MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

Video: Top 10 Games of the Week
No. 1 Mater Dei and No. 5 St. John Bosco square off in a huge Trinity League showdown.

One of the biggest games of the season just happens to be a Trinity League regular-season showdown as as St. John Bosco and Mater Dei clash. St. John Bosco has won seven of the last eight meetings against No. 1 Mater Dei, but this might be the best Monarchs teams in school history. The Braves have reeled off five consecutive wins since their season-opening loss in Florida against St. Thomas Aquinas. Mater Dei is 6-0 and averaging nearly 50 points per game.

Texas has some big games this weekend but none bigger than Austin Westlake and Lake Travis. This is the 13th matchup between the two since 2006 and Lake Travis has won 10 straight. The Cavaliers have won four in a row since their season opening loss to Judson (Converse, Texas) and Westlake is perfect at 6-0.

No. 4 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) has one of its toughest tests Friday against an undefeated Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) team. The Patriots have won 18 games in a row dating back to last year and are trying to win their fourth state title in a five year span this season.
MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. No. 5 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. (All times are local) @ El Camino College (Torrance, Calif.)

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Top Players

Mater Dei: QB JT Daniels (6-2, 205), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (5-11.5, 190), OT Tommy Brown (6-6.5, 315), LB Solomon Tuliaupupu (6-2, 220) and WR Nikko Remigio (5-10, 160)

St. John Bosco: S Jaiden Woodbey (6-2, 205), CB Chris Steele (6-1, 190), S Stephan Blaylock (5-10, 175), DE Cole Aubrey (6-3, 225) and QB DJ Uiagalelei (6-4, 190)

Storyline

This is one of the biggest regular season games of the year. The Trinity League is the toughest in the nation and the winner has the inside track to the league title. The Braves used a two-quarterback system in their 42-21 win against Orange Lutheran, so expect Re-al Mitchell and Uiagalelei to split time this Friday. That won't be the case with Mater Dei which has the top rated quarterback in the Class of 2019 under center.

Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) @ Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Top Players

Lake Travis: WR Garrett Wilson (6-0, 180), QB Matthew Baldwin (6-2.5, 195), WR Hudson Card (6-2, 170), TE Kyle Wakefield (6-1, 210) and S Nathan Parodi (5-8.5, 160)

Westlake: RB Nakia Watson (5-11, 210), LB Jake Ehlinger (6-0, 205), QB Taylor Anderson (5-11, 170), DE David Neil (6-2, 220) and DE Braden Cassity (6-2, 240)

Storyline

This game features two of the most talented teams in the state and also features two of the best coaches in Texas high school football history. Todd Dodge and Hank Carter have eight Texas state championships combined. Westlake had to replace Sam Ehlinger, now the starting quarterback at Texas, but that hasn't stopped the Chaparals from winning games in 2017. They have its toughest test this Friday against the defending 6A-DI UIL Texas state champs.

St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) @ Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Saturday, 1 p.m.

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Top Players

St. Peter's Prep: LB Shayne Simon (6-3, 215), DT Jayson Ademilola (6-3, 290), DE Justin Ademilola (6-3, 240), QB Maasai Maynor (6-0, 180) and ATH Chase Jones (6-2, 205)

Bergen Catholic: QB Johnny Langan (6-3, 220), RB Josh McKenzie (5-9, 185), LB Anthony Corbin (5-10, 190), LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste (6-5, 215) and RB Rahmir Johnson (5-10, 175)

Storyline

If it wasn't for the Trinity League, the North Jersey Super United Red League would lay claim to the toughest in high school football. The winner of this game will be alone in first place. Since Bergen Catholic lost to the No. 1 team in the country the Crusaders have bounced back strong with two double-digit wins against Paramus Catholic and St. Joseph Regional. St. Peter's Prep's only loss this season was against the No. 8 team in the country, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia), and the Marauders have won three in a row since that 28-21 loss.

No. 4 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) @ Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

American Heritage: CB Patrick Surtain Jr. (6-2, 180), CB Tyson Campbell (6-2.5, 180), DE Andrew Chatfield (6-2, 220), DT Nesta Silvera (6-2, 310) and WR Anthony Schwartz (6-0, 170)

Cardinal Gibbons: QB Nik Scalzo (5-11, 185), DE Khris Bogle (6-4, 205), RB Vincent Davis (5-9, 155), WR Carlos Sandy (5-8, 155) and CB Marquis Williams (5-8, 155)

Storyline

Both teams enter undefeated and Patrick Surtain still hasn't dropped a game as the head coach of American Heritage. In 2016, he became the first coach in school history to finish a season 14-0 and with the talent he has this year there's a chance the Patriots could run the table for the second consecutive year. Cardinal Gibbons is the Patriots toughest test left on the schedule before the postseason starts.

