MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

Video: Top 10 Games of the Week
St. John Bosco-St. Thomas Aquinas will be pivotal game in national championship race.

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor isn't the only big show going down Saturday night. National power IMG Academy of Florida travels to Arizona to take on the defending 6A state champ Chandler.

That's one of three games this weekend pitting two teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally against one another.

In total, 11 ranked teams make an appearance in our latest edition of the Top 10 Games of the Week.



This might be the best slate of games we see during the entire 2017 high school football season. Leading the way is a matchup between California power St. John Bosco and Florida power St. Thomas Aquinas. Read on for a complete breakdown of the action. MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) @ No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Friday, 4 p.m. PST

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Top Players

St. John Bosco: QB Re-al Mitchell (5-11, 190), S Jaiden Woodbey (6-2, 205), CB Chris Steele (6-1, 175), RB Demetrious Flowers (5-11, 200) and S Stephan Blaylock (5-10, 175)

St. Thomas Aquinas: CB Al Blades Jr. (6-0, 170), CB Asante Samuel (5-9, 165), WR Elijah Moore (5-11, 180), DE/OLB Nik Bonitto (6-2, 205) and RB Daniel Carter (5-11, 195)

Storyline

Both teams come in as defending state champs. St. Thomas Aquinas has won three in a row and St. John Bosco has won two since 2013. These are two of the best teams in all of high school football and the winner of this one will start off on the right track to being national champions in 2017.

No. 13 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) @ No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Friday, 6:30 p.m. PST

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Top Players

DeMatha: DT Austin Fontaine (6-2, 310), OG Evan Gregory (6-4, 285), DE John Morgan (6-2, 235), WR DeMarcco Hellams (6-2, 215) and RB Myles Miree (5-8, 185)

Bishop Gorman: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (6-1.5, 195), LB Palaie Gaoteote (6-2, 235), TE Brevin Jordan (6-3, 250), WR Jalen Nailor (5-11, 170) and DE Adam Plant (6-3, 225)

Storyline

Bishop Gorman rolls into its season opener with the second longest active winning streak in the country with 54-consecutive wins. DeMatha has won its last 17 games and four straight WCAC titles. The Gaels have won eight state titles in a row and were named the 2016 MaxPreps National Champions. With Tate Martell now at Ohio State, 2018 UCLA commit Thompson-Robinson takes over at quarterback, and expect the senior to be ready to handle the load for a very talented Gaels team in 2017.

No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) @ No. 14 Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. PST

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Top Players

IMG Academy: DE Xavier Thomas (6-3, 265), CB Brendan Radley-Hiles (5-10, 180), DT Taron Vincent (6-2, 285), RB T.J. Pledger (5-8, 190) and RB Noah Cain (5-11, 205)

Chandler: QB Jacob Conover (6-0, 185), RB Drake Anderson (5-11, 170), WR Gunner Romney (6-2, 180), DT Chris Manoa (6-0, 300) and WR Jarick Caldwell (6-3, 200)

Storyline

Nobody brings more talent to the table than IMG Academy. The list of top players could have featured more than 20 guys but the huge storyline for the Ascenders is replacing Kellen Mond at quarterback. Up next for IMG is 2018 Miami commit Artur Sitkowski who played well against Carol City in the Preseason Kickoff Classic last weekend. The defending 6A state champs have a chance to pull off the upset because they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country with Conover under center.

Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) @ No. 6 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Friday, 4:30 p.m. PST

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Top Players

Hoover: WR George Pickens (6-5, 190), WR Shedrick Jackson (6-1, 195), OG Mike Maye (6-2, 285), LB Nick Curtis (6-5, 205) and RB Larry McCammon (5-10, 180)

Grayson: LB Owen Pappoe (6-0, 205), OT Wanya Morris (6-5, 270), RB Ronald Thompkins (5-11, 190), DT Tru Thompson (6-0, 335) and CB Jalen Alexander (6-0, 165)

Storyline

Both teams won state titles last year and finished the season in the Xcellent 25 rankings but in 2017 they have to replace a lot of key starters. This is a huge game this weekend for both teams because Grayson starts the season in the Top 10 and Hoover is barely on the outside looking in and a win against a big-time opponent will go a long way for the winner.

No. 17 East (Salt Lake City, Utah) @ Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Friday, 6 p.m. PST

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Top Players

East: OT Junior Angilau (6-6, 295), OG Sam Taimani (6-2, 315), LB Viliami Pulu Tausinga (6-1, 210),
ATH Jaylon Vickers (5-10, 180) and RB Sione Molisi (5-7, 180)

Bingham: LB Lolani Langi (6-2, 195), WR Brayden Cosper (6-3, 195), WR Dax Milne (6-0, 180), DT Simote Pepa (6-2, 295) and LB Kobi Matagi (6-2, 190)

Storyline

This is one of the biggest high school football games the state of Utah has ever seen. The debate has been going on since the start of last season, who is the best team from Utah? Luckily, we will get the answer this Friday. East won its second consecutive 4A state last year and Bingham won the 5A state title. This year they are both competing in the new 6A class and the winner of this one will implement themselves as the best team in all of Utah.

