MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

For the hungry football fan, last weekend's action was merely an appetizer. This week's MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week spotlights just a handful of offerings from a smorgasbord of outstanding prep matchups.

Four of this week's top games will be available to a national cable television audience, including a pair of contests between teams ranked in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard. On Friday, No. 9 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) will shoot for its second straight win over a ranked team this season when it entertains second-ranked Armwood (Seffner, Fla.). No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) travels to Hoover, Ala., to play No. 6 Prattville (Ala.) on Saturday. It will be the first game for the Raiders under coach Rocco Casullo.

Steve Montoya and Mitch Stephens share the lead after going 8-2 in the first week of our season-long prediction contest. Stephen Spiewak and Jamie DeMoney are tied for third after picking seven out of 10 games correctly. You can track our overall results and standings all season long by clicking here.

Here's a look at this week's Top 10 games of the week along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland and Jamie DeMoney.



No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. No. 6 Prattville (Ala.)
The Rocco Casullo era begins at St. Thomas Aquinas with what is technically a neutral site game at Hoover (Ala.) against Prattville. Casullo was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach this spring after George Smith retired. Smith won 361 games in 35 seasons and closed his career with a five-year run that produced four state titles and two national championships. Aquinas has nine returning starters and is particularly strong at the running back position – led by senior Dami Ayoola – and along the defensive front seven, led by Miami-committed end Jelani Hamilton. First-year starting quarterback Max Lescano will need a pair of talented sophomore receivers – Corey Holmes and All Harris – to step up and help in the passing game.

From last season's 8-4 squad, Prattville returns 18 starters – including seven who have made FBS verbal commitments. They include Alabama recruit Justin Thomas at quarterback. Thomas was rated one of the top 25 athletes in the Class of 2012 by Tom Lemming. Florida State commit Justin Shanks – one of Lemming's top 25 defensive tackles – anchors the Lions' defense. Prattville is just 2-4 in its last six outings against out-of-state opponents. They lost last season to South Florida power Miami Central, 49-28.

Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Prattville 17
Steve Montoya: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Prattville 14
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Prattville 20
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Prattville 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 26, Prattville 7
{PAGEBREAK}No. 2 Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) at No. 9 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Armwood was dealt a major setback when Florida-committed running back Matt Jones injured a knee in preseason drills and was ruled out of this game. But the Hawks still will have six other returning offensive starters in the lineup including the nucleus of an offensive line that paved the way for more than 3,000 team rushing yards last season. Armwood's defense features one of the nation's most impressive outside linebacker prospects in Oklahoma recruit Eric Striker.

This is the second straight game in the national spotlight for Bishop Gorman. The Gaels were dominant in the second half of last week's 42-22 win over then-No. 24 Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), outscoring the Firebirds 35-8 in the final 24 minutes. Behind Gorman's large and athletic offensive line, running back Shaquille Powell carried the ball 30 times for 300 yards and six touchdowns. The senior had 164 yards and three touchdowns in the third quarter alone.

Mitch Stephens: Bishop Gorman 28, Armwood 27
Steve Montoya: Bishop Gorman 21, Armwood 14
Stephen Spiewak: Armwood 21, Bishop Gorman 17
Kevin Askeland: Armwood 21, Bishop Gorman 20
Jamie DeMoney: Bishop Gorman 24, Armwood 17
{PAGEBREAK}No. 12 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) at Hoover (Ala.)
Since the beginning of the millennium, there aren't two high school programs in the Deep South that have enjoyed more success than the combatants in this matchup. South Panola is the defending national champion in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 and owns seven of the last eight Mississippi large-school state titles and only two losses since the start of the 2003 season. They already have one game under their belts this year, a 37-17 win over defending 5A champion West Point.

Hoover has only seven total starters back from its ninth team in 11 seasons to reach the 6A state championship game. Despite the inexperience, coach Josh Niblett says this year's group has great work ethic and a lot of team chemistry. This is the eighth game against an out-of-state power for the Bucs since 2005. They went 4-3 in the previous games.



Mitch Stephens: South Panola 27, Hoover 24
Steve Montoya: South Panola 35, Hoover 28
Stephen Spiewak: South Panola 28, Hoover 17
Kevin Askeland: Hoover 24, South Panola 21
Jamie DeMoney: Hoover 27, South Panola 26
{PAGEBREAK}Cedar Hill (Texas) vs. No. 5 Allen (Texas)
Allen might play its toughest game of the regular season right off the bat in this Saturday night showdown at SMU's Ford Stadium. This could be Cedar Hill's best collection of offensive talent since it won the 5A state title in 2006. Laquvionte Gonzales had more than 1,000 combined rushing and receiving yards as a sophomore. Converted receiver Andre Anderson brings explosive speed to the quarterback position. On defense, the Longhorns have seven returning starters. The unit is led by senior end David Harris, who had 30 tackles for loss last season.

