MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

Six teams in the latest MaxOPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard are previewed in this, the penultimate MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week for the 2011 season.

Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) comes in ranked No. 18. In order to advance to the first Florida Class 8A championship game, the Hurricanes must beat a red-hot Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) squad that bounced once-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas out of the playoffs last week.

A pair of games involving Top 10 teams from Georgia are also in action. No. 6 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) must defeat fellow unbeaten Walton (Marietta, Ga.) to claim its first Class 5A title, while No. 8 Buford (Ga.) aims for its fifth-consecutive state crown against undefeated Calhoun (Ga.), the team it beat in the state final the last three seasons.

Meanwhile in Texas, two of the state's top dual-threat junior quarterbacks will duel when No. 5 Skyline (Dallas) takes on undefeated Southlake Carroll in the Class 5A-I semifinals. Led by Devante Kincade, this is the deepest playoff run in nearly 40 years for Skyline. Carroll, which features Kenny Hill, won four state titles in the 2000s but hasn't been this far in the postseason since 2006.



A break-even 5-5 record last week for Jamie DeMoney tightened the race to the top in our season-long prediction contest. Stephen Spiewak went 8-2 last week, making up three games on DeMoney and putting himself well within striking distance to overtake the lead and repeat as the prediction champion. 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.

Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. Walton (Marietta, Ga.)

Regardless of who wins Saturday night's finale at the Georgia Dome, there will be a first-time state championship in Georgia's 5A classification this season. Grayson (14-0), which is in the title game for the first time in its 12-year history, has been nationally ranked and one of the season-long favorites to win the championship. The Rams barely slipped past Colquitt County (Moultrie) in last week's semifinals. Senior receiver Marcus Lindquist caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Nick Schuessler with 28 seconds left in the game to help secure a 35-31 victory, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Fellow unbeaten Walton features one of the state's top juniors in running back Tyren Jones, who has nearly 2,300 yards on the ground this season. He had 187 yards in last week's 30-24 semifinal win over Lassiter (Marietta), according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, Jones might be in for his toughest outing of the season against a Grayson defense that has been dominant against the run all season.

Mitch Stephens: Grayson 38, Walton 35
Steve Montoya: Grayson 20, Walton 17
Stephen Spiewak: Grayson 21, Walton 10
Kevin Askeland: Walton 28, Grayson 21
Jamie DeMoney: Grayson 23, Walton 17
{PAGEBREAK}Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)



Despite having its worst offensive game of the season, Manatee squeezed out a 13-10 win over Central (Fort Pierce) last week to reach the state semifinals for the fifth time in six seasons. The Hurricanes' only touchdown came on defense when Rhoshaun Goff recovered a third-quarter fumble in the end zone. The only other times Manatee has been held under 20 points this season were against national top-five opponents Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) and Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.).

Dwyer is in the semifinal round for the fourth consecutive year. The previous three appearances were at the 4A level while this year the Panthers are competing in the newly formed Class 7A bracket. Dwyer has won its last 12 games after losing the opener at Glades Central (Belle Glade). Last week, it beat St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), 6-3, while limiting the once nationally ranked Raiders to only 145 total yards, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Mitch Stephens: Manatee 21, Dwyer 14
Steve Montoya: Manatee 17, Dwyer 14
Stephen Spiewak: Manatee 17, Dwyer 14
Kevin Askeland: Dwyer 24, Manatee 21
Jamie DeMoney: Dwyer 21, Manatee 18
{PAGEBREAK}Buford (Ga.) vs. Calhoun (Ga.)

Only Calhoun stands between Buford and a fifth consecutive Class 2A state title and possible Top-10 finish in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings. Buford won its 26th straight game last week with a 28-13 defeat of Carver (Columbus) in the state semifinals. The Wolves were actually down 13-7 at halftime. It's the first time they've trailed in a game since Sept. 3, 2010, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This is the fourth straight year these teams will meet in the championship game. Buford is the only team to beat Calhoun since early in the 2008 season. The Yellow Jackets (14-0) are certainly hungry for revenge and, with a team that has outscored foes by an average score of 45-10 this season, should have a good shot at dethroning Buford.

