MaxPreps Top 10 high school football games of the week

A pair of huge matchups between nationally ranked teams in two of America's best conferences leads off this edition of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.

We start off in New Jersey, where top-ranked Don Bosco Prep will travels down Route 17 to challenge 20th-ranked Paramus Catholic on Saturday. The Paladins already have a key conference win over Bergen Catholic in the bank. An upset over the No. 1 Ironmen would further tighten their grip on the lead in the Big North United standings.

On the other coast, the opening weekend of play in California's vaunted Trinity League features what might be its most important game of the year when No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) visits No. 10 St. John Bosco (Bellflower). The Monarchs will try to end a four-game losing streak against St. John Bosco.



Other action involving ranked teams includes No. 18 Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) hosting Austin Kafentzis-led Jordan (Sandy, Utah), No. 21 Warren Central (Indianapolis) taking on fellow unbeaten Carmel (Ind.) and No. 25 La Salle (Cincinnati) trying to secure at least a share of the Greater Catholic League South title with a win against St. Xavier (Cincinnati).

An 8-2 record last week allowed Jamie DeMoney to jump back into a first-place tie in our season-long predictions contest. DeMoney and Stephen Spiewak each have 47-23 records seven weeks into the season. Kevin Askeland and Leland Gordon share third place with 45-25 marks. Mitch Stephens is in fifth place but only three games behind the co-leaders. Colin Ward-Henninger, who is now nine games out of first place, has some serious 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.


Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) at Paramus Catholic (N.J.)

What to watch: This is the first in-state game of the year for top-ranked Don Bosco Prep. The Ironmen (3-0) enjoyed a well-deserved bye week after concluding a lopsided three-game sweep of tough out-of-state opponents to open the season -- including a 24-7 win against No. 14 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) on Sept. 13. Don Bosco Prep plays ferocious defense and bludgeons its competition on offense with a multifaceted running game that features senior quarterback Wesley McKoy and junior running back Malik Bakker. The top player in the trenches for the Ironmen is 6-foot-9, 305-pound Ohio State recruit Kevin Feder. No. 20 Paramus Catholic (5-0) opened league play last week with a convincing 44-7 win over Bergen Catholic (Oradell). Junior defensive tackle Rashan Gary – rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports – was responsible for five of the Paladins' whopping 15.5 sacks in the game.

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Just the facts: Don Bosco Prep had a 16-game winning streak against Paramus Catholic before losing, 21-20, in last year's Non-Public Group IV state semifinals. … Paramus Catholic won back-to-back state titles in 2012-13. Prior to that, the Paladins had compiled a very pedestrian 42-41 overall record from 2004 to 2010.

Mitch Stephens: Don Bosco Prep 21, Paramus Catholic 10
Kevin Askeland: Don Bosco Prep 30, Paramus Catholic 14
Jamie DeMoney: Don Bosco Prep 27, Paramus Catholic 14
Stephen Spiewak: Don Bosco Prep 17, Paramus Catholic 14
Leland Gordon: Don Bosco Prep 17, Paramus Catholic 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: Don Bosco Prep 21, Paramus Catholic 17
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Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

What to watch: Sixth-ranked Mater Dei finished the nonconference portion of its schedule at 5-0 – but only by the skin of its teeth. It took a failed 33-yard field goal attempt by Westlake (Westlake Village) in the closing seconds of last week's game to preserve a 28-27 road victory for the Monarchs. On the other side, No. 10 St. John Bosco carries a 4-1 record, a 34-31 loss to No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) the only blemish on its resume. The Braves rebounded from that defeat by thrashing Crenshaw (Los Angeles) last Friday, 65-7. UCLA-bound quarterback Josh Rosen tied his season high of five touchdown passes before sitting out the second half.

