High school football: St. John's at No. 21 Massillon Washington headlines MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

By Zack Poff Sep 27, 2023, 10:25am

No. 9 St. John Bosco looks to rebound in Trinity League opener at Santa Margarita.

The only out-of-state matchup is the MaxPreps Game of the Week as No. 21 Washington (Massillon, Ohio) hosts St. John's (Washington, D.C.) on Friday. The 6-0 Tigers got a statement win over then-No. 10 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) two weeks ago.

St. John's improved to 3-1 after a 39-17 victory against Mission Viejo (Calif.). The Cadets have won three in a row since a season-opening 45-20 loss at No. 22 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.).

Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) and Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.) get the national spotlight as they will be on ESPN2 on Thursday. Both enter undefeated and have two of the most talented teams in the state.

An undefeated Newton (Covington, Ga.) squad got a huge win a couple weeks ago against Westlake (Atlanta) and looks for an even bigger one at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) on Friday. The Rams have won four in a row since a season-opening loss against No. 15 Walton (Marietta, Ga.). They have posted three shutouts and outscored their last four opponents 185-19.



Southern California's Trinity League gets underway this week and two games are featured. No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) hosts Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) and No. 9 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) plays at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.).

Games in Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington are also featured this week.
MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local)

Top players

St. John's: DB Tariq Hayer (6-0, 175), RB Da'Jaun Riggs (6-0, 205), RB Cinqué Blount (5-10, 220), DB Shamar McIntosh (6-2, 200), OL Jordan Harrison (6-3, 285)

Washington: LB Dorian Pringle (6-0, 215), QB DaOne Owens (6-1, 205), DL Chase Bond (6-4, 255), OL Nolan Davenport (6-6, 255), LB Cody Fair (6-2, 220)



The Tigers are 2-0 against out-of-state opponents this season and have not lost a game against a non-Ohio team since 2017. They are riding a nine-game win streak against out-of-state competition. This will be the third opponent St. John's has faced in our expanded top 100. The Cadets conclude non-conference play on Friday before WCAC action starts Oct. 7 vs. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). Owens missed last week's 41-7 win over Middletown (Del.) as the OHSAA is currently investigating his eligibility status for the remainder of the season. He still has not been cleared and was allowed to play in the first five games.

Friday, 7 p.m. - ESPN2

Top players

Clay-Chalkville: ATH Jaylen Mbakwe (5-11, 170), OL JacQawn McRoy (6-8, 365), WR Mario Craver (5-11, 165), LB D'Angelo Barber (6-1, 225), DB Tevis Metcalf (5-10, 185)

Thompson: DB Anquon Fegans (6-1, 180), QB Trent Seaborn (6-0, 180), DB Kaleb Harris (6-1, 190), WR Deuce Oliver (5-10, 165), RB AJ Green (5-8, 200)

This game is loaded with the best talent in the Yellowhammer State. Mbakwe is the 20th-rated player in the Class of 2024 and committed to Alabama to play cornerback but has been starring at quarterback this season. Fegans is the 22nd-rated player in the Class of 2025 and has racked up 138 tackles and 11 interceptions since 2021. Seaborn led the Warriors to their fourth straight 7A state title as an eighth-grader last season and is having a huge freshman year under center. Alabama, Auburn North Carolina and Oregon are among his 14 offers. 



Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS Network

Top players

Cardinal Gibbons: QB Michael Merdinger (6-2, 200), TE Colton Heinrich (6-4, 230), DB Casey Etienne (6-2, 175), DB Guy Edmond Jr. (5-11, 175), RB Patrick Anderson Jr. (5-10, 180)

American Heritage: WR Malachi Toney (5-10, 175), QB Dia Bell (6-2, 190), RB Byron Louis (6-0, 205), LB Omar Thornton (6-0, 190), RB Deandre Desinor (5-9, 170)

This is the 19th meeting since 2009 with the Patriots dominating the series, winning 16 of the previous 18. After the Chiefs snapped an 11-game losing streak winning two in a row in 2018, American Heritage has won the last five. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) handed both teams their only loss of the season. The Patriots lost 28-16 two weeks ago, while the Lions beat Cardinal Gibbons 41-4 on Sept. 1.

Friday, 7:30 p.m.



Top players

Newton: WR Keon Davis (6-0, 185), RB Zion Johnson (5-9, 175), DL RyShawn Perry (6-3, 275), QB Deron Benson (6-1, 170), WR Marcus Calwise (5-10, 185)

Grayson: LB Tyler Atkinson (6-3, 200), OL Waltclaire Flynn Jr. (6-2, 305), ATH Kylan Fox (6-4, 210), WR John Cineas (6-1, 200), QB Jeff Davis II (6-2, 190)

Grayson allows less than five points per game during a four-game winning streak. Newton is averaging 37 points per game this season. Atkinson has showed why he's one of the top prospects in the Class of 2026, racking up 16 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in last week's 40-0 win over Lowndes (Valdsota). Johnson has shined during his junior campaign, rushing for 771 yards and 10 scores. This is the eighth consecutive year these two face off and Grayson has won the previous seven meetings.


