MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

The high school football season is just barely underway, but one of the most anticipated matchups of the season kicks off already Friday night when No. 9 Washington (Miami) travels to No. 3 Norcross (Ga.).

The big-time showdown of the defending Florida 4A champion against last year's Georgia 6A titlist headlines the first edition of the MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week and is one of five contests involving teams listed in the preseason MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings.

South Carolina is the location of two games that feature nationally ranked teams as No. 17 Apopka (Fla.) begins the season with a trip to perennial power Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.). About 75 miles north on Interstate 85, a premier in-state showdown is on tap with No. 22 Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) playing host to defending 4A I champion Gaffney.

Meanwhile, No. 20 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) travels down the coast to take on perennial public school power Phoebus (Hampton, Va.). Out west, No. 25 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) will have its hands full with yet another top-notch out-of-state opponent. The Gaels entertain Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), which was runner-up in the Arizona Division I playoffs last season.



Here's a look at this week's Top 10 games along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland, Leland Gordon, Colin Ward-Henninger and Jamie DeMoney.


Washington (Miami) at Norcross (Ga.)

Washington begins a quest to climb to the top of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 with a nationally televised game at defending Georgia 5A champion Norcross. The Tornadoes, who start the season ranked No. 9, also play No. 2 Central (Miami) and No. 25 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) later this year. Coach Tim "Ice" Harris has 14 returning starters including son Treon Harris at quarterback. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior is committed to play at Florida State next season.

The good news for Norcross is the return of 15 starters from a team that was undefeated and captured Georgia's first  Class 6A state championship. The bad news is that group does not include running back Alvin Kamara or quarterback Joseph Wilber. Kamara, now at Alabama, and Wilber (West Georgia) combined for almost 5,000 yards of total offense last season. But fear not: The Blue Devils have all five starting offensive linemen back and on defense, five-star end Lorenzo Carter and Tennessee-bound linebacker Kevin Mouhon lead the way.

Mitch Stephens: Norcross 28, Washington 27
Kevin Askeland: Norcross 21, Washington 20
Jamie DeMoney: Washington 28, Norcross 17
Stephen Spiewak: Norcross 24, Washington 21
Leland Gordon: Norcross 21, Washington 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: Norcross 21, Washington 17


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Gaffney (S.C.) at Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)

Senior quarterback Shaq Davidson and running back Hyleck Foster (Marshall) combined for more than 3,300 yards of total offense and 48 touchdowns to help Gaffney win the Class 4A I state title last season. Davidson, who is committed to South Carolina as a receiver prospect, moved under center after Gaffney had staggered out of the gate with a 3-3 record – including a stunning 49-19 loss at home to Northwestern in the opener. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Davidson led the Indians to nine straight wins and their record 16th state title but first since 2006.



Oklahoma State-bound quarterback Mason Rudolph leads a contingent of 15 returning starters from a Northwestern squad that finished 12-3 and played in the Class 4A II state championship game. The Trojans averaged more than 40 points per game, thanks in large part to Rudolph's amazing offensive production that included 4,010 passing yards with 41 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

Mitch Stephens: Gaffney 28, Northwestern 21
Kevin Askeland: Gaffney 48, Northwestern 21
Jamie DeMoney: Northwestern 38, Gaffney 33
Stephen Spiewak: Northwestern 45, Gaffney 31
Leland Gordon: Northwestern 27, Gaffney 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Northwestern 42, Gaffney 28

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Apopka (Fla.) at Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)

Apopka, the reigning 8A titlist, wants to avoid an outcome similar to the last time Byrnes hosted a defending Florida state champion. That was in 2008 when the Rebels laid a 38-12 beating on small-school power Pahokee. A similarly poor showing is not likely by Apopka. The Darters returns all but five starters from last season and senior Zack Darlington returns at quarterback. Darlington, a 6-2, 205-pounder and son of head coach Rick Darlington, committed to Nebraska in the spring following a junior season with nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards.

It's back to the future for the Byrnes football program, which begins its second era with Bobby Bentley as head coach. In Bentley's previous tenure from 1995-2006, the Rebels went 107-52 and captured four state championships. Bentley then became head coach at Presbyterian College for two seasons before returning to Byrnes as offensive coordinator from 2009 through last year. Another Bentley – Bobby's son Shuler Bentley – will retain his role as starting quarterback and "coach on the field" for the third season. The 6-1, 195-pound Old Dominion commit broke a state record with 59 passing touchdowns in 2012.

Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 28, Apopka 20
Kevin Askeland: Apopka 30, Byrnes 28
Jamie DeMoney: Apopka 37, Byrnes 31
Stephen Spiewak: Byrnes 28, Apopka 24
Leland Gordon: Apopka 31, Byrnes 29
Colin Ward-Henninger: Apopka 35, Byrnes 20


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DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)

DeMatha has 16 returning starters and appears poised for a return to the top of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference – a league the Stags dominated with 14 championships between 1991 and 2008. A duo of future Big Ten runners headline DeMatha's offense. Wisconsin recruit Taiwan Deal, a 6-2, 225-pound thumper, and jet-quick 5-7, 185-pounder Mark Allen (Penn State) form a thunder-and-lightning backfield that will be hard for any defense to stop.



At the same time that DeMatha was racking up WCAC titles, Phoebus was busy accumulating Virginia state championships. The Phantoms won seven titles between 2001 and 2011, and currently are tied for the seventh-most wins (70) among all teams nationwide since 2008. First-year full-time head coach Jeremy Blunt's squad got a big boost in the offseason with the arrival of talented senior running back Marshawn Williams, a transfer from archrival Hampton.

Mitch Stephens: Phoebus 35, DeMatha 28
Kevin Askeland: Phoebus 42, DeMatha 35
Jamie DeMoney: DeMatha 31, Phoebus 27
Stephen Spiewak: DeMatha 24, Phoebus 21
Leland Gordon: DeMatha 27, Phoebus 17
Colin Ward-Henninger: DeMatha 21, Phoebus 20


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Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Mountain Pointe returns 13 starters from last year's 12-2 Division I state runner-up team. The most acclaimed player on the roster is Jalen Brown, a four-star wide receiver/safety who totaled 1,235 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. Delivering passes Brown's way will again be senior Antonio Hinojosa, a 5-10, 170-pounder who threw for 2,250 yards and 31 touchdowns. On defense, the Pride is anchored by senior linebacker Wesley Payne, who led Arizona with 170 tackles in 2012.

This is the eighth-straight season Bishop Gorman is opening against an out-of-state opponent, and it will be the fourth time it's been against a team from Arizona. Overall, the Gaels have a 15-7 record against non-Nevada opponents since 2006 and are 76-4 versus Nevada foes and have a 52-game winning streak in-state that started in 2009. Coach Tony Sanchez, who is 56-6 in five seasons at Gorman, is expected to tap Randall Cunnigham Jr. (son of the former NFL All-Pro quarterback) to lead an offense that was the domain of Anu Solomon (now at Arizona) for four previous years. One of the team's strengths figures to be the offensive line, anchored by four-star tackle Nick Gates (6-4, 270).

Mitch Stephens: Bishop Gorman 35, Mountain Pointe 28
Kevin Askeland: Bishop Gorman 43, Mountain Pointe 28
Jamie DeMoney: Mountain Pointe 34, Bishop Gorman 31
Stephen Spiewak: Bishop Gorman 17, Mountain Pointe 14
Leland Gordon: Bishop Gorman 34, Mountain Pointe 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Bishop Gorman 31, Mountain Pointe 17


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Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) at Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)

Ensworth's 21-game winning streak will be put to a real test in this season-opening tilt at R.W. Marshall Stadium, where Trinity hasn't lost a game since September of 2010. Ensworth, the two-time defending Tennessee Division II-AA state champion, has 11 returning starters and features a huge and talented group of linemen led by 6-foot-3, 295-pound Vanderbilt recruit Michael Sawyers.



The three-time defending Kentucky 6A champion Trinity has a 12-2 record against an out-of-state opponents since 2011, including matchups against some of the top teams the Midwest and Mid-South region has to offer. In addition to Ensworth this season, the Shamrocks -- led by Louisville recruit Reggie Bonnafon at quarterback – will compete against three other 2012 state champs in Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), Cathedral (Indianapolis) and Moeller (Cincinnati).

Mitch Stephens: Trinity 34, Ensworth 28
Kevin Askeland: Ensworth 35, Trinity 21
Jamie DeMoney: Ensworth 31, Trinity 28
Stephen Spiewak: Ensworth 35, Trinity 28
Leland Gordon: Ensworth 21, Trinity 20
Colin Ward-Henninger: Trinity 31, Ensworth 28

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Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) vs. Gilman (Baltimore)

Good Counsel has 11 returning starters, including five offensive linemen who saw regular duty last season. The most well-known member of that group is 6-4, 290-pound Notre Dame commit Sam Mustipher. Over on defense, the Falcons are led by senior end Jesse Aniebonam. The uncommitted 6-4, 235-pounder is rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.

Gilman won its final nine games after a 20-19 heartbreaking loss to Good Counsel in Week 2 last season. This year, the Greyhounds expect to have a new look on offense with junior Kai Locksley likely switching from wide receiver to take over the quarterback position. Locksley, a 6-4, 190-pound junior, is the son of former New Mexico head coach Mike Locksley.