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Just the facts: Four of the Trinity League's six members are ranked in the top 25 in the latest MaxPreps Computer Rankings. No other conference in the country has more than two. … St. John Bosco owns a four-game winning streak against Mater Dei, with two of the wins occurring last season. This was after Mater Dei had defeated the Braves seven times in a row between 2003-10.

Mitch Stephens: St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 21
Kevin Askeland: Mater Dei 35, St. John Bosco 31
Jamie DeMoney: St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 21
Stephen Spiewak: St. John Bosco 20, Mater Dei 17
Leland Gordon: St. John Bosco 24, Mater Dei 22
Colin Ward-Henninger: Mater Dei 28, St. John Bosco 24


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Jordan (Sandy, Utah) at Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)

What to watch: It's Utah's best individual player – during the past four years and maybe ever – leading his team against arguably the state's top team during the same era. Austin Kafentzis, the player, has set at least 10 state records for offense during his four-year varsity career. The Wisconsin-bound dual threat quarterback has an amazing 17,591 combined passing and rushing yards and 199 touchdowns in 3.5 seasons. His 2,041 passing yards, 1,233 rushing yards, and 36 touchdowns this year have helped the Beetdiggers to a 6-1 record. Bingham, the team, is No. 18 in the latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25. The Miners are the defending 5A state champions and haven't lost to a Utah opponent since 2012. Their only setback this year was on the road in overtime to No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).



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Just the facts: Jordan has played Bingham only once during Kafentzis' career, a 48-28 loss last season. … With four forfeit losses by Timpview (Provo) included, Bingham leads all Utah teams with 52 wins since the 2010 season.

Mitch Stephens: Bingham 35, Jordan 28
Kevin Askeland: Bingham 45, Jordan 40
Jamie DeMoney: Bingham 34, Jordan 31
Stephen Spiewak: Bingham 42, Jordan 40
Leland Gordon: Bingham 42, Jordan 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Bingham 48, Jordan 42


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Carmel (Ind.) at Warren Central (Indianapolis)

What to watch: The winner of Friday's game will be assured of at least a co-championship in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference and will remain unbeaten entering the final week of the regular season. Carmel (7-0) might have played its best game of the year in last week's 37-14 blowout of once nationally ranked Ben Davis (Indianapolis). The Greyhounds outgained Ben Davis 463-61 on the ground with senior Isaac James – rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports – leading the way with 140 yards on just 12 carries, according to the Indianapolis Star. Warren Central also improved to 7-0 with a one-sided win last week. The Warriors thumped Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 31-7, to extend their winning streak over the Wildcats to 11 games.

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Just the facts: Carmel has won or shared the MIC championship four times since 2000. Its last title was in 2012. Warren Central has seven crowns since 2001, with the last coming in 2011. … This will be the 16th game in this series in the past 11 seasons. The teams have split their last four meetings, but Warren Central has a 9-6 edge since 2004.

Mitch Stephens: Carmel 28, Western Central 17
Kevin Askeland:  Carmel 30, Warren Central 28
Jamie DeMoney: Carmel 24, Warren Central 16
Stephen Spiewak: Warren Central 21, Carmel 20
Leland Gordon: Carmel 33, Warren Central 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Carmel 17, Warren Central 14




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St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at La Salle (Cincinnati)

What to watch: After upsetting then-No. 20 Moeller (Cincinnati) last week, No. 25 La Salle is in position to clinch at least a share of the Greater Catholic League South championship for just the third time ever on Friday night. Against Moeller, Jeremy Larkin had another huge game for the Lancers (6-0), rushing for 216 yards and four touchdowns. The junior running back leads the GCL-South with 1,064 yards and 17 touchdowns for the season. Meanwhile, St. Xavier (4-2) also stayed in the hunt for its second conference crown in three seasons when it won in overtime at then-No. 24 Elder (Cincinnati), 32-24. Senior Ben Glines – a Boston College commit – led the Bombers with 198 combined rushing and receiving yards with three touchdowns.

