MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

A member of the elite class of Florida high school football will taste defeat for the first time this season when University (Fort Lauderdale) travels to Manatee (Bradenton) in a battle of MaxPreps Xcellent 25 teams. The first meeting between these Sunshine State powers kicks off our weekly preview of the Top 10 high school football games across the nation.

The highest-rated team in this week's rundown is No. 4 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) taking on Paramus Catholic (N.J.) in what would have been a Top-10 showdown had the Paladins not lost last week to perennial power Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

Elsewhere, No. 10 Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) will try to preserve its lofty ranking with in a key region showdown against fellow unbeaten York. In Ohio, No. 24 Moeller (Cincinnati) travels across the state to take on a St. Edward (Lakewood) squad looking for redemption after dropping out of the Xcellent 25 with its loss to rival St. Ignatius (Cleveland) last Saturday.

An impressive 9-1 record last week allowed Stephen Spiewak to open some breathing room atop the standings in our season-long predictions contest. Spiewak's cumulative 65-24-1 record is three games better than both Jamie DeMoney and Leland Gordon.



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.


University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
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What to watch: A much-anticipated Friday night clash between Xcellent 25 teams and a playoff tuneup for both squads. No. 13 University (7-0) will also play No. 7 Central (Miami) in two weeks before heading into the Class 4A playoffs, where it could eventually play top-ranked Washington (Miami). No. 17 Manatee stands with No. 18 Miramar and defending champion Apopka as the early favorites to win the 8A title. The Hurricanes (8-0) have beaten every team on their schedule by double-digit margins.

Just the facts: Manatee senior running back Trevon Walters ran for a season-high 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 51-13 rout of St. Petersburg last week. The Missouri recruit is averaging almost 11 yards per carry. … Since beginning its football program in 2006, University has never finished with a losing record. The Suns are 79-12 and won their first state championship last season.

Mitch Stephens: Manatee 35, University 28
Kevin Askeland: University 35, Manatee 18
Jamie DeMoney: Manatee 23, University 17
Stephen Spiewak: University 21, Manatee 20
Leland Gordon: Manatee 37, University 32
Colin Ward-Henninger: University 35, Manatee 28
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Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) at Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

What to watch: A Thursday battle of undefeated crosstown rivals that will decide the outright championship in District 7-AAA. After winning its previous five games by an average of 38 points, Blackman (8-0) was pushed hard in a 28-13 win over state-ranked Smyrna last week. Oakland (8-0) has been equally dominant, winning by an average of more than four touchdowns. Led by Vanderbilt-bound safety Emmanuel Smith, the Patriots have one of the top defenses in the Volunteer State.

Just the facts: Oakland defeated Blackman last season and owns a 6-3 edge in games played in the rivalry since 2004. … Blackman has not been shut out in a game in nearly five seasons. The last time it happened was a 7-0 loss to Oakland on Oct. 27, 2008.

Mitch Stephens: Oakland 31, Blackman 28
Kevin Askeland: Blackman 40, Oakland 35
Jamie DeMoney: Oakland 27, Blackman 20
Stephen Spiewak: Oakland 34, Blackman 27
Leland Gordon: Oakland 28, Blackman 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: Oakland 21, Blackman 14
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Paramus Catholic (N.J.) at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)

What to watch: A must-win for Paramus Catholic in order to stay in contention for the Big North-United League championship. The Paladins (5-1) will try to bounce back from a 20-13 loss last week to Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) that knocked them from the No. 10 ranking to out of the Xcellent 25 altogether. A win Saturday for No. 4 St. Joseph Regional (5-0) would be its eighth in the last 10 meetings against Paramus Catholic and would keep the Green Knights' national-title hopes alive.



Just the facts: SJR quarterback Spencer Aukamp has compiled a highly efficient 152 QB rating this season. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior has completed 70 percent of his passes for 847 yards with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions. … Paramus Catholic's loss last week to Don Bosco Prep was its 14th consecutive setback at the hands of the Ironmen.

