The 2009 high school football season begins with some of the best matchups of the year scheduled to take place in the state of Ohio.
Defending national champion Aquinas will meet Upper Arlington in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge while Cincinnati powers St. Xavier and Colerain clash in a nonleague outing. Another Cincinnati powerhouse Elder hosts Illinois’ top-ranked team in East St. Louis while Cleveland’s two best teams, Glenville and St. Ignatius, tussle to the north.
Here’s a look at this week’s top 10 games of the week along with the predictions by MaxPreps staff writers Mitch Stephens, Stephen Spiewak and Kevin Askeland and the projections for the game by the MaxPreps computer rankings.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
Matt Brown, Allen
Allen (Texas) at Longview (Texas)
Ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings, the Longview Lobos get their biggest test of the season in their opener when they host the Allen Eagles, who won the 5A Division II state championship last year and have a 12-game winning streak heading into the season. Longview lost in last year’s 4A Division I championship game to Lake Travis, but the Lobos return starting quarterback Aaron Johnson and standout running back Tyler McCray. Johnson threw for 1,628 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and also gained 927 yards rushing on 133 carries. McCray was similarly impressive, gaining 1,727 yards and scoring 26 touchdowns during a 13-3 season. The Eagles also return one of the state’s premier quarterbacks in Matt Brown. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior threw for 1,926 yards last year and has over 4,300 yards passing in his career at Allen. The Eagles are ranked No. 16 in the MaxPreps National rankings. Longview and Allen are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state of Texas.
Mitch Stephens: Allen 28, Longview 13
Steve Spiewak: Allen 24, Longview 21
Kevin Askeland: Allen 28, Longview 21
MaxPreps Projection: Longview 31, Allen 21
St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) vs. Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Colerain ended St. Xavier’s 15-game win streak last year with a 13-8 win in the season opener for both teams. No the Bombers get to play the spoiler. The Cardinals don’t have a long win streak to protect, but they do hold the top spot in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings for the state of Ohio. Also ranked No. 7 overall in the nation, Colerain has seven starters back on offense and six on defense, including starting quarterback Greg Tabar (6-0, 180) and linebacker Tyon Dixon (6-0, 200). Tabar, along with returning running backs Tyler Williams and Trayion Durham, combined for 3,106 yards rushing last year with 41 touchdowns while leading Colerain to an 11-2 overall record before falling to Elder in the Division I state playoffs. The Bombers had a rough 2008, going just 4-6 against arguably the toughest schedule in the country last year. While St. Xavier may not approach the 15-0 championship season of 2007, the Bombers should be significantly better than last year’s sub-.500 squad. The Bombers return their top offensive weapon from last year in QB Luke Massa (6-5, 210) along with mountainous offensive tackle Matt James (6-7, 290) on the line.
Mitch Stephens: Colerain 21, St. Xavier 14
Steve Spiewak: Colerain 28, St. Xavier 21
Kevin Askeland: Colerain 27, St. Xavier 21
MaxPreps Projection: Colerain 27, St. Xavier 3
East St. Louis (Ill.) at Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Fresh off an Illinois state championship, the East St. Louis Flyers didn’t take it easy when putting together the preseason schedule. The Flyers return to Ohio, the scene of their last loss, to take on Elder, which begins the season ranked No. 2 in Ohio by MaxPreps. East St. Louis lost to Wayne of Huber Heights in its season opener at Paul Brown Stadium, but won its next 13 games in impressive fashion to claim the 7A state championship. Most of the skill players return from that team, including QB Detchauz Wray, RB Courtney Molton and junior WR Keanta’ Minor. The Flyers start the year ranked No. 1 in Illinois and No. 13 in the nation. One of the few teams in the country able to match the Flyers’ credentials is their opponent, the Elder Panthers. Ranked No. 9 in the nation, Elder returns seven starters on defense and also has a fantastic skill trio of its own in QB Mark Miller, RB Adam Brown and WR Tim O’Conner. The Panthers also reached the state championship game last year, but they lost to St. Ignatius.
Mitch Stephens: Elder 24, East St. Louis 21
Steve Spiewak: Elder 31, East St. Louis 21
Kevin Askeland: Elder 25, East St. Louis 21
MaxPreps Projection: Elder 28, East St. Louis 27
Alta (Sandy, Utah) at Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
The Alta Hawks entered the 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the state by MaxPreps, but faced a tough opponent in their season opener last week in No. 5 Cottonwood. However the Hawks promptly took the Colts out behind the woodshed and soundly swatted them to the tune of 59-20. It took Alta just 95 seconds to score the first two touchdowns of the game with Jordan Brown throwing for 200 yards aand Bryan Finnerty rushing for 107 and two touchdowns. This week the Hawks meet another tough in-state foe in No. 4 ranked Bingham, which whipped Viewmont 28-8 in its opener last week. Harvey Langi rushed for 89 yards and Stefan Cantwell and Ty Hannay each threw a touchdown pass in the win. Alta is the defending state champion, having defeated Bingham 21-17 in last year’s state final.
