Top 10 high school football games featuring Top 25 teams in 2014

The MaxPreps Top 25 Early Contenders debuted last week. In addition to creating a stir about where teams were ranked, the list also highlighted some top games to keep an eye on this fall.

Here are the 10 biggest showdowns pitting ranked teams against each other.



When these teams locked horns last season (a 35-10 victory for De La Salle), it was the first matchup between the two since the 2010 Open Division Bowl Game that saw De La Salle wallop Servite 48-8. Servite will be much-improved this fall, as head coach A.J. Gass has his feet firmly planted to start his second season and the team's group of seniors will be among the best in program history. The loss of Kahlil McKenzie certainly hurts De La Salle, but it could still be favored by the time this game takes place.
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Last year's matchup between these programs is a little hard to make sense of. State semifinalist Don Bosco Prep delivered a 42-0 defeat to a St. Joseph's Prep squad that looked dominant in winning a PIAA AAAA state title. Obviously, this year's game should be much more competitive. With North Jersey roots, St. Joseph's Prep coach Gabe Infante has years of experience coaching against Greg Toal. This year, his squad has the talent and experience to hang with the Ironmen. Home-field advantage tips the scales in favor of the Hawks.
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No. 11 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 13 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas),
Sept. 26

Bishop Gorman has had a good deal of success taking on the likes of Servite, Santa Margarita and Crespi, but has yet to take on St. John Bosco, which is unbeaten in out-of-state games during Jason Negro's tenure. Both teams' offenses appear to be their strong suits. This game could be won by whichever defense makes a big play or two.
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No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs.
No. 21 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), Sept. 13 (at West Point)

In a notable upset during the 2013 season, Don Bosco Prep traveled to Florida and stunned St. Thomas Aquinas. Now, Aquinas is traveling north for a rematch with national implications. Despite winning last season, being the home team, and being nationally ranked itself, Don Bosco Prep will enter the game as a heavy underdog, a role it is unaccustomed to. As we've learned repeatedly over the last decade, however, never count out a Greg Toal-coached team.
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No. 9 Washington (Miami) at No. 24 Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), Aug. 23

Both teams were searching for a challenging out-of-state game, and this should satisfy both teams. Oscar Smith will enjoy home field advantage which, against a relatively unproven Booker T. squad, could be an important factor. This is the most noteworthy opponent Oscar Smith has faced during the tenure of head coach Rich Morgan. A victory would be enormous for his program. Washington has another massive matchup as well: with No. 15 Central (Miami), a game that won't be as significant as last year, but will still be a top game to watch.
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No. 11 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. No. 10 Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), Oct. 31

It's unlikely that either of these teams will be undefeated by this point in the season. But if they are, look out. This could be one of the area's biggest games of all-time, a Servite home game that will be played at Cerritos College. Last year's St. John Bosco squad was perhaps the best in SoCal history. This year's squad will be a bit down from that -- but not much. Meanwhile, Servite appears ready to take the next step, but will it be enough to dethrone Bosco in a Trinity League tussle?
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No. 16 Bellevue (Wash.) at No. 19 Serra (Gardena, Calif.), Sept. 6

Perhaps the most intriguing interstate matchup this season, storied Wing-T exemplar Bellevue travels to Southern California to challenge talent beacon Serra at the Honor Bowl in Oceanside. Bellevue will be more inexperienced, though both teams will be working in new quarterbacks following the graduation of Jalen Greene and Tim Haehl, respectively. Serra will welcome back running back Malik Roberson, who missed his junior season due to injury. Bellevue will look to control the game's tempo, but if Roberson gets loose, it may be a long trip home for the Wolverines.
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No. 15 Central (Miami) at No. 3 Hoover (Ala.), Aug. 23

Expect a defensive slugfest when Central and Hoover hook up. Five starters -- all Division I recruits -- are back for host Hoover, while Central returns nine from last year's stellar defensive unit. Hoover is slightly more balanced, with its starting quarterback, running back and top receiver back from last year. Central will have the most explosive player on the field, however: receiver Da'vante Phillips.
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No. 1 Cedar Hill (Texas) at No. 14 DeSoto (Texas), Oct. 24

The scoreboard at DeSoto may need to get amended to include a third digit for points. These teams can pile it on. Last year, DeSoto's defense came to play, limiting Cedar Hill to 20 points in DeSoto's 47-20 victory. Cedar Hill developed leaps and bounds as the season went on and returns most of its offensive weapons. DeSoto's offense will still thrive without Desmon White, especially as Tristen Wallace settles into role.
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No. 6 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) vs.
No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Aug. 29

Throw a dart on the field during this game, and there's a decent chance you'd hit a future NFL player. Aquinas, the leader in producing graduates who play on Sundays, and talent-laden American Heritage collide in one of the best games in the state of Florida as well as the entire country. As such, the individual mini-matchups are fascinating: Heritage cornerback Tavarus McFadden lining up against the likes of receivers Sam Bruce and Devante Peete; Torrance Gibson trying to elude Aquinas sack-machine Nick Bosa; second-year Heritage head coach Mike Rumph trying to outduel Aquinas fourth-year skipper Rocco Casullo. This game will be played at SunLife Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.