MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

As to be expected, the penultimate weekend of the high school football season provides a menu filled with top-notch matchups and plenty of championship-flavored intrigue mixed in. Nine of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week involve at least one nationally ranked team.

Two of our featured games have Xcellent 25 teams going head-to-head. Both are rematches of games played during the same playoff round last season. No. 5 De La Salle (Concord) will try to hold serve in the Northern California Open Division championship game against No. 16 Folsom. Meanwhile in Texas, No. 2 Allen attempts to end No. 4 DeSoto's unbeaten season in the Class 5A/I semifinals for the second-straight year.

There are even more rematches to watch before the curtain drops on the 2013 season in Florida. In the Class 6A title game, No. 7 Central (Miami) plays Armwood (Seffner) in a rematch of the memorable 2011 final that resulted in a double forfeit. The 7A championship has No. 17 Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens) taking on Niceville in a rematch of their 2009 Class 4A title game.



As we head down the final stretch of the 2013 season, Jamie DeMoney still holds the the lead in our season-long predictions contest. Jamie has correctly forecast the winner in 112 out of 160 games. That's two better than Stephen Spiewak's total and six ahead of Leland Gordon for the season. Colin Ward-Henninger currently resides in fourth place, 11 games behind DeMoney. Mitch Stephens (12 games back) and Kevin Askeland (14) round out this year's standings in fifth and sixth place, respectively.

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.


De La Salle (Concord) vs. Folsom (Calif.)



What to watch: Arguably the top passing team in California history against not-so arguably the best overall program in state history. The winner will represent Northern California in the Open Division state championship. Fifth-ranked De La Salle secured its 22nd-straight North Coast Section crown with a 49-17 blowout of California (San Ramon) last week. Senior John Velasco led the Spartans (13-0) with a season-high 234 rushing yards. No. 16 Folsom captured its third Sac-Joaquin Section title in five years with, likewise, a 49-17 win over Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills). Junior Jake Browning threw for 300 yards and five touchdowns. His season totals are 5,393 yards and 74 touchdowns – both state records.

Just the facts: A win Saturday gives De La Salle the opportunity to play for a fifth-consecutive Open Division state crown. The Spartans have participated in a state bowl game every season since the CIF implemented the format in 2006. … This is a rematch of last year's Northern California Open Division regional championship. De La Salle ran away with that much-anticipated matchup, 49-15.



Mitch Stephens: De La Salle 35, Folsom 28
Kevin Askeland: Folsom 45, De La Salle 42
Jamie DeMoney: De La Salle 35, Folsom 25
Stephen Spiewak: De La Salle 30, Folsom 17
Leland Gordon: De La Salle 47, Folsom 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: De La Salle 42, Folsom 28{PAGEBREAK}DeSoto (Texas) vs. Allen (Texas) What to watch: It's merely a semifinal-round game and not the state championship, but no pairing in the Class 5A/I bracket will draw as much anticipation as this one featuring a pair of national Top-5 teams. Because of an ice storm that paralyzed the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex last Saturday, fourth-ranked DeSoto (14-0) had to wait until Monday to play its quarterfinal game against Trinity (Euless). The Eagles stayed alive after scoring the go-ahead touchdown with only six seconds left to play in a 48-41 victory. No. 2 Allen (14-0) had two extra days to prepare for DeSoto because it played its quarterfinal game as scheduled last Saturday. The defending state champs breezed past previously unbeaten Westfield (Houston), 48-13.

Just the facts: Previewing this game may invoke moments of déjà vu. Both teams were also nationally ranked – in fact DeSoto was No. 1 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 – when they butted heads in the semifinals last year. Allen won that game, 51-36, and went on to capture the 5A/I title a week later. … Saturday's game might also decide which quarterback ends up with top billing when the Class 5A all-state teams are announced. DeSoto senior quarterback Desmon White (a TCU recruit) has 5,293 combined passing and rushing yards and accounted for 54 touchdowns this season. Allen junior signal caller Kyler Murray has totaled 4,118 total yards and 57 scores.

Mitch Stephens: DeSoto 35, Allen 34
Kevin Askeland: DeSoto 42, Allen 40
Jamie DeMoney: Allen 42, DeSoto 28
Stephen Spiewak: DeSoto 44, Allen 41
Leland Gordon: DeSoto 49, Allen 45
Colin Ward-Henninger: DeSoto 35, Allen 28{PAGEBREAK}Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) vs. Central (Miami) What to watch: A rematch of the 2011 Class 6A final that Armwood won (40-31), but later was changed to a double forfeit because of player eligibility issues for both teams. This year's Armwood team (14-0) advanced to play the final weekend of the season because of its 35-28 triple-overtime win against Bartram Trail (St. John's). Junior quarterback Noah Johnson ran for a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner from 11 yards out. In the other semifinal, seventh-ranked Central (13-1) knocked off Mainland (Daytona Beach), 28-15, despite playing without star senior running back Joseph Yearby. The Miami commit fractured his leg in the Rockets' quarterfinal win against Heritage (Palm Bay).