Mitch Stephens: St. Joseph Regional 35, Paramus Catholic 21
Kevin Askeland: Paramus Catholic 35, St. Joseph Regional 14
Jamie DeMoney: St. Joseph Regional 24, Paramus Catholic 12
Stephen Spiewak: St. Joseph Regional 31, Paramus Catholic 24
Leland Gordon: Paramus Catholic 31, St. Joseph Regional 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Joseph Regional 20, Paramus Catholic 17
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York (S.C.) at Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)

What to watch: York will attempt to end a seven-game losing streak to Northwestern and knock the Trojans out of the national rankings. Both teams enter Friday's game with 8-0 records and the winner would grasp sole control of first place in the Region 3-AAAA standings. No. 10 Northwestern has been involved in only one close game all season – a 42-35 overtime win over No. 23 Byrnes (Duncan). York, on the other hand, had two wins decided by a field goal or less early in the season. But the Cougars have kicked it into another gear of late, winning their last five by a combined margin of 275-93.

Just the facts: To the surprise of no one, Northwestern senior quarterback Mason Rudolph has been named one of five finalists for the South Carolina Mr. Football award. The Oklahoma State recruit has more than 2,000 passing yards and 28 touchdowns this season. … York is led by Bobby Carroll, the former head coach at Northwestern's crosstown rival South Pointe (Rock Hill). He went 3-4 against the Trojans after helping start South Pointe's program in 2006.

Mitch Stephens: Northwestern 28, York 27
Kevin Askeland: Northwestern 48, York 21
Jamie DeMoney: Northwestern 42, York 27
Stephen Spiewak: Northwestern 35, York 34
Leland Gordon: Northwestern 52, York 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: Northwestern 42, York 14
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Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) at St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)

What to watch: Gut-check time for St. Edward (7-1), which is still smarting from an upset loss to archrival St. Ignatius (Cleveland). Last week's 23-17 defeat in the 51st rendition of the "Holy War" ended the Eagles' 16-game regular-season winning streak and knocked them out of the national rankings. On the other hand, Moeller (8-0) has now won 14 games overall in a row, dating back to the final game of the 2012 regular season. The Crusaders have beaten their last two opponents – Elder (Cincinnati) and Cathedral (Indianapolis) – by identical 35-14 scores.

Just the facts: Moeller captured the Division I championship last season. It was the eighth state title in program history, but first since 1985. … Saturday's game will be the 10th meeting between these teams since 2004. St. Edward has won the last three times and has a 6-3 edge overall.

Mitch Stephens: St. Edward 21, Moeller 20
Kevin Askeland: Moeller 28, St. Edward 27
Jamie DeMoney: St. Edward 34, Moeller 20
Stephen Spiewak: Moeller 31, St. Edward 24
Leland Gordon: Moeller 28, St. Edward 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: Moeller 20, St. Edward 17
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Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) vs. Orange Lutheran (Calif.)

What to watch: Almost certain to be a loser-leaves-town showdown in the race to win the tough Trinity League championship. Both teams are 1-1 in league play, trailing undefeated leaders Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) by a full game. Servite enters Friday's game with a 4-3 record, but all of its losses are to teams that have been ranked in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 this year. Orange Lutheran (6-1) suffered its first loss to No. 5 St. John Bosco (42-24) last week. However, the Lancers led the game at halftime, 17-14.



Just the facts: The Trinity League was recently judged by MaxPreps as the second-toughest high school football league in the nation. Five of its six member schools are among the Top 20 in the CalPreps.com California dynasty ratings since 2001. … Orange Lutheran beat Servite 28-14 last season to break a run of six consecutive wins in the series for the Friars.

Mitch Stephens: Servite 35, Orange Lutheran 27
Kevin Askeland: Servite 35, Orange Lutheran 21
Jamie DeMoney: Servite 21, Orange Lutheran 18
Stephen Spiewak: Orange Lutheran 28, Servite 21
Leland Gordon: Servite 38, Orange Lutheran 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: Servite 28, Orange Lutheran 14
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Lee's Summit (Mo.) at Blue Springs (Mo.)

What to watch: A battle of unbeatens that will decide the championship of the Kansas City Suburban Big Six Conference. In addition to the challenge of playing the state's top-ranked team Friday night, Lee's Summit (8-0) must overcome an extended history of futility against a Blue Springs program that's one of the most prolific in the Show Me State. Only twice since 1988 has Lee's Summit prevailed in its annual battle against the Wildcats, with the most recent win happening in 1995. The last 10 games have been decided by an average margin of 28 points.

