By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
Securing the top ranking in Maine and Massachusetts will be on the line, highlighting this week’s MaxPreps Top 10 Games to Watch. There is also a pair of crosstown rivalry games in Wheaton, Ill., and Hampton, Va., and a titanic matchup between two the country’s top teams in Southern California as St. Bonaventure tangles with Long Beach Poly.
The prediction records after five weeks find Steve Spiewak and MaxPreps Projections tied at 40-10. In third place is Mitch Stephens at 39-11, followed by Jason Hickman at 36-14 and Kevin Askeland at 33-17. Here’s a look at this week’s top 10 games.
Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.) at McDowell (Erie, Pa.)
The Gateway Gators (6-0) put their perfect record on the line when they take on the McDowell Trojans. Mitch Stephens offers an in-depth look at this week’s 5 Days 2 Friday matchup.
Mitch Stephens: Gateway 28, McDowell 14
Jason Hickman: Gateway 35, McDowell 14
Steve Spiewak: Gateway 38, McDowell 20
Kevin Askeland: Gateway 32, McDowell 7
MaxPreps Projection: Gateway 35, McDowell 26
Kennedy (Bloomington, Minn.) at Eden Prairie (Minn.)
Stephen Spiewak takes at the coaching career of Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant and his team’s matchup with Kennedy in the Burger King game of the week.
Mitch Stephens: Eden Prairie 42, Kennedy 21
Jason Hickman: Eden Prairie 38, Kennedy 14
Steve Spiewak: Eden Prairie 42, Kennedy 14
Kevin Askeland: Eden Prairie 45, Kennedy 12
MaxPreps Projection: Eden Prairie 42, Kennedy 6
Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.) at Wheaton North (Wheaton, Ill.)
The battle of Wheaton finds the top-ranked Wheaton Warrenville South team taking on Wheaton North. Kevin Askeland takes a closer look at the second of MaxPreps’ two 5 Days 2 Friday matchups.
Mitch Stephens: Wheaton Warrenville South 21, Wheaton North 17
Jason Hickman: Wheaton Warrenville South 30, Wheaton North 7
Steve Spiewak: Wheaton Warrenville South 35, Wheaton North 14
Kevin Askeland: Wheaton Warrenville South 28, Wheaton North 21
MaxPreps Projection: Wheaton Warrenville South 35, Wheaton North 8
St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.) at Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
Mitch Stephens heads to Southern California to check out the game between these two juggernauts. Here’s a preview of the contest.
Mitch Stephens: Long Beach Poly 14, St. Bonaventure 13
Jason Hickman: St. Bonaventure 24, Long Beach Poly 17
Steve Spiewak: St. Bonaventure 21, Long Beach Poly 20
Kevin Askeland: Long Beach Poly 21, St. Bonaventure 20
MaxPreps Projection: St. Bonaventure 20, Lon Beach Poly 19
Everett (Mass.) at Boston College (Boston, Mass.)
The top two teams in Massachusetts meet with No. 1 Boston College hosting No. 2 Everett. Boston College assumed the top spot last week after Everett dropped a surprising 20-7 contest with St. John’s. Everett has dominated Eastern Massachusetts football for much of the past decade with the St. John’s defeat being the first regular season loss for the Tide since 2001. Everett and Boston College also met in last year’s semifinals with Everett pulling out the convincing win. J.W. Forte and Jesus Crawford lead the Everett attack with six touchdowns each while Kyle Ewanouski and Tyler Horan have combined for 11 touchdowns for Boston College.
