A member of the elite class of Florida high school football will taste defeat for the first time this season when University (Fort Lauderdale) travels to Manatee (Bradenton) in a battle of MaxPreps Xcellent 25 teams. The first meeting between these Sunshine State powers kicks off our weekly preview of the Top 10 high school football games across the nation.
The highest-rated team in this week's rundown is No. 4 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) taking on Paramus Catholic (N.J.) in what would have been a Top-10 showdown had the Paladins not lost last week to perennial power Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).
Elsewhere, No. 10 Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) will try to preserve its lofty ranking with in a key region showdown against fellow unbeaten York. In Ohio, No. 24 Moeller (Cincinnati) travels across the state to take on a St. Edward (Lakewood) squad looking for redemption after dropping out of the Xcellent 25 with its loss to rival St. Ignatius (Cleveland) last Saturday.
An impressive 9-1 record last week allowed Stephen Spiewak to open some breathing room atop the standings in our season-long predictions contest. Spiewak's cumulative 65-24-1 record is three games better than both Jamie DeMoney and Leland Gordon.
Here's a look at this week's Top 10 games along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland, Leland Gordon, Colin Ward-Henninger and Jamie DeMoney.
MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week
University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
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Undefeated teams will clash in Florida with University and Manatee scheduled to do battle.
Photos by Stuart Browning/Marc Estrada. Graphic by Bryce Escobar
A much-anticipated Friday night clash between Xcellent 25 teams and a playoff tuneup for both squads. No. 13 University (7-0) will also play No. 7 Central (Miami) in two weeks before heading into the Class 4A playoffs, where it could eventually play top-ranked Washington (Miami). No. 17 Manatee stands with No. 18 Miramar and defending champion Apopka as the early favorites to win the 8A title. The Hurricanes (8-0) have beaten every team on their schedule by double-digit margins.
Just the facts: Manatee senior running back
Trevon Walters ran for a season-high 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-13 rout of St. Petersburg last week. The Missouri recruit is averaging almost 11 yards per carry. … Since beginning its football program in 2006, University has never finished with a losing record. The Suns are 79-12 and won their first state championship last season.
Mitch Stephens: Manatee 35, University 28
Kevin Askeland: University 35, Manatee 18
Jamie DeMoney: Manatee 23, University 17
Stephen Spiewak: University 21, Manatee 20
Leland Gordon: Manatee 37, University 32
Colin Ward-Henninger: University 35, Manatee 28
