MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

It's just the start of the high school football season in many parts of the country this weekend, but there's still a big-game feel surrounding many matchups on the schedule.

The MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week includes three contests being played in NFL stadiums, including the first game of the year pitting Top 25 teams against each other when No. 10 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) takes on No. 24 Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) at the Sollenberger Classic in University of Phoenix Stadium.

Meanwhile, No. 20 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) will play the first of six out-of-state games on its schedule this season. The Shamrocks travel to Tennessee to take on traditional power Brentwood Academy.

Here's a look at this week's Top 10 games of the week along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland and Jamie DeMoney.

MAXPREPS' TOP 10 FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE WEEK

Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. Kell (Marietta, Ga.)
For No. 25 Grayson, the key to fulfilling lofty expectations could come down to how its talented but overall inexperienced defense performs this season. The unit features only three returning starters but has one of the nation's most heralded junior prospects in linebacker Robert Nkemdiche. Offensively, the Rams have an experienced front line and are set at quarterback with Nick Schuessler, who threw for more than 1,500 yards last season. This is the first of a quadrupleheader of games at the 20th annual Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome.

For Kell, there couldn't be a better start to the season than a win over a nationally ranked opponent – during an event bearing its own namesake, no less. The Longhorns have 12 returning starters including all-state linebacker Jordan Chambers. It's the second consecutive year these teams have met in the opener, with the Longhorns beating Grayson last season, 13-10.

Mitch Stephens: Grayson 35, Kell 21
Steve Montoya: Grayson 21, Kell 6
Stephen Spiewak: Grayson 21, Kell 7
Kevin Askeland: Grayson 35, Kell 6
Jamie DeMoney: Grayson 25, Kell 9

Butler (Matthews, N.C.) at Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)
Butler may have its toughest test of the season in its first game. The Bulldogs – winners of back-to-back Class 4AA titles and 31 straight games – play Mallard Creek, the team some have tapped as the next top dog in Charlotte-area football. Brian Hales, who was elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach at Butler when Mike Newsome left for A.L. Brown (Kannapolis, N.C.) this summer, welcomes back nine starters on offense. Included is top-notch junior quarterback Riley Ferguson, who threw for more than 2,900 yards last season, and his highly athletic classmate Uriah LeMay at receiver. Linebacker Peter Kalambayi, another explosive junior, leads a defense heavy on talent but light on starting experience.

Mallard Creek went 13-1 last season but was knocked out of the playoffs before getting a crack at Butler. It has seven starters back on both sides of the ball, but must replace dynamic quarterback Marquise Williams (now at North Carolina). Florida-bound offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (6-6, 275) and returning 1,000-yard rusher Jela Duncan will be counted on to ignite the Mavericks' offensive attack.

Mitch Stephens: Mallard Creek 28, Butler 21
Steve Montoya: Mallard Creek 27, Butler 14
Stephen Spiewak: Butler 28, Mallard Creek 24
Kevin Askeland: Butler 40, Mallard Creek 28
Jamie DeMoney: Butler 38, Mallard Creek 31

Cook (Adel, Ga.) at Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)
Though it's a Class 2A program and has a smaller enrollment than Colquitt County, Cook should enter the game with full confidence it can not only hang with, but beat last year's Class 5A state runner-up. That's because the Hornets did in fact defeat Colquitt County, 15-9, to open the 2010 season. Cook (12-1 last year) returns only two starters on both sides of the ball but will enjoy the veteran leadership of all-state quarterback Zack Folsom, who threw for more than 2,000 yards as a junior.

Colquitt County recovered from an 0-3 start and finished with a rarely achieved 9-6 record last season. It was the eighth time in 11 seasons that coach Rush Propst led a team to the state championship game (his previous seven were at Hoover in Alabama). A total of 11 starters return for the Packers, including Georgia-committed receiver Ty Smith and Southern Miss-bound offensive lineman Bryce Giddens.

