BENSALEM, Pa. – There were three pairings involving teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings and two from the top-3 recorded big-time wins showing they are worthy of such lofty status.
No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) captured games against Elite 25 teams.
There were no additions to the Elite 25 but for the second straight week, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) dropped a game and in the rankings. The Panthers have lost to a pair of teams from the Elite 25 and have cratered from inside in the top-5 to the cusp of being vanquished. The Panthers will face a formidable foe in Illinois powerhouse East St. Louis.
Ten teams, including the top-6, held their rank. No. 8 North Shore (Galena Park, Texas) and No. 9 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) advanced two slots while No. 11 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) dipped three after a 17-14 decision against IMG Academy in Ocean City, N.J.
Finally, we get a chance to see No. 6 Central (Miami) play. The Rockets are headed out west and into the Nevada desert for a national matchup at No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on Friday. That’s as good as it gets and a fantastic way to kick off the month of September.
Well, that’s it for another week. The month of August will be history this week and the East Coast schools will return to school shortly. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend and drive safely because the roads will be jammed.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 football rankings return on Sept. 5.
Additionally, the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings will drop next week. Keep up on X (formerly Twitter) for the volleyball announcement.
Until then stay safe. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Football Rankings, Aug. 29, 2023
1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (2-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Recap: Defeated Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), 48-14. The Monarchs took control early with three touchdowns in the first half for a 21-0 lead.
Next: Saturday vs. Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.).
2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (2-0)
Previous: 2.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 20-7.
Next: Friday vs. Friendship Academy (Washington, D.C.).
3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (2-0)
Previous: 3.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 9 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia), 17-14.
Next: Thursday vs. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.).
4. Duncanville, Texas (1-0)
Previous: 4.
Recap: Defeated South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 34-13. Junior QB Keelon Russell threw for 226 yards and WR Dakorien Moore posted 281 receiving yards and three TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. Rockledge (Fla.).
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (2-0)
Previous: 5.
Recap: Defeated Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 60-15, in the Nike Kickoff Classic in Beaverton, Ore.
Next: Friday vs. No. 6 Central (Miami).
6. Central, Miami (0-0)
Previous: 6.
Recap: Idle.
Next: Sept. 1 at No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
7. Buford, Ga. (2-0)
Previous: 8.
Recap: Defeated Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), 10-7.
Next: Friday at North Cobb (Kennesaw).
8. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (1-0)
Previous: 10.
Recap: Defeated The Woodlands, 38-17.
Next: Friday vs. Spring.
9. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (2-0)
Previous: 11.
Recap: Defeated Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 28-7.
Next: Saturday vs. Rock Creek Christian Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.).
10. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (0-1)
Previous: 7.
Recap: Lost to No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 20-7.
Next: Friday vs. Fort Myers.
11. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia (0-1)
Previous: 9.
Recap: Lost to No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 17-14.
Next: Saturday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) to be played in Wilmington, Del.
12. DeSoto, Texas (1-0)
Previous: 12.
Recap: Defeated Allen, 39-7. It was the first-ever win over Allen in five tries. The bye week comes early for the Eagles.
Next: Sept. 9 at South Oak Cliff (Dallas).
13. Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Hollywood, Fla. (1-0)
Previous: 13.
Recap: Defeated then-No. 15 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 35-14. RB Davion Gause ran for 182 yards and two TDs. Junior DT Donta Simpson had a 26-yard pick-six to give the Lions a 7-6 in the second quarter and sophomore Bryant Junius added another late in the fourth.
Next: Friday at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale).
14. Westlake, Austin, Texas (1-0)
Previous: 14.
Recap: Defeated Ridge Point (Missouri City), 31-21.
Next: Friday vs. Converse Judson.
15. Katy, Texas (1-0)
Previous: 16.
Recap: Defeated Clear Springs, 34-22.
Next: Friday at Atascocita (Humble).
16. Colquitt County, Norman Park, Ga. (2-0)
Previous: 17.
Recap: Defeated Stockbridge, 47-27.
Next: Friday at Tift County (Tifton).
17. Basha, Chandler, Ariz. (1-0)
Previous: 18.
Recap: Defeated Westwood (Mesa), 66-7.
Next: Friday vs. Highland (Gilbert).
18. Langston Hughes, Fairburn, Ga. (2-0)
Previous: 19.
Recap: Defeated McEachern (Powder Springs), 40-9.
Next: Saturday vs. Butler (Matthews, N.C.).
19. American Heritage, Plantation, Fla. (1-0)
Previous: 20.
Recap: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 45-20.
Next: Friday vs. Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville).
20. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (1-0)
Previous: 21.
Recap: Defeated Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic, 24-6. Rutgers-commit RB Kaj Sanders ran for two TDs.
Next: Saturday vs. Iona Prep (New Rochelle, N.Y.).
21. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (1-1)
Previous: 22.
Recap: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 34-21. RB Cornell Hatcher rushed for 154 yards and three scores to help rally the Huskies.
Next: Saturday vs. Punahou School (Honolulu) to be played in San Diego.
22. Mission Viejo, Calif. (2-0)
Previous: 23.
Recap: Defeated Citrus Valley (Redlands), 38-14.
Next: Friday vs. Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.).
23. Bixby, Okla. (1-0)
Previous: 24.
Recap: Defeated Owasso, 42-16.
Next: Friday vs. Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.).
24. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (2-1)
Previous: 25.
Recap: Defeated Lone Peak (Highland), 51-36. Utah-bound QB Isaac Wilson threw five TD passes. The Chargers rolled to a 37-7 lead at the break.
Next: Friday at Farmington.
25. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (0-2)
Previous: 15.
Recap: Lost to No. 13 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 35-14.
Next: Saturday at East St. Louis (Ill.).
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
East
- St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, N.J. (1-0)
- Central Catholic, Pittsburgh (1-0)
- Archbishop Spalding, Severn, Md. (1-0)
- Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y. (0-0)
- DePaul Catholic, Wayne, N.J. (0-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Mount Carmel, Chicago (1-0)
- Ben Davis, Indianapolis (2-0)
- Belleville, Mich. (1-0)
- Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (2-0)
- Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Ill. (1-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Mill Creek, Hoschton, Ga. (2-0)
- Walton, Marietta, Ga. (2-0)
- Thompson, Alabaster, Ala. (1-0)
- Starkville, Miss. (1-0)
- St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (2-0)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (2-0)
- Kahuku, Hawaii (3-0)^
- Orange (Calif.) Lutheran (2-0)
- Liberty, Peoria, Ariz. (1-0)
- Serra, San Mateo, Calif. (1-0)
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
^ Includes a forfeit victory
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 2021 season. Follow him on Twitter (or X) at @clawlor.
