MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

The first stop on our weekly trip across the nation for MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week is the nation's capital, where DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and St. John's (Washington) will go head-to-head in the the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game.

DeMatha (10-1) started off the season in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 but exited after losing to No. 4 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) on Sept. 7. The Stags own a league-best 20 WCAC titles but haven't taken home the trophy since 2008. St. John's is aiming for its 11th WCAC crown and first since 1989.

Only one game in this week's preview involves a team currently in the Xcellent 25. It's No. 18 Colerain (Cincinnati), which will try to take another step toward its first state championship since 2004 with a win Saturday against Pickerington Central.

Check out the high school football playoff brackets from each state



There was a changing of the guard last week in our season-long predictions contest. Stephen Spiewak fell from first place down to third after picking only three out of 10 correct winners. Jamie DeMoney went 6-4 to recapture first place with an 83-36-1 overall record. Leland Gordon moved into second place after also going 6-4. Only two games total separate the three pickers through 12 weeks of the season.

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.


DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. St. John's (Washington, D.C.), Saturday

What to watch: DeMatha reached Saturday's Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship game with a thrilling 29-28 overtime win over rival Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). Virginia Tech-bound receiver Cameron Phillips scored one of his three touchdowns in the game during the extra session, then DeMatha's defense stopped a potential game-winning two-point conversion to clinch the victory. In the other WCAC semifinal, St. John's (9-2) punched its ticket by beating Gonzaga (Washington), 17-10. It was the Cadets' second win over their chief rival by identical scores in back-to-back weeks.

Just the facts: DeMatha has dominated St. John's during the last decade, winning 13 consecutive times since 2004. DeMatha was victorious in this year's regular-season matchup, 26-21. … Either DeMatha or Good Counsel has won every WCAC title since 2003. DeMatha won six in a row from 2003-08.

Mitch Stephens: DeMatha 35, St. John 20
Kevin Askeland: St. John's 35, DeMatha 28
Jamie DeMoney: DeMatha 28, St. John's 17
Stephen Spiewak: DeMatha 17, St. John's 14
Leland Gordon: DeMatha 17, St. John's 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: DeMatha 28, St. John's 14{PAGEBREAK}Pickerington Central (Ohio) vs. Colerain (Cincinnati), Saturday What to watch: Saturday night at Dayton's Welcome Stadium, No. 18 Colerain will try to move a step closer to its first Division I state championship in 10 years. One week ago, the Cardinals (11-0) breezed to a 41-14 win over Springboro in an opening-round playoff game. Senior quarterback Kelvin Cook eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the ninth time and scored his 17th touchdown of the season. Pickerington Central (8-2) got a pair of touchdowns each from senior running backs Taiwan Gordon and Isaiah Richmond in a 38-28 win over Lakota West (West Chester).



Just the facts: Colerain has won at least 10 games 15 times in the last 20 years. The Cardinals haven't had a losing season since 1991. … Pickerington Central has averaged 10 wins and qualified for the postseason every year since 2006.

Mitch Stephens: Colerain 28, Pickerington Central 12
Kevin Askeland: Colerain 40, Pickerington Central 20
Jamie DeMoney: Colerain 35, Pickerington Central 25
Stephen Spiewak: Colerain 31, Pickerington Central 28
Leland Gordon: Colerain 31, Pickerington Central 20
Colin Ward-Henninger: Colerain 42, Pickerington Central 24{PAGEBREAK}Dakota (Macomb, Mich.) vs. Cass Tech (Detroit), Saturday What to watch: The Nos. 1 and 2-ranked teams in the final Division 1 state media poll square off in a quarterfinal-round playoff game Saturday afternoon. Top-ranked Cass Tech (11-0) continued its quest for a third consecutive state title by knocking off previously unbeaten Mott (Warren), 28-19, last week. Junior running back Michael Weber — a four-star prospect according to 247 Sports — led the Technicians with two touchdowns including an 88-yard kickoff return. Dakota (11-0) had an easier go of it, beating conference rival Chippewa Valley (Clinton Township) for the second time in four weeks.

Just the facts: Back-to-back champ Cass Tech is the only Detroit Public School League team to win the title in Michigan's largest classification since the state playoffs began in 1975. … Dakota has also won consecutive Division 1 state titles in its history. The Cougars took home the crown in 2006-07.

