10 Games to Watch

Toms River South (N.J.) at Toms River North (N.J.)
This week’s 5 Days 2 Friday match-up features a pair of Toms River teams. Steve Spiewak previews “The Civil War.”
 
Mitch Stephens: Tom’s River North 21, Tom’s River South 14
Jason Hickman: Tom’s River North 23, Tom’s River South 12
Steve Spiewak: Tom’s River North 28, Tom’s River South 14
Kevin Askeland: Tom’s River North 30, Tom’s River South 14
MaxPreps Projection: Toms River North 27, Toms River South 7

Little Rock Christian Academy (Ark.) at Pulaski Academy (Little Rock, Ark.)
It will be the run vs. the pass when Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian Academy meet for the 5A Southwest title. Pulaski quarterback Spencer Keith leads the nation in passing yardage with 3,537 and is tied for first in touchdowns with 48. He has two of the state’s best receivers in Neal Barlow, who has 59 catches for 933 yards, and Carson McKnight, who leads the state with 85 receptions for 1,354 yards. Running back D.J. Daniels has also pulled in 58 passes for 671 yards and has run 136 times for 1,248 yards and 21 touchdowns. For the season, Daniel has scored 31 times. Pulaski has won eight straight games since losing its season opener to Central of West Helena. Little Rock Christian is coming off a 30-20 loss to Magnolia, but has a 7-2 overall mark. The Warriors have played without quarterback Griffin Kuhn all season due to a broken leg, but he suited up last week against Magnolia. Junior running back Michael Dyer, one of the nation’s top underclassmen, has run for 1,604 yards and 16 touchdowns. He already has over 5,000 career yards at Little Rock.

Mitch Stephens: Little Rock Christian 28, Pulaski Academy 21
Jason Hickman: Pulaski Academy 70, Little Rock Christian 64 (3OT)
Steve Spiewak: Pulaski Academy 37, Little Rock Christian Academy 35
Kevin Askeland: Pulaski Academy 52, Little Rock Christian Academy 32
MaxPreps Projection: Pulaski Academy 44, Little Rock Christian Academy 21

Valley Center (Calif.) at Oceanside (Calif.)
Two of the premier passing teams in the San Diego Section meet tonight when Oceanside hosts Valley Center. The Pirates are 8-0 and have not lost since last year’s season opener to Helix. That’s 20 straight wins, including the Division 2 state championship bowl game. Oceanside leads the competitive Valley League with a 4-0 mark, but Valley Center is one of three teams in second place at 3-1. The Pirates are led by quarterback Jordan Wynn, who leads the league with 2,059 yards passing. Sophomore receiver DeMario Coleman has also been stellar with 38 catches for 871 yards and seven scores. Tyler Bernard of Valley Center is close behind Wynn with 1,629 yards and 16 touchdown passes. His favorite target is James Johnson, who has 34 catches for 683 yards and 10 touchdowns. Johnson was an all-state choice last year by MaxPreps after leading the state in receiving yardage.

Mitch Stephens: Oceanside 35, Valley Center 21
Jason Hickman: Oceanside 28, Valley Center 24
Steve Spiewak: Oceanside 35, Valley Center 20
Kevin Askeland: Oceanside 36, Valley Center 13
MaxPreps Projection: Oceanside 35, Valley Center 21

Santa Clara (Oxnard, Calif.) at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Two of the top small school programs in the Southern Section meet with the Tri-Valley League championship on the line in Westlake Village. Incumbent Oaks Christian, which is 8-0 and the defending league champion, takes on upstart Santa Clara, which is also 8-0 after winning the Frontier League and the Mid-Valley Section championship last season. Santa Clara has one of the nation’s top running backs in Cierre Wood, who is headed to Notre Dame next season. Wood has run for 1,526 yards and 20 touchdowns this year after rushing for 2,600 yards last season. Oaks Christian is led by the two-pronged attack of quarterback Nick Montana and running back Malcolm Jones. Both juniors, Montana has thrown for 1,030 yards and 16 touchdowns while Jones has rushed for 976 yards and 14 scores.

