MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

Video: Top 10 Games of the Week
See the games that will be talked about this weekend, including National power IMG Academy taking on Utah power East.

Two of the most successful high school football programs take the field Friday night in Salt Lake City as East, winners of 31 of its last 32 games, takes on IMG Academy, which is riding a 34-game win streak. If you like smashmouth football this is the game and features two of the best offensive lines in the country.

Things don't get much easier for the No. 1 team in the nation. Up next for Mater Dei is an undefeated JSerra Catholic team ready to prove they belong in the upper echelon in the Trinity League.

Florida's 6A-District 16 region is the toughest in the Sunshine State and first place is one the line this Friday night when Miami Central and Northwestern square off.
MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week



No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) @ East (Salt Lake City)
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local)

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Top Players

IMG Academy: DE Xavier Thomas (6-3, 265), CB Brendan Radley-Hiles (5-10, 185), RB Trey Sanders (5-11.5, 215), DT Taron Vincent (6-2, 285) and RB Noah Cain (5-11, 205)

East: OG Sam Taimani (6-2, 315), OT Junior Angilau (6-6, 300), LB Viliami Tausinga (6-1, 210), LB Tennessee Pututau (6-1.5, 260) and RB Sione Molisi (5-7, 170)

Storyline



East gets another chance to prove it can hang with the big boys. The Leopards had their 24-game winning streak snapped with a lopsided loss against Bingham but have rebounded nicely winning seven in a row. When it comes to talent IMG Academy might have more than any other team in the country. The Ascenders' defensive line against East's offensive line is one of the best matchups we will see all year.

JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) @ No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

JSerra: DE Abdul-Malik McClain (6-3, 225), QB Matt Robinson (6-1, 175), WR Munir McClain (6-4, 210), RB Al Fisher (5-8, 170) and WR Tarik Luckett (6-2.5, 185)

Mater Dei: QB JT Daniels (6-2, 205), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (5-11.5, 190), LB Solomon Tuliaupupu (6-2, 220), OT Tommy Brown (6-6.5, 315) and ATH Bru McCoy (6-3, 215)



Storyline

While Mater Dei handed St. John Bosco its second loss of the season JSerra Catholic was busy hanging a 52-spot in a 31-point win against a very good Orange Lutheran team. Two of the best offenses in the state face off Friday night with first place on the line in the Trinity League. One of the biggest keys in this game is which front seven will be able to get pressure on the quarterback. This will be the 12th matchup between the two since 2006 and Mater Dei has won nine of 11, but JSerra has won two of the last three.

No. 10 Central (Miami) vs. Northwestern (Miami)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. @ Traz Powell Stadium

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Miami Central: RB James Cook (5-11.5, 180), LB Robert Hicks (6-0, 240), CB Chandler Jones (5-10, 175), RB Amari Daniels (6-0, 160) and WR Terrell Perriman (5-10, 175)

Northwestern: CB Divaad Wilson (6-0, 180), QB Tutu Atwell (5-10, 160), DE Demetreius Mayes (6-2, 235), WR Nigel Bethel (5-11, 160) and OT Mark Fox (6-4, 290)



Storyline

There will be a boatload of Division I prospects on the field Friday at Traz Powell Stadium. Northwestern will be without one of its best players though as Samuel Brooks was injured in last week's win against Carol City. Cook has been one of the best running backs in the country this year and he landed on our National Player of the Year watch list. This is one of the best rivalries in the nation and this will be the 18th meeting between the two since 2004.

DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) @ No. 24 St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Saturday, 1 p.m.

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DeMatha: DT Austin Fontaine (6-3, 310), OG Evan Gregory (6-4, 285), QB Ty Lenhart (6-3, 185), RB Myles Miree (5-8, 185) and WR DeMarcco Hellams (6-2, 215)

St. John's: QB Kevin Doyle (6-4, 210), RB Keilan Robinson (5-9, 175), LB MJ Sherman (6-3, 235), DT Cam Goode (5-11, 315) and WR Quinten Johnson (5-10.5, 190)



Storyline

This is the first time since 2014 that DeMatha has at least three losses in a season and the first time in over a decade its had back-to-back losses. Things don't get easier this week with nationally ranked St. John's on the schedule. DeMatha is still king of the Washington Catholic league though having won the last four WCAC titles. St. John's is hoping to do something it hasn't since 1994 — beat DeMatha.

No. 12 St. Xavier (Cincinnati) @ St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Saturday, 3 p.m.