Senior Alec Morris guides the Eagles into battle this season after throwing for more than 2,500 yards with 22 touchdown strikes and 10 rushing scores last season. The 6-4, 235-pounder recently switched his college commitment from Wake Forest to Alabama. He forms one of the nation's top quarterback-tailback duos with Jonathan Williams, a Missouri recruit who dashed for more than 2,000 yards as a junior. On defense, seven players who earned all-district accolades last season are back in the lineup including leading tackler and Baylor commit Thaddeus LaGrone (6-2, 175 LB/SS).

Mitch Stephens: Allen 35, Cedar Hill 28
Steve Montoya: Allen 35, Cedar Hill 20
Stephen Spiewak: Allen 35, Cedar Hill 28
Kevin Askeland: Allen 34, Cedar Hill 21
Jamie DeMoney: Allen 31, Cedar Hill 21
{PAGEBREAK}No. 15 Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.) vs. Cass Tech (Detroit)
Harrison has 17 starters back from a team that went 14-0 and earned legendary coach John Herrington another state title (he has a state-record 13). However, one position where the Hawks will be breaking in a new starter is quarterback, where senior Jake Vento takes over for his brother Tom Vento, now a walk-on at Michigan State. Jake will have the luxury of working with a talented receiving corps that includes Michigan State commit Aaron Burbridge and Michigan-bound tight end Devin Funchess. The top player in the trenches is two-way lineman Mario Ojemudia, another Michigan recruit.

Cass Tech has 13 total returning starters from a team that went 12-1 and reached the Division I state semifinals. The Technicians have eight veterans back on defense, including a pair of future Michigan Wolverines in linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone and cornerback Terry Richardson. These are the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams in the MaxPreps' Freeman Computer Ratings Michigan Preseason Top 15.

Mitch Stephens: Harrison 22, Cass Tech 21
Steve Montoya: Harrison 31, Cass Tech 21
Stephen Spiewak: Harrison 35, Cass Tech 21
Kevin Askeland: Harrison 35, Cass Tech 18
Jamie DeMoney: Harrison 28, Cass Tech 27
{PAGEBREAK}Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) at Blue Springs (Mo.)
Missouri's finest opening-week rivalry game has produced six of the state's last eleven large-school champions. Rockhurst owns four of those titles, including a Class 6 title with a 14-0 record last year. The Hawklets have 14 starters back including a pair of outstanding linebackers in Nebraska recruit Michael Rose and fellow senior Alex Bales. The question marks for this team are at quarterback and tight end.

Blue Springs has a number of key components back from a 9-3 team that lost twice to Rockhurst — by a combined eight points — including a 7-0 defeat in the state quarterfinals. In all, the Wildcats have lost eight of their last 12 against the Hawklets dating back to 2004. Returning senior quarterback Kyle Brown (6-4, 210) is nursing a broken finger but is also expected to start at outside linebacker. Sophomore Dalvin Warmack could be the next in a line of blue chip running back recruits this program has produced.



Mitch Stephens: Rockhurst 21, Blue Springs 20
Steve Montoya: Rockhurst 17, Blue Springs 8
Stephen Spiewak: Rockhurst 14, Blue Springs 7
Kevin Askeland: Rockhurst 21, Blue Springs 14
Jamie DeMoney: Blue Springs 21, Rockhurst 14

(Last year's second meeting between Rockhurst and Blue Springs. Rockhurst would win 7-0)
{PAGEBREAK}North Shore (Houston) at No. 11 Katy (Texas)
This is the fourth consecutive opening-week showdown between Houston's most successful programs of the last decade. North Shore won the first game in the series (10-6 in 2008) but lost the next two including a 44-6 shellacking a year ago. The teams also met in last year's playoffs with Katy winning, 37-27. The Mustangs must get back to running the ball with power and playing great defense in order to return to a level of dominance that saw them win a state-record 78 consecutive regular season games.

