MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

MaxPreps' weekly spotlight on the Top 10 High School Football Games across the nation begins with one of the biggest of the year in football-rich New Jersey.

St. Joseph Regional, which is fifth in the latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25, takes on an unbeaten St. Peter's Prep team that would have a strong case for entering the national rankings if it can pull the upset. It's not only a showdown between two of the Garden State's best teams, but also two of its best running backs in SJR's Sherman Alston (a Boston College recruit) and Rutgers-bound Jonathan Hilliman of St. Peter's Prep.

Elsewhere, eighth-ranked Miami Central will square off against Miami Northwestern in one of South Florida's top annual grudge matches. No. 11 Bellevue (Wash.) puts its long winning streak on the line against undefeated Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.), and No. 16 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) renews its annual "Holy War" with archrival St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

After correctly selecting the winner in nine of the 10 games last week, GOTW author Jamie DeMoney has pulled to within one game of leader Stephen Spiewak in our season-long prediction contest. Stephen's 56-23-1 record is two games better than Leland Gordon, who holds on to 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.

St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) at St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)

What to watch: Both teams have a running back committed to play at the BCS level next season. Rutgers recruit Jonathan Hilliman leads St. Peter's Prep with 992 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. St. Joseph Regional's Sherman Alston (Boston College) has eight touchdowns in four games and averages seven yards per carry. Fifth-ranked St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) is currently tied with No. 10 Paramus Catholic for first place in the Big North-United, which last week was named the toughest high school football league in the nation by MaxPreps. The Green Knights (4-0) play Paramus Catholic next week, so they better not be caught looking ahead when playing against St. Peter's Prep (6-0), which is ranked third in New Jersey.

Just the facts: Friday's game will be the sixth between these teams since 2008. St. Joseph Regional won four of the first five, including a 21-10 decision last season. … With 332 victories in 31 seasons, SJR's Tony Karcich is the winningest coach in Bergen County (N.J.) history.

Mitch Stephens: St. Joseph Regional 34, St. Peter's Prep 21
Kevin Askeland: St. Joseph Regional 40, St. Peter's Prep 20
Jamie DeMoney: St. Joseph Regional 31, St. Peter's Prep 24
Stephen Spiewak: St. Peter's Prep 24, St. Joseph Regional 21
Leland Gordon: St. Joseph Regional 31, St. Peter's Prep 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Peter's Prep 21, St. Joseph Regional 17
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Central (Miami) at Northwestern (Miami)

What to watch: Northwestern will attempt to upset No. 8 Central after coming close to knocking off top-ranked Washington last week. The Bulls (3-3) trailed by only five points in the fourth quarter before ending up with a 21-9 loss. Central (5-1) has rolled to four straight wins since losing to Washington on Sept. 6. The Rockets were completely dominant last week, defeating Norland (Miami), 56-6, with a 467-88 statistical edge in total offense.

Just the facts: Friday's game is a homecoming for Central coach Roland Smith. He was Northwestern's head coach from 2001-06 and led the Bulls to a state championship and 15-0 record his final season. … This will be the 15th time these rivals have met since 2004, including five playoff games. The series is tied at seven wins each during that period.

Mitch Stephens: Central 35, Northwestern 21
Kevin Askeland: Central 40, Northwestern 18
Jamie DeMoney: Central 27, Northwestern 12
Stephen Spiewak: Central 35, Northwestern 14
Leland Gordon: Central 45, Northwestern 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Central 35, Northwestern 28
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Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.) at Bellevue (Wash.)

What to watch: Mount Si's improbable quest to end No. 11 Bellevue's 46-game winning streak. The Wildcats (6-0) will need a big game Friday night from senior quarterback Nick Mitchell, an Oregon State recruit who has a three-star rating by 247Sports. Bellevue (6-0) has beaten teams by an average of 38 points this season and only three of its wins have been decided by a touchdown or less since its winning streak began.



Just the facts: Bellevue has won 112 out of 117 games played against Washington opponents since 2004. The Wolverines own 11 straight victories against their KingCo rival Mount Si, including a pair of lopsided wins last season. … Bellevue running back/athlete Budda Baker has been selected to play in the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. It's the second-straight year a Bellevue player has been selected. Alum Myles Jack (now at UCLA) played in the game last January.