Mitch Stephens: Alta 31, Bingham 27
Steve Spiewak: Bingham 28, Alta 27
Kevin Askeland: Alta 35, Bingham 19
MaxPreps Projection: Alta 28, Bingham 19
Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. Upper Arlington (Columbus, Ohio)
St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending MaxPreps/Army National Guard National Champions, heads to Ohio to begin its season against Upper Arlington in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Aquinas begins the year ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings and No. 1 overall in the Xcellent 25 National Rankings by MaxPreps Senior Writer Stephen Spiewak. The Raiders are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, including running back Giovanni Bernard, safety LaMarcus Joyner and offensive lineman Brandon Linder. Upper Arlington will be the sacrificial lamb for the Raiders, although they can take solace in the fact that they are the second-highest ranked team that Aquinas will face this year. The Golden Bears are ranked No. 37 in Ohio and went 10-2 last year.
Mitch Stephens: Aquinas 42, Upper Arlington 20
Steve Spiewak: Aquinas 41, Upper Arlington 3
Kevin Askeland: Aquinas 54, Upper Arlington 7
MaxPreps Projection: Aquinas 40, Upper Arlington 13
Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.) vs. Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the MaxPreps Indiana preseason state rankings tangle in Indianapolis when Indianapolis Cathedral takes on Warren Central. The Warriors of Warren Central are ranked No. 1 in the state thanks to the return of six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that went 9-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the 4A state playoffs. The Warriors return their starter QB from last year in Derek Hart (6-4, 210) while defensive standout James Manuel returns at DB. Cathedral won the 3A championship last year and finished 13-2 overall. The Fighting Irish had a 12-game winning streak, including a 7-3 win over Carmel in their season opener last week. Warren Central opened last week with a 49-16 win over Merrillville.
Mitch Stephens: Warren Central 35, Indianapolis Cathedral 28
Steve Spiewak: Warren Central 21, Indianapolis Cathedral 17
Kevin Askeland: Warren Central 38, Indianapolis Cathedral 12
MaxPreps Projection: Warren Central 28, Indianapolis Cathedral 20
South (Anchorage, Alaska) vs. North Pole (Alaska)
These two teams appeared destined to meet in last year’s large school state championships after they each finished the regular season undefeated. However both lost in the semifinals and did not even play for the state title. North Pole began the season ranked No. 3 win the state but promptly lost to Colony 17-7 in its opener. The Patriots have won two straight games since that loss, outscoring their opponents 108-13. South has suffered nearly the same fate as North Pole. Although ranked lower at No. 12, South began the season with a loss to Service, but has won two in a row to enter this week’s game at 2-1.
Mitch Stephens: North Pole 14, South 13
Steve Spiewak: North Pole 24, South 20
Kevin Askeland: North Pole 48, South 20
MaxPreps Projection: South 26, North Pole 19
Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
The battle for bragging rights in Cleveland takes place Saturday at St. Ignatius when the defending state champion Wildcats host the Glenville Tarblooders. TheWildcats begin the year ranked fifth in the state by MaxPreps while Glenville is ninth. St. Ignatius returns all-state linebacker Scott McVey along with RB Kevin Johnson and TE Brendan Carozzoni (6-4, 215). St. Ignatius was 14-1 last year losing only to, you guessed it, Glenville, 20-17 in the season opener. The Tarblooders, meanwhile, won their first 11 games of the season before falling in the playoffs to none other than St. Ignatius, 8-7.Ted Ginn Sr.’s team returns the top defenders from last year in DB Latwaan Anderson and DE Jayrone Elliott. Standout receiver Christian Bryant also returns.
Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 21, Glenville 20
Steve Spiewak: Glenville 17, St. Ignatius 14
Kevin Askeland: St. Ignatius 20, Glenville 14
MaxPreps Projection: Glenville 20, St. Ignatius 17
Photo by Don Wessel
Marcus Lattimore, Byrnes
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) vs. Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Ranked No. 1 in the country to start the season by the MaxPreps Computer Rankings for the second year in a row, Byrnes travels to Georgia to face Central Gwinnett in the Progressive Football Challenge at North Gwinnett High School. Byrnes is the defending South Carolina state champion and features the nation’s top senior running back in Marcus Lattimore. Byrnes also has a talented quarterback in Rutgers-bound Chas Dodd while defense shines with DT Brandon Willis and DE Corey Miller. The Black Knights, meanwhile, were just 3-7 last year, but return seven starters on offense and defense.
Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 49, Central Gwinnett 14
Steve Spiewak: Byrnes 31, Central Gwinnett 10
Kevin Askeland: Byrnes 51, Central Gwinnett 20
MaxPreps Projection: Byrnes 49, Central Gwinnett 3
St. Louis (Hawaii) vs. Leilehua (Hawaii)
The St. Louis Crusaders are ranked No. 1 in the state of Hawaii by MaxPreps and are 2-0 with a win over Wai’anae, 48-35, and Kaimuki, 35-7. However it is the Crusaders’ opponent, Leilehua, which has the most recent state championship. The Mighty Mules were the surprise of the 2007 state championships when sophomore QB Andrew Manley came out of nowhere to lead the team to a title. Manley is now a senior and regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Manley threw for 3,676 yards and 31 touchdowns last year and led the Might Mules to an 11-3 record and a runner-up finish to Punahou in the state finals. Leilehua has already suffered defeat this year, however, falling to Mililani 21-18 last week. The Crusaders have a talented quarterback of their own in Jeremy Higgins. He completed 26 of 30 passes for 397 yards and six touchdowns in the win over Wai’anae.
Mitch Stephens: St. Louis 35, Leilehua 21
Steve Spiewak: St. Louis 28, Leilehua 17
Kevin Askeland: St. Louis 35, Leilehua 14
MaxPreps Projection: St. Louis 35, Leilehua 26