MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

The MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week includes the first true test for the nation's No. 2 team since the opening week of the season.

Armwood, ranked second in this week's Xcellent 25, has barely been challenged since its 20-17 win at No. 8 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on Aug. 26. The Hawks won their next seven games by an average margin of 44 points. On Friday, they host undefeated Plant, a team that has won three state titles in the last half-decade but also a team the Hawks have beaten in six of their last nine meetings.

In other GOTW action involving Xcellent 25 teams, No. 3 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) hosts once nationally ranked Moeller (Cincinnati), which has lost its last two games. It's Trinity's sixth game against an out-of-state opponent this season. Meanwhile, No. 24 University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) can wrap up a district championship if it defeats undefeated Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.).

Two of the Ohio's best rivalry games take place on Saturday. St. Edward (Lakewood) hosts St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in the "Holy War." At Fawcett Stadium in Canton, two of the winningest programs in prep football history meet for the 121st time as McKinley (Canton) hosts Washington (Massillon).



There's another change at the top of the standings in our season-long predictions contest. Jamie DeMoney and Stephen Spiewak now share the lead after each picked eight out of 10 games correctly last week. Kevin Askeland went 5-5 to slip into third place, two games behind the pace. 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.

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) at No. 2 Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)

Plant (7-0) aims to spoil Armwood's hopes for a national title and cement itself as one of a handful of top contenders for Florida's 8A championship. The Panthers have revenge on their minds after being shut out by Armwood last season, 17-0. They have failed to score offensive points in only three games played since 2004 – all against Armwood. The Panthers were shut out by the Hawks in 2004 and were held to a safety in a 9-2 defeat in 2008. Though Plant has won three state titles and reached the state finals four times in the last five seasons, this is the first time it's been undefeated this deep into the season since 2006. It clinched its seventh consecutive district title with a 48-6 rout of Alonso (Tampa) last week. Senior quarterback James Few completed 17 of 21 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns.

It's an understatement to say Armwood has been playing dominant defense this season. In its last five games, only one opponent has scored an offensive touchdown and only 46 points total have been scored against the Hawks all year. Other than a 20-17 win at nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in August, all the Hawks' wins have been by 20 or more points. An offense that struggled at times earlier in the season has shown improvement since Florida commit Matt Jones returned from a knee injury. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has rushed for more than 100 yards in back-to-back games.

Mitch Stephens: Armwood 28, Plant 17
Steve Montoya: Armwood 21, Plant 14
Stephen Spiewak: Armwood 31, Plant 10
Kevin Askeland: Armwood 42, Plant 24
Jamie DeMoney: Plant 23, Armwood 16



{PAGEBREAK}Butler (Matthews, N.C.) at Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)

For the fifth time in six seasons, this game will help decide the Southwestern 4A conference championship. Butler hasn't lost a league game since 2008, when it fell to Independence, 42-31, on the final week of the regular season. The Bulldogs can lock up a third straight league title with a win Friday night. They are unbeaten since losing the opener to nationally ranked Mallard Creek (Charlotte). According to the Charlotte Observer, Butler tallied more than 500 yards of offense in last week's 52-14 rout of South Mecklenburg (Charlotte). Standout junior quarterback Riley Ferguson threw four first-half touchdown passes.

Independence – a program that strung together the second-longest winning streak in history (109 games from 2000-07) – hit rock bottom in 2010, going 3-8 in its first season after longtime coach Tom Knotts left for Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.). The Patriots have bounced back this year, winning nine of 10 games and having a chance to share a league crown. Indy has averaged 52 points per game since its Sept. 23 loss to co-league leader Ardrey Kell. Last week, it beat Myers Park (Charlotte) in overtime, 56-55.

Mitch Stephens: Butler 42, Independence 28
Steve Montoya: Butler 24, Independence 14
Stephen Spiewak: Butler 35, Independence 10
Kevin Askeland: Butler 42, Independence 27
Jamie DeMoney: Butler 35, Independence 23

{PAGEBREAK}Westfield (Chantilly, Va.) at Centreville (Clifton, Va.)

This is the second straight key road game for Westfield in the chase for the Concorde District AAA title. Last week, it won big at previously unbeaten Oakton, 35-10. That means a win Friday over fellow 8-0 Centreville would give the Bulldogs their second Concorde title in three seasons. Senior Kendell Anderson followed up a 300-yard rushing game against West Potomac (Alexandria) on Oct. 14 with nearly 250 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Oakton.