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St. Xavier: QB Chase Wolf (6-2, 195), WR Andrew Wittrock (6-0, 175), WR Cam Specht (5-7, 160), DE Blake Bacevich (6-4, 215) and DE Bobby Jefferson (6-3, 225)

St. Ignatius: OT Darian Kinnard (6-7, 335), QB Daniel Alexander (6-1, 190), WR Sam Snyder (5-9, 160), RB Jahadge Floyd (5-9, 170) and CB Cam Toppin (5-11, 165)

Storyline



St. Xavier has been one of the best teams in the country this year and the Bombers get another big test Saturday against a 7-1 St. Ignatius team. These two faced off last year in the Division-I Ohio state championship game, a 27-20 St. X double overtime victory. The Bombers became the first time in Ohio football history to win a state championship with at least five losses. This is the 15th meeting between the two since 2004 and St. X has won nine of the previous 14.

Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) @ Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Brentwood Academy: WR Camron Johnson (6-1, 180), LB Jack Sirmon (6-2.5, 225), TE Gavin Schoenwald (6-5, 225), CB Daniel Taylor (5-9.5, 175) and RB Mario Pleasant (5-10, 185)

Montgomery Bell Academy: OT Jackson Lampley (6-4, 300), QB Ty Allen (6-1, 180), LB Harrison Graves (6-2, 210), LB Jackson Hannah (6-3, 220), and S Nick German (6-1, 180)

Storyline



These two teams have met in the Division II Class AA state championship game the past two years and both have been instant classics. Brentwood Academy won both and this series has been about as close as any other in high school football. They have gone 3-3 over the last six meetings with five decided by one score.

La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) @ No. 9 St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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La Salle: QB Danny Solecki (6-0, 165), WR Troy Holland (6-1, 150), LB Liam Trainer (6-2, 220), DT Garrett Zobel (6-2, 270) and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (6-3, 165)

St. Joseph's Prep: QB Marquez McCray (6-2, 205), LB Philip O'Connor (6-0, 200), DT Ryan Bryce (6-4, 280), RB Kolbe Burrell (5-7, 180) and WR Brandon Sanders (5-11, 195)

Storyline



St. Joseph's Prep has won 20 straight with the last loss coming in 2015 to La Salle College. St. Joe's has followed McCray's lead on offense and the defense has been lights out this season. Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison, has stepped up big-time in his freshman season leading one of the best wide receiving corps in all of Pennsylvania.

No. 6 Allen (Texas) @ Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Allen: QB Grant Tisdale (6-1, 205), WR Theo Wease (6-3, 190), RB Brock Sturges (5-10, 200), DT Jayden Jernigan (6-1, 270) and WR Carson Schleker (5-9, 180)

Denton Guyer: LB Dylan Bourey (5-11.5, 205), RB Kaedric Cobbs (5-8.5, 200), C John Lanz (6-3, 295), DT Arian Bhat (6-1.5, 280) and DT Grant Mahon (6-3, 250)

Storyline

This is the most talented Allen team since Kyler Murray led the Eagles to three straight state titles from 2012-14. Allen has won its last 50 regular season games and faces one of its toughest tests against Denton Guyer.



Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) @ St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Saturday, 4 p.m.

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Archbishop Moeller: DT Aeneas Hawkins (6-3, 265), TE Brenden Bates (6-5, 230), RB Colin Thurman (5-10, 195), QB Miles McBride (6-2, 180) and TE Jack McCracken (6-4, 195)

St. Edward: S Mike Dowell (6-0, 195), S Darnell Shields (6-0, 180), WR Jalen Staples (5-10, 170), QB Garrett Dzuro (6-0, 195) and S Caden Kolesar (5-10, 195)

Storyline

St. Edward is 8-0 this year and  on the brink cracking the Top 25. Moeller snapped its three-game losing streak last week handing St. Ignatius its first loss. The Fighting Crusaders need to beat St. Edward and Winton Woods next week if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.) @ Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Saturday, 1 p.m.

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Pope John XXIII: LB Nick Denucci (6-1, 230), RB Berrell Neal (5-9, 200), RB Terrance Jones (6-2, 225), LB Ryan Greenhagen (6-1, 215) and QB Niko Hroncich (6-2, 190)

Bergen Catholic: QB Johnny Langan (6-3, 220), RB Josh McKenzie (5-9, 185), LB Anthony Corbin (5-10, 190), LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste (6-5, 215) and RB Rahmir Johnson (5-10, 175)

Storyline

Two of Jersey's finest face off Saturday afternoon. Bergen Catholic has bounced back strong after a lopsided loss to the No. 1 team in the country, Mater Dei. During the Crusaders three-game winning streak they have knocked off Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph Regional and St. Peter's Prep. Pope John XXIII suffered its first loss last week against St. Joseph Regional and hopes to bounce back and knock off the No. 1 team from New Jersey.