC 33 with 13.7 seconds left.

A rematch would be nice with New Jersey hardware on the line.

No. 25 Corona (Calif.) Centennial is the lone addition to the Elite 25. The Huskies return after a string of lopsided wins. The Huskies (6-2) have two games left before the CIF Southern Section playoffs are bracketed.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Oct. 24. Halloween is a week out–trick or treat!

For some teams, the playoffs are here but in Anchorage, Alaska the end is near. Kenai Central is the first state football champion of the 2023 season, defeating Barrow (Utqiagvik) and, 20-8, in the Division III final. This weekend, West Anchorage and South Anchorage play for the Division I title and Soldotna and Lathrop (Fairbanks) meet in Division II Saturday in Anchorage.

We’ll have both results from The Last Frontier.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Oct. 17, 2023

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-1)

Previous rank: 5.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 28-0. RB Cameron Jones scored twice in the first half for a 14-0 lead. Jones rushed 1 yard for TD and caught a pass for 20 yards for another. He also carried 21 times for 134 yards.

Next: Friday at JSerra (San Juan Capistrano).

2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (9-0)^

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Desert Pines (Las Vegas), 56-12. The Gaels close out the regular season at home this weekend.

Next: Friday vs. Coronado (Henderson).

3. Duncanville, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield, 51-0. Junior QB Keelon Russell, an SMU pledge, passed for 285 yards and five TDs in the first half. Russell tossed three scores to sophomore Zach Turner and two to junior Dakorien Moore. The Panthers are 4-0 in District 11-6A.

Next: Thursday vs. Skyline (Dallas).

4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (7-1)

Previous: 1.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 5 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 28-0. Entering the game, the Monarchs did not trail once this season. That’s over!

Next: Thursday at Orange (Calif.) Lutheran.

5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Pine Forest (Pensacola), 55-14.

Next: Thursday vs. Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.)

6. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (7-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Avant Garde Academy (Hollywood).

7. Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Defeated then-No. 7 Buford, 31-24. The Hawks stretched their win streak to 15 games dating back to the 2022 season and tallied the game-winner with 80 seconds left when Justin Content caught scoring pass to break a 24-all tie.

Next: Friday vs. Collins Hill (Suwanee).

8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated West Brook (Beaumont), 62-14. The Mustangs have a battle for District 21-6A supremacy.

Next: Thursday vs. Humble.

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

Previous: 9.

Recap: Defeated Fort Lauderdale, 42-0.

Next: Friday at Monarch (Coconut Creek).

10. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (6-1)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Defeated Father Judge (Philadelphia), 55-19. The Hawks travel Friday to one of the top teams in Maryland.

Next: Friday at Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.).

11. Buford, Ga. (6-1)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Lost to then-No. 14 Mill Creek (Hoschton), 31-24. The Bulldogs surrendered a late touchdown and a last-chance drive stalled.

Next: Friday at Dacula.

12. DeSoto, Texas (6-0)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Defeated Mansfield Lake Ridge, 64-3.

Next: Friday at Cedar Hill.

13. Westlake, Austin, Texas (7-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Defeated Dripping Springs, 27-14.

Next: Friday at Austin High.

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

Previous: 13.

Recap: Defeated Camden County (Kingsland), 37-16.

Next: Friday at Lowndes County (Valdosta).

15. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (7-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw), 49-0.

Next: Friday at Cherokee (Canton).

16. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (8-0)

Previous: 16.

Recap: Defeated Alemany (Mission Hills), 47-0.

Next: Friday vs. Serra (Gardena).

17. Bixby, Okla. (7-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Broken Arrow, 51-7. Three games remain in the regular season.

Next: Friday at Westmoore (Oklahoma City).

18. Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo. (8-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Shut out Eaglecrest (Centennial), 21-0. A stout defense has registered three straight clean sheets. Two games are left in the regular season.

Next: Friday vs. Arapahoe (Centennial).

19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale), 63-16.

Next: Friday vs. Naples.

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

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Herriman, 45-24. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson threw for four TDs and rushed for another one. WR Tate Kjar nabbed two scoring passes. For the season, Wilson has accounted for 44 scores, including 38 in the air. The Chargers have a first-round bye in the Class 6A playoffs.

Next: Oct. 27 vs. Copper Hills (West Jordan) or Layton in Class 6A second round.

21. Norland, Miami (6-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated No. 20 Central (Miami), 29-26. For the second straight week, Vikings will face a Florida reigning state champion.

Next: Friday vs. Columbus (Miami).

22. Massillon (Ohio) Washington (9-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated Warren G. Harding (Warren), 48-14. One of the nation’s top rivalries is renewed this weekend in northeast Ohio.

Next: Saturday vs. Canton McKinley.

23. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (8-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Moeller (Cincinnati), 28-21. Coach Tom Lombardo picked up his 150^th regular season victory.

Next: Friday at Archbishop Hoban (Akron).

24. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (6-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 28-23. Junior QB Dom Campanile tossed two third-quarter TDs and Rutgers-bound RB Kaj Sanders ran 25 yards for the eventual winning score in the fourth quarter. The regular season is down to two weekends.

Next: Friday at St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

25. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (6-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Defeated Vista Murietta (Murietta), 62-14.

Next: Friday at Murietta Valley (Murietta).

Dropped: No. 20 Central (Miami).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Imhotep Institute Prep, Philadelphia (8-0)
2. Freedom, Woodbridge, Va. (5-0)
3. Central Bucks West, Doylestown, Pa. (8-0)
4. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (6-1)
5. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (6-1)

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

Midwest

1. Mount Carmel, Chicago (8-0)
2. Belleville, Mich. (8-0)
3. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (8-0)
4. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (8-0)
5. Brownsburg, Ind. (9-0)

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

Southland

1. Central, Miami (3-3)
2. Gainesville, Ga. (7-0)
3. Grimsley, Greensboro, N.C. (8-0)
4. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (7-0)
5. Edna Karr, New Orleans (6-0)

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

Far West

1. Centennial, Peoria, Ariz. (7-0)
2. Kahuku, Hawaii (9-1)^
3. Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (7-0)
4. O’Dea, Seattle (7-0)
5. West Linn, Ore. (7-0)

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

^ Includes forfeit victories

Records are 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. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.