Top players

Servite: QB Leo Hannan (6-4, 200), RB Quaid Carr (5-11, 180), WR Devan Parker (6-0, 170), LB Isaiah Leilua (6-0, 195), WR Aidan O'Callaghan (6-3, 220)



Mater Dei: QB Elijah Brown (6-1.5, 200), OL Brandon Baker (6-5, 285), DL Aydin Breland (6-5, 290), DL Nasir Wyatt (6-2, 210), DB Zabien Brown (6-0, 180)

Servite head coach Chris Reinert has done a tremendous job in his first season leading the Friars to a 4-1 record heading into league play after finishing 1-9 last year. Mater Dei faced adversity for the first time this season pulling out a 20-7 win at St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) last week. It was a one score game throughout until the final minute. The Monarchs have outscored their first five opponents 213-43 and haven't trailed at any point. Mater Dei has won the last 12 meetings and Servite hasn't beat the Monarchs since 2011. 

Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Baylor: QB Whit Muschamp (6-1, 170), TE Max LeBlanc (6-3, 220), WR Amari Jefferson (6-0, 200), ATH Cameron Sparks (6-3, 210), ATH Joshua Hampton (6-2, 170)

McCallie: QB Jay St. Hilaire (6-3, 215), DB Marcellus Barnes Jr. (6-2, 170), DL Carson Gentle (6-3, 240), RB Javon McMahan (5-10, 190), WR Keeyshawn Schneider (6-0, 175)



These two schools are the top-two ranked teams in the state. The defending DII-AAA state champs have won five in a row since a season-opening loss against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap, Ga.). Five of McCallie's six wins have come by at least two scores. The cross-river rivalry is one of the longest rivalries in high school football with the first meeting taking place in 1908. The series record over that span is 45-40-3 in favor of Baylor.


Top players

St. John Bosco: DB Peyton Woodyard (6-2, 190), DB Marcelles Williams (5-11, 185), LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (6-3, 230), QB Caleb Sanchez (6-4, 230), DL Dutch Horisk (6-3, 235)

Santa Margarita: WR Trent Mosley (5-10, 170), LB Gage Burnett (6-1, 230), QB John Gazzaniga (6-7, 230), WR Sean Embree (6-4, 165), LB Levar Talley (6-3, 205)

This is the Braves' first game since losing 30-23 to No. 8 Kahuku (Hawaii). Santa Margarita's only loss was a 34-21 defeat against No. 18 Centennial (Corona). They have won three in a row since. Gazzaniga has accounted for 590 yards of total offense (528 passing, 62 rushing) and seven touchdowns since taking over at quarterback against Bishop Amat (La Puente). He faces one of the best defenses in the country on Friday. The Braves have won 12 straight meetings and the last time the Eagles beat St. John Bosco was in 2011.



Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Archbishop Hoban: OL William Satterwhite (6-5, 300), LB Rickey Williams (6-2, 230), DB Tysen Campbell (5-11, 180), ATH Tylan Boykin (6-1, 165), DB Elbert Hill (5-10, 165)

Walsh Jesuit: ATH John Keough (6-0, 190), WR Milan Parris (6-4, 185), ATH Brock Sherman (5-11, 210), QB Keller Moten (5-11, 185), DL David Hawersaat (6-3, 225)

Both teams have dominated this season. The Knights have outscored their first five opponents 197-24. Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) was the only team to score more than six points against them. The Warriors are winning by an average margin of 30.6 points per game and are coming off an impressive 43-13 win against St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron). Archbishop Hoban has won the last nine meetings between the two.




Top players

Eastside Catholic: DB Tyson Weaver (6-1, 195), OL Kodi Greene (6-6, 260), DB Ambrose Marsh (6-1, 170), DL A.J. Tanupo (6-4, 280), LB Liufau Loumoli (6-1, 210)

O'Dea: RB Jason Brown Jr. (5-10, 205), DB Kyan McDonald (6-0, 175), OL Kai Holec (6-8, 300), ATH Antone Araujo (6-1, 190), OL Kingston Fotualii (6-3, 275)

The Fighting Irish are 14-2 since the start of the 2022 season with both losses coming against Eastside Catholic. They were both one score games and the Crusaders ended O'Dea's season with a 35-28 double overtime win in the 3A semifinals. They have dominated through four games winning every game by at least 30 points. Eastside Catholic has outscored its last three opponents 142-0 after a season-opening loss against Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.).


Top players



West Linn: ATH Wiley Donnerberg (6-3, 205), ATH Gus Donnerberg (6-4, 210), TE Baron Naone (6-4, 235), OL Jake Normoyle (6-4, 290), DB Hunter Haines (6-1, 190)

Lake Oswego: LB Tobia Tagliabue (6-2, 220), ATH Zavier Russell (5-11, 205), RB Lamarcus Bell (5-10, 180), QB Liam Davis (6-1, 180), DB Colin Best (5-11, 170)

The defending 6A state champs have won 15 games in a row with all coming by more than one score. They have outscored their first four opponents 170-47. Lake Oswego is winning by an average margin of 20.5 points per game. This will be the 15th meeting since 2010 and West Linn has won eight of the previous 14, including three in a row.