Mitch Stephens: Colquitt County 27, Cook 21
Steve Montoya: Colquitt County 21, Cook 7
Stephen Spiewak: Colquitt County 17, Cook 10
Kevin Askeland: Colquitt County 28, Cook 14
Jamie DeMoney: Colquitt County 34, Cook 16

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
This is the third time in four seasons that No. 10 Bishop Gorman has taken on one of Arizona's defending state champions in its opener. The Gaels lost to nationally ranked Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 24-17, last season and lost 16-6 to Brophy (Phoenix) in 2008. However, this could be the best team Bishop Gorman has fielded. Ten regulars from an offense that averaged 46 points per game last season are back, including six players who will be third-year starters. Junior quarterback Jarrett Solomon has thrown for more than 5,000 yards with 56 touchdowns in his career and senior running back Shaquille Powell has run for 47 scores. A veteran offensive line that averages more than 280 pounds is anchored by top recruits Ronnie Stanley and Ron Scoggins. Coach Tony Sanchez says his main area for concern this season is the development of a young but talented defensive front. (Bishop Gorman preview story ahead of the Sollenberger Classic)

Likewise, No. 24 Chaparral also has some question marks along its defensive front seven but coach Charlie Ragle has every reason to feel confident about his offense. Texas recruit Connor Brewer begins his third season as the Firebirds' quarterback. He threw for more than 2,600 yards last season and owns a 27-1 record as a starter. Senior receiver-defensive back Davonte Neal was the Arizona Republic's State Player of the Year last season. He accounted for more than 1,500 total yards of offense with 23 touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: Bishop Gorman 28, Chaparral 27
Steve Montoya: Bishop Gorman 35, Chaparral 28
Stephen Spiewak: Bishop Gorman 28, Chaparral 21
Kevin Askeland: Chaparral 17, Bishop Gorman 14
Jamie DeMoney: Bishop Gorman 31, Chaparral 28

Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) at Memphis University (Tenn.)
Cornelius Elder, one of Tennessee's top prospects in the Class of 2013, leads a group of 11 starters back from a 10-2 team last season. As a tailback, Elder ran for more than 1,800 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. He is also one of the top defenders on the team as a free safety. The Tigers' biggest question marks are on the offensive line and under center after all-state quarterback Drew Parker signed with Furman.

Memphis University should have enough experience and talent to make a serious run at a third Division II-AA state title in four seasons. The Owls have four senior offensive linemen back including Mississippi recruit Ben Still. A group of seven returning starters on defense is led by safety Alex Dale, who is committed to Cincinnati.

Mitch Stephens: Ensworth 34, Memphis University 20
Steve Montoya: Ensworth 20, Memphis University 7
Stephen Spiewak: Ensworth 21, Memphis University 14
Kevin Askeland: Ensworth 36, Memphis University 28
Jamie DeMoney: Memphis University 17, Ensworth 14


Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) at Brentwood Academy (Tenn.)
This is the first of six tough out-of-state games on the schedule for Trinity, which begins the season ranked No. 20 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 writers' poll. The Shamrocks return 13 starters from a team that went 14-1 and won its eighth state title in 11 years. Quarterback Travis Wright, who threw for more than 2,700 yards and displayed pinpoint accuracy as a sophomore starter, has his top receiving target back in aptly named classmate James Quick. Leading what figures to be an outstanding defense is linebacker Jason Hatcher, another junior and a big-time college prospect.

Brentwood Academy might have what it takes to match up physically with the likes of Trinity. The Eagles (10-3 last season) return the majority of their top linemen including Stanford-bound offensive tackle Graham Shuler (6-foot-5, 270 pounds) and Virginia Tech recruit Woody Baron, who had 17 sacks as a junior. The biggest question mark is in the secondary, where four starters who signed with FBS or FCS colleges graduated. That's a scary dilemma to have when opening the season against Trinity.

Mitch Stephens: Trinity 35, Brentwood Academy 24
Steve Montoya: Trinity 31, Brentwood Academy 21
Stephen Spiewak: Trinity 31, Brentwood Academy 14
Kevin Askeland: Trinity 32, Brentwood Academy 24
Jamie DeMoney: Trinity 34, Brentwood Academy 17

Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa) at Dowling (West Des Moines, Iowa)
This crosstown rivalry has combined to produce five of the last nine Class 4A state championships in the state. Valley claims four of those titles, with the last one coming in 2008. Back-to-back disappointing seasons – by Valley's high standards – have followed, including a 7-4 mark a year ago. Five starters are back on both sides of the ball from that team including two-sport standout (hockey) Brandon Ellingson (5-10, 200 FB/LB).