Just the facts: Central is the first team from Miami-Dade County ever to reach a state championship game four years in a row. A win Saturday would give the Rockets their third state title since 2010. … Armwood is trying for its first official unbeaten season since 2003. The Hawks won back-to-back titles in 2003-04. They reached the state finals again in 2005, 2010 and 2011.

Mitch Stephens: Central 28, Armwood 17
Kevin Askeland: Central 35, Armwood 14
Jamie DeMoney: Central 27, Armwood 13
Stephen Spiewak: Central 20, Armwood 17
Leland Gordon: Central 28, Armwood 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: Central 35, Armwood 14{PAGEBREAK}Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) vs. Niceville (Fla.)





What to watch: A rematch of the 2009 Class 4A state championship game that ended up a 42-14 blowout in favor of Dwyer. This year's showdown is for the Class 7A crown and -- at least on paper -- figures to be a closer contest. No. 17 Dwyer (14-0) qualified for its third state title game with a 31-24 overtime win over previously unbeaten East Lake (Tarpon Springs). Junior Daniel Parr threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns. This is also the third state championship game for Niceville (13-1). The Eagles survived the semifinal round thanks to a 20-yard field goal from junior Zach Bailey with seven seconds left to play in last week's 31-30 win over Osceola (Kissimmee).

Just the facts: The winner of Saturday's game will have its second state championship trophy. Niceville won its only title in 1988. … Niceville senior quarterback Ashton Hooker has 1,917 passing yards and 16 touchdowns this season. If he passes for 140 yards against Dwyer, he'll break the single-season school record.

Mitch Stephens: Niceville 17, Dwyer 14
Kevin Askeland: Dwyer 35, Niceville 14
Jamie DeMoney: Dwyer 27, Niceville 24
Stephen Spiewak: Dwyer 20, Niceville 10
Leland Gordon: Dwyer 35, Niceville 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Niceville 24, Dwyer 21{PAGEBREAK}St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)



What to watch: Despite entering the game with two losses, Centennial has the firepower to pose a real challenge to No. 3 St. John Bosco. The Huskies (12-2) extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 26-12 win over Vista Murrieta (Murrieta) in last week's Inland Division championship game. Centennial averages almost 54 points per game, but showed it can play tough defense as well, by holding Vista Murrieta to 36 points less than its season average. St. John Bosco (14-0) captured its first Pac-5 Division crown with a 34-7 win against Mater Dei (Santa Ana) – the Braves' second victory this year over the once-nationally ranked Monarchs. Five-star junior quarterback Josh Rosen had a season-high 113 rushing yards and threw two touchdown passes.

Just the facts: The winner Saturday will represent Southern California in the Open Division state championship. It will be either the fifth bowl-game appearance in seven years for Centennial, or the first berth for St. John Bosco. … Centennial has amassed a whopping 8,312 yards of total offense this season. According the National Federation of State High School Associations, the Huskies are very close to the national mark of 8,664 yards set by Stephenville (Texas) in 1998.

Mitch Stephens: St. John Bosco 48, Centennial 47
Kevin Askeland: St. John Bosco 54, Centennial 48
Jamie DeMoney: St. John Bosco 41, Centennial 38
Stephen Spiewak: St. John Bosco 49, Centennial 41
Leland Gordon: St. John Bosco 45, Centennial 41
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. John Bosco 42, Centennial 35{PAGEBREAK}Norcross (Ga.) vs. North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) What to watch: Norcross is trying to repeat as Class AAAAAA champion while North Gwinnett shoots for its first state crown. Saturday is a rematch of a Sept. 13 meeting won convincingly by North Gwinnett (36-13). It dropped Norcross' record to 1-2 a few weeks after starting the season in the Top 5 of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. The Blue Devils (12-2) have been rolling since the shaky start. The most recent of their 11 straight wins was a hard-fought 14-9 victory against Colquitt County (Moultrie) in last week's semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, No. 22 North Gwinnett (13-1) got past McEachern (Powder Springs), 27-21. Senior running back C.J. Leggett provided most of the Bulldogs' offensive punch, rushing for 292 yards and two touchdowns.



Just the facts: After giving up 55 points to No. 1 Washington (Miami) and 36 points to North Gwinnett early in the season, Norcross has averaged less than eight points allowed per contest. … Although it has never won a state title, this is North Gwinnett's eighth consecutive season with 10 or more wins.

Mitch Stephens: North Gwinnett 21, Norcross 20
Kevin Askeland: Norcross 35, North Gwinnett 21
Jamie DeMoney: Norcross 28, North Gwinnett 15
Stephen Spiewak: North Gwinnett 20, Norcross 13
Leland Gordon: Norcross 27, North Gwinnett 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: Norcross 21, North Gwinnett 17{PAGEBREAK}Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) vs. Centreville (Clifton, Va.) What to watch: Led by five-star tackle Andrew Brown (a Virginia commit), Oscar Smith has surrendered only 68 points in 14 games this season. The No. 24 Tigers shut out Colonial Forge (Stafford), 17-0, in last week's Class 6A semifinals. Centreville (14-0) advanced with a 35-14 win against district rival Westfield (Chantilly). Junior running back A.J. Turner had 148 combined rushing and receiving yards with two touchdowns.

