MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

As has become tradition, all three days of the Labor Day weekend will be chocked full of interesting games, including some intra-regional matchups whose outcomes will affect the national rankings.

The MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week includes four Xcellent 25 teams kicking off the season. Friday, No. 15 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) will host Florida power Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) while third-ranked De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) entertains fellow Bay Area power Bellarmine (San Jose).

On Saturday, the lone meeting of the week between two Top 25 teams takes place with No. 21 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) meeting No. 22 Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.) at the Mission Viejo (Calif.) Football Classic.

With two weeks' worth of games in the books, there's a three-way tie at the top of our season-long prediction contest. Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak and Mitch Stephens all selected the correct winners in 16 of the first 20 games featured in the Top 10 GOTW. Jamie DeMoney is two games back with 14 correct picks. Kevin Askeland is in last place with 13. You can track our overall results and standings all season long by clicking here. http://calpreps.com/cgi-bin/2011/polls_viewtop10.pl

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



Begin Slideshow{PAGEBREAK}Bellevue (Wash.) vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

There aren't a lot of high school teams running the misdirection-oriented Wing-T offense, which makes Bellevue a tough team to prepare for. But what makes it even tougher to play the Wolverines is just how disciplined and consistently good they are. The program has captured the Class 3A state title every year but two since 2001 and has lost only 12 games in 11 seasons under coach Butch Goncharoff. This year's squad has 13 starters back including three offensive linemen and all-league quarterback Tyler Hasty (son of former NFL defensive back James Hasty).

While Bellevue specializes at playing the game at a fast pace, it probably doesn't have as much pure team speed as Oaks Christian. The Lions are loaded with athletes including one of the nation's top receiver prospects in 6-3, 200-pound senior Jordan Payton. The task of throwing Payton the ball now belongs to Luke Falk, a 6-4 junior who played last season at Logan (Utah). Defensively, the team's strength is in the secondary, where highly recruited senior cornerback Ishmael Adams leads the way. The question mark on this team is its offensive line.

Mitch Stephens: Oaks Christian 31, Bellevue 28
Steve Montoya: Oaks Christian 10, Bellevue 6
Stephen Spiewak: Oaks Christian 21, Bellevue 17
Kevin Askeland: Bellevue 28, Oaks Christian 27
Jamie DeMoney: Oaks Christian 34, Bellevue 28 {PAGEBREAK}Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) at Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

Manatee hopes to match the feats of fellow Florida powers Armwood (Seffner) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) of last week by opening with a road win against a nationally-ranked opponent. It's the second straight time the Hurricanes are many hundreds of miles away from Bradenton to start the season. Last year, they won a week-one matchup in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania 3A power Jefferson. That team went 13-1 and reached the 5A semifinals. Impressive junior quarterback Cord Sandberg is one of only four returning offensive starters. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 35 touchdowns last season. Win or lose, Manatee must play well enough to build confidence heading into its Sept. 16 meeting with No. 1-ranked Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.).

Good Counsel, ranked No. 15 in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25, has six returning starters on both sides of the ball and more than a dozen players on its roster holding scholarship offers from FBS colleges. The Falcons have a number of game-breaking talents on offense including senior receiver Stefon Diggs, the No. 1-rated athlete in the country according to MaxPreps' recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. Maryland recruit Mike Madaras (6-6, 285) anchors the offensive line and Georgia Tech commit Roderick Chungong is the top returning player in Good Counsel's defensive front.



Mitch Stephens: Manatee 21, Good Counsel 20
Steve Montoya: Good Counsel 27, Manatee 14
Stephen Spiewak: Good Counsel 21, Manatee 17
Kevin Askeland: Good Counsel 28, Manatee 21
Jamie DeMoney: Good Counsel 24, Manatee 10
{PAGEBREAK}Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) vs. Gilman (Baltimore, Md.)

Although it was merely a scrimmage and will not count in the record book, Oscar Smith already has an impressive win. The Tigers edged Phoebus (Hampton), 26-24, two weeks ago. Phoebus still owns the longest active win streak in the country at 45 games. Virginia Tech commit J.C Coleman ran for over 100 yards in that tune-up. He accounted for over 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards in 2010. Hampton recruit Jaylian Williamson threw for 3,244 yards last year and Western Michigan-bound receiver Sequan Gooding was on the receiving end for over 700 of them. The team's top returning defender Rakeem Stallings had 13 sacks from his linebacker position. Coach Richard Morgan, who is 100-13 in nine seasons at Oscar Smith, says speed is the strength of his team.
 
Gilman was extremely impressive last week in its 68-9 season-opening win over an outmanned Maryland Christian (Bel Air) squad. On his first play as the Greyhounds' signal caller, DeMatha (Hyattsville) transfer Shane Cockerille dashed 80 yards for a touchdown. MaxPreps Top 100 recruit Cyrus Jones added a touchdown rushing in addition to scoring on an interception and kickoff return. As explosive as its offense is, the strength of this team might be its defensive front seven led by Penn State recruit Brian Gaia (6-3, 295) and 5-10, 210-pound end Kenneth Goins (18 sacks last season). This game is part of the I-95 Kickoff Classic and will be played at Morgan State University.