Mitch Stephens: Boston College 17, Everett 10
Jason Hickman: Boston College 21, Everett 14
Steve Spiewak: Boston College 28, Everett 24
Kevin Askeland: Everett 28, Boston College 21
MaxPreps Projection: Boston College 22, Everett 21
Deering (Portland, Maine) at Bonny Eagle (Standish, Maine)
Both teams are undefeated in this matchup between the top two teams in Maine however Bonny Eagle does have a forfeit loss to Westbrook after using an ineligible player in the waning minutes of a 42-0 victory. Bonny Eagle has won three state championships in the past four seasons. The only year the Scots didn’t make the finals, they lost to Deering. Senior running back Jack Heary leads Deering’s offensive attack. He exploded for 297 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Gorham last month. Last year, Heary ran for 2,027 yards and scored 33 touchdowns. Nate Doehler, the Bonny Eagle quarterback, is considered the state’s top passer. He earned all-state honors last year and is coming off a five-touchdown performance in a 61-0 victory over
Mitch Stephens: Deering 21, Bonny Eagle 20
Jason Hickman: Bonny Eagle 34, Deering 16
Steve Spiewak: Bonny Eagle 28, Deering 7
Kevin Askeland: Bonny Eagle 42, Deering 36
MaxPreps Projection: Bonny Eagle 31, Deering 17
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) at Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
There isn’t as much at stake in this game after Ensworth knocked off Montgomery Bell Academy 41-28 last week to end a 19-game Big Red winning streak. Still, the game matches the two returning finalists from last year’s Tennessee Division II-AA championship game, which MBA won 12-0. Brentwood Academy (6-1) is fresh off a big win over Franklin, which had been ranked No. 1 in the state by MaxPreps. Spencer Wise has guided the MBA attack during the season, throwing for 1,191 yards and 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile Joshua Tate spearheads the Brentwood Academy running game, rushing for 621 yards and three scores on the season.
Mitch Stephens: Montgomery Bell Academy 21, Brentwood Academy 14
Jason Hickman: Montgomery Bell Academy 20, Brentwood Academy 12
Steve Spiewak: Montgomery Bell Academy 13, Brentwood Academy 7
Kevin Askeland: Montgomery Bell Academy 25, Brentwood Academy 21
MaxPreps Projection: Montgomery Bell Academy 22, Brentwood Academy 21
Hampton (Va.) at Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)
The big question in this game is “will he or won’t he?” Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd is expected to dress out this week after missing the Phantoms’ past two games with a sprained knee, but whether or not he will play will reportedly be a gametime decision. Phoebus has had little trouble winning without him, but the Phantoms haven’t faced a team as talented as their crosstown rivals. The Crabbers lead the all-time series 29-9, but Phoebus has been the hot team of late, winning the past two games. The Crabbers have an outstanding running game led by Tron Martinez, who has run for 1,189 yards and 23 touchdowns. Phoebus, however, has allowed just 20 points all season. Both teams enter the game at 6-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play.
Mitch Stephens: Phoebus 28, Hampton 24
Jason Hickman: Phoebus 28, Hampton 21
Steve Spiewak: Phoebus 38, Hampton 21
Kevin Askeland: Phoebus 35, Hampton 30
MaxPreps Projection: Phoebus 35, Hampton 10
St. John’s (Delphos, Ohio) at Coldwater (Ohio)
St. John’s takes on the defending Division 4 state champion Coldwater Cavaliers, who have won 14 games in a row since last year. St. John’s has posted a 6-1 record, but lost last year’s contest 51-7. The Blue Jays are led by Jordan Leininger, who has gained 459 yards on the season, along with Evan Burgei, who has rushed for 385 yards. Cory Klenke calls the signals for Coldwater. He has thrown for 761 yards and 10 touchdowns in Coldwater’s first seven games.
Mitch Stephens: Coldwater 35, St. John’s 21
Jason Hickman: Coldwater 42, St. John’s 17
Steve Spiewak: Coldwater 35, St. John’s 21
Kevin Askeland: Coldwater 40, St. John’s 12
MaxPreps Projection: Coldwater 38, St. John’s 7
Heritage (Colleyville, Texas) at Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Heritage brings a high-powered offense to Euless to take on the defending state champions. Heritage is 5-0 and is averaging close to 400 yards and 43 points per game. Steven Hill runs the offense as he has thrown for 1,347 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tevin Williams has emerged as Trinity’s leading rusher with 385 yards and seven touchdowns. Meanwhile Denarius McGhee has thrown for 710 yards, but only one touchdown.
Mitch Stephens: Euless Trinity 38, Heritage 28
Jason Hickman: Euless Trinity 35, Heritage 24
Steve Spiewak: Euless Trinity 28, Heritage 10
Kevin Askeland: Euless Trinity 30, Heritage 28
MaxPreps Projection: Euless Trinity 34, Heritage 17