Mitch Stephens: Oaks Christian 42, Santa Clara 28
Jason Hickman: Oaks Christian 36, Santa Clara 20
Steve Spiewak: Oaks Christian 30, Santa Clara 20
Kevin Askeland: Oaks Christian 40, Santa Clara 21
MaxPreps Projection: Oaks Christian 44, Santa Clara 14

Las Cruces (N.M.) at Mayfield (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Bragging rights in Las Cruces are on the line when 9-0 Las Cruces takes on 8-1 Mayfield. Las Cruces has barely been threatened all season long, scoring at least 42 in points in eight of its nine games. Senior running back James Hall has been spectacular, rushing for 1,364 yards on 124 carries, including 260 yards and three scores in a 49-7 win over Alamogordo last week. Mayfield has been impressive since losing to Eldorado three weeks ago. The Trojans have won three straight, outscoring their opponent133-19.  Mayfield has an outstanding running back of its own in senior Jacob Ceniceros has gained 1,127 yards and has scored 14 touchdowns, but has missed two games with an injury.

Mitch Stephens: Las Cruces 21, Mayfield 17
Jason Hickman: Mayfield 19, Las Cruces 16
Steve Spiewak: Las Cruces 21, Mayfield 17
Kevin Askeland: Las Cruces 28, Mayfield 27
MaxPreps Projection: Las Cruces 30, Mayfield 28

Concord (Wilmington, Del.) at Howard (Wilmington, Del.)
Howard and Concord are both jostling for playoff position in the Delaware Division II state playoffs. Howard is 8-1 while Concord is coming off a loss last week to Pencader Charter that dropped the Raiders to 7-2.

Mitch Stephens: Concord 28, Howard 17
Jason Hickman: Concord 30, Howard 23
Steve Spiewak: Concord 31, Howard 20
Kevin Askeland: Howard 28, Concord 21
MaxPreps Projection: Concord 27, Howard 21

Dutchtown (Giesmar, La.) at Destrehan (La.)
Destrehan, the No. 1 team in the state according to the MaxPreps/National Guard rankings, might get its toughest test when it hosts Dutchtown this week. Dutchtown is 7-1 on the year and posted a season-high 56 points last week in a win over St. Amant. Kelvin York and Eddie Lacy lead a solid rushing attack for Dutchtown. York has run for 840 yards and eight touchdowns while Lacy has scored 13 times and run for 721 yards. Destrehan is led by quarterback Wynrick Smothers, who has thrown for 1,066 yards on the season. Destrehan has already captured a tie for the district 6 crown, but Dutchtown can earn a share of the title with a win.
 
Mitch Stephens: Destrehan 28, Dutchtown 7
Jason Hickman: Destrehan 37, Dutchtown 7
Steve Spiewak: Destrehan 35, Dutchtown 20
Kevin Askeland: Destrehan 40, Dutchdown 28
MaxPreps Projection: Destrehan 31, Dutchtown 14

Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
St. Ignatius has been waiting for this game for 10 weeks. The Wildcats lost their season opener to Glenville 20-17 on a field goal on the last play of the game. Since then, St. Ignatius has won 10 in a row, including a 37-0 win over St. Edward in the first round of the Ohio state playoffs. Glenville is 11-0 with a 35-8 win over Brecksville-Broadview Heights in its playoff opener. Andrew Holland came up big last week for St. Ignatius, completing 10 of 20 passes for 235 yards and two scores. Joey Parris and Connory Ryan each caught four passes with Parris gaining 108 yards and Ryan amassing 102. Robert Walton led Ted Ginn Sr.’s Glenville crew, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff win. Mordecai Cargill added 99 yards on 14 carries.

Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 21, Glenville 20
Jason Hickman: Glenville 41, St. Ignatius 21
Steve Spiewak: St. Ignatius 30, Glenville 24
Kevin Askeland: Glenville 20, St. Ignatius 17
MaxPreps Projection: St. Ignatius 31, Glenville 12

Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) at Butler (Matthews, N.C.)
Independence and Butler face off in a game that will determine the conference championship. The intense rivalry will likely play out in front of approximately 15,000 fans with both teams entering the game undefeated. Independence is 9-0 on the season while Butler enters the game at 10-0. Butler defeated Independence last season, but Independence won during the playoffs. The Patriots are currently ranked No. 1 in North Carolina by MaxPreps while Butler is No. 3. Anthony Carrothers of Independence is the leading passer in North Carolina with 2,752 yards and 29 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 13 touchdowns. Lawrence Martin is his favorite receiver with 33 catches for 713 yards. Butler counters with a devastating defense that has produced 45 sacks and 17 interceptions heading into tonight’s contest.

Mitch Stephens: Independence 28, Butler 24
Jason Hickman: Independence 42, Butler 19
Steve Spiewak: Butler 28, Independence 21
Kevin Askeland: Independence 35, Butler 31
MaxPreps Projection: Independence 34, Butler 21