MaxPreps Top 10 high school football Games of the Week: Miami Central vs. DeMatha

Video: (2) Miami Central vs. (14) DeMatha - high school football preview
MaxPreps breaks down the matchup between these out-of-state opponents.

Central (Miami) vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Why it's big: Central aims for its sixth win against a non-Florida team since 2011. The Rockets are No. 2 in the Xcellent 25 thanks largely to its nasty defense, a unit featuring linemen Keir Thomas (Florida State) and Eric Mitchell (Florida).

No. 14 DeMatha wants its second win in three seasons against a Florida opponent. (It beat Tallahassee Godby in 2013). The Stags have 18 starters back from their 22nd Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship team in 50 years.

Names to watch: Central's James Cook (6-foot-4, 191 pounds) is a four-star athlete committed to Florida State, and playmaking 6-3, 210-pound receiver Darnell Salomon also gets four stars by 247Sports.



For DeMatha, offensive lineman Terrance Davis (6-4, 305), defensive end Shane Simmons (Penn State) and receiver Tino Ellis (Maryland) are included in 247Sports' Maryland Top 10 prospect list for the Class of 2016. Anthony McFarland is rated the top all-purpose back in the nation for the Class of 2017.