Defending state champion Dowling returns one of the nation's top-rated receivers in 6-3, 205-pound Amara Darboh, but otherwise very little experience. Senior Dan Hartlieb, whose father Chuck was a record-setting passer at the University of Iowa, is a first-year starter at quarterback replacing Northern Iowa recruit Connor Bravard. Senior safety Jacob Stacey will be counted on to lead a defense with just two returning starters.

Mitch Stephens: Dowling 42, Valley 28
Steve Montoya: Dowling 35, Valley 14
Stephen Spiewak: Dowling 21, Valley 10
Kevin Askeland: Dowling 28, Valley 14
Jamie DeMoney: Valley 23, Dowling 20

Timpview (Provo, Utah) at Alta (Sandy, Utah)
In 2010, Timpview's season ended much earlier than expected with a loss to Springville in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. That snapped a run of four consecutive state titles for the T-Birds under coach Louis Wong. Unlike recent years, Wong's squad will have the benefit of playing the underdog role this season.

Alta's reign as one of the state's top 5A power programs was put on hold when the Hawks finished a disappointing 4-7 last year. That was after winning a pair of state titles and reaching the state championship game in each of the four previous seasons. After spending 13 years as offensive line coach, Bob Stephens is now running the program. He has 13 returning starters and what he calls a "talented returning junior group."

Mitch Stephens: Alta 21, Timpview 20
Steve Montoya: Alta 17, Timpview 10
Stephen Spiewak: Alta 28, Timpview 27
Kevin Askeland: Timpview 35, Alta 34
Jamie DeMoney: Alta 27, Timpview 23

Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral
In perhaps the biggest game of the Hoosier State's opening weekend, traditional 5A power Ben Davis will have its hands full with Cathedral, the defending 4A champion, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Ben Davis went only 6-4 last season but hopes are high this season with seven offensive and nine defensive starters returning. The Giants have a lot of size, speed and talent all over their roster. The biggest question mark will be at quarterback.

Offensive line play and defense figure to be the strong points this season for Cathedral. Among its 12 returning starters are Indiana-committed lineman Jacob Bailey and Notre Dame-bound cornerback John Turner. This program (13-3 last season) traditionally challenges itself with one of the toughest nonleague schedules in the Midwest, and its 2011 slate will be no different. After Ben Davis, three of the Fighting Irish's next five games will be brutal. Cathedral plays nationally ranked Warren Central (Indianapolis) next week, followed by Ohio power Centerville and has a meeting with nationally ranked Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) on Sept. 23.

Mitch Stephens: Cathedral 24, Ben Davis 17
Steve Montoya: Cathedral 28, Ben Davis 17
Stephen Spiewak: Cathedral 28, Ben Davis 14
Kevin Askeland: Cathedral 24, Ben Davis 7
Jamie DeMoney: Cathedral 16, Ben Davis 6

South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) at West Point (Miss.)
MaxPreps recently published a list of the Top 10 Mississippi football dynasties from the past five seasons. In one of the greatest understatements ever to make the printed word, South Panola came in No. 1. Not only have the Tigers won back-to-back Class 6A titles, they own seven state championships since 2003 and lost only two games total during that stretch. There are just six starters back from last year's team, which finished No. 1 in the 2010 Final MaxPreps Xcellent 25. The strength of this year's team, which starts the year ranked 12th, will be a defensive line featuring a pair of Ole Miss recruits in tackle Isaac Gross (6-2, 240) and end Temario Strong (6-1, 215).

West Point, ranked the No. 4 Mississippi dynasty by MaxPreps, is shooting for its third consecutive Class 5A title. The Green Wave was hit hard by graduation but should still employ one of the top rushing attacks in the state. That sets up a strength-against-strength matchup with South Panola's strong and athletic defensive line.

Mitch Stephens: South Panola 21, West Point 17
Steve Montoya: South Panola 28, West Point 14
Stephen Spiewak: South Panola 21, West Point 20
Kevin Askeland: South Panola 48, West Point 14
Jamie DeMoney: South Panola 21, West Point 7

Jamie DeMoney is the National Reports Director for XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.