Mitch Stephens: Gilman 28, Oscar Smith 27
Steve Montoya: Gilman 21, Oscar Smith 20
Stephen Spiewak: Gilman 17, Oscar Smith 10
Kevin Askeland: Gilman 45, Oscar Smith 21
Jamie DeMoney: Oscar Smith 30, Gilman 28
{PAGEBREAK}Bellarmine (San Jose, Calif.) at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

Bellarmine has eight returning starters on both sides of the ball including talented senior quarterback Travis McHugh. But will it be enough to hang with the Spartans, who are ranked No. 3 in this week's Xcellent 25 rankings? The Bells should have success moving the ball on the ground on offense, but stopping the run on defense is a question mark. There isn't a lot of size or experience on their defensive line.

Two-time defending Open Division state champion De La Salle returns one of the nation's top quarterbacks and the core of an outstanding defense. Wisconsin recruit Bart Houston enters his third year under center. The 6-4, 215-pounder has completed over 66 percent of his passes for his career and last season racked up nearly 2,000 yards through the air. The Spartans' defense features a pair of Division I-caliber linebackers in California commit Michael Barton (6-0, 200) and junior Michael Hutchings (6-1, 205).

Mitch Stephens: De La Salle 35, Bellarmine 21
Steve Montoya: De La Salle 34, Bellarmine 20
Stephen Spiewak: De La Salle 28, Bellarmine 14
Kevin Askeland: De La Salle 42, Bellarmine 6
Jamie DeMoney: De La Salle 39, Bellarmine 20 {PAGEBREAK}Bingham (South Jordan, Utah) vs. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)



Bingham has strung 26 consecutive wins together with its last loss coming the last time it played against an out-of-state opponent. That was a 42-21 defeat at the hands of eventual Texas 5A champion Trinity (Euless) in 2009. For this season, the Miners improved to 2-0 after a thrilling 21-18 win over Alta (Sandy) last Saturday at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium. The game was decided on Brady Lail's touchdown pass to Kalan Cantwell with 17 seconds left to play. Lail, a senior, and Cantwell, a sophomore, are among nine first-year starters on Bingham's offense.

Orange Lutheran went a disappointing 5-5 last season but, with eight starters back on both sides of the ball, has much higher hopes for 2011. The Lancers expect to have a fast, run-to-the-ball kind of defense led by Washington-bound free safety Darien Washington and Duke-committed linebacker Deion Williams. They also have size and talent in the trenches with Florida State-bound Christo Kourtzidis (6-4, 235) at tight end/defensive end along with highly-touted junior John Lopez (6-5, 315) at offensive tackle. This game is part of the Mission Viejo (Calif.) Football Classic.

Mitch Stephens: Orange Lutheran 28, Bingham 24
Steve Montoya: Orange Lutheran 28, Bingham 20
Stephen Spiewak: Bingham 24, Orange Lutheran 14
Kevin Askeland: Bingham 48, Orange Lutheran 21
Jamie DeMoney: Orange Lutheran 31, Bingham 14 {PAGEBREAK}Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Pickerington Central was unable to do much of anything offensively in a 14-0 season-opening loss against Cincinnati Greater Catholic League power Moeller last week. The task of scoring might be even tougher this week against another GCL power, 16th-ranked St. Xavier. This is the kickoff game of the Ohio Stadium portion of the annual Kirk Herbstreit Kickoff Classic. Last season the Tigers also played in the Herbstreit event, defeating Virginia power Oscar Smith (Chesapeake). Eleven starters are back from that team, which finished the year with an 11-1 record. They include a pair of Ohio State recruits in four-year starting lineman Jacoby Boren and receiver Roger Lewis.

Despite going only 7-5 in 2010, a lot is expected from St. Xavier this season. The Bombers provided justification for those high hopes last week with a 30-7 blowout of Springfield in which they allowed the Wildcats a mere six net yards of total offense. The strength of this team, however, might be its offense. The unit has eight returning starters led by 1,000-yard rusher Connor Hundley, senior quarterback Griffin Dolle and Pittsburgh-bound center Brandyn Cook (6-2, 290). This begins the toughest stretch of St. Xavier's annual murderous schedule. Next week the Bombers will play Colerain (Cincinnati), followed by nationally ranked Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) then league rivals Moeller and Elder.

Mitch Stephens: St. Xavier 21, Pickerington Central 17
Steve Montoya: St. Xavier 21, Pickerington Central 7
Stephen Spiewak: St. Xavier 24, Pickerington Central 10
Kevin Askeland: St. Xavier 24, Pickerington Central 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Xavier 27, Pickerington Central 7 {PAGEBREAK}Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) vs. Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)



One of the state's top 3A contenders travels across the state to take on what many consider the team to beat in Class 4A. Wood has 17 starters back from last year's 12-1 state semifinals team. There are at least six FBS prospects on offense including Florida-bound tight end Colin Thompson (6-6, 255) and last year's Philadelphia Catholic League MVP Desmon Peoples, a 5-8, 175-pound senior tailback who ran for over 1,000 yards with 25 touchdowns last season. The Vikings' talent level was boosted even higher with the arrival of receiver-defensive back Nate Smith, a transfer from George Washington (Philadelphia).