Just the facts: Brown was recently named the Virginia State Player of the Year by Gatorade. It's the second time in five years the honor has gone to an Oscar Smith player. … This a rematch of the 2011 Division 6 state final, won by Oscar Smith. A win Saturday would be the third state championship in six years for the Tigers. Centreville is trying to finish in the winner's circle for the first time since 2000.

Mitch Stephens: Oscar Smith 28, Centreville 21
Kevin Askeland: Oscar Smith 28, Centreville 14
Jamie DeMoney: Centreville 28, Oscar Smith 21
Stephen Spiewak: Oscar Smith 28, Centreville 24
Leland Gordon: Oscar Smith 31, Centreville 25
Colin Ward-Henninger: Oscar Smith 28, Centreville 20{PAGEBREAK}Karr (New Orleans) vs. East Jefferson (Metairie, La.) What to watch: No. 24 Karr is shooting for its second-straight Class 4A title against an unbeaten East Jefferson squad trying to finish a dream season in style. Karr (12-1) has 10 straight wins since losing to then-nationally ranked Curtis (River Ridge) on Sept. 26. The Cougars have played their best football of the season in the playoffs, outscoring four opponents by a combined 163-13. East Jefferson (14-0) advanced to the state finals for the first time in school history after a hard-fought 18-15 win against Neville (Monroe) last week. Seniors Ronald Green and Eugene Wells each ran for more than 100 yards to lead the Warriors.

Just the facts: Saturday is the fourth-consecutive trip to the Class 4A championship game for Karr. … East Jefferson's 14 wins so far are already double the best total it's had in any season since 2004.

Mitch Stephens: Karr 42, East Jefferson 28
Kevin Askeland: Karr 40, East Jefferson 30
Jamie DeMoney: Karr 32, East Jefferson 13
Stephen Spiewak: Karr 35, East Jefferson 30
Leland Gordon: Karr 49, East Jefferson 32
Colin Ward-Henninger: Karr 42, East Jefferson 35{PAGEBREAK}St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) What to watch: Longtime parochial powers from opposite ends of the state meeting for the first time in 10 years with the Class 4A crown on the line. Senior quarterback Chris Martin threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to lift St. Joseph's Prep (11-3) to a 37-21 win over Neshaminy (Langhorne) last Saturday. On the other side of the bracket, No. 25 Central Catholic (15-0) was smothering Lower Dauphin (Hummelstown), 45-0 – the largest margin of victory ever in a PIAA 4A semifinal game. The Vikings allowed just 21 total yards and one first down while recording their eighth shutout of the season.



Just the facts: Saturday will be the first trip to Hersheypark Stadium for St. Joseph's Prep. The Hawks belong to the Philadelphia Catholic League, which did not participate in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs until 2008. … This year's Central Catholic team reminds some observers of its 2004 squad that went 16-0 with a 4A crown and Top-5 finish in some national polls. That was the also last season the Vikings played St. Joseph's Prep. Central Catholic won their early-September matchup, 38-12.

Mitch Stephens: Central Catholic 27, St. Joseph's Prep 21
Kevin Askeland: Central Catholic 35, St. Joseph's Prep 20
Jamie DeMoney: Central Catholic 35, St. Joseph's Prep 7
Stephen Spiewak: St. Joseph's Prep 21, Central Catholic 20
Leland Gordon: Central Catholic 32, St. Joseph's Prep 17
Colin Ward-Henninger: Central Catholic 28, St. Joseph's Prep 24{PAGEBREAK}Buford (Ga.) vs. Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.)



What to watch: This is the record seventh-consecutive appearance in a state championship game for Buford. After trailing at halftime for the first time this season, the Wolves (14-0) charged back to defeat Callaway (Hogansville), 24-14, in last week's Class AAA semifinals. Four-star junior Joshua Thomas led the way with 221 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Washington County (13-0) earned its first trip to a title game in 10 years thanks to a 37-0 win over Ringgold. Senior running back Melvin Hill propelled the Golden Hawks with 117 rushing yards and a 99-yard return for a touchdown.

Just the facts: A win Friday would give Buford its 10th state championship, with six coming in the last seven years. Washington County is shooting for its fourth title. All three of its previous championships were won between 1994-97. … Despite its relatively small enrollment, Buford has produced 40 scholarship players at the Division I level since 2000.

Mitch Stephens: Buford 35, Washington County 20
Kevin Askeland: Buford 42, Washington County 21
Jamie DeMoney: Buford 34, Washington County 13
Stephen Spiewak: Buford 21, Washington County 10
Leland Gordon: Buford 42, Washington County 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: Buford 35, Washington County 34



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 (PrepNation) for World Features Syndicate.