Photos by Warren Robison/Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Carmel and Warren Central fought to a 2-point game earlier this season. Now it's rematch time in the playoffs, and the loser's season will come to an abrupt end.
Six of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week feature teams in the
Xcellent 25 rankings. Four ranked teams aim for regular season championships while the other two are already on to the postseason.
The action kicks off tonight when No. 11 DeSoto (Texas) travels more than 125 miles east to take on Longview. The winner takes home the District 11-5A title. Highlighting Friday night's action is an Indiana 5A sectional final with No. 15 Warren Central (Indianapolis) hosting Carmel in a rematch of a game decided by two points earlier this season. On Saturday, No. 22 Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.) continues defense of its Division 2 state title when it hosts perennial power Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills) in a second-round playoff grudge match.
Dueling 7-3 records last week allowed Jamie DeMoney and Stephen Spiewak to remain tied at the top of the standings in our season-long predictions contest at 74-36 overall. Steve Montoya and Kevin Askeland share third place two games off the pace. Mitch Stephens remains in the cellar but is only six games behind the leaders. You can track our overall results and standings all season long by clicking
here.
MAXPREPS TOP 10 FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE WEEK No. 15 Warren Central (Indianapolis) at Carmel (Ind.)It's rematch time
in the Indiana 5A sectional finals, pitting the top two teams in the
state who played a thriller earlier in the season. Warren Central
won the Sept. 30 meeting at Lucas Oil Stadium, 22-20, on a field goal
in the closing seconds of the game. It was the Warriors' third win over
Carmel since 2009.
Deionte Buckley, who is committed to Cincinnati,
leads Warren Central's offense with 1,439 rushing yards and 26
touchdowns this season.
Carmel (10-1) was clicking on all
cylinders when it beat Lawrence Central last week, 34-14. The
Greyhounds got more than 100 rushing yards from senior back
Jalen Duncan and
their defense became first unit to hold Lawrence Central to less than 27
points all season. Carmel is coached by Kevin Wright, who led Warren
Central to three consecutive state titles from 2003-05.
Mitch Stephens: Carmel 24, Warren Central 21
Steve Montoya: Warren Central 28, Carmel 26
Stephen Spiewak: Warren Central 24, Carmel 21
Kevin Askeland: Warren Central 50, Carmel 21
Jamie DeMoney: Carmel 26, Warren Central 21