No. 15 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) vs. Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio)
Thursday, 4 p.m. PST @ Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio

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Top Players

Cass Tech: S Kalon Gervin (5-11, 180), WR Brandon Gray (6-5, 170), QB Aaron Jackson (6-2, 210), ATH Jaren Mangham (6-1, 210) and LB DeAndre Square (6-1, 200)

Pickerington Central: ATH Xavier Henderson (6-0, 190), TE Trenton Gillison (6-5, 220), CB Jeremiah Wood (6-1, 195), QB Demeatric Crenshaw (6-2, 195) and TE Alex Morgan (6-5, 245)

Storyline

In a classic matchup between two of the best teams from the Midwest there is a lot on the line. Cass Tech checks in at No. 15 in our Top 25 and Pickerington Central is just on the outside looking in and a win over the Detroit power would get them in next week's rankings.

Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) @ No. 21 Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Friday, 4:30 p.m. PST

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Top Players

Trinity: DE Stephen Herron (6-3.5, 235), WR Rondale Moore (5-8.5, 175), QB Nick Bohn (6-0, 180), RB Luke McGuire (5-10, 175) and CB Jacob Dingle (6-0, 170)

Warren Central: WR David Bell (6-2, 185), S Julius Brents (6-2, 180), WR/QB Dean Tate (5-9, 160), OT Justin Britt (6-4, 265) and QB Jayden George (6-2, 185)

Storyline

The big question for Warren Central is if Jayden George will be healthy enough to play this weekend. He left during the second quarter against Center Grove with a lower back injury. Starting wide receiver Dean Tate took over for George in Warren Central's season opening 27-24 win. If George can't go he will get the start and luckily for whoever gets the start they will have one of the best wide receivers to throw the ball to in David Bell. Trinity won its 16th consecutive game with a dominant 31-3 win over Carmel, the defending Indiana Class 6A state champs. Warren Central checks in at No. 21 and Trinity is the first team on the outside of the Top 25 so the winner of this one guarantees a spot in next week's rankings.

No. 9 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) @ Bishop Sullivan Catholic (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Saturday, 3 p.m. PST

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Top Players

American Heritage: CB Patrick Surtain II (6-2, 180), CB Tyson Campbell (6-2, 180), WR Anthony Schwartz (6-0 170), DE Andrew Chatfield (6-2, 220) and DT Nesta Silvera (6-2, 305)

Bishop Sullivan Catholic: LB Teradja Mitchell (6-2, 245), QB Tyler Desue (6-1, 185), ATH Armani Chatman (6-0, 180), CB Sheridan Jones (6-1, 165) and DE Dante Burke (6-4, 220)

Storyline

American Heritage's defense was as good as advertised last weekend in its 42-27 win over Booker T. Washington (Miami). They forced seven turnovers in the first half alone. This game features a boatload of future college stars led by Surtain, the No. 1 rated cornerback in the Class of 2018 and Mitchell, the No. 2 inside linebacker in the Class of 2018. Bishop Sullivan Catholic starts the season just outside of the Top 25 and with a win over the defending 5A Florida state champs they will most likely be in next week's rankings.

Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.) @ Liberty (Henderson, Nev.)
Saturday, 7 p.m. PST

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Top Players

Saguaro: S Josiah Bradley (6-1, 190), QB Max Massingale (5-11, 180), LB Giovanni Miranda (6-4, 215), OT Tye Kassen (6-3, 255) and WR Zach Wilson (6-0, 200)

Liberty: QB Kenyon Oblad (6-3, 195), WR Marquez Powell (6-2, 175), S Allan Mwata (5-11.5, 185), ATH Crishaun Lappin (6-0, 245) and DE Troy Fautanu (6-4, 250)

Storyline

This game features two teams that appeared in our Top 100 Preseason rankings. Saguaro is trying to do something no other Arizona high school football team ever has and that is win a fifth consecutive state title. Liberty is hoping they can finally get over that Bishop Gorman hump, they had a good season come to an end in 2016 with an 84-8 loss to the Gaels. Two of the best quarterbacks on the West Coast will be on the field this Saturday night. Oblad led Nevada in passing yards in 2016 and Massingale threw for more than 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000-plus yards during his junior season.

Serra (Gardena, Calif.) @ Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. PST

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Top Players

Serra: ATH Bryan Addison (6-5, 180), LB Merlin Robertson (6-3, 240), WR Kobe Smith (6-2, 175), CB Max Williams (5-8, 170) and CB Greg Oliver (5-9, 150)

Narbonne: LB Raymond Scott (6-2, 220), QB Jalen Chatman (6-0, 170), OT Jonah Tauanu'u (6-5, 275), LB Darien Butler (5-11, 215) and RB Jermar Jefferson (5-10, 190)

Storyline

Here are two of the more talent-rich programs in the hotbed that is Southern California. Serra has been a pipeline to the Division I level over the last decade and this year's team is loaded with some of the brightest stars led by Addison and Robertson. Narbonne returns three All-Staters in Scott (USC commit), Chatman (Rutgers) and 4-star offensive tackle Tauanu'u.