MaxPreps Top 10 high school football games of the week

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Postseason prep football is underway from coast to coast this weekend. So, rest assured, the latest edition of the MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week is full of intriguing playoff matchups.

We start off in Southern California's amazingly competitive Pac 5 Division bracket. Serra (Gardena) versus Centennial (Corona) is a first-round matchup between two-loss teams that both have potential for a deep playoff run if they survive Friday night's opener. The Serra-Centennial winner advances to take on the victor of another one of our Top 10 games – Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Westlake (Westlake Village) – next week.

This week's preview includes two games involving MaxPreps Xcellent 25 teams as No. 22 Carmel (Ind.) tries to knock off fellow unbeaten Penn (Mishawaka) for a trip to the Class 6A state finals, and No. 25 Hudson (Ohio) takes on perennial power St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in a second-round Division I playoff game. There's also one state championship tilt on the board, as Sioux Falls rivals Lincoln and Roosevelt meet at the DakotaDome to play for the South Dakota Class 11-AAA title for the second-straight year.

Despite picking only four out of 10 winners last week, Jamie DeMoney remains in the lead of our season-long predictions contest by two games. Stephen Spiewak made up one game on DeMoney (81-39 for the season) but remains in second place with a 79-41 record. Mitch Stephens (77-43), Leland Gordon (76-44) and Kevin Askeland (75-45) all remain within striking range. Even after picking 16 of the last 20 games correctly, Colin Ward-Henninger (70-50) still has a lot of catching up to do.



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.

To catch up with what's happening in the playoffs nationwide, visit the MaxPreps playoffs home page.


Serra (Gardena, Calif.) at Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

What to watch: Serra (8-2) was ranked 19th in the preseason Xcellent 25 rankings but lost two of its first six games (against No. 8 Bellevue, Wash., and fellow Pac 5 qualifier Bishop Amat). The Cavaliers rebounded to win their last four and capture a share of the Mission League championship. There are at least nine players in Serra's senior class who likely will earn FBS scholarships. The group includes linebacker John Houston (team-leading 131 tackles) and Rasheem Green (team-leading 23 tackles for loss). Both players are ranked among the top 10 prospects in California by 247Sports. Centennial (8-2) also responded well after losing two of its first three this season against then-nationally ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). In last week's regular-season finale, the Huskies mauled Pac 5 playoff team Norco, 48-7, to win the outright title in the Big VIII League. Junior running back JJ Taylor scored twice and ran for 186 yards, pushing his season total to 1,657 yards.

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Just the facts: This is the first season participating in the rigorous Pac 5 Division playoffs for both teams. Last season, Centennial won the CIF-SS Inland Division crown and Serra finished second in the Western Division playoffs. … Pac 5 teams comprised 14 of the Top 25 teams in the final MaxPreps California state computer rankings of the regular season.

Mitch Stephens: Centennial 48, Serra 35
Kevin Askeland: Serra 35, Centennial 30
Jamie DeMoney: Centennial 49, Serra 42
Stephen Spiewak: Serra 35, Centennial 32
Leland Gordon: Centennial 52, Serra 47
Colin Ward-Henninger: Centennial 42, Serra 35




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Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)

What to watch: This first-round Pac 5 showdown is a rematch of an Oct. 2 meeting won by Mater Dei (28-27) in unlikely fashion. Westlake senior kicker Kevin Robledo's potential game-winning 33-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked as time expired. It was only the fourth miss in 15 field goal attempts this season for Robledo, who became California's all-time leader in made field goals (42) this season. Westlake (8-2) bounced back with five consecutive wins and a 3-0 finish in the Marmonte League. The Warriors' 35-7 triumph over Oaks Christian last week kept their crosstown rival from making the postseason for the first time in school history. Conversely, Mater Dei (8-2) followed up its win over Westlake by losing two of its next three (against nationally ranked St. John Bosco and JSerra Catholic). The Monarchs have been one of SoCal's top defenses all season but were struggling on offense before a 49-13 explosion over Orange Lutheran last week.

