MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

Don Bosco Prep can likely wrap up its second national championship in three years this weekend.

The Ironmen, who have been top-ranked in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard all season, will play for the New Jersey Non-Public Group IV state title Friday night against league rival Bergen Catholic.

There are five other entries in the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week where state championships are on the line. In South Carolina, No. 3 Gaffney aims for its first undefeated season and state title since 2006. The Indians must beat Byrnes – which has seven titles since 2002 – to close the deal.

Another nationally ranked team looking to end the year unbeaten and wear a state crown is No. 10 Maryville (Tenn.). The Rebels – who have won titles in seven of the last eight years – are taking on fellow unbeaten Whitehaven (Memphis), which has never reached the state finals.



A 9-1 record one week ago allowed Jamie DeMoney to distance himself from the pack a little in our season-long prediction contest. Stephen Spiewak picked only six out of 10 correctly last week, causing him to fall four games out of first place. 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.

MAXPREPS TOP 10 FOOTBALL GAMES OF THE WEEK

Hoover (Ala.) vs. Prattville (Ala.)

Reaching the Class 6A title game is nothing new to either of these teams. Hoover is playing for the championship for the fourth straight year and 10th time since 2001. Prattville is in the state title game for the sixth time in eight years. It's the fifth time since 2004 these teams have met in the final round. They split the four previous meetings, with Hoover winning in 2004 and 2009 and Prattville capturing the title in 2006 and 2008.

Hoover (13-1) overcame an early 9-0 deficit to beat Oxford in last week's semifinals, 33-22. Senior Dakota Daniel led the Bucs with 157 rushing yards and two touchdowns, according to the Birmingham News. Prattville, which started the year nationally ranked before it lost two of its first five games, was an easy 45-12 winner over Central (Phenix City) in the semifinals. Alabama recruit Justin Thomas had more than 200 combined passing and rushing yards and a touchdown.

Mitch Stephens: Prattville 38, Hoover 31
Steve Montoya: Prattville 20, Hoover 13
Stephen Spiewak: Prattville 28, Hoover 24
Kevin Askeland: Prattville 38, Hoover 31
Jamie DeMoney: Hoover 27, Prattville 20



{PAGEBREAK}Union (Tulsa, Okla.) vs. Broken Arrow (Okla.)

A win Thursday night at Boone Pickens Stadium gives Union its fourth consecutive Class 6A title and its seventh since 2002. The Redskins (12-1) have won seven straight since losing to Owasso on Oct. 7, 41-38. They beat archrival Jenks for the second time this season to reach the state final. Junior quarterback Hunter Atyia threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in the 30-29 semifinal win.

Broken Arrow has been playing football for more than 90 years but has yet to win a state championship. Union handed the Tigers (13-1) their only loss this season on Sept. 16, 21-14. Devin Thomas ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns, according to the Broken Arrow Ledger, in a 30-17 win over Owasso in last week's semifinals. The super sophomore has a school-record 1,700 rushing yards this season. These teams also met in the state championship in 2002, a game won by Union, 52-3.

Mitch Stephens: Broken Arrow 21, Union 20
Steve Montoya: Union 21, Broken Arrow 14
Stephen Spiewak: Union 28, Broken Arrow 24
Kevin Askeland: Union 28, Broken Arrow 14
Jamie DeMoney: Union 32, Broken Arrow 28

{PAGEBREAK}Norland (Miami) at No. 11 Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.)

The premier matchup of the entire Class 5A state championship bracket is this quarterfinal game between the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams in the final Associated Press state poll. No. 2 Norland (12-0) has won six of its last seven postseason games. The Vikings were Class 3A state runner-up last season. Miami commit Randy "Duke" Johnson returned a punt 42 yards for a touchdown in Norland's 59-40 win over Jackson (Miami) last week.

Glades Central (12-0) is playing as well as any team in Florida at right now. Defensively, the 11th-ranked Raiders have shut out five of their last seven opponents and have allowed more than 10 points only once this year. On offense, they average 43 points per game. With a win, Glades Central would be in prime position to win its first state title since 2006 and its seventh overall.