No. 3 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) @ Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Top Players

Grayson: LB Owen Pappoe (6-0, 205), RB Ronald Thompkins (5-11, 190), OT Wanya Morris (6-5, 270), WR Kenyon Jackson (6-5, 200) and QB D.J. Irons (6-4, 200)

Archer: CB Taiyon Palmer (6-0, 170), CB Andrew Booth (6-0, 180), S Jalyn Phillips (6-1, 190), OT Joshua Ezeudu (6-4.5, 295) and DT Will Choloh (6-1, 275)

Storyline

With two of the best defenses in Georgia, Grayson and Archer each enter undefeated with the winner owning first place outright in the 7A-8 region. This will be the eighth meeting between the two since 2010 and Grayson has won six of seven, including three in a row.

Pickerington Central (Ohio) @ Pickerington North (Ohio)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Pickerington Central: QB Demeatric Crenshaw (6-2, 195), TE Trenton Gillison (6-5, 220), CB Xavier Henderson (6-0, 190), TE Alex Morgan (6-5, 245) and CB Jeremiah Wood (6-1, 195)

Pickerington North: QB Jimmy Weirick (5-11, 175), LB Nick Giardina (5-11, 195), DE Alex Williams (6-7, 250), CB Tyler Potts (5-11, 170) and LB Ben Johnson (6-2, 190)

Storyline

First place is on the line Friday in the Ohio Capital League. Both teams enter 6-1 and are both 2-0 in league play. Ohio is one of the top areas in high school football and two of the best in the state face off Friday night. This is the 13th meeting between the two since 2008 and Central has bragging rights winning nine of the previous 12, including four straight.

Plano (Texas) @ No. 8 Allen (Texas)
7:30 p.m.

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Top Players

Plano: RB Kyron Cumby (5-7, 160), S Seagol Mbua (5-10, 185), QB Jonathan Taylor (5-10, 180), RB Cody Crist (6-0, 185) and C A.K. Inyang  (6-1, 285)

Allen: QB Grant Tisdale (6-1, 205), WR Theo Wease (6-3, 190), RB Brock Sturges (5-10, 200), DT Jayden Jernigan (6-1, 270) and WR Carson Schleker (5-9, 180)

Storyline

Plano was off to a 4-0 start, its best start in nearly a decade, before losing last week to an unbeaten McKinney team. The Wildcats haven't won more than seven games in a season since 2008 and are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Allen enters on a 50-game regular season win streak and this might be its most talented team since Kyler Murray was under center.

Northwestern (Miami) vs. Carol City (Miami)
Thursday, 8 p.m. @ Traz Powell Stadium (Miami)

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Northwestern: QB Tutu Atwell (5-8, 155), CB Divaad Wilson (6-0, 180), OLB Samuel Brooks (6-1.5, 195), DE Demetreius Mayes (6-2, 235) and WR Nigel Bethel (5-11, 160)

Carol City: RB Camron Davis (5-9.5, 190), S Randy Russell (5-10, 180), RB Nay'quan Wright (5-8, 185), DE Aaron Morgan (6-3.5, 240) and LB Yasir Abdullah (6-0.5, 190)

Storyline

This game will be featured Thursday night on ESPN 2 and showcases some of the best talent in Florida. Carol City has won four in a row since a season opening loss to Deerfield Beach. The Chiefs haven't allowed a single point since and still have't given up a touchdown. Northwestern is just as talented on the defensive side of the ball led by 2018 Florida commit Wilson. This is a huge 6A-District 16 matchup and the winner puts themselves at the top with No. 12 Central (Miami).

Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) @ Tift County (Tifton, Ga.)
7:30 p.m.

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Lowndes: QB Michael Barrett (5-11, 205), OT Jalen Goss (6-7, 265), WR Tayvonn Kyle (6-0, 160), RB Travis Tisdale (5-8, 165) and CB Terrell Belcher (5-5, 150)

Tift County: OLB Andrew Johnson (6-2, 220), WR Rashod Bateman (6-1.5, 180), QB Griffin Collier (6-2, 205), S Jeffery Butler (5-11, 160) and LB Deontae Overstreet (5-9, 170)

Storyline

The 7A-Region 1 bracket is filled with some big-time teams. Lowndes, Tift County and Colquitt County are a combined 20-1 in 2017. This week's winner will be the lone undefeated team in Region 1. Barrett has been one of the best quarterbacks in the state along with Collier. Lowndes has owned the series since 2004, having won 10 of the previous 13.

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. @ Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa)

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JSerra: DE Abdul-Malik McClain (6-3, 225), WR Munir McClain (6-4, 210), QB Matt Robinson (6-1, 175), DE Shawn Nielsen (6-2, 255) and WR Tarik Luckett (6-2.5, 185)

Orange Lutheran: WR Kyle Ford (6-2, 200), QB Ryan Hilinski (6-3.5, 220), LB Jackson Cloyd (6-3, 220), WR Logan Loya (5-11.5, 170) and WR Cameron Gardner (5-10.5, 170)

Storyline

JSerra Catholic is ready to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the Trinity League. The Lions opened league play with a big win over previously undefeated Servite. Up next is a very good Orange Lutheran team. This game is loaded with some of California's best — Ford is a top wide receiver and the McClain brothers are both big-time. This will be the 12th meeting between the two since 2006 and Orange Lutheran has won seven of 11, but JSerra has won four of the last six.