Mitch Stephens: Good Counsel 35, Gilman 31
Kevin Askeland: Good Counsel 28, Gilman 27
Jamie DeMoney: Good Counsel 28, Gilman 23
Stephen Spiewak: Good Counsel 17, Gilman 7
Leland Gordon: Good Counsel 21, Gilman 13
Colin Ward-Henninger: Good Counsel 21, Gilman 10


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North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) vs. Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)

North Gwinnett has five returning starters on both sides of the ball ready to tackle a schedule that starts off with three of the last four champions from Georgia's biggest classifications. After playing Camden County Saturday at the Georgia Dome, the Bulldogs have a week off and then will meet 2011 champion Grayson followed by defending 6A champion Norcross on Sept. 13. This is the first meeting between these teams since Camden County shut out North Gwinnett, 35-0, during its march to a state championship in 2009. North Gwinnett senior quarterback Hayden Sphire did not start last year but, as the son of head coach Bob Sphire, knows the playbook inside and out. On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs will count heavily on the pass-rushing prowess of four-star defensive end Dante Sawyer.



After capturing three state championships and winning 158 out of 176 games in 13 seasons under coach Jeff Herron, Camden County is ready to kick off the Welton Coffey era. Before becoming head coach in the spring, Coffey was an assistant coach at Camden County since 2006 under Herron, who left to take the reins at Prince Avenue Christian (Athens, Ga.). Even with a new head coach, one thing that's not expected to change is the Wildcats' offense. The vaunted Wing-T attack is flush with outside quickness thanks to the return of the Alabama-bound running back duo of Kalvaraz Bessent and Chris Williams.

Mitch Stephens: Camden County 24, North Gwinnett 17
Kevin Askeland: Camden County 28, North Gwinnett 21
Jamie DeMoney: North Gwinnett 31, Camden County 21
Stephen Spiewak: North Gwinnett 24, Camden County 17
Leland Gordon: Camden County 27, North Gwinnett 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Camden County 35, North Gwinnett 14

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Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs. Indianapolis Cathedral

Ben Davis will try to win a season opener against Cathedral for the third-straight season. Pocket passer Kyle Castner leads a group of 16 returning starters for the Giants, who have seven state titles in school history but none since 2002. Castner, a 6-3, 190-pound junior, threw for more than 1,600 yards and set a school record with 151 completions last season. His top target this fall could end up being fellow junior Montel Swanson, a 6-5, 187-pounder with not a lot of game experience but a ton of natural ability.

After winning five of the last seven 4A state championships, Cathedral has moved up to join Ben Davis and several others in a logjam of co-favorites to win this year's 5A crown. Senior receiver Terry McLaurin was one of the top stories of the summer combine circuit after the Ohio State pledge turned in an electronically timed 40-yard time of 4.3 seconds. On the field last season, McLaurin had 820 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on only 33 receptions (24.8-yard average).

Mitch Stephens: Cathedral 28, Ben Davis 21
Kevin Askeland: Cathedral 21, Ben Davis 14
Jamie DeMoney: Ben Davis 26, Cathedral 21
Stephen Spiewak: Cathedral 28, Ben Davis 27
Leland Gordon: Ben Davis 17, Cathedral 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: Ben Davis 14, Cathedral 13

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Central (Fresno, Calif.) at Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)

Only four years removed from a 1-9 season in 2008, Central went 11-3 a year ago and was runner-up in the CIF Central Section Division I playoffs. Many of the key players from that team are back in 2013, including one of the West Coast's top receivers in uncommitted senior Michiah Quick. There's also a quartet of Pac-12 committed prospects on the Grizzlies' roster in USC-bound defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood along with a trio of future Arizona Wildcats in running back Nick Wilson, defensive back Devon Brewer and lineman Sharif Williams.



Valor Christian is the hands-down favorite to win the Colorado 5A championship for the second-straight year. A key reason is the return of Stanford-bound running back Christian McCaffrey. The 6-foot, 195-pound son of former NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey had more than 2,100 all-purpose yards, 42 touchdowns and was named state player of the year as a junior. Also watch out for junior defensive back Brian Dawkins Jr., who is also the son of a former Denver Bronco.

Mitch Stephens: Valor Christian 28, Central 24
Kevin Askeland: Valor Christian 35, Central 14
Jamie DeMoney: Valor Christian 34, Central 20
Stephen Spiewak: Valor Christian 35, Central 14
Leland Gordon: Valor Christian 42, Central 31
Colin Ward-Henninger: Valor Christian 41, Central 35

Jamie DeMoney is in his 20th season covering high school sports and recruiting. He is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital and compiles the National Prep Poll for World Features Syndicate.