Mitch Stephens: Glades Central 42, Norland 28
Steve Montoya: Glades Central 28, Norland 20
Stephen Spiewak: Glades Central 38, Norland 21
Kevin Askeland: Glades Central 42, Norland 14
Jamie DeMoney: Glades Central 37, Norland 29

{PAGEBREAK}Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.) at No. 7 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Colquitt County (11-2) stayed alive by surprising then-nationally ranked Camden County (Kingsland) in last week's Class 5A quarterfinals. Veteran coach Rush Propst rolled the dice and came up a winner. After the Packers scored a late touchdown, a PAT kick would have tied the score and likely sent the game to overtime. But Propst called for a 2-point conversion attempt, which was successful when Cole Segraves hit Ty Smith on a short scoring pass to give Colquitt County the win, 32-31. Colquitt County also played Grayson in last year's semifinals and won, 31-24.

Grayson (13-0) had little trouble advancing past last week's quarterfinal round. The seventh-ranked Rams blew out West Forsyth (Cumming), 33-7. Junior standout Robert Nkemdiche scored four touchdowns and helped a defensive effort that limited West Forsyth to just 101 yards of total offense, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Mitch Stephens: Grayson 35, Colquitt County 27
Steve Montoya: Grayson 14, Colquitt County 13
Stephen Spiewak: Grayson 21, Colquitt County 14
Kevin Askeland: Colquitt County 33, Grayson 32
Jamie DeMoney: Colquitt County 26, Grayson 21

{PAGEBREAK}Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) vs. No. 1 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

A win Friday night at MetLife Stadium in the Non-Public Group IV final would give Bergen Catholic (8-2) its first state title since 2004, and it would mean there'd be a new No. 1 team in next week's Xcellent 25 rankings. The Crusaders have lost nine in a row to Don Bosco, but they played the Ironmen about as close as anyone this season when they lost 33-22 on Sept. 30 – a game they led for three quarters.



Don Bosco owns the longest active win streak in the nation among 11-man teams at 45 games and has won 54 straight against New Jersey opponents. Last week, the Ironmen (10-0) took a break from the postseason with a Thanksgiving Day 41-0 shutout of St. Joseph Regional (Montvale). Sophomore running back Jabrill Peppers had three touchdown runs. Don Bosco is seeking is seventh state title in eight seasons. This is the second consecutive time and fourth overall since 2004 it will play Bergen Catholic for the championship.

Mitch Stephens: Don Bosco 35, Bergen Catholic 21
Steve Montoya: Don Bosco 35, Bergen Catholic 13
Stephen Spiewak: Don Bosco Prep 28, Bergen Catholic 21
Kevin Askeland: Don Bosco 41, Bergen Catholic 6
Jamie DeMoney: Don Bosco 28, Bergen Catholic 14

{PAGEBREAK}Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) vs. Oakdale (Calif.)

Del Oro hasn't lost since falling in overtime to nationally ranked Westlake (Westlake Village) on Sept. 3, 30-27. With a win in Friday's Sac-Joaquin Division III championship game, the Golden Eagles (12-1) would have a good chance to earn Northern California's bid into the Division II state championship bowl game. In a 38-0 semifinals win over Whitney (Rocklin) last week, Del Oro's defense surrendered only three first downs, according to the Sacramento Bee. Del Oro and Oakdale also met in last year's section final, a game won by Del Oro, 21-0.

Oakdale (13-0) gobbled up 385 rushing yards in its 42-23 win against Casa Roble (Orangevale) last week. Junior running back Marcus Northcutt had 145 rushing yards and a touchdown, according to the Stockton Record. This is the Mustangs' fourth section championship game in five seasons. Their last title came in 2007.

Mitch Stephens: Del Oro 35, Oakdale 28
Steve Montoya: Del Oro 34, Oakdale 28
Stephen Spiewak: Del Oro 38, Oakdale 21
Kevin Askeland: Del Oro 32, Oakdale 31
Jamie DeMoney: Del Oro 41, Oakdale 17

{PAGEBREAK}No. 3 Gaffney (S.C.) vs. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)



Gaffney was considered a favorite for the South Carolina Class 4A-I title as far back as the preseason. But few – if any – envisioned how good the Indians would be. Heading into Saturday's state championship game at Clemson's Memorial Stadium, Gaffney (14-0) has outscored opponents by an average score of 49-10 and has beaten everyone on its schedule by at least 21 points. A key reason for the success has been the emergence of first-year starting quarterback Joey Copeland. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,795 yards with 42 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.