Just the facts: Blue Springs features a balanced offensive attack with nearly identical yardage totals in passing and rushing this season. The leader of the running game is senior Dalvin Warmack, a Kansas State recruit with just less than 1,500 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. … Lee's Summit does most of its damage through the air. Junior quarterback Drew Lock, a four-star prospect by 247Sports, has completed more than 60 percent of his throws for 2,116 yards with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Mitch Stephens: Blue Springs 42, Lee's Summit 28
Kevin Askeland: Blue Springs 58, Lee's Summit 24
Jamie DeMoney: Blue Springs 42, Lee's Summit 24
Stephen Spiewak: Blue Springs 21, Lee's Summit 17
Leland Gordon: Blue Springs 38, Lee's Summit 32
Colin Ward-Henninger: Blue Springs 35, Lee's Summit 21
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Oak Grove (Hattiesburg, Miss.) at Brandon (Miss.)

What to watch: Oak Grove (8-0) would all but clinch its first region championship since 2006 with a win over Brandon (7-1). Friday night's tilt matches teams that have each spent time as the No. 1-ranked team in the state Class 6A media rankings. Oak Grove currently holds the top spot. Brandon had it before losing at Petal (20-13) on Oct. 11.

Just the facts: Under the tutelage of former NFL legend Brett Favre (offensive coordinator), quarterback Kirk McCarty is having a fantastic senior season. The left-handed Southern Mississippi baseball recruit has completed more than 60 percent of his throws for 2,341 yards and 25 touchdowns. … Senior Kyle Strickland leads Brandon's defense. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end has 12 sacks and eight tackles for loss this season.

Mitch Stephens: Oak Grove 35, Brandon 28
Kevin Askeland: Oak Grove 40, Brandon 28
Jamie DeMoney: Oak Grove 23, Brandon 21
Stephen Spiewak: Oak Grove 28, Brandon 27
Leland Gordon: Oak Grove 27, Brandon 17
Colin Ward-Henninger: Oak Grove 28, Brandon 21
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Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas) at Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas)

What to watch: Seven Lakes needs a win Saturday afternoon over its crosstown rival to stay involved in the District 19-5A race. The Spartans (6-1) surely gained confidence from last week's 17-12 loss to nationally ranked Katy that was nearly their first win ever against the Tigers. Cinco Ranch (6-1) has only a loss to state-ranked North Shore (Houston) on its resume. The Cougars' defense has not allowed a touchdown in the last three games.



Just the facts: Cinco Ranch quarterback Luke Klingler is the son of David Klingler, who starred as a quarterback at the University of Houston and was the first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992. Luke, a senior, has passed for 1,089 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. … Cinco Ranch has never lost a game to Seven Lakes. The series began in 2008, the year after Seven Lakes opened its doors.

Mitch Stephens: Seven Lakes 28, Cinco Ranch 24
Kevin Askeland: Seven Lakes 21, Cinco Ranch 20
Jamie DeMoney: Seven Lakes 28, Cinco Ranch 13
Stephen Spiewak: Seven Lakes 28, Cinco Ranch 14
Leland Gordon: Cinco Ranch 31, Seven Lakes 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Cinco Ranch 35, Seven Lakes 28
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Greenwood (Ark.) at Southside (Fort Smith, Ark.)



What to watch: Greenwood puts its 45-game winning streak – the fourth-longest in the nation among 11-man teams – on the line Friday night against a Southside squad eager to get the bitter taste of a 37-7 blowout loss to Conway out of its mouth. Led by Tulsa-bound quarterback Jabe Burgess, Greenwood (7-0) is averaging nearly 44 points per game. Southside (5-2) will probably need a big effort from senior dual-threat quarterback Isaac Jackson to have a shot at pulling off the upset.

Just the facts: Greenwood's 38-6 rout last week of Hall (Little Rock) put the Bulldogs' current 45-game winning streak in second place all-time in Arkansas history. … These teams have met only three other times since 2004. Greenwood won the most recent meeting (45-21) last season.

Mitch Stephens: Southside 21, Greenwood 20
Kevin Askeland: Greenwood 52, Southside 48
Jamie DeMoney: Greenwood 38, Southside 17
Stephen Spiewak: Greenwood 35, Southside 21
Leland Gordon: Greenwood 41, Southside 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: Southside 21, Greenwood 17

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.