Centreville has beaten every team on its schedule by more than two touchdowns. The Wildcats' average margin of victory is 26 points against Concorde opponents and 32 points overall. A key ingredient to the team's success has been its running game, led by senior Manny Smith. The 5-foot-8, 195-pounder needs only 17 yards to break the 1,000-yard barrier for the second straight season. He scored two touchdowns in last week's 38-13 win over Chantilly, giving him 13 for the season.



Mitch Stephens: Centreville 21, Westfield 20
Steve Montoya: Westfield 35, Centreville 21
Stephen Spiewak: Centreville 28, Westfield 17
Kevin Askeland: Westfield 28, Centreville 24
Jamie DeMoney: Westfield 28, Centreville 25

Watch more videos of Centreville football
{PAGEBREAK}No. 24 University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

This will be University's first real test since going on the road to beat Goose Creek (S.C.), on Labor Day weekend 52-51. In seven games since, the Suns have five blowout wins and two forfeit wins over overmatched opponents. Senior quarterback Gunnar Holcombe has been outstanding in his first year in the program, completing more than 65 percent of his passes for 1,439 yards and 20 touchdowns.

With a win, Chaminade-Madonna (7-0) would not only knock University out of the national rankings but also capture the outright championship of Class 3A District 8. The Lions have one of the top running back duos in South Florida with junior Myles Graham and sophomore Cameron Rigby. They have a combined 20 rushing touchdowns this season.

Mitch Stephens: University 35, Chaminade-Madonna 21
Steve Montoya: University 28, Chaminade-Madonna 10
Stephen Spiewak: University 35, Chaminade-Madonna 20
Kevin Askeland: University 32, Chaminade-Madonna 28
Jamie DeMoney: University 45, Chaminade-Madonna 33

{PAGEBREAK}Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) at No. 3 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)



Moeller faces a tough task going on the road to play the nation's No. 3 team after losing its last two games. Those defeats knocked the Crusaders out of the national rankings and relegated what might have been a Top-10 matchup to the status of merely another interesting battle between Kentucky's top program and one of the handful of tough Cincinnati Greater Catholic League teams. The Moeller defense – which was outstanding in the early going this season – has given up 68 total points the last two weeks.

Moeller's only path to victory might be if Trinity comes out flat following a bye week. Otherwise, it's hard to imagine how the Crusaders will keep pace with a Trinity team that has romped through a highly competitive schedule, winning by an average margin of just less than 40 points. The Shamrocks decisively beat Cathedral (Indianapolis) – the team that derailed Moeller's train two weeks ago – by 22 points on Sept. 23. Trinity's explosive offense is expertly guided by junior quarterback Travis Wright. The 6-1, 185-pound junior has completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,797 yards with 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions this season.

Mitch Stephens: Trinity 35, Moeller 20
Steve Montoya: Trinity 42, Moeller 14
Stephen Spiewak: Trinity 35, Moeller 17
Kevin Askeland: Trinity 48, Moeller 21
Jamie DeMoney:Trinity 34, Moeller 16

{PAGEBREAK}Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.) at South Medford (Ore.)

The Southwest Conference championship is up for grabs in this battle of unbeatens. Sheldon (8-0) has won its games by an average score of 50-9. Senior Dillon Miller threw for a season-high 367 yards with four touchdowns in a 56-14 rout of Thurston (Springfield) last week. Miller has 2,196 yards with 25 touchdowns and only three interceptions for the year. The Irish have won four of the last five games in the series.

Senior quarterback Jack Singler completed 12 of 14 passes for 232 yards and five touchdowns in South Medford's 62-0 wipeout of South Eugene last week. The 6-3, 165-pound son of coach Bill Singler has thrown for 1,909 yards with 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions this year. The Panthers also have a tough defense, which has recorded three shutouts and is allowing just less than 12 points per game this season.



Mitch Stephens: Sheldon 28, South Medford 24
Steve Montoya: South Medford 21, Sheldon 7
Stephen Spiewak: Sheldon 35, South Medford 14
Kevin Askeland: South Medford 35, Sheldon 14
Jamie DeMoney: Sheldon 34, South Medford 28

Watch more videos of Sheldon football{PAGEBREAK}San Clemente (Calif.) at Mission Viejo (Calif.)

San Clemente, the top-ranked team in Orange County according to the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings, has done no better than a tie against Mission Viejo in any year since 1999. While the Tritons have been playing catch up in the South Coast League over the last decade, this year they might be considered the favorite. Senior quarterback Travis Wilson – a 6-6, 215-pound Utah commit – had a season-high 205 passing yards with two touchdowns in a 35-10 win over Dana Hills last week.