Byrnes has revenge on its mind after losing at home to Gaffney on Sept. 16, 35-13. It was just the ninth time since 2004 the Rebels lost to an in-state opponent but the fifth time the loss came to Gaffney. Byrnes (12-2) has since won 10 consecutive games, including a 31-0 shutout of Blythewood in last week's state semifinals. This is the Rebels' eighth appearance in the state championship in the last 10 seasons.

Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 24, Gaffney 21
Steve Montoya: Gaffney 25, Byrnes 17
Stephen Spiewak: Gaffney 41, Byrnes 28
Kevin Askeland: Gaffney 56, Byrnes 30
Jamie DeMoney: Gaffney 31, Byrnes 24

{PAGEBREAK}Pickerington Central (Ohio) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)

For the first time since 1991, a pair of teams with two losses will battle for the Ohio Division I championship on Saturday. Central (11-2) has recovered from an 0-2 start to reach a title game for the first since 2006, when it competed at the Division II level. The Tigers avenged a Week 2 loss when they defeated St. Xavier (Cincinnati) in last week's semifinals, 14-7. Central held the Bombers to just 168 total yards, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Meanwhile, St. Ignatius is in the championship game for the 11th time since 1988. The Wildcats brought home state titles in all 10 of their previous finals appearances. St. Ignatius capitalized on five turnovers – including four in the first half – to beat previously undefeated Whitmer (Toledo) last week, 17-6.

Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 28, Pickerington Central 20
Steve Montoya: St. Ignatius 24, Pickerington Central 20
Stephen Spiewak: St. Ignatius 17, Pickerington Central 10
Kevin Askeland: Pickerington Central 40, St. Ignatius 24
Jamie DeMoney: Pickerington Central 27, St. Ignatius 21

{PAGEBREAK}No. 10 Maryville (Tenn.) vs. Whitehaven (Memphis, Tenn.)



Maryville is in its usual spot for the first weekend of December: the state championship game, where it will play for the title for the eighth consecutive season on Saturday. The Rebels won titles each year with the lone exception of 2009. Maryville thrashed previously unbeaten Riverdale (Murfreesboro) in the 6A playoff semifinals last week, 42-14. It was the Rebels' 28th consecutive win. North Carolina-bound quarterback Pat Robinette had 94 yards and three total touchdowns, according to the Nashville Tennessean.

While Maryville has participated in the BlueCross Bowl every year for the better part of the last decade, this will be Whitehaven's first trip to a state title game. The Tigers (14-0) have played outstanding defense, allowing only one opponent to score more than 17 points all season. Last week, they held previously unbeaten Mount Juliet to just 159 total yards, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Mitch Stephens: Maryville 31, Whitehaven 21
Steve Montoya: Maryville 27, Whitehaven 21
Stephen Spiewak: Maryville 30, Whitehaven 20
Kevin Askeland: Maryville 32, Whitehaven 18
Jamie DeMoney: Maryville 28, Whitehaven 13

{PAGEBREAK}Martin (Arlington, Texas) vs. Carroll (Southlake, Texas)

Martin (12-1) pulled off a shocker last week, beating then-nationally ranked Trinity (Euless), 19-7, and handing the Trojans their earliest exit from the playoffs since 2003. Martin avenged season-ending playoff losses to Trinity in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The star(s) of the game was the Warriors' defense, which held Trinity 36 points below its season average and limited star running back Joel Kimpela to just 87 rushing yards. Kimpela gained 356 rushing yards against Allen the week before.

Carroll had to erase a 17-point second-half deficit to remain unbeaten and eliminate Bowie (Arlington) last week, 21-17. Standout junior quarterback Kenny Hill was involved in all three Carroll scores, including two touchdown runs. A win Saturday over Martin would give the Dragons their first trip to the state semifinals since 2006, when they won their second consecutive national title.

Mitch Stephens: Martin 28, Carroll 27
Steve Montoya: Carroll 28, Martin 24
Stephen Spiewak: Carroll 24, Martin 14
Kevin Askeland: Carroll 10, Martin 7
Jamie DeMoney: Carroll 23, Martin 17

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