Southern California showdown between Monarchs-Braves will have eyes of nation watching.
Video: Top 10 Games of the Week All 10 matchups this week are in-state contests.
For the second time this year we get a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown as St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) hosts top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).
Not only does this matchup feature the top two teams in the country it also features the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks from the Class of 2020.
According to 247sports' Greg Biggins it's the first time during the modern recruiting rankings era that the top two rated signal-callers will face each other.
While both teams have big-time quarterbacks, and are loaded at the skill positions, this one will come down to who wins in the trenches.
It's the 19th meeting between the two since 2004 and Mater Dei has won 10 of the previous 18, including three of the last four. Don't expect this to be the last matchup between the Trinity League powers because they have played three consecutive times in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship.
The Braves won in 2016 and the Monarchs have won the last two (2017 and 2018).
The other states featured in this week's Top 10 games include Texas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, Arizona, and Alabama.
MaxPreps Top 10 high school football Games of the Week
Friday, 7:30 p.m. (All times local)
Top Players
The winner of this one controls its own destiny to be the national champion. Both are 8-0 and winning by over 30 points per game. This is the most anticipated matchup of the year and there are 47 players featured who are rated as a 3-star recruit or higher or have at least one FBS offer.
Top Players
West Brook rolls into this one undefeated but face its biggest test of the year. North Shore won 56-7 the last time these two met. The Bruins have won 14 of 15 since that game and the lone loss came by one point in the 6A Division 2 state championship against
Haynes King and Longview. The Mustangs have won six straight since a three-point, season-opening loss against No. 8 Katy and are getting healthy at the right time with Evans and Banks both back.
Friday, 7 p.m. at Catholic University (Washington, D.C.)
Top Players
Expect to see at least one Washington Catholic Athletic Conference game featured every week. It's one of the most competitive conferences and features four teams ranked in the Top 50. Good Counsel and DeMatha are looking to bounce back after suffering tight losses last week. Both are just outside of the Top 25 so a good showing on Friday would get them in the right direction to get back into the rankings.
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Top Players
Two of the most prestigious Ohio programs face each other on Saturday. St. X has won three state titles since 2005 with the latest coming in 2016. Chuck Kyle has led St. Ignatius to a state-best 11 championships with the latest coming in 2011. This is the 17th meeting between the two since 2004 and the Bombers have won nine of the previous 16 but the Wildcats have won four of the last five including two straight.
Top Players
Two of the top quarterbacks in the state committed to rival colleges square off with first place on the line in the 6A Desert Valley region. Miller is an Ohio State commit and Johnson is committed to Michigan. The future Buckeye missed some time with an injury but is back and Chaparral is getting hot at the right time. They've won four straight since starting the season 2-2. Pinnacle's lone loss came on the road in Washington, by two points, against a very talented Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.).
Friday, 8 p.m.
Top Players
Two of the best in the Peach State, Valdosta has won more games than any other school and own a Georgia-best 24 state championships but Lee County has bragging rights over the last couple of years. The Trojans have won back-to-back 6A state championships and the Wildcats have only won one state title since 1998 (2016). This is the sixth straight year these two lock horns with Valdosta winning four of the previous five but Lee County won 63-7 last season.
Friday, 7 p.m.
Top Players
Both schools will be heavily in the mix to win a state title in their respective classification and expect a close one this weekend. The Rockets have won seven of their last eight since a season opening loss to No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). The Lions are going for their third consecutive 3A state title and a big-time win against Miami Central would be perfect for them to get ready for the postseason.
Friday, 7 p.m.
Top Players
Mission Viejo is trending in the right direction to joining the rankings soon and a statement win against an 8-1 San Clemente squad would go a long way. The Diablos are 8-0 in 2019 and have won every game by double digits. The Tritons beat Viejo last year for the first time since 1999 and if they make it two straight they will win the South Coast league title. If Viejo wins the Diablos would need to beat Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) next week to clinch the outright title.
Friday, 7 p.m.
Top Players
This one has huge implications in the Top 25 Small Schools rankings. Grace Brethren has been playing lights out this year and has won every game by at least 14 points. Its biggest win came back in late August when the Lancers beat Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) 54-28. The Trail Blazers only loss this year came against that Oaks Christian squad by a touchdown in early September. They've since won five straight. This is the fourth straight season these two schools lock horns with Sierra Canyon winning the previous three meetings.
Top Players
Josh Niblett is one of the best coaches in high school football for a reason. His team has battled injuries in 2019 but they keep winning. He's been without his 4-star quarterback (Ashford) and starting running back (
Dylan Pauley) but they have still won five straight since suffering their lone loss against an undefeated Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) squad. This is a huge game because the winner will host a first-round playoff game in a couple weeks in one of the toughest postseason brackets in the country.