Mission Viejo enjoyed a well-deserved week off after starting the season 5-2 against a rugged schedule. The Diablos' offense has been less potent than expected, averaging only 27 points per game. It was held to only a touchdown in losses to top-ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and Redlands East Valley (Redlands). There is reason for optimism, however. Quarterback Alex Bridgford had far and away his best game last time out, completing 18 of 32 passes for 388 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-21 win over Dana Hills on Oct. 14.

Mitch Stephens: Mission Viejo 21, San Clemente 20
Steve Montoya: Mission Viejo 21, San Clemente 7
Stephen Spiewak: San Clemente 28, Mission Viejo 21
Kevin Askeland: San Clemente 28, Mission Viejo 14
Jamie DeMoney: Mission Viejo 31, San Clemente 28

{PAGEBREAK}St. Ignatius (Cleveland) at St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

The "Holy War" on Cleveland's west side renews for the 48th time. Both teams are 7-2 and have clinched a spot in next week's Division I state playoffs. The winner is likely to also secure a home game in the first round. St. Ignatius lost to St. Edward, 33-10, last season but has still won five of the last eight meetings and owns a 25-21-1 edge in the series overall. The Wildcats are still smarting from a tough 14-12 loss to St. Xavier (Cincinnati) last week. They were driving for a go-ahead score late in the game before fumbling the ball away inside the St. X 40-yard line.



Following back-to-back losses to top-ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) and St. Xavier (Cincinnati), St. Edward played arguably its best game of the year in a 42-27 win over Moeller (Cincinnati) last week. Junior quarterback Ryan Fallon threw for more than 300 yards and classmate Kenny Butler ran for three touchdowns behind the Eagles' talented offensive line that includes four players committed to BCS-level colleges.

Mitch Stephens: St. Edward 20, St. Ignatius 14
Steve Montoya: St. Edward 28, St. Ignatius 13
Stephen Spiewak: St. Edward 14, St. Ignatius 3
Kevin Askeland: St. Edward 28, St. Ignatius 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Edward 21, St. Ignatius 14

{PAGEBREAK}Washington (Massillon, Ohio) at McKinley (Canton, Ohio)

It's the 121st meeting in this heated Stark County rivalry. Both teams have 7-2 records but both are in need of a win to ensure a spot in next week's Division I playoffs. Washington, the third winningest program in prep football history, has won five of the last nine meetings in this series and owns a 64-51-5 edge overall. The Tigers had probably their worst outing of the year in a 24-7 loss last week at Steubenville. An offense that averaged 33 points per game in their first eight games was held to minus-3 yards rushing and was outgained 368 to 91 overall.

While Massillon struggled, McKinley played possibly its best game of the year in a 41-20 win over Boardman (Youngstown) that allowed it to claim a share of the Federal League title. It was the Bulldogs' third straight win this month, all in which they scored more than 40 points. Senior running back Sa'veon Holloway had more than 100 rushing yards and a touchdown in the win against Boardman.

Mitch Stephens: Washington 21, McKinley 20
Steve Montoya: McKinley 17, Washington 14
Stephen Spiewak: McKinley 21, Washington 20
Kevin Askeland: McKinley 30, Washington 28
Jamie DeMoney: McKinley 28, Washington 20

{PAGEBREAK}Cocoa (Fla.) at West Monroe (La.)



Cocoa went from winning 38 consecutive games to losing three straight to start the 2011 season. All three defeats were to teams with much larger enrollments and that have been ranked in at least one national poll this season: Colerain (Cincinnati), Skyline (Dallas) and Central (Miami). The game against West Monroe will be the Tigers' third of the season outside the state of Florida and the fifth time they've left the state in two years. Cocoa has righted its ship since the 0-3 start by winning its next four games by a combined score of 182-10. Junior Tarean Folston ran for more than 100 yards in each game and has scored nine touchdowns.

The season also started off on a rough note for West Monroe, which lost two of its first three games. But the Rebels won their next five and are now 6-2. Running back Steven Jones continued his impressive sophomore campaign rushing for more than 170 yards with three touchdowns in a 38-21 win over Ruston last week, according to the Monroe News Star.

Mitch Stephens: Cocoa 28, West Monroe 27
Steve Montoya: West Monroe 21, Cocoa 14
Stephen Spiewak: West Monroe 21, Cocoa 17
Kevin Askeland: West Monroe 35, Cocoa 34
Jamie DeMoney: Cocoa 23, West Monroe 14

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