High school football: Rematch between No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 2 St. John Bosco for section championship headlines Top 10 Games of the Week

There are some monster playoff matchups this week but none bigger than the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship between No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) on Friday at the Rose Bowl. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and the winner advances to the CIF Open Division state championship Dec. 10 at Saddleback College.

The Monarchs won the regular season meeting 17-7 in a game that was within one score until the final minute when sophomore running back Jordon Davison iced it with a 38-yard touchdown run. Mater Dei has beat the Braves three straight times, all with junior quarterback Elijah Brown under center. St. John Bosco has won five in a row since that loss outscoring the opposition 225-34.

Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco is one of five games featured in this week's slate that has the top-two teams in the state squaring off.

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) faces Bergen Catholic (Oradell) in the New Jersey Non-Public A title at MetLife Stadium on Friday.

Catholic (Baton Rouge) hosts Edna Karr (New Orleans) in the Louisiana Division 1 Select quarterfinals on Friday.

Kahuku takes on Punahou (Honolulu) in Hawaii's Open Division state championship at Mililani High School on Friday.

Sheldon (Eugene) and West Linn run it back in the Oregon 6A championship at Hillsboro Stadium on Friday.

MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

• • 22
    Mater Dei
  • 24
    St. John Bosco

  11/25 Final

Mater Dei: QB Elijah Brown (6-2, 185), OL DeAndre Carter (6-5, 340), LB Nasir Wyatt (6-2, 200), RB Jordon Davison (6-0, 210), OL BJ Tolo (6-2, 330)

St. John Bosco: DL/TE Matayo Uiagalelei (6-6, 265), DB Peyton Woodyard (6-1, 195), WR DeAndre Moore (5-11, 195), LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (6-3, 225), QB Pierce Clarkson (6-0, 185)

This will be the fifth meeting in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship since 2016 between these two SoCal powers with the series split. St. John Bosco won it in 2016 and 2019. Mater Dei did in 2017 and 2018. The Monarchs added another in 2021 with a 27-7 win over Servite (Anaheim) in the first section championship game Bosco didn't play in since 2012. This will be sixth consecutive section championship game appearance for Mater Dei. The Monarchs bring in a 29-game win streak, all have come with Brown under center.

• • 20
    Cardinal Gibbons
  • 31
    American Heritage

  11/25 Final

Cardinal Gibbons: RB Kamari Moulton (5-11, 190), QB Dylan Rizk (6-2, 200), LB Greg Otten (6-1, 225), DB Casey Etienne Jr. (6-3, 180), WR Komani Beneby (5-10, 160)

American Heritage: WR Brandon Inniss (6-0, 190), RB Mark Fletcher (6-1, 225), DB Damari Brown (6-1, 180), QB Blake Murphy (5-11, 170), DB Daemon Fagan (6-2, 180)

Cardinal Gibbons' only loss came Oct. 1 against the Patriots, 21-2. They have won six in a row since outscoring the opposition 255-73. American Heritage's only loss came in September against No. 5 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.). They lost 42-34 in a back-and-forth contest. They have won seven straight since by an averaging margin of 33.3 points per game. This will be the first playoff meeting between the two since 2018 when the Chiefs won 35-7 in the 5A quarterfinals. In 2017's wild playoff meeting American Heritage pulled off a 58-57 win in triple overtime after erasing an early 27-6 deficit.

• • 45
    Bergen Catholic
  • 0
    Don Bosco Prep

  11/25 Final

Bergen Catholic: DL D.J. Samuels (6-1, 240), DL Sydir Mitchell (6-6, 330), RB Saeed St. Fleur (5-11, 205), LB Malachi Mercer (6-1, 220), WR Quincy Porter (6-4, 195)

Don Bosco Prep: OL Chase Bisontis (6-4, 315), DL Jordan Thomas (6-6, 305), RB Logan Bush (5-10, 190), QB Nick Minicucci (6-2, 200), OL Chris Moreno (6-3, 295)

Bergen Catholic has been wanting to get this one back since the Ironmen cruised to a 31-7 win in September. That is the only loss the Crusaders have had over the last two years. These two met in the Non-Public A title last season and Bergen rolled to a 28-7 win. It was the Crusaders 18th state championship in school history. Don Bosco Prep will be going for its 16th state title and first since 2015.

• • 24
    Edna Karr
  • 32
    Catholic

  11/25 Final

Edna Karr: QB AJ Samuel (6-0, 185), DB Ryan Robinson Jr. (6-0, 175), LB Jonathan Bax (6-2, 230), WR Kylen Lampton (5-10, 160), WR Makhi Paris (6-2, 180)

Catholic: WR Shelton Sampson (6-4, 180), QB Daniel Beale (6-3, 190), RB Barry Remo II (5-9, 190), LB Harold Lawson (6-1, 215), DB Blaine Bradford (6-2, 185)

These two Louisiana powers square off with a spot in the Division 1 Select semifinals on the line. Edna Karr's three losses are all because of forfeit. They have not lost on the field this season. The Bears have won 10 in a row since a season-opening 38-35 loss against Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).

• • 45
    Saguaro
  • 35
    Hamilton

  11/25 Final

Saguaro: QB Devon Dampier (6-0, 190), WR Deric English (6-4, 210), RB Jaedon Matthews (5-10, 170), LB Mikey Preston (6-2, 210), ATH Dajon Hinton (5-11, 175)

Hamilton: WR Tré Spivey (6-4, 195), DB Genesis Smith (6-2, 190), LB Alex McLaughlin (6-2, 190), LB Taye Brown (6-3, 215), TE Bear Tenney (6-5, 230)

The Arizona Open Division playoffs was listed as our sixth-toughest postseason bracket in the country and this is the best matchup of the opening round. Saguaro put together an extremely tough non-league schedule and after starting the season 2-3 they have won five straight heading into Friday. The three losses came against Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), Chandler and No. 14 Liberty (Peoria). Both of Hamilton's losses came against MaxPreps Top 25 opponents — No. 4 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 22 Basha (Chandler). The winner advances to the semifinals awaiting either Liberty (Peoria) or O'Connor (Phoenix).