Mitch Stephens: Buford 35, Calhoun 28
Steve Montoya: Buford 31, Calhoun 21
Stephen Spiewak: Buford 24, Calhoun 14
Kevin Askeland: Buford 32, Calhoun 14
Jamie DeMoney: Buford 31, Calhoun 23
{PAGEBREAK}Miramar (Fla.) vs. Columbus (Miami)



Standout senior cornerback Tracy Howard returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown to spark Miramar's 35-7 win over Palm Beach Gardens in the Class 8A quarterfinals, according to the Miami Herald. It was the fourth time in five games the Patriots' defense allowed seven points or less. For the season, Miramar (12-0) has given up just 94 total points.

This is the deepest playoff run for Columbus since it reached the state finals in 1982. Like Miramar, the Explorers (10-2) have hung their hat on outstanding defense in the postseason. They've allowed only 14 combined points in three playoff games.

Mitch Stephens: Columbus 17, Miramar 14
Steve Montoya: Miramar 21, Columbus 20
Stephen Spiewak: Miramar 35, Columbus 28
Kevin Askeland: Miramar 28, Columbus 14
Jamie DeMoney: Miramar 27, Columbus 14
{PAGEBREAK}Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.) vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

With a win over Oaks Christian, Westlake (13-0) would win the CIF-SS Northern Division section crown and likely lock up Southern California's bid to the state's Open Division championship bowl game next weekend. The Warriors (13-0) beat Oaks Christian in Marmonte League play on Oct. 6. Justin Moore ran for 235 yards to spark a 43-21 victory. The junior had 103 yards on the ground in last week's 62-0 blowout of Thousand Oaks, pushing his season total to 2,187.

Oaks Christian (11-2) hopes for a repeat performance of last year's section championship game when it beat Westlake, 29-28. The Lions are certainly battle-tested, with both losses this season coming to nationally ranked opponents (Westlake and Bellevue, Wash.). They beat St. Bonaventure (Ventura) in last week's semifinals. Super sophomore quarterback Brandon Dawkins threw for 196 yards, ran for 81 yards, and accounted for three total touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: Oaks Christian 29, Westlake 28
Steve Montoya: Westlake 42, Oaks Christian 28
Stephen Spiewak: Westlake 35, Oaks Christian 31
Kevin Askeland: Westlake 48, Oaks Christian 12
Jamie DeMoney: Westlake 34, Oaks Christian 24
{PAGEBREAK}Centreville (Clifton, Va.) vs. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.)



Ken Ekanem led a stellar defensive effort that propelled Centreville (13-1) into Saturday's Class AAA Division 6 championship game. According to the Washington Post, the senior end had six tackles for loss and four and a half sacks in the Wildcats' 10-9 win over previously unbeaten Hermitage (Richmond) in last week's semifinals. This will be Centreville's first appearance in a state championship game since 2000.

While Centreville has been absent from the state finals in more than a decade, Oscar Smith was last there in 2008 when it finished the season unbeaten and ranked in the top 10 of some national polls. The Tigers have won 13 consecutive games since losing their opener, 51-27, to powerful Gilman (Baltimore).

Mitch Stephens: Oscar Smith 31, Centreville 28
Steve Montoya: Oscar Smith 21, Centreville 14
Stephen Spiewak: Oscar Smith 30, Centreville 27
Kevin Askeland: Oscar Smith 32, Centreville 28
Jamie DeMoney: Oscar Smith 35, Centreville 28
{PAGEBREAK}Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.) vs. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)

A pair of unbeaten teams will battle for the Class 6A state championship Saturday at Portland's Jeld-Wen Field. Lake Oswego (13-0) is No. 1 in the state, according to MaxPreps Freeman Rankings, and Sheldon (13-0) is No. 2. This is a rematch of a 2010 state quarterfinal game won by Lake Oswego in surprisingly easy fashion, 45-14. (The Lakers then lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Aloha (Beaverton).) In the last 11 seasons, Lake Oswego has reached the semifinals seven times and the state final three times but has yet to bring home a state title. On other hand, Sheldon is shooting for its fourth championship in 10 seasons.

In last week's semifinals, both teams were held to their season's lowest scoring outputs and won a game by fewer than 10 points for the first time all year. Senior quarterback Alex Matthews accounted for all of Lake Oswego's scoring with three touchdown passes in a 21-13 win over Jesuit (Portland). In the other semifinal, Sheldon's defense scored a touchdown while not allowing Central Catholic (Portland) into the end zone in an 18-9 win.

