By Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
We should learn a lot about two of the top teams in the Los Angeles area after this weekend. In one of the marquee matchups nationally, Long Beach Poly (4-0) will take on St. Bonaventure (4-0) in a battle between talented heavyweights.
Poly had a notable early-season victory over Miami Northwestern (Fla.), while the Seraphs surprised some by blasting Crespi last week, 31-14. The Jackrabbits own the No. 1 spot in this week’s MaxPreps California Rankings while St. Bonaventure checks in at No. 3.
The winner of that game could take a commanding lead for the top spot in SoCal, particularly if Corona Centennial slips up on Friday night against cross-town foe Roosevelt (3-1).
Viking-Eagle Pipeline
Yesterday, I wrote a feature story on Eden Prairie head coach Mike Grant, whose father, Bud, coached the Minnesota Vikings for the better part of two decades, spanning the late 1960s through the mid-1980s.
As it turns out, there are a number of other connections between Minnesota’s top high school football team and Minnesota’s top (and only) NFL team.
Senior defensive back Corey Frazier is the son of Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Junior defensive end Louis Spielman also has a father working for the Vikings, Rick, the team’s general manager.
Rounding out the Eagle-Viking connection, Chris Knoff’s father, Kurt, played for the Vikings from 1979-1982. Chris is a junior defensive back for Eden Prairie.
Gateway’s Greatest?
Last week, Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote a blurb about Gateway (Pa.) star two-way player Dorian Bell, who is having a terrific senior season.
In it, he quotes Gators head coach Terry Smith, who refers to Bell as “the best player we’ve ever had.”
While his future position is linebacker, he’s been a monster on offense. He’s averaged over 20 yards a carry, and has scored nine touchdowns in the 23 rushing attempts he’s collected over the team’s first six games.
Defensively, he’s accounted for 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. He’s worked his way onto the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch. The most intriguing thing is that Bell has rarely played the whole game, as Gateway has made it look easy en route to a 6-0 record.
That may change this weekend, when the Gators will be tested by Erie’s McDowell. That game will be covered by the Nike High School Football Road Tour as part of the 5 Days 2 Friday series.
Team USA Has All-American Staff
St. Ignatius (Ohio) head coach Chuck Kyle will be the head coach of the USA junior national football team, which will participate in the International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship. But he’ll have a whole lot of help.
Kyle has surrounded himself with a coaching staff packed with star coaches from across the country. Kyle’s staff features: running backs coach Tom Bainter of Bothell (Wash.); wide receivers coach Marcus Boyles of Wayne County (Miss.); offensive line coaches Ed Croson of Birmingham (Calif.) and Frank Lenti of Mount Carmel (Ill.); defensive line coach Jeremy Gold of Pioneer (Mich.); defensive backs coach Chris Merritt of Columbus (Fla.) and linebackers coach Allen Wilson of Dallas Carter (Texas).
Additionally, Kyle’s offensive coordinator Gary Swenson, coach of Valley (Iowa), is in the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame and has twice been named state coach of the year. His defensive coordinator, St. Xavier’s Steve Specht, has led the Bombers to two of the last three Ohio Division I state titles.
Collectively, the coaches have captured an incredible 31 state championships.
Next Friday, Kyle will get a refresher on Steve Specht’s defensive brilliance; St. Ignatius travels to Cincinnati to challenge the Bombers.
South Jersey Showdown
A huge match up is brewing in the southern half of the Garden State this weekend, as Holy Spirit is set to take on Mainland.
Holy Spirit, the defending Non-Public Group III state champions, appears to have reloaded. They defeated a tough St. Joseph (Hammonton) team last week after steamrolling opponents in their first four games.
The Spartans have a very impressive nucleus of young talent, including running backs Nigel Jones and Donta Pollack, to go along with junior leaders Quay Williams and Dan McNair, an effective quarterback/wide receiver combo.
Jones and Pollack both average over 10 yards per carry. Williams is a dual-threat, averaging over 20 yards per carry
Mainland has been equally impressive. The Mustangs has outscored opponents 138-13 this season. Head coach Bob Coffey’s squad is led by All-State caliber quarterback Brett Caprio.
For video of Long Beach Poly, St. Bonaventure, Eden Prairie, St. Ignatius, and the other schools mentioned, please be sure to visit MaxPrepsTV. To find great action shots of the teams, don't forget to search our Photo Galleries.