Mitch Stephens: Cass Tech 28, Dakota 17
Kevin Askeland: Dakota 28, Cass Tech 27
Jamie DeMoney: Cass Tech 26, Dakota 20
Stephen Spiewak: Cass Tech 20, Dakota 17
Leland Gordon: Cass Tech 35, Dakota 28
Colin Ward-Henninger: Cass Tech 28, Dakota 21{PAGEBREAK}Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa) vs. Dowling (West Des Moines, Iowa), Friday What to watch: Another page to written in the history of one of Iowa's best cross-town rivalries, with a trip to the 4A state championship game on the line. Valley (10-2) has strung together nine straight wins after losing two of its first three games of the season, including against Dowling on Sept. 6. A big reason for the turnaround has been the emergence of running Tyus Mason. The senior ran for 470 yards — the second-highest total in state history — along with five touchdowns in a 63-20 rout of previously unbeaten Ames last week. He has 904 yards in three playoff games and is just shy of 2,000 for the season. State-No. 1 Dowling (12-0) survived and advanced with a 14-9 win over upset-minded Waukee. Junior quarterback Ryan Boyle led the Maroons with 154 rushing yards.

Just the facts: These teams have combined to win eight Class 4A titles since 2000. Valley was crowned champion in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2011. Dowling won it all in 2000, 2001 and 2010. … Friday's semifinal will be the 15th meeting between the teams since 2004 with six of those games coming in the postseason. Dowling has won five of the last seven but Valley has an 8-6 edge during that stretch overall.

Mitch Stephens: Dowling 35, Valley 28
Kevin Askeland: Dowling 42, Valley 28
Jamie DeMoney: Valley 37, Dowling 34
Stephen Spiewak: Dowling 42, Valley 28
Leland Gordon: Valley 16, Dowling 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: Valley 21, Dowling 17{PAGEBREAK}Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.), Friday What to watch: A round-one playoff game in the Pac-5 — without question the toughest playoff division in California. Ten of the 16 teams in the bracket are ranked among California's Top 25 teams in the MaxPreps state computer rankings. Friday will be the first-ever meeting between these top-tier private-school programs, and it looks like an even matchup. Mater Dei (8-2) ended a two-game losing streak with a 15-0 shutout of Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) last week. Oaks Christian (8-2) had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 39-36 loss to Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.) in the Marmonte League title game.



Just the facts: The current membership of the Pac-5 Division have won a combined six state championships since the CIF State Bowl game format began in 2006. … Mater Dei (No. 7) and Oaks Christian (No. 9) both appear in the Top 10 of California's Top 10 Dynasty Ratings since 2001.

Mitch Stephens: Mater Dei 35, Oaks Christian 21
Kevin Askeland: Oaks Christian 38, Mater Dei 35
Jamie DeMoney: Mater Dei 27, Oaks Christian 24
Stephen Spiewak: Oaks Christian 35, Mater Dei 28
Leland Gordon: Oaks Christian 22, Mater Dei 16
Colin Ward-Henninger: Mater Dei 24, Oaks Christian 21{PAGEBREAK}Lincoln (Sioux Falls, S.D.) vs. Roosevelt (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Saturday


What to watch: A No. 1-versus-No. 2 showdown for the Class 11AAA state championship. It's a rematch of a Sept. 13 game won by Lincoln (35-28). That was only the fourth win for Roosevelt against Lincoln in the last 13 meetings. Lincoln (10-0) advanced into Saturday's final with a 28-0 shutout of O'Gorman (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Roosevelt (9-1) came away with a 65-35 win against Brandon Valley that featured seven total touchdowns (five passing and two rushing) from junior quarterback Taryn Christion.

Just the facts: A Sioux Falls school has won the state championship in South Dakota's largest class 15 times — including the last nine in a row — since the current playoff structure began in 1981. … Roosevelt's last state championship was in 2011. The Rough Riders also won back-to-back titles in 2006-07. Lincoln captured its only state title in 2008.

Mitch Stephens: Roosevelt 24, Lincoln 20
Kevin Askeland: Lincoln 42, Roosevelt 35
Jamie DeMoney: Roosevelt 32, Lincoln 20
Stephen Spiewak: Lincoln 42, Roosevelt 38
Leland Gordon: Roosevelt 17, Lincoln 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lincoln 49, Roosevelt 42{PAGEBREAK}Aquinas Institute (Rochester, N.Y.) vs. Jamestown (N.Y.), Saturday What to watch: Both teams enter Saturday's Class AA regional final with a 10-0 record and top-five ranking in MaxPreps state computer rankings. No. 1 Aquinas features one of the most talented sophomore quarterbacks on the East Coast in Jake Zembiec. The 6-3, 200-pounder has thrown 18 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. On the other side, fifth-ranked Jamestown has one of the state's top senior signal callers in Jacob Sisson. He exploded for 502 combined passing and rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 42-7 win against Frontier (Hamburg) last week and has almost 3,500 yards and 54 touchdowns for the season.