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Just the facts: Mater Dei's win over Westlake earlier this season is the only other time these teams have met on the gridiron. … Mater Dei is 19-5 in first-round playoff games under coach Bruce Rollinson.

Mitch Stephens: Mater Dei 28, Westlake 17
Kevin Askeland: Mater Dei 27, Westlake 21
Jamie DeMoney: Mater Dei 28, Westlake 27
Stephen Spiewak: Mater Dei 21, Westlake 20
Leland Gordon: Mater Dei 23, Westlake 13
Colin Ward-Henninger: Mater Dei 21, Westlake 17


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Carmel (Ind.) at Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.)

What to watch: The final two unbeaten teams in Indiana Class 6A square off in this state semifinal matchup. No. 22 Carmel enters Friday's game on a high after dominating previously unbeaten Carroll (Fort Wayne) last week, 56-6. The Greyhounds raced for 571 rushing yards while allowing Carroll only 96. Seniors Isaac James, Chris Perkins and Shakir Paschall all surpassed the 100-yard mark individually for Carmel. Meanwhile, Penn secured its second-consecutive 12-0 start to a season with a 42-6 blowout of Merrillville. It's the eighth time the Kingsmen have held an opponent to seven or fewer points this season.

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Just the facts: Penn also began last season with a 12-0 record but lost in this same round to Carmel. … This is Carmel's 17th trip to the state semifinals since 1978. Penn has made it this far 15 times since 1983.

Mitch Stephens: Carmel 28, Penn 21
Kevin Askeland: Carmel 40, Penn 14
Jamie DeMoney: Carmel 21, Penn 14
Stephen Spiewak: Carmel 24, Penn 10
Leland Gordon: Penn 31, Carmel 29
Colin Ward-Henninger: Carmel 20, Penn 10


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St. Ignatius (Cleveland) at Hudson (Ohio)

What to watch: This second-round Division I playoff game features the most successful playoff team in state history being challenged by one of the emerging powers in northeast Ohio. St. Ignatius, which is trying to extend its record number of state championships to 12, breezed past Elyria last Saturday, 42-14, according to Cleveland.com. Junior receiver Calvin Grbac, son of former NFL quarterback Elvis Grbac, led the Wildcats (7-4) with five catches for 111 yards. Meanwhile, No. 25 Hudson improved to 11-0 with a 29-0 shutout of Perry (Massillon). Toledo-bound senior quarterback Mitchell Guadagni completed 15 of 23 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns.

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Just the facts: St. Ignatius has more state championships (11) than Hudson has total playoff appearances (eight) in its history. … These teams have met twice before in the postseason. St. Ignatius won both contests: 53-12 in 1996 and 28-17 last season.

Mitch Stephens: Hudson 24, St. Ignatius 21
Kevin Askeland: Hudson 35, St. Ignatius 21
Jamie DeMoney: Hudson 28, St. Ignatius 17
Stephen Spiewak: St. Ignatius 21, Hudson 17
Leland Gordon: Hudson 17, St. Ignatius 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Ignatius 24, Hudson 27




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Lincoln (Sioux Falls, S.D.) vs. Roosevelt (Sioux Falls, S.D.)

What to watch: For the 11th time in the last 12 seasons, the state champion in South Dakota's largest classification will reside in its largest city, Sioux Falls. This is a rematch of last year's Class 11-AAA final, won by Lincoln (47-24). The Patriots (10-0) enter Saturday's showdown with a 21-game winning streak after dispatching O'Gorman (Sioux Falls) in last week's semifinals, 28-14. Senior running back Braxton Large led Lincoln with a season-high 185 rushing yards and all four of his team's touchdowns. Despite being outgained 358-151, Roosevelt (9-1) punched its ticket to another championship game at the DakotaDome with a 20-9 win over Brandon Valley. The Rough Riders have relied on big plays from their defense since losing standout quarterback Taryn Christion (a South Dakota State recruit) with a broken ankle in September.