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Just the facts: Prior to its 34-9 loss to La Salle, two-time defending Division I state champ Moeller had allowed only 20 points combined in its previous five games. … St. Xavier has won 10 of the 12 games played against La Salle since 2004. La Salle's last win against the Bombers was in 2010.

Mitch Stephens: La Salle 24, St. Xavier 21
Kevin Askeland: La Salle 28, St. Xavier 27
Jamie DeMoney: St. Xavier 23, La Salle 20
Stephen Spiewak: La Salle 14, St. Xavier 10
Leland Gordon: La Salle 21, St. Xavier 20
Colin Ward-Henninger: La Salle 20, St. Xavier 17


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

What to watch: After knocking off then-No. 19 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) last week, La Salle College wants to keep on truckin' against a St. Joseph's Prep team that was nationally ranked in the preseason. Senior receiver Jimmy Herron caught four touchdown passes from Vanderbilt-committed quarterback Kyle Shurmur to help La Salle rally from a 17-point deficit and beat Archbishop Wood, 35-31, according to Philly.com. For the season, the Explorers have a 5-1 record against a tough schedule that also included Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) – their only loss – plus DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and McDonogh (Owings Mill, Md.). Conversely, St. Joseph's Prep's record is a disappointing 2-3, but the three losses were to quality out-of-state opponents, including top-ranked Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.). The Hawks ended a three-game losing streak with a 49-28 league win against Malvern Prep last Saturday. Penn State recruit John Reid caught three passes for 97 yards and his sixth touchdown of the season.

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Just the facts: Friday is the 18th meeting between these Philadelphia Catholic League rivals in the last 11 seasons. St. Joseph's Prep beat La Salle twice in 2013 and has a 9-8 edge overall since 2004. … La Salle had won five consecutive PCL Class 4A championships until SJP ended the Explorers' streak last season.

Mitch Stephens: La Salle 35, St. Joseph's Prep 28
Kevin Askeland:  La Salle 27, St. Joseph's Prep 24
Jamie DeMoney: La Salle 42, St. Joseph's Prep 28
Stephen Spiewak: St. Joseph's Prep 30, La Salle 27
Leland Gordon: St. Joseph's Prep 29, La Salle 27
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Joseph's Prep 34, La Salle 28


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Centreville (Clifton, Va.) at Westfield (Chantilly, Va.)

What to watch: Centreville has enjoyed four consecutive blowout wins after it crashed out of the national rankings with a season-opening loss to Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.). The defending state champion Wildcats (4-1) have played without injured senior running A.J. Turner (wrist) in all five games, but the South Carolina recruit is expected to return before the end of the season. Picking up the running game slack in the interim has been junior Kyle Richbourg. He has averaged 100 rushing yards per game and 8 yards per carry. Westfield is also 4-1 following a hard-fought 15-9 road win against Stone Bridge (Ashburn) last week. In the fourth quarter, senior running back Evan Gray – a powerful 5-10, 220-pounder – scored the game-winning touchdown, his ninth of the season.

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Just the facts: Westfield had beaten Centreville nine out of 10 times between 2004-13 before it lost twice to the Wildcats last season. That included a 35-14 Centreville triumph in the Class 6A state semifinals. … Mike Glennon, the current starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led Westfield to its most recent state championship in 2007.

Mitch Stephens: Centreville 35, Westfield 27
Kevin Askeland:  Centreville 28, Westfield 21
Jamie DeMoney: Centreville 28, Westfield 20
Stephen Spiewak: Centreville 28, Westfield 21
Leland Gordon: Centreville 41, Westfield 34
Colin Ward-Henninger: Centreville 35, Westfield 21


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Coldwater (Ohio) at Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)

What to watch: Two of Ohio's most prolific programs during the last decade square off Friday night with sole possession of first place in the Midwest Athletic Conference on the line. Division V No. 1-ranked Coldwater ended last season with its second-consecutive state title last year despite getting roughed up by Marion Local, 47-14, in conference play. This year, the Cavaliers (6-0) are again led by senior quarterback/defensive back Brody Hoying, an Eastern Michigan commit who is a cousin of former Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying. On the other side, Division VII top-ranked Marion Local has an Ohio-best 28-game winning streak and three state championships in a row. The Flyers' go-to guy is four-year starting running back Jacy Goettemoeller. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns on only 12 carries in a 41-13 blowout of Anna last week, according to the Sidney Daily News.