• • 28
    Springfield
  • 24
    Archbishop Moeller

  11/25 Final

Moeller: RB Jordan Marshall (5-10, 195), LB Joe Ginnetti (6-2, 225), WR Tennel Bryant (5-10, 165), DB Karson Hobbs (6-1, 180), DB Matthew Seliga (5-11, 180)

Springfield: QB Bryce Schondelmyer (6-2, 195), WR Anthony Brown (5-10, 170), DB Aaron Scott Jr. (6-1, 170), LB Jaivian Norman (5-10, 180), WR Daylen Bradley (5-11, 170)

A spot in the Division 1 state championship is up for grabs when these two square off on Friday. The D1 bracket was listed as our fifth-toughest postseason bracket in the country. Moeller has won five in a row since a 6-0 loss against No. 20 St. Edward (Lakewood). They jumped back in the MaxPreps Top 25 this week after handing Lakota West (West Chester) its first loss of the season in the quarterfinals. Springfield has reeled off eight straight since a 24-21 loss against Fairmont (Kettering). The winner will face either St. Edward (Lakewood) or Lincoln (Gahanna) in the state championship on Dec. 2.

• • 20
    Kahuku
  • 0
    Punahou

  11/25 Final

Kahuku: LB Liona Lefau (6-1, 215), DB Brock Fonoimoana (6-2, 190), LB Leonard Ah You (6-4, 210), QB Waika Crawford (6-1, 175), OL Brayden Ma'ilo (6-2, 310)

Punahou: QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele (6-1, 185), LB GianCarlo Rufo (6-2, 215), RB Ala'i Williams (6-0, 215), WR Astin Hange (5-9, 165), DL Kekai Burnett (6-3, 235)

The Red Raiders have won 21 games in a row against in-state opponents but Punahou was close to snapping that streak during the regular season. Kahuku erased a 20-13 fourth quarter deficit and pulled out a 27-20 win. That is the only loss and one-score game Punahou has been in this season. They have outscored the opposition 411-93 in its nine wins and have won every game by at least 16 points. Kahuku's only two losses came against No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and No. 13 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

• • 41
    Archbishop Hoban
  • 20
    Washington

  11/25 Final

Washington: RB Willtrell Hartson (5-10, 200), WR Ardell Banks (6-4, 185), LB Dorian Pringle (6-0, 220), QB Jalen Slaughter (6-0, 160), DL Marcus Moore Jr. (6-3, 310)

Hoban: RB Lamar Sperling (5-10, 190), QB JacQai Long (6-2, 195), OL Drew Holt (6-1, 285), DB Tysen Campbell (5-11, 170), OL Keon Johnson (6-5, 385)

These two Ohio powers square off with a spot in the Division 2 state championship on the line. The Tigers have won 12 in a row since a season-opening 49-31 loss against No. 24 Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati). They are also the only team to beat No. 20 St. Edward (Lakewood). The Knights only loss came against St. Edward to close out the regular season. Massillon Washington won 24 AP state titles before the playoff system was put in place in 1972 and are two wins away from winning its first under the current playoff format. Archbishop Hoban has won five state titles since 2015. The winner will face either Central Catholic (Toledo) or Kings (Kings Mill) on Dec. 1 in the Division 2 state championship.

• • 14
    Sheldon
  • 23
    West Linn

  11/25 Final

Sheldon: DL Teitum Tuioti (6-3, 220), QB Brock Thomas (6-0, 175), ATH Luke Leighton (6-4, 190), DB Nikko Klemm (5-11, 175), OL Ryan Yakovich (6-4, 280)

West Linn: QB Sam Leavitt (6-1, 185), ATH Mark Hamper (6-2, 205), LB Earl Ingle (6-1, 215), RB Koffi Kouame (5-9, 185), OL Eric Murtagh (6-2, 230)

Sheldon has won every game this season by double digits except for one, and that came against West Linn. The Irish pulled out a 35-31 win during the second week of the regular season. Expect another classic on Friday for the 6A state title. Both these teams are loaded with talent, especially at the quarterback position. Both are heavily in the mix to be named the 2022 MaxPreps Oregon Football Player of the Year.

• • 35
    Eastside Catholic
  • 28
    O'Dea

  11/26 Final

Eastside Catholic: OL/DL AJ Tanupo (6-4, 275), RB Masen Uribe (5-10, 180), QB Brady McKelheer (6-0, 185), TE Gabe Hoffmann (6-6, 240), LB David Lene (6-1, 220)

O'Dea: RB Jason Brown Jr. (5-10, 205), OL Isendre Ahfua (6-5, 330), TE Tucker Ashcraft (6-5, 235), DB Kyan McDonald (6-0, 175), LB Brendan Murphy (6-2, 220)

This matchup is another rematch as Eastside Catholic handed O'Dea's its only loss of the season with a 24-17 victory in late September. That is the only one score game the Crusaders have been in all year. They have outscored the opposition 431-111. The Fighting Irish have won six in a row since that loss outscoring the opposition 253-89. The winner will face either Yelm or Bellevue in the 3A state championship on Dec. 3.