Mitch Stephens: Bellevue 42, Mount Si 21
Kevin Askeland: Bellevue 56, Mount Si 14
Jamie DeMoney: Bellevue 38, Mount Si 16
Stephen Spiewak: Bellevue 48, Mount Si 10
Leland Gordon: Bellevue 51, Mount Si 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Bellevue 45, Mount Si 21
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St. Ignatius (Cleveland) at St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

What to watch: The 51st renewal of the "Holy War" game Saturday night between the Cleveland area's preeminent Catholic football powers. After St. Edward knocked St. Ignatius from the national rankings with a win in this game last season, the Wildcats will be looking to return the favor this year. St. Ignatius (4-3) has been hit hard by injuries, including season-ending losses to Ohio State-bound linebacker Kyle Berger and senior quarterback Peter Mahoney. Michigan-committed receiver-defensive back Shaun Crawford is part of a talent-laden junior class that has No. 16 St. Edward in prime position to contend for the Ohio Division I state title the next two seasons.

Just the facts: Both teams were 9-0 and nationally ranked when they played in last year's regular-season finale. It's the only time that has happened in the history of the rivalry. … St. Edward's 20-13 win last season was only its fourth in 11 meetings against St. Ignatius since 2004. St. Ignatius owns the advantage in the series overall 27-22-1.

Mitch Stephens: St. Edward 28, St. Ignatius 14
Kevin Askeland: St. Ignatius 28, St. Edward 27
Jamie DeMoney: St. Edward 27, St. Ignatius 6
Stephen Spiewak: St. Ignatius 20, St. Edward 17
Leland Gordon: St. Edward 27, St. Ignatius 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Edward 21, St. Ignatius 20
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Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) at Serra (Gardena, Calif.)

What to watch: A tough Mission League test Friday night for a highly talented Serra team that is starting to fire on all cylinders. The No. 22 Cavaliers' 63-7 out of Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood) last week may have been their best overall performance of the season. If not for a 55-54 loss at Hart (Newhall) in Week 2, Chaminade would match Serra's perfect 6-0 record. The Eagles are getting a breakout season from running back/defensive back Donovan Lee. The junior has just less than 1,000 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns.

Just the facts: Both offenses are triggered by an FBS-committed quarterback. Chaminade senior Brad Kaaya is a Miami recruit with 1,654 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Serra's field general is Boise State commit Jalen Greene, who has more than 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns. … Serra has won three of the four games played in this series since 2010. The teams split a pair of games last season, with Chaminade winning in the regular season and Serra gaining the upper hand in the CIF-Southern Section Western Division championship game.



Mitch Stephens: Serra 42, Chaminade 35
Kevin Askeland: Chaminade 42, Serra 40
Jamie DeMoney: Chaminade 42, Serra 35
Stephen Spiewak: Serra 30, Chaminade 27
Leland Gordon: Serra 47, Chaminade 45
Colin Ward-Henninger: Serra 38, Chaminade 35
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McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) at North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.)

What to watch: A battle for sole possession of first place in the Class AAAAAA Region standings. No. 23 McEachern (7-0) celebrated its first week in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings with a dominant 40-0 win over South Cobb (Austell). It was the sixth-straight game the Indians had reached the 40-point mark in. North Cobb has four straight wins after it was upset by Walton (Marietta) on Sept. 13. Junior quarterback Tyler Queen, an Auburn commit, completed 10 of 16 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-17 win over Hill Grove (Powder Springs) last week, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

Just the facts: McEachern is looking to extend a four-game winning streak over North Cobb. The Indians hold a 6-3 advantage overall in the series since 2004. … North Cobb's 11-3 record last season broke a string of four straight years that the Warriors finished at .500 or worse.

Mitch Stephens: North Cobb 28, McEachern 27
Kevin Askeland: McEachern 28, North Cobb 27
Jamie DeMoney: McEachern 31, North Cobb 27
Stephen Spiewak: McEachern 42, North Cobb 34
Leland Gordon: McEachern 35, North Cobb 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: North Cobb 24, McEachern 20
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Gaffney (S.C.) at Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)

What to watch: Defending 4A Division I titlist Gaffney has won five out of six since being crushed 51-19 by nationally ranked Northwestern (Rock Hill) in the season opener. South Carolina recruit Shaq Davidson, who didn't play against Northwestern due to injury, has 1,199 combined passing, rushing and receiving yards and nine total touchdowns in the six games since. Byrnes' only loss was also to Northwestern, a 42-35 overtime setback on Sept. 13. The Rebels have averaged 55 points per game. In just seven games this season, senior quarterback Shuler Bentley has 2,559 passing yards and 37 touchdowns.

