MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

We preview of one the top rivalries in Dallas-The Metroplex in this, the latest edition of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.

Not much separates sixth-ranked DeSoto (Texas) from its District 7-5A neighbor Cedar Hill. The communities are less than six miles apart along East Belt Line Road, and the football programs share equal status among the most successful in Texas the last five years: Each team has 53 wins since 2008. Each team is solidifying its standing as a top contender in Class 5A this year, but only Friday night's winner will start off district play with a 1-0 record. 

Other action involving teams ranked in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 this week has a distinct Florida flavor, as third-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) tries to avoid another upset against unbeaten Miramar and No. 9 Central (Miami) travels to New Jersey to face powerhouse Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).

Stephen Spiewak's 8-2 record picking last week's games has boosted him into the lead of our season-long predictions contest. His 28-11-1 total through four weeks is one game better than GOTW author Jamie DeMoney and four better than Leland Gordon, who is in third place.



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.


DeSoto (Texas) at Cedar Hill (Texas)

What to watch: Oklahoma-committed defensive back Marcus Green and the rest of Cedar Hill's tough defense trying to extinguish one of Texas' most explosive offenses. DeSoto (3-0) averages more than 50 points per game. Desmon White, a senior dual-threat quarterback who is only 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, had 364 passing yards and 112 yards on the ground with six touchdowns in just the first half the Eagles' 61-35 blowout of perennial power Trinity (Euless) last week. Cedar Hill (2-1) is battle-tested, having already played No. 2 Allen earlier this season. The Longhorns lost 39-20, but turnovers and two blocked punts led directly to a few of Allen's scores. Last week, Cedar Hill shut out Ozen (Beaumont) 48-0 while holding the Panthers to only 108 total yards, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Just the facts: Both teams were still alive deep into the month of December last season. Cedar Hill finished 11-5 after losing to Katy in the 5A/II state championship game. DeSoto was 14-1 with only a 5A/I state semifinal loss to eventual champion Allen. … These rivals have split their last eight games played since 2004. DeSoto won the two most recent battles, including a 48-35 triumph last season.

Mitch Stephens: DeSoto 34, Cedar Hill 31
Kevin Askeland: DeSoto 45, Cedar Hill 30
Jamie DeMoney: Cedar Hill 40, DeSoto 37
Stephen Spiewak: DeSoto 55, Cedar Hill 40
Leland Gordon: DeSoto 45, Cedar Hill 35
Colin Ward-Henninger: DeSoto 42, Cedar Hill 35

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Miramar (Fla.) at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

What to watch: Can Miramar pull an upset against St. Thomas Aquinas for the third-straight year? The Patriots have been a thorn in Aquinas' side since a 2011 loss that happened when it was defending national champion and ranked as high as No. 2 in the country. Now, again, the Raiders are riding high following two impressive wins to start the season: a 38-3 rout of Miami Northwestern and last week's 27-13 win against defending national champ John Curtis (River Ridge, La.). Miramar (3-0) is also unbeaten, but was plagued by 12 penalties in its 28-14 win against Plantation last Thursday.



Just the facts: St. Thomas Aquinas alumni have won one Olympic gold medal (Sanya Richards-Ross), 18 grand slam tennis titles (Chris Evert), one professional golf major (Jason Duffner) and have been a part of three Super Bowl and one World Series championship teams (Michael Irvin and Tyler Greene). … Before its current two-game winning streak started against St. Thomas Aquinas, Miramar had lost to the Raiders four straight times by an average margin of 30 points.

Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Miramar 28
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Miramar 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Miramar 15
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Miramar 10
Leland Gordon: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Miramar 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Miramar 14

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Central (Miami) at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

What to watch: Don Bosco Prep's attempt to beat a Florida opponent for the third-straight season. The Ironmen defeated national powers Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) in 2011 and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) last year, with both wins happening on Florida soil. This time, the Sunshine State comes to New Jersey with Central (2-1) trying for its second-straight win after a well-publicized loss to top-ranked Washington (Miami) on Sept. 6. The explosive running back duo of Dalvin Cook (a Florida recruit) and Joseph Yearby (Miami) combined for more than 300 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the Rockets' 49-0 rout of Coral Reef (Miami) last week. Don Bosco Prep (1-1) must regroup in a hurry after losing on the road to Mission Viejo (Calif.) in overtime last Saturday.

Just the facts: Don Bosco Prep is 20-3 against non-New Jersey opponents and 101-8 overall since the start of the 2004 season. … New Jersey holds a 4-2 edge in head-to-head games played against Florida teams since 2003.

