BENSALEM, Pa. – A combination of numerous byes and wins keeps the latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings nearly intact.

The only addition this week is No. 23 Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), the defending Class 3A from Washington, who improved to 4-0 with a convincing victory over Lakeside (Seattle), 56-7.

The three Games of the Week, ones that will impact the Elite 25 rankings are No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) entertaining St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.), New Jersey’s top overall team. SJR still has league games with powerhouses Bergen Catholic (Oradell) and Paramus Catholic. No. 9 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) travels around the Beltway to St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) in a key Washington Catholic Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday aftenoon. Last weekend, SJC defeated Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) to share the conference lead with DeMatha. In Cincinnati, No. 22 La Salle visits archrival Moeller in a Greater Catholic League South donnybrook.

With the calendar flipping to October, byes come into effect and regular season are approaching the midway point. Just think: The playoffs in some states are about a month away. The next Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings will appear October 6. Until then please support your local high schools and perhaps we’ll see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Football Rankings, Sept. 29, 2015

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Recap: Defeated Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), 38-7. The Gaels defense was too much as they pulled away in the second half.

Next: Friday at Shadow Ridge (Las Vegas).

2. Allen, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 2.

Recap: Defeated Flower Mound Marcus, 38-28. QB Mitchell Jonke passed for two TDs as the Eagles survived another scare from a tough district opponent.

Next: Friday at Lewisville.

3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)

Previous: 3.

Recap: Embarrassed St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.), 56-14, in Centennial Classic in Ramsey, N.J.

Next: Oct. 9 at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

4. Euless (Texas) Trinity (5-0)

Previous: 4.

Recap: Defeated Heritage (Colleyville), 59-33. RB JaRon Wilson rushed for 133 yards and two scores in the district opener.

Next: Friday vs. Haltom (Haltom City).

5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (4-0)

Previous: 5.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday vs. Valencia.

6. Katy, Texas (5-0)

Previous: 6.

Recap: Wiped out Taylor (Katy), 41-3. The Tigers head into their bye week having allowed only 10 points in five outings.

Next: Oct. 10 vs. Seven Lakes (Katy).

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (4-0)

Previous: 7.

Recap: Idle. Another foe from New Jersey’s power conference (Big North United) is a donnybrook.

Next: Friday vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.).

8. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 8.

Recap: Defeated Hallandale (Hallandale Beach), 36-28. The Raiders scored the final 13 points in the fourth quarter.

Next: Oct. 9 at Deerfield Beach.

9. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (4-0)

Previous: 9.

Recap: Shut out St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown), 49-0. The Stags get off to a flying start in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play, but have a stiffer test this weekend.

Next: Saturday at St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.).

10. Cedar Hill, Texas (4-0)

Previous: 10.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Midlothian.

11. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (3-1)

Previous: 11.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Granite Bay.

12. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (4-0)

Previous: 12.

Recap: Idle. The Packers are well rested for a another title run following their bye.

Next: Friday vs. Lowndes County (Valdosta).

13. Clay-Chalkville, Pinson, Ala. (4-0)

Previous: 13.

Recap: Idle.

Next: Friday at Center Point.

14. Central, Miami (4-1)

Previous: 14.

Recap: Edged Booker T. Washington (Miami), 35-28.

Next: Saturday at Carol City (Miami).

15. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (5-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Berkmar (Lilburn), 70-6.

Next: Friday at South Gwinnett (Snellville).

16. Ocean Lakes, Virginia Beach, Va. (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Recap: Defeated Green Run (Virginia Beach), 55-6.

Next: Friday vs. Kempsville (Virginia Beach).

17. Cibolo (Texas) Steele (5-0)

Previous: 17.

Recap: Defeated Smithson Valley (Spring Branch), 42-16, in the District 25-6A opener. Bryson Denley rushed for three TDs.

Next: Friday at Schertz Clemens.

18. Mainland, Daytona Beach, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 18.

Recap: Defeated Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 28-7. The Buccaneers tallied 14 points in the fourth period to pull away from a 14-7 scoreline.

Next: Friday at Deltona.

19. Apopka, Fla. (5-0)

Previous: 19.

Recap: Defeated University (Orlando), 44-0.

Next: Friday vs. West Orange (Winter Garden).

20. Archer, Lawrenceville, Ga. (3-1)

Previous: 21.

Recap: Defeated Parkview (Lilburn), 42-14. Jamyest Williams scored four TDs, including one off an 88-yard INT return.

Next: Friday at Berkmar (Lilburn)

21. Fayetteville, Ark. (4-0)

Previous: 22.

Recap: Defeated Fort Smith Northside, 46-19.

Next: Friday vs. Fort Smith Southside.

22. La Salle, Cincinnati (5-0)

Previous: 23.

Recap: Defeated previously unbeaten Northwest (Cincinnati), 56-17. Junior RB Christian Turner rumbled for 162 yards and three TDs. Now the Lancers have a tough one in the Greater Catholic League South.

Next: Friday at Moeller (Cincinnati).

23. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (4-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Recap: Crushed Lakeside  (Seattle), 56-7.

Next: Friday vs. Seattle Prep.

24. Bingham, South Jordan, Utah (5-1)

Previous: 24.

Recap: Defeated Hunter (West Valley City), 27-6.

Next: Friday at Cottonwood (Salt Lake City).

25. Chandler, Ariz. (5-1)

Previous: 25.

Recap: Defeated Mountain View (Mesa), 47-13.

Next: Friday at Basha (Chandler).

Dropped: No. 20 Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Lake Taylor, Norfolk, Va. (4-0)

2. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (4-0)

3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (3-1)

4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (4-0)

5. Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Va. (3-0)

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

Midwest

1. Homewood-Flossmoor, Ill. (5-0)fr

2. Christian Brothers College, St. Louis (6-0)..all fr

3. Eden Prairie, Minn. (6-0)…allFRI

4. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (4-1)

5. Colerain, Cincinnati (4-1)

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

Southland

1. Byrne, Duncan, S.C. (5-0)

2. South Panola, Batesville, Miss. (5-0)

3. Spartanburg, S.C. (5-0)..fr

4. Male, Louisville, Ky. (6-0)..fr

5. Jenks, Okla. (3-0)…all FRI

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-0)

2. Folsom, Calif. (5-0)…fr—fr-th-fr3

3. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (4-0)

4. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (3-1)

5. Bishop Amat, La Puente, Calif. (4-1)

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 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.