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Just the facts: Lincoln is seeking its third state title in the last eight seasons. Roosevelt is trying for its fourth in the past 10 years. This is the seventh all-Sioux Falls state championship game since 2004. … This will be the 15th time these teams have met in the last 11 seasons. Roosevelt has lost the past three but still has an 8-6 edge over Lincoln since 2004.

Mitch Stephens: Lincoln 27, Roosevelt 21
Kevin Askeland: Lincoln 35, Roosevelt 20
Jamie DeMoney: Lincoln 34, Roosevelt 20
Stephen Spiewak: Lincoln 31, Roosevelt 24
Leland Gordon: Lincoln 13, Roosevelt 10
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lincoln 35, Roosevelt 28


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St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) vs. La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.)

What to watch: The Philadelphia Catholic League Class 4A championship will be decided Friday night and, not surprisingly, the winner will be either St. Joseph's Prep or La Salle. One of the two programs has won the title every season since the league's current playoff format began in 2008. This year has been a tale of two seasons for St. Joseph's Prep. After starting off ranked in most preseason national polls, the Hawks stumbled to three losses in their first four games. But SJP (6-3) picked itself off the mat to win its next four games, including a 35-31 over La Salle on Oct. 10. Penn State-committed athlete John Reid is the team's top playmaker with 627 total offensive yards and 10 touchdowns. La Salle boasts an 8-2 record against one of the top schedules of any team in the Northeast. Aside from SJP, the Explorers' only other loss was against New Jersey power Bergen Catholic (Oradell). Senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur, a Vanderbilt recruit and son of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, has thrown for 2,411 yards and 28 touchdowns.



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Just the facts: This will be the 19th edition of this rivalry in the past 11 seasons. St. Joseph's Prep has beaten La Salle three times in a row and owns a 10-8 edge overall since 2004. … SJP is trying to win its 17th Catholic League championship. La Salle is shooting for its 15th.

Mitch Stephens: La Salle 21, St. Joseph's Prep 20
Kevin Askeland: La Salle 28, St. Joseph's Prep 14
Jamie DeMoney: La Salle 28, St. Joseph's Prep 21
Stephen Spiewak: St. Joseph's Prep 24, La Salle 21
Leland Gordon: St. Joseph's Prep 31, La Salle 25
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Joseph's Prep 20, La Salle 17


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Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) at Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)

What to watch: In order to make a record 15th trip to a state championship game over Thanksgiving weekend, Rockhurst must first hand Francis Howell its first loss of the season this Friday night. Rockhurst (11-1) enters semifinal-round action with an undefeated record versus Class 6 teams. The Hawklets have won 10 in a row since being thumped, 40-14, by Class 4 power Webb City on Aug. 29. Last week, junior running back A.J. Taylor scored all five Rockhurst touchdowns in a 34-29 quarterfinal victory over rival Blue Springs. On the other side, Howell (11-0) rallied from a 10-0 fourth-quarter deficit to advance with a 14-10 win over Jefferson City. Senior running back Sutton Smith (a Northern Illinois recruit) scored both Vikings touchdowns and totaled 232 rushing yards on a back-breaking 42 carries, according to stltoday.com.

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Just the facts: With two more wins this season, Rockhurst would tie Jefferson City for the most state football championships in Missouri history (10). … Francis Howell has never won a state football title. Its best finish was runner-up in 2012.



Mitch Stephens: Rockhurst 35, Howell 21
Kevin Askeland: Howell 21, Rockhurst 14
Jamie DeMoney: Rockhurst 34, Howell 13
Stephen Spiewak: Rockhurst 28, Howell 10
Leland Gordon: Rockhurst 20, Howell 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: Rockhurst 30, Howell 21


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Fairview (Boulder, Colo.) at Ralston Valley (Arvada, Colo.)

What to watch: There's just three undefeated teams left in Colorado's Class 5A as the state quarterfinals begin, and two of them will face each other Friday night. Fairview (11-0) averages over 44 points per game, thanks in large part to the right arm of quarterback Johnny Feauto. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior's 3,648 passing yards is the second-highest total in the state this season. Feauto threw for 352 yards and equaled a season high with five touchdowns in a 45-27 win over Overland (Aurora) last week. On the other hand, Ralston Valley's advancement last week came only on the strength of a clutch field goal by Collin Root. The senior booted a near-miraculous 56-yarder to close out a 44-43 win over Eaglecrest (Centennial). Root entered the game having converted on only two out of four field goal tries this season.

