MaxPreps Top 25 high school football scores: No. 3 Miami Central holds on for 42-35 against Columbus

The MaxPreps Game of the Week lived up to the hype as No. 3 Miami Central (Miami) held on for a 42-35 win over Columbus (Miami) in the GMAC Championship at Traz Powell Stadium. The Rockets jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead but the Explorers scored 21 consecutive points in the third quarter to cut the lead to 35-28.

The Rockets responded as Keyone Jenkins connected with LaWayne McCoy to cap off a 65-yard touchdown drive to take a 42-28 lead with 10:23 left. Columbus answered with a score with 8:08 remaining but the Rockets defense would hold on down the stretch forcing a fumble as the Explorers were trying to drive down the field to tie it. Four-star defensive lineman Rueben Bain had another monster night racking up four sacks giving him 17 on the season.

Senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw for four touchdowns and 2023 Pittsburgh commit Lamar Seymore had a huge night racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and two scores. McCoy hauled in two touchdown receptions as the Rockets improved to 8-0 and added another quality win to their resume.

Denton Guyer's (Denton, Texas) five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold put on a show on national television leading the Wildcats to a 49-7 win over Allen (Texas) on ESPN2. The Wildcats improved to 8-0 and have won every game by at least 17 points. Arnold was featured in our MaxPreps Player of the Year Watch List. The 2023 Oklahoma commit completed 25 of 28 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns while adding 84 yards rushing and another score. 

Senior wide receiver Landon Sides has been Arnold's favorite target all season and hauled in seven receptions for 132 yards and two scores. Junior wideout Josiah Martin posted eight receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Five-star safety Peyton Bowen added an impressive 60-yard punt return score.

No. 15 Duncanville (Texas) was the only other MaxPreps Top 25 team to play on Thursday and cruised to a 63-0 win over Skyline (Dallas). The Panthers improved to 7-0. Up next for the 6A Division 1 state runner-up is rival DeSoto (Texas) on Oct. 28. The Eagles are 6-1 and their only loss came against No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) won its 26th game in row beating Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) 52-7 at Saddleback College. The Monarchs control their own destiny when it comes to finishing the year as the top-ranked team in the country and have one Trinity League matchup left on Oct. 28 at Servite (Anaheim) before the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs get underway. Junior quarterback Elijah Brown completed 13 of 14 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.

 

No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) won its second game in a row after a 17-7 loss against Mater Dei (Santa Ana) beating Orange Lutheran (Orange) 48-7. The Braves close out the regular season against Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Oct. 28.

Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) at Saddleback College (Mission Viejo)

• • 52
    Mater Dei
  • 7
    Santa Margarita

  10/21 Final

• • 42
    Central
  • 35
    Columbus

  10/21 Final

• • 7
    Orange Lutheran
  • 48
    St. John Bosco

  10/21 Final

• • 0
    Foothill
  • 75
    Bishop Gorman

  10/21 Final

• • 7
    Dacula
  • 50
    Buford

  10/21 Final

• • 0
    Avant Garde Academy
  • 63
    Chaminade-Madonna

  10/21 Final

• • 6
    Monarch
  • 37
    St. Thomas Aquinas

  10/21 Final

No. 9 Chandler (Ariz.) at Mountain View (Mesa)

• • 49
    Chandler
  • 6
    Mountain View

  10/21 Final

• • 56
    North Shore
  • 14
    Humble

  10/21 Final

• • 0
    Austin
  • 70
    Westlake

  10/21 Final

• • 35
    American Heritage
  • 17
    Naples

  10/21 Final

Friday, 7 p.m.

• • 7
    Murrieta Valley
  • 50
    Centennial

  10/21 Final

• • 63
    Duncanville
  • 0
    Skyline

  10/20 Final

• • 7
    Allen
  • 49
    Guyer

  10/20 Final

• • 43
    Lipscomb Academy
  • 21
    Christ Presbyterian Academy

  10/21 Final

• • 6
    CAI
  • 44
    Lakeland

  10/21 Final

• • 28
    Cinco Ranch
  • 56
    Katy

  10/21 Final

• • 0
    Newnan
  • 41
    Langston Hughes

  10/21 Final

Friday, 7:30 p.m.

• • 0
    Collins Hill
  • 54
    Mill Creek

  10/21 Final

• • 56
    Long Beach Poly
  • 0
    C
    Compton

  10/21 Final

• • 14
    Lowndes
  • 42
    Colquitt County

  10/21 Final

• • 42
    Liberty
  • 0
    Mountain Ridge

  10/21 Final

• • 7
    V.R. Eaton
  • 42
    Southlake Carroll

  10/21 Final