Mitch Stephens: Central 21, Don Bosco Prep 17
Kevin Askeland: Central 28, Don Bosco Prep 14
Jamie DeMoney: Central 26, Don Bosco Prep 21
Stephen Spiewak: Central 21, Don Bosco Prep 20
Leland Gordon: Central 20, Don Bosco Prep 17
Colin Ward-Henninger: Central 24, Don Bosco Prep 21

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Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

What to watch: A rematch of the only game Bishop Gorman lost last season. Bergen Catholic won in Las Vegas in 2012 and now gets to host to the Gaels this time around. Both teams were triumphant in interstate matchups last week. Bishop Gorman (3-1) won its third game in as many weeks against a Southern California opponent, crushing Crespi (Encino), 42-9. Randall Cunnigham Jr. threw a touchdown pass in his fourth-straight game. Meanwhile, Bergen Catholic (1-1) was in Utah defeating that state's reigning 5A champion, Jordan (Sandy), 56-26. Three-star defensive end Kurt Holuba recorded 4.5 sacks in the game, bringing his total in two games to six.



Just the facts: This will be the 30th game Bishop Gorman has played against a non-Nevada opponent since 2004 but its first time playing east of the Mississippi River. … It's Bergen Catholic's 18th game against an out-of-state team in the last eight years. After last week's trip to Utah, the Crusaders have appeared in all four continental U.S. time zones.

Mitch Stephens: Bishop Gorman 28, Bergen Catholic 24
Kevin Askeland: Bergen Catholic 35, Bishop Gorman 24
Jamie DeMoney: Bishop Gorman 30, Bergen Catholic 28
Stephen Spiewak: Bergen Catholic 35, Bishop Gorman 31
Leland Gordon: Bishop Gorman 40, Bergen Catholic 35
Colin Ward-Henninger: Bergen Catholic 17, Bishop Gorman 14

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Blue Springs (Mo.) at Lee's Summit West (Mo.)

What to watch: The No. 1 team in Missouri Class 6 (Blue Springs) out to avenge its only loss from last season as it faces off against the top-ranked team in the state Class 5 rankings. Senior running back Dalvin Warmack (a Kansas State recruit) had 122 rushing yards for Blue Springs (3-0) in a 22-7 win over rival Rockhurst (Kansas City) last week. Nebraska-bound receiver Monte Harrison has totaled 343 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in Lee's Summit West's three convincing wins this season.

Just the facts: Lee's Summit West has only one losing season in school history. It was 4-8 the fall after the school opened in 2004. Ever since, the Titans' record is 80-17 with two state championships. … Blue Springs has won three state titles and had 51 players earn all-state accolades since the 2001 season.

Mitch Stephens: Blue Springs 28, Lee's Summit West 24
Kevin Askeland: Blue Springs 52, Lee's Summit West 48
Jamie DeMoney: Blue Springs 27, Lee's Summit West 21
Stephen Spiewak: Blue Springs 42, Lee's Summit West 20
Leland Gordon: Lee's Summit West 32, Blue Springs 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lee's Summit West 35, Blue Springs 21




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Elder (Cincinnati) at St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

What to watch: Will Elder snap a three-game losing streak to St. Edward and start the season 4-0 for the first time since 2009? The Panthers had a 34-21 win last week against Francis Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) -- a game they led 24-0 at halftime. Senior running back Chris Schroer carried the load with 166 yards and four touchdowns. After holding off a tough Glenville (Cleveland) team, 40-24, in the opener, St. Edward has trampled its last two opponents by a combined score of 112-8. Talented junior running back Andrew Dowell has scored a pair of touchdowns in all three games.

Just the facts: After winning the Division I state title in 2003, Elder played against the eventual champion in all but two of the next nine seasons. The Panthers did not win any of those games. … St. Edward has only one state football championship in its history (in 2010), but has more than made up for it in wrestling (28 team titles) and ice hockey (11 titles).

Mitch Stephens: St. Edward 28, Elder 21
Kevin Askeland: Elder 42, St. Edward 28
Jamie DeMoney: Elder 27, St. Edward 20
Stephen Spiewak: St. Edward 28, Elder 24
Leland Gordon: St. Edward 24, Elder 16
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Edward 21, Elder 20

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Muskegon (Mich.) at Lowell (Mich.)



What to watch: Two of the top contenders for the Michigan Division 2 state crown this season. Muskegon (3-0) is top-ranked in the latest state sportswriters' poll and Lowell (3-0) is ranked No. 3. Muskegon already has two impressive wins over state-ranked teams this year: a 35-13 rout of Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian on Sept. 6 and a 45-0 blowout of Division 1 power Rockford last Friday. Lowell's average margin of victory is more than 40 points per game. Junior quarterback Kyler Shurlow had nearly 400 combined passing and rushing yards with five touchdowns as the Red Arrows drilled Grand Haven a week ago, 41-7.