Katy has won 95 of its last 105 games and begins the season in its usual spot at or near the top of the preseason 5A state rankings. The Tigers return four starters on both sides of the ball including senior quarterback Brooks Haack, an all-district selection last year. Joining him in the backfield is one of the nation's top junior running backs in Adam Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder who had more than 1,500 yards on the ground last season.

Mitch Stephens: Katy 34, North Shore 21
Steve Montoya: Katy 28, North Shore 20
Stephen Spiewak: Katy 17, North Shore 14
Kevin Askeland: Katy 28, North Shore 12
Jamie DeMoney: Katy 24, North Shore 20

(In the season opener last season, Katy won big 44-6)

{PAGEBREAK}Maryville (Tenn.) at Alcoa (Tenn.)
Tennessee's two most successful programs from the last decade are located less than 10 miles apart, setting the stage for a terrific annual rivalry. Defending 6A state champ Maryville went 14-1 last season. Its only loss was to Alcoa, which finished 15-0 and won the 3A title. Maryville is 1-0 on the season after dispatching Webb, 30-7, in its opener. The Rebels feature North Carolina commit Pat Robinette, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 senior also ran for a score.

Alcoa extended the nation's second-longest active win streak to 44 games with a 21-0 shutout of Cleveland to open the season. The Tornadoes are still 30 shy of tying the state record for consecutive wins set by Maryville in 2008, though. Senior running back-defensive back Vanderbilt Hambrick had a rushing touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown, in addition to intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble.

Mitch Stephens: Maryville 24, Alcoa 21
Steve Montoya: Maryville 27, Alcoa 20
Stephen Spiewak: Maryville 28, Alcoa 21
Kevin Askeland: Alcoa 35, Maryville 30
Jamie DeMoney: Maryville 28, Alcoa 13
{PAGEBREAK}Folsom (Calif.) at Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
Folsom wants to show the state of California that last season wasn't a one-year wonder. After losing their opener to Grant by 35 points, the Bulldogs won their next 14 games, including a rematch over Grant for the Sac-Joaquin Section title and the Division II state bowl game against Serra (Gardena). Six FBS signees and 14 starters overall from that team have graduated including US Air Force MaxPreps National Player of the Year quarterback Dano Graves. His successor is Tanner Trosin, an athletic and confident senior who played mostly receiver and defensive back in 2010.



Running back/safety Shaq Thompson is the No. 39-rated player in the Class of 2012, according to MaxPreps recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. The 6-2, 212-pounder is one of 10 returning starters for the Pacers. While last year's 13-1 squad was very strong in the trenches, this year's strength is a collection of excellent skill players. That includes returning quarterback Terry Shine, who checks in at just 5-8, 165 pounds but passed for more than 2,000 yards and earned league MVP recognition last season.

Mitch Stephens: Grant 31, Folsom 28
Steve Montoya: Grant 28, Folsom 20
Stephen Spiewak: Grant 21, Folsom 10
Kevin Askeland: Grant 40, Folsom 35
Jamie DeMoney: Grant 24, Folsom 23

(Folsom got revenge after week one, beating Grant 41-20 for the D-II section title)

{PAGEBREAK}Cocoa (Fla.) at Colerain (Cincinnati)
In a made-for-TV Sunday afternoon showdown, Cocoa will take its 38-game winning streak onto the turf of Colerain's Cardinal Stadium. This is the first of three out-of-state road games Cocoa will play this year. But that's nothing new for the Tigers — they played three non-Florida teams in 2010. This is an experienced squad (13 returning starters) that doesn't have a lot of size or depth but makes up for it with exceptional team speed. Running back Tarean Folston leads the offense after gaining more than 1,200 yards as a sophomore. Senior linebacker Grady Redding had 163 tackles last year on a defense that surrendered less than seven points per game.

Colerain has slipped off the national rankings picture slightly in recent years but that could change if it shows well against a tough early-season schedule. The Cardinals' defense could be flat-out nasty. The unit features Michigan-bound linebacker Joe Bolden, Cincinnati-committed safety Andre Jones and space-eating defensive tackle Trae Clark (6-4, 315). Controls to the Colerain offense appear to belong to junior quarterback Afred Ramsby, a transfer from Lakota West.

Mitch Stephens: Colerain 17, Cocoa 14
Steve Montoya: Colerain 21, Cocoa 20
Stephen Spiewak: Colerain 17, Cocoa 10
Kevin Askeland: Cocoa 35, Colerain 28
Jamie DeMoney: Cocoa 13, Colerain 12

Jamie DeMoney is National Content Manager for XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.