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Just the facts: Fairview enters the game with 23 wins in its last 24 games. It's a huge positive momentum switch for a program that went just 15-16 from 2010-12. … This will be the fifth-straight year these teams have met, but the first time it will be in the postseason. Fairview defeated Ralston Valley last season after losing to the Mustangs the three previous years.

Mitch Stephens: Fairview 21, Ralston Valley 20
Kevin Askeland: Ralston Valley 35, Fairview 30
Jamie DeMoney: Ralston Valley 39, Fairview 29
Stephen Spiewak: Ralston Valley 24, Fairview 20
Leland Gordon: Ralston Valley 27, Fairview 22
Colin Ward-Henninger: Ralston Valley 35, Fairview 34


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Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) at Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.)

What to watch: One of the top six teams in MaxPreps' latest Georgia state computer rankings will hang it up for the season after only one game in the Class 6A playoffs. Grayson (9-1), the computer's fourth-ranked team this week, boasts one of the best defenses in Georgia. A 27-17 loss to Dacula on Oct. 24 was the only time the Rams have allowed an opponent to score more than 16 points all season. Four Grayson senior defenders are rated three stars by 247Sports, including Georgia-committed tackle Justin Young. Conversely, most of sixth-ranked Mill Creek's top playmakers are on offense. Dual-threat quarterback Daniel David (Appalachian State) has nearly 1,700 combined passing and rushing yards and 20 touchdowns operating behind an offensive line that features Auburn-bound tackle Kaleb Kim and Middle Tennessee State-committed center Josh Fannin.



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Just the facts: Friday will be the first meeting between these teams. … Grayson is looking for its second state championship. The first came in 2011. Mill Creek, which opened its doors in 2004, had its deepest playoff runs in 2010 and 2012, when the Hawks reached the state quarterfinals.

Mitch Stephens: Mill Creek 22, Grayson 21
Kevin Askeland: Grayson 40, Mill Creek 35
Jamie DeMoney: Mill Creek 21, Grayson 13
Stephen Spiewak: Grayson 20, Mill Creek 17
Leland Gordon: Mill Creek 28, Grayson 20
Colin Ward-Henninger: Grayson 17, Mill Creek 14


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Guyer (Denton, Texas) vs. Plano (Texas)

What to watch: A high school football quadruple-header at AT&T Stadium kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday with Guyer taking on Plano in a Class 6A/Division 2 first-round playoff game. After losing 55-41 to No. 3 Allen to open the season, Guyer has reeled off nine consecutive wins. The Wildcats have scored at least 40 points in every game this season and averaged over 50 per contest in District 5-6A play. Sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson – already deemed a four-star prospect by 247Sports – has passed for 2,155 yards and run for 1,126 with 40 total touchdowns in his first year as a starter. On the other side, Plano employs a more methodical, ball-control approach. The physical Wildcats have a pair of a FBS recruits in the trenches with Baylor-committed defensive tackle Sam Tecklenburg and Oregon State-bound offensive guard Beau Hott.

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Just the facts: After going just 1-18 in its first two varsity seasons (2006-07), Guyer has won nearly 84 percent of its games and played in five state championship games (winning two) in the last six years. … Plano has won seven state titles since 1965 but hasn't reached a state championship game in more than 20 years.



Mitch Stephens: Guyer 31, Plano 24
Kevin Askeland: Guyer 55, Plano 42
Jamie DeMoney: Guyer 34, Plano 17
Stephen Spiewak: Guyer 35, Plano 14
Leland Gordon: Guyer 37, Plano 24
Colin Ward-Henninger: Guyer 42, Plano 30

Jamie DeMoney has covered high school sports and recruiting for the past 20 seasons. He is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital and compiles the National Prep Poll (PrepNation) for World Features Syndicate.