Just the facts: With 777 all-time victories, Muskegon is Michigan's all-time winningest program and ranks 10th all-time nationally. The Big Reds have won five state titles since state playoffs began in 1975 and claim an additional 12 state poll titles prior to that. … Lowell had a three-game winning streak going against Muskegon until it lost twice to the Big Reds last season.

Mitch Stephens: Muskegon 27, Lowell 20
Kevin Askeland: Muskegon 28, Lowell 27
Jamie DeMoney: Muskegon 31, Lowell 30
Stephen Spiewak: Muskegon 20, Lowell 10
Leland Gordon: Muskegon 38, Lowell 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Muskegon 28, Lowell 17
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Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

What to watch: Two of the top scoring offenses in Southern California, each averaging more than 45 points per game. Chaminade scored more than 50 in each of its first three games. Its only loss was a 55-54 squeaker against Hart (Newhall). For Oaks Christian (3-0), senior quarterback Brandon Dawkins has been spot-on this season. The Arizona commit has completed 67 percent of his passes for 649 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions.



Just the facts: Since the school opened in 2000, Oaks Christian has captured eight CIF Southern Section championships and had 30 football players sign with FBS colleges. … Chaminade was just 2-8 on the field the season before coach Ed Croson arrived in 2009. The Eagles have a 42-13 record since.

Mitch Stephens: Oaks Christian 35, Chaminade 28
Kevin Askeland: Chaminade 35, Oaks Christian 34
Jamie DeMoney: Oaks Christian 42, Chaminade 28
Stephen Spiewak: Oaks Christian 31, Chaminade 28
Leland Gordon: Chaminade 54, Oaks Christian 49
Colin Ward-Henninger: Chaminade 45, Oaks Christian 42

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Long Beach Poly (Calif.) at Bakersfield (Calif.)

What to watch: After upsetting then-No. 8 Centennial (Corona) last week, what will Poly (2-1) do for an encore? The Jackrabbits were 35-28 winners against a Centennial squad that scored 129 total points in its first two games. The biggest key to neutralizing the Huskies' offense was knocking the legs out from under running back Tre Watson. The California recruit went from rushing for 466 yards and seven touchdowns in Week 2 to gaining just 64 yards with one touchdown on 24 carries against Poly. Senior dual-threat quarterback Asauni Rufus will probably need a big game in order for Bakersfield to beat Poly for a second-straight year. Rufus is averaging 135 rushing yards per game and has accounted for half of the Drillers' (2-1) 18 touchdowns this season.

Just the facts: Bakersfield and Long Beach Poly rank first and third, respectively, on the all-time list for CIF section football championships. Bakersfield has won 35 titles in the Central Section and Long Beach Poly has 19 in the Southern Section. De La Salle (Concord) is in second place with 28 from the North Coast Section. … Long Beach Poly is one of 18 high schools nationwide that had at least four former players on NFL rosters at the start of this season.

Mitch Stephens: Long Beach Poly 21, Bakersfield 20
Kevin Askeland: Long Beach Poly 28, Bakersfield 20
Jamie DeMoney: Long Beach Poly 23, Bakersfield 10
Stephen Spiewak: Long Beach Poly 35, Bakersfield 34
Leland Gordon: Long Beach Poly 28, Bakersfield 25
Colin Ward-Henninger: Long Beach Poly 24, Bakersfield 13

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Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) at Lawrence Central (Indianapolis)

What to watch for: Center Grove trying to remain unbeaten and create a little breathing room for itself at the top of the tough Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) standings. The Trojans (4-0) already have wins over state-ranked Warren Central, Carmel and Pike. On the other hand, Lawrence Central (3-1) wants to get back in the ‘W' column after having an 18-game winning streak ended by Carmel last Friday.

Just the facts: The champion of Indiana's largest classification has come from the MIC in 11 of the last 14 seasons. That does not include the 2012 Class 5A champion Lawrence Central, because the Bears were a member of Conference Indiana last season. … These two now-conference rivals have met only one other time in the last 10 seasons. Lawrence Central beat them, 28-15, in the state semifinals last year.



Mitch Stephens: Lawrence Central 24, Center Grove 21
Kevin Askeland: Center Grove 35, Lawrence Central 7
Jamie DeMoney: Lawrence Central 23, Center Grove 14
Stephen Spiewak: Lawrence Central 17, Center Grove 14
Leland Gordon: Center Grove 31, Lawrence Central 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lawrence Central 21, Center Grove 14

Jamie DeMoney is in his 20th season covering high school sports and recruiting. He is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital and compiles the National Prep Poll for World Features Syndicate.