Central Catholic is also a veteran squad, bringing back 15 starters from an 11-1 team that lost in the WPIAL semifinals to eventual 4A state champ North Allegheny (Wexford). Coach Terry Totten likes the leadership on his team, beginning with senior quarterback Perry Hills. A 6-3, 190 Maryland commit, Hills first saw starting duty for the Vikings as a sophomore. He threw for over 1,500 yards in 2010. His top receiving target is another future Terrapin, Anthony Nixon, who is 6-2, 195 and also starts at free safety. This Sunday afternoon nationally televised contest is part of the Gateway Kickoff Classic in Monroeville, Pa.

Mitch Stephens: Archbishop Wood 27, Central Catholic 21
Steve Montoya: Central Catholic 28, Archbishop Wood 21
Stephen Spiewak: Archbishop Wood 21, Pittsburgh Central Catholic 17
Kevin Askeland: Central Catholic 35, Archbishop Wood 14
Jamie DeMoney: Central Catholic 27, Archbishop Wood 17 {PAGEBREAK}Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) vs. Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio)

Camden County's offense was expected to be a question mark this season without a single returning starter. But it sure didn't look that way in last week's opener, as the Wildcats' Wing-T attack scored seemingly at will in a 63-0 blowout of an albeit outmanned Savannah squad. Junior quarterback Brice Ramsey (6-2, 200), who accepted a scholarship offer to Georgia before he ever started a varsity game, played well as did the Wildcats' experienced defense, which is expected to be one of the top units in Georgia this season.

Unlike the previous two years when it started off the year in the top 10 of some national polls, expectations aren't nearly as high for Glenville this season. But if last week's performance against No. 9 St. Edward (Lakewood) – a 17-14 overtime loss – is any indication, it might be taking advantage of flying under the radar. The Tarblooders lack the quantity of top recruits some past Glenville teams have enjoyed (56 FBS signees over the last seven years) but they still have plenty of talent. Its defense features Ohio State-bound defensive back De'van Bogard. This Monday afternoon tilt is part of the Herbstreit Kickoff Classic at Ohio Stadium.
 
Mitch Stephens: Glenville 28, Camden County 27
Steve Montoya: Glenville 35, Camden County 21
Stephen Spiewak: Camden County 21, Glenville 14
Kevin Askeland: Camden County 40, Glenville 21
Jamie DeMoney: Camden County 26, Glenville 20 {PAGEBREAK}Cocoa (Fla.) vs. Skyline (Dallas, Texas)

Cocoa didn't have time to sit around and lick its wounds after last week's 17-7 loss in Ohio to Cincinnati Colerain. Instead of lamenting the end of their 38-game winning streak, the Tigers had to go straight back to the drawing board to prepare for one of the most talented teams in the Lone Star State: Skyline. As usual, Cocoa played stingy defense against Colerain but wasn't able to get things going on offense. An 85-yard scoring strike from Maurice Pugh to sophomore Lorenzo Pratt accounted for nearly half the Tigers' total offensive output on the day.



On the other hand, Skyline had no trouble putting points on the board in its season opener against an out-of-state opponent. The Raiders scored touchdowns on each of their first six possessions en route to a convincing 47-7 rout of Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.). Junior quarterback Devante Kincade accounted for five first-half touchdowns – three rushing and two threw the air. This game will be played Monday at Cowboys Stadium as part of the Texas portion of the Herbstreit Classic.

Mitch Stephens: Cocoa 28, Skyline 21
Steve Montoya: Cocoa 20, Skyline 7
Stephen Spiewak: Cocoa 17, Skyline 10
Kevin Askeland: Skyline 28, Cocoa 24
Jamie DeMoney: Skyline 27, Cocoa 13
{PAGEBREAK}Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) at Burke (Omaha, Neb.)

Defending Class A champ Millard North takes its No. 1 ranking on the road to face the No. 2 team in the state, Burke. Millard North took a pair of games from the Bulldogs last season, including a hard-fought 10-7 decision in the state semifinals. Veteran coach Fred Petito says the strength of his team will be its line play and the one-two rushing punch of junior quarterback Isaac Aakre and senior fullback Chris Bailey. Both players gained over 1,000 yards last season.

Burke might have been caught looking ahead a bit last week when it struggled to beat Omaha Central, 14-7. The Bulldogs have a lot of experience back from an offense that gained the second-most yards in the state last season. Senior linemen Hunter Greer (6-6, 295) and James Anderson (6-4, 305) are a pair of road graders up front. Defensively, the top returning player is linebacker Mitch McCann. Burke's biggest concern has been replacing all-state quarterback Jimmie Forsythe, now at South Dakota State.

Mitch Stephens: Millard North 24, Burke 21
Steve Montoya: Millard North 14, Burke 7
Stephen Spiewak: Millard North 35, Burke 17
Kevin Askeland: Burke 27, Millard North 18
Jamie DeMoney: Millard North 28, Burke 7


Jamie DeMoney is National Content Manager for XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.