Mitch Stephens: Lake Oswego 42, Sheldon 35
Steve Montoya: Sheldon 14, Lake Oswego 7
Stephen Spiewak: Lake Oswego 35, Sheldon 28
Kevin Askeland: Sheldon 14, Lake Oswego 10
Jamie DeMoney: Lake Oswego 28, Sheldon 23
{PAGEBREAK}Carroll (Southlake, Texas) vs. Skyline (Dallas)

It's a battle of undefeated powers Saturday at SMU's Ford Field in one half of the Class 5A-I state semifinal bracket. This is Carroll's first trip to the final four since 2006 but the Dragons are still a much more seasoned program when it comes to the postseason than Skyline. Carroll won four state championships and a pair of national titles last decade. Meanwhile, Skyline is in the semifinals for the first time since 1972 and bids to become the first Dallas city public school to win state in more than 60 years.



Both teams feature one of the state's top junior signal callers. Carroll has Kenny Hill, son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Ken Hill. He has completed over 62 percent of his passes for 2,561 yards and 23 touchdowns in addition to rushing for over 1,212 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. On the other side, Skyline's Devante Kincade has a completion percentage over 70 with nearly 3,800 combined passing and rushing yards and 52 total touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: Skyline 35, Carroll 34
Steve Montoya: Carroll 28, Skyline 27
Stephen Spiewak: Skyline 31, Carroll 28
Kevin Askeland: Carroll 38, Skyline 31
Jamie DeMoney: Skyline 42, Carroll 34
{PAGEBREAK}West Monroe (La.) vs. Carencro (Lafayette, La.)

For the 14^th time in 19 seasons, West Monroe will be in the Superdome playing for the Class 5A state title. Under legendary coach Don Shows, the Rebels have been state champions seven times since 1993, most recently in 2009. This year’s team has rebounded from a 1-2 start to win 11 consecutive games heading into Saturday’s championship game. Last week, the Rebels knocked off Mandeville in the semifinals, 26-14.

Carencro (13-1) punched its ticket to its first state title game since 1996 by beating previously unbeaten Byrd (Shreveport), 34-21. Senior quarterback Jalen Nixon led the way with 113 rushing yards and four touchdowns, according to the Lafayette Advertiser. The last time the Bears were in the finals they lost to West Monroe, 24-21. They have not won a state championship since 1992, when the team was led by current New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk.

Mitch Stephens: Carencro 30, West Monroe 28
Steve Montoya: West Monroe 21, Carencro 20
Stephen Spiewak: West Monroe 17, Canrencro 14
Kevin Askeland: West Monroe 40, Carencro 14
Jamie DeMoney: West Monroe 24, Carencro 20

{PAGEBREAK}San Clemente (Calif.) vs. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

The highly competitive Pac-5 Division championship – and potentially a chance to represent Southern California in one of next week’s state bowl games – is on the line Saturday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Depending on your point of view, a case could be made that the Pac-5 is down this season or actually better than ever because neither San Clemente nor Santa Margarita were champions of their own league in the regular season. San Clemente (12-1) lost only to South Coast champion Mission Viejo while Santa Margarita (11-2) was beaten twice in the rugged Trinity League.

Led by three touchdown passes from Utah commit Travis Wilson, San Clemente blew out Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita), 51-16, in last week’s semifinals. It was an eye-opening result, given that Tesoro had beaten two-time defending division champion Servite the week before. On the other side, Santa Margarita earned its first trip to a section final since 1998 when it beat Mission Viejo, 21-20. Junior quarterback Johnny Stanton engineered a 12-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in the go-ahead touchdown with just over one minute left to play.

Mitch Stephens: Santa Margarita 28, San Clemente 27
Steve Montoya: Santa Margarita 21, San Clemente 10
Stephen Spiewak: San Clemente 28, Santa Margarita 27
Kevin Askeland: Santa Margarita 30, San Clemente 14
Jamie DeMoney: Santa Margarita 34, San Clemente 31

Jamie DeMoney is National Content Manager for http://www.xosdigital.com XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.