Just the facts: Aquinas already has 10 wins for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. If the Little Irish win three more, they'll capture their fifth state championship since 2001. … Jamestown won the Section VI title for the first time since 2000 last week. That was also the last season in which the Red Raiders won a state championship.



Mitch Stephens: Jamestown 42, Aquinas 40
Kevin Askeland: Jamestown 42, Aquinas 28
Jamie DeMoney: Aquinas 36, Jamestown 28
Stephen Spiewak: Aquinas 25, Jamestown 10
Leland Gordon: Aquinas 27, Jamestown 20
Colin Ward-Henninger: Jamestown 34, Aquinas 28{PAGEBREAK}Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) at Deerfield Beach (Fla.), Friday


What to watch: On Friday night, Deerfield Beach will try to back up last week's stunning upset of then-nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) by winning its first state playoff game since 2009. According to the Miami Herald, senior running back Brandon Powell (a Miami recruit) had 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the 22-7 win that gave the Bucks their first 10-0 start since 2004. This has also been a dream season for Flanagan. The Falcons' only loss was to national No. 14 Miramar (Fla.) and their nine wins are already two better than any season total since 2004.

Just the facts: Flanagan has won three state baseball titles in the last eight seasons but this is the first time it's ever qualified for the state playoffs in football. … This is Deerfield Beach's first 10-win season since 2008. That team featured future University of Michigan standout Denard Robinson at quarterback.

Mitch Stephens: Deerfield Beach 22, Flanagan 15
Kevin Askeland: Flanagan 28, Deerfield Beach 14
Jamie DeMoney: Deerfield Beach 27, Flanagan 6
Stephen Spiewak: Deerfield Beach 21, Flanagan 14
Leland Gordon: Deerfield Beach 35, Flanagan 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Flanagan 24, Deerfield Beach 20{PAGEBREAK}Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) at Carmel (Ind.), Friday


What to watch: Penn, the lone unbeaten team in Class 6A, is facing a tough road test at Carmel in Friday's state semifinals. The Kingsmen (12-0) earned the trip after whipping Lake Central (St. John), 33-6. It was another dominant effort by a Penn defense that has surrendered just 45 points all season. Meanwhile, junior standout Isaac James accounted for three touchdowns as Carmel (9-3) moved on by eliminating Carroll (Fort Wayne), 38-7.

Just the facts: A win would give Penn its 11th berth in a state championship game in the last three decades. The Kingsmen have won five titles (1983, 1995-97, and 2000). … Carmel is shooting for its 12th trip to the finals since 1975. The Greyhounds won it all in 1978, 1980, ‘81, ‘86, '89, 2007 and '11.



Mitch Stephens: Carmel 28, Penn 21
Kevin Askeland: Carmel 40, Penn 28
Jamie DeMoney: Carmel 27, Penn 20
Stephen Spiewak: Carmel 31, Penn 20
Leland Gordon: Penn 14, Carmel 10
Colin Ward-Henninger: Penn 17, Carmel 14{PAGEBREAK}Millard West (Omaha, Neb.) vs. Omaha Westside (Neb.), Friday


What to watch: A Class A state semifinal between two of the top offenses in the Cornhusker State. Millard West (10-1) advanced to Friday's game by beating Papillion-La Vista (Papillion), 52-27. Leading the way was Harvard-bound senior quarterback Ross Drwal with more than 300 combined passing and rushing yards and five touchdowns. It was the Wildcats' third 50-point game in the last four weeks. Westside (10-1) is averaging 44 points per game for the season. The Warriors' hero in last week's 48-36 win against Creighton Prep (Omaha) was senior Christian Hagan. He threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns along with kicking a playoff-record four field goals.

Just the facts: This will be only the third meeting between these teams since 2004. Millard West won the two prior meetings in 2008 and '09. … Millard West is looking to add its third state championship since 2001 and first since 2008. Westside wants to snap a long state-title drought that began after the Warriors claimed back-to-back titles in 1981-82.

Mitch Stephens: Omaha Westside 28, Millard West 21
Kevin Askeland: Omaha Westside 30, Millard West 28
Jamie DeMoney: Millard West 36, Omaha Westside 21
Stephen Spiewak: Millard West 35, Omaha Westside 30
Leland Gordon: Millard West 27, Omaha Westside 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Omaha Westside 35, Millard West 28

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.