High school football: No. 23 Centennial at No. 25 Liberty headlines MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

By Zack Poff Nov 1, 2023, 11:00am

Huge Arizona showdown will determine top seed in AIA Open Division playoffs.

The biggest high school football game takes place in Arizona this week as the regular season comes to an end Friday with No. 23 Centennial (Peoria) facing No. 25 Liberty (Peoria). The winner clinches the No. 1 seed in the AIA Open Division bracket that gets underway Nov. 17.

Centennial is 9-0 and has won eight games by double digits. The only one-score game was a 29-28 win at Chandler (Ariz.), the first win against the Wolves since 2010.

Liberty is 8-1 and its only blemish was a 42-35 loss at No. 20 Centennial (Corona, Calif.). They've won four in a row since outscoring the opposition 197-22.

Georgia wraps up the regular season this week and a huge matchup features Parkview (Lilburn) hosting Grayson (Loganville). This one has some of the best talent in the Peach State, headlined by five-star Tennessee commit Mike Matthews and Class of 2026 standout Tyler Atkinson.



Atascocita (Humble, Texas) and Summer Creek (Houston) square off in a matchup of 8-1 teams. Each team's lone loss is against No. 6 North Shore (Houston). The Eagles are 9-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.

Another huge game in Arizona features Chandler hosting Hamilton (Chandler). The Wolves' two losses have come by a combined six points to Centennial (Peoria) and Basha (Chandler). The Huskies two losses have come against Liberty (Peoria) and Basha (Chandler). This will be the 26th meeting between the two since 2004 and Hamilton has won 15 of the previous 25, including two in a row.

Matchups in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan and Ohio are also featured in this week's slate.
MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

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

Top players

Centennial: DL Noah Carter (6-3, 225), ATH Kenny Worthy (6-0, 180), DB Iverson Small (5-10, 175), LB Aaden Nguyen (6-0, 220), QB Kainan Manna (5-10, 160)



Liberty: QB Navi Bruzon (5-11, 190), LB Keaton Stam (6-2, 225), TE Ryan Wolfer (6-5, 240), WR Braylon Gardner (6-3, 210), RB Jon Wilson (5-10, 195)

The top-two teams in the state square off in the only MaxPreps Top 25 matchup in a battle of schools separated by seven miles. Liberty has won the last three meetings after Centennial won seven of nine. This game features some of the best talent in the state. Bruzon, Carter and Worthy are all in the mix to be named the MaxPreps Arizona Player of the Year at the end of the season.

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

Top players

Grayson: LB Tyler Atkinson (6-3, 200), OL Waltclaire Flynn Jr. (6-2, 305), WR John Cineas (6-2, 195), ATH Kylan Fox (6-5, 220), QB Jeff Davis (6-2, 190)

Parkview: ATH Mike Matthews (6-1, 180), DB Antonio White-Williams (6-3, 170), DB Zelus Hicks (6-1, 180), DB Jalyn Crawford (6-0, 180), OL Jordan Floyd (6-5, 295)



Both teams are trying to gain momentum as the AAAAAAA playoffs get underway next Friday. The Rams have won three in a row since a 31-27 loss to Newton (Covington). They just snapped a four-game win streak by Archer (Lawrenceville) with an impressive 41-14 victory. Atkinson has shown why he's one of the top recruits in the Class of 2026 as he leads the team in tackles (112), tackles for loss (14) and sacks (7). The Panthers snapped a five-game losing skid against Grayson last year with a 28-21 win. They are looking to make it two in a row against the Rams for the first time since 2005.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Summer Creek: LB Xavier Atkins (6-0, 215), DL Chad Woodfork (6-4, 220), RB Lloyd Avant (5-10, 190), ATH Blake Thomas (6-0, 180), TE Kordell Rodgers (6-4, 220)

Atascocita: QB Zion Brown (6-0, 180), RB Tory Blaylock (5-10, 175), OL Nate Kibble (6-2.5, 315), DB Braylon Conley (6-0, 170), WR Jelani Watkins (5-10, 160)

Summer Creek has won three in a row since a 31-21 loss to No. 6 North Shore (Houston), playing the Mustangs tougher than anyone this season as the game was tied at 21 midway through the fourth quarter. Atascocita suffered its first loss with a 61-35 defeat at North Shore (Houston) last week. The Bulldogs are trying to do something they never have and that's beat the Eagles.




Top players

Hamilton: WR Legend Bernard (6-0, 175), DB Jaylen Jones (5-11, 180), OL Toby Mealer (6-5, 330), RB Breylon Blount (5-8, 165), QB Rich Lucero Jr. (6-4, 190)

Chandler: RB Ca'Lil Valentine (6-0, 180), DB Kennedy Urlacher (6-0, 190), DB Sammie Hunter (5-11, 175), WR Jaxon Branch (6-3, 180), LB Nate Escandon (6-0, 195)

The winner clinches a spot in the Open Division playoffs while the loser should still make it, but there's a small chance of being passed over. These schools are separated by less than five miles and is one of the best rivalries in the state. The last three meetings have been decided by one score. The Huskies have won the last two meetings after Chandler won nine straight from 2014 until 2020.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Archbishop Moeller: RB Jordan Marshall (5-11, 205), DB Karson Hobbs (6-1, 180), DL Jewett Hayes (6-4, 210), TE Eli Jacon-Duffy (6-4, 235), DB Micah Rice (6-2, 185)