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Just the facts: Coldwater is the winningest team in Ohio since 2003, with an overall record of 145-18. Marion Local ranks sixth with a record of 126-31. … Marion Local has won two of the last three games in this series, but Coldwater has a 7-3 record overall against the Flyers since 2004.

Mitch Stephens: Marion Local 35, Coldwater 34
Kevin Askeland:  Coldwater 45, Marion Local 28
Jamie DeMoney: Coldwater 28, Marion Local 27
Stephen Spiewak: Coldwater 35, Marion Local 28
Leland Gordon: Marion Local 39, Coldwater 29
Colin Ward-Henninger: Coldwater 27, Marion Local 21


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Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.) at Shades Valley (Birmingham, Ala.)

What to watch: Two of Alabama's top Class 6A contenders battle it out Friday night with the outright lead in Region 6 going to the winner. Clay-Chalkville (6-0) is ranked second in the latest state sportswriters poll. Last time out, the Cougars limited Center Point (Birmingham) to just 74 yards of offense in a 49-6 rout, according to al.com. Meanwhile, third-ranked Shades Valley (6-0) just narrowly escaped an upset last week. Senior quarterback Rashad Louie ran for two second-half touchdowns while totaling 157 rushing yards as the Mounties held off Gardendale, 42-35 (see story).

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Just the facts: This is the first meeting between these teams since 2011, when they were both members of Class 6A Region 7. Clay-Chalkville won that game 41-7 – although it was later changed to a forfeit loss – and the Cougars won seven straight against Shades Valley between 2004-10 as well. … Clay-Chalkville is seeking its second state football championship since opening its doors in 2007. Shades Valley, which opened in 1948, is winless in the only two state championship games it has played in.

Mitch Stephens: Shades Valley 26, Clay-Chalkville 24
Kevin Askeland: Clay-Chalkville 14, Shades Valley 7
Jamie DeMoney: Clay-Chalkville 28, Shades Valley 21
Stephen Spiewak: Clay-Chalkville 30, Shades Valley 24
Leland Gordon: Clay-Chalkville 39, Shades Valley 33
Colin Ward-Henninger: Clay-Chalkville 42, Shades Valley 35




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Katy (Texas) at Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas)

What to watch: Seven Lakes will be shooting for its first win against Katy when the teams meet Saturday for the seventh time. The Spartans (5-0) enter the game with a full head of steam after burying their last two opponents by a combined score of 111-0. Katy (4-1), which had its regular-season winning streak stopped at 50 games earlier this season, is averaging nearly 300 rushing yards per game. Senior Rodney Anderson, a four-star recruit and Oklahoma commit, had a season-high 223 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-7 blowout of Katy Taylor last week.

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Just the facts: Katy has not lost a district game since bowing to Cinco Ranch (Katy) in 2008. That was also just the seventh loss ever for the Tigers against another Katy ISD opponent. … Seven Lakes was also undefeated last year when it played Katy. The Spartans lost the game, 17-12, and then finished the season in a tailspin with three more consecutive losses. 

Mitch Stephens: Katy 28, Seven Lakes 21
Kevin Askeland: Katy 45, Seven Lakes 14
Jamie DeMoney: Katy 24, Seven Lakes 14
Stephen Spiewak: Katy 21, Seven Lakes 10
Leland Gordon: Katy 42, Seven Lakes 30
Colin Ward-Henninger: Katy 30, Seven Lakes 17

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.