Just the facts: Gaffney beat Byrnes twice last season by a combined margin of six points. The Indians are the only team with a winning record against Byrnes since 2004, taking seven of the last 12 games in the rivalry. … Friday's 4A Region II showdown is between two programs with a combined 12 state championships since 2002.

Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 38, Gaffney 35
Kevin Askeland: Byrnes 35, Gaffney 34
Jamie DeMoney: Byrnes 52, Gaffney 49
Stephen Spiewak: Byrnes 35, Gaffney 21
Leland Gordon: Byrnes 49, Gaffney 41
Colin Ward-Henninger: Byrnes 48, Gaffney 42
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Aliquippa (Pa.) at Beaver Falls (Pa.)

What to watch: One of Western Pennsylvania's oldest rivalries that dates back to 1920. Both teams enter Friday's game with perfect records following dominant Week 6 victories. Aliquippa scored 36 first-quarter points en route to a 56-0 win over Lincoln (Ellwood City). It was the Quips' third shutout in their last five games. Four-star prospect Dravon Henry had 175 rushing yards and two touchdowns on only four carries, according to TribLive.com. Meanwhile, Beaver Falls crushed Freedom Area, 51-6. Damian Rawl had 131 yards and a touchdown on only five carries.

Just the facts: Aliquippa has dominated this rivalry in recent years, winning nine of the 11 games played since 2004. … Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka and likely future honoree Darrelle Revis lead Aliquippa's impressive list of football alumni. Not to be outdone, Beaver Falls' most notable former player is NFL legend Joe Namath.



Mitch Stephens: Beaver Falls 28, Aliquippa 24
Kevin Askeland: Beaver Falls 30, Aliquippa 24
Jamie DeMoney: Aliquippa 26, Beaver Falls 21
Stephen Spiewak: Aliquippa 24, Beaver Falls 14
Leland Gordon: Aliquippa 24, Beaver Falls 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Beaver Falls 20, Aliquippa 17
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Horn (Mesquite, Texas) at Longview (Texas)

What to watch: The winner stays alive in the race for a District 12-5A title. Horn (6-1) lost for the first time (31-17) to rival Mesquite last week despite getting 115 rushing yards from senior quarterback Destri White (a Rice recruit). Longview (5-1) has five straight wins since losing the season-opener to then-nationally ranked Coppell. The Lobos feature four-star junior running back Ja'Mycal Hasty, who has more than 1,000 combined rushing and receiving yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

Just the facts: Longview's 659 wins ranks fourth all-time in Texas history. Yet, the Lobos have won only one state championship in their history. That happened back in 1937. … Horn had lost seven consecutive games against Longview before winning last season's game, 25-17.

Mitch Stephens: Longview 28, Horn 27
Kevin Askeland: Horn 42, Longview 41
Jamie DeMoney: Longview 29, Horn 27
Stephen Spiewak: Longview 17, Horn 10
Leland Gordon: Longview 31, Horn 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: Horn 35, Longview 28
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Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.) at Lowell (Mich.)



What to watch: Christian (6-1) is ranked No. 1 in the latest Division 3 state newspaper rankings despite a 35-13 loss earlier in the year to Division 2 Muskegon. The Eagles have played all season without Michigan-committed receiver Drake Harris. The 247Sports four-star prospect continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Lowell (7-0) checked in at No. 2 in the state Division 2 poll this week and has a 31-20 win over Muskegon on its resume. Friday's game will be the sixth between the teams since 2008. Lowell holds a 3-2 edge despite losing the last two meetings.

Just the facts: Harris had a state-record 2,015 receiving yards while leading Christian to the Division 3 state crown as a junior. He entered this season with 3,033 career yards and seemed poised to break the state record for career yards which stands at 3,741. … Christian and Lowell compete in the Ottawa-Kent Conference – White Division. Its current six-team membership owns a combined 12 Division 2 or Division 3 state championships since 2002.

Mitch Stephens: Lowell 28, Christian 17
Kevin Askeland: Lowell 40, Christian 35
Jamie DeMoney: Lowell 28, Christian 21
Stephen Spiewak: Lowell 35, Christian 20
Leland Gordon: Lowell 35, Christian 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lowell 17, Christian 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.