St. Xavier: DL Ted Hammond (6-5, 260), DL Gordy Sulfsted (6-5, 240), OL Tucker Kattus (6-5, 290), LB Jakobe Clapper (6-2, 200), QB Chase Herbstreit (6-2, 190)

The Greater Catholic League South rivalry gets renewed with a second-round playoff matchup in the Division I bracket. Archbishop Moeller won the Sept. 15 regular season meeting 20-10. Marshall had 25 carries for 146 yards and a score. The four-star Michigan commit was recently named the co-GCL South Player of the Year. The Bombers have won four in a row after three-game skid to close out September. This will be the 20th meeting since 2010 and Moeller has won 10 of the previous 19, including three straight.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

John Curtis Christian: ATH Michael Turner (6-1, 160), QB Dagan Bruno (6-2, 185), LB Hayden Delatte (5-10, 180), RB Marlon Prout (5-8, 170), LB Jeffrey Curtis (5-8, 185)

Edna Karr: WR TaRon Francis (6-2, 190), WR Rahji Dennis (6-0, 170), DB Aiden Hall (6-1, 175), LB Tah’j Butler (6-2, 215), QB John Johnson (6-0, 170)



Edna Karr has been the best team in the state all year. They have won seven of eight games by double digits and are winning by an average margin of 25.2 points per contest. The Patriots have won three in a row after a two-game skid and the defending Division I select champs are looking to knock off the Cougars for the first time since 2020. Edna Karr has won the last two meetings.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Bryant: QB Jordan Walker (6-1, 210), WR Mytorian Singleton (5-11, 180), DB Bryson Adamoh (6-0, 180), DB Drake Fowler (6-1, 175), RB James Martin (5-10, 200)

Conway: QB Donovyn Omolo (6-2, 210), RB Desmond Davidson (5-10, 205), WR Cris O'Neal (6-0, 175), OL Qauayaser Whitehead (6-3, 330), DL Braxton Nixon (6-0, 265)

This game got a lot more interesting in May when Buck James announced he was leaving Bryant to become the new head coach at Conway. He led the Hornets to an 80-9 record during his seven-year tenure and five consecutive Class 7A state titles. He has led the Wampus Cats to their first 9-0 start since 2014. Bryant has reeled off six consecutive wins since a 28-27 loss against Parkview (Little Rock). Conway is looking to beat the Hornets for the first time since 2014. Bryant has won the last 10 meetings.



Friday, 7 p.m.

Top players

Lake Mary: QB Noah Grubbs (6-4, 215), WR Carson Hinshaw (5-10, 165), DB Emiril Gant (5-11, 170), OL Josh Raymond (6-4.5, 265), RB Isaiah Thomas (5-10, 175)

Mainland: DL L.J. McCray (6-6, 260), DB Zavier Mincey (6-3, 180), LB Rodney Hill (5-10.5, 210), DL Christian Hudson (6-0.5, 260), RB Khamani Robinson (6-0, 180)

Lake Mary looks to bounce back after suffering its first setback of the season with a 29-28 loss against Seminole (Sanford). Grubbs has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Class of 2026 and enters Friday's matchup with 2,888 yards passing and 41 touchdowns. He faces one of the best defenses in the state headlined by five-star Florida commit McCray. He checks in as the sixth-rated prospect overall on 247Sports.

Friday, 7 p.m.



Top players

St. Thomas More: QB Sam Altmann (6-3, 195), WR Landon Strother (6-1, 180), LB Brody Latiolais (5-10, 195), LB Hayden Hernandez (6-0, 205), Gavin Duplechin (6-1, 170)

Lafayette Christian Academy: QB Ju'Juan Johnson (5-11, 190), DL Melvin Hills (6-3, 270), DL Sandy Lewis (6-1, 240), RB Jalen Noel (5-8, 160), WR Treanders Marzell (5-10, 180)

These two played in last year's Division II select championship and it was an epic game. St. Thomas More was trailing 48-38 when Altmann connected with Christian McNees for a 44-yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining. They recovered the onside kick and on the next play Altmann found Connor Stelly for the game-winning score from 54 yards out. It was the Cougars third state title over the last four years. Johnson has been putting up huge numbers this season for the Knights accounting for 3,106 yards of total offense (2,171 passing, 935 rushing) and 46 touchdowns.

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Top players



Saline: QB C.J. Carr (6-3, 195), TE Dylan Mesman (6-5, 230), WR Jaiden Leonard (5-8, 160), DL Isaiah Harris (6-2, 205), RB James Rush (5-10, 160)

Belleville: QB Bryce Underwood (6-3.5, 205), LB Jeremiah Beasley (6-1, 210), WR Kevin Simes (5-9, 175), DL Rashad Jones (6-4, 240), OL Nathaniel Johnson (6-4, 270)

This one features two of the best quarterbacks in the country. Carr is the top-rated QB in the state among seniors and Underwood is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2025 on 247Sports composite rankings. He's led Belleville to back-to-back Division 1 state titles and has been named the MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore of the Year over the last two years. The Tigers are currently riding a 34-game win streak.