High school football: No. 4 Duncanville vs. No. 17 DeSoto headlines MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

By Zack Poff Oct 9, 2024, 10:30am

Trinity League showdown between No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 19 Servite also featured this week.

The biggest high school football game of the week is going down in Texas as No. 4 Duncanville faces No. 17 DeSoto in a matchup of back-to-back state champions. 

Duncanville has won consecutive Class 6A Division 1 state titles while DeSoto is the two-time defending champ in Class 6A Division 2.

Keelon Russell has led Duncanville to a 33-1 record since he became the starter in 2022. The five-star Alabama commit has thrown for 1,437 yards and 20 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to a 4-0 start this season. Russell has added 101 yards on the ground and another score while completing 75 percent of his passes.

DeSoto suffered a setback against No. 11 North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) on Sept. 6 with a 57-51 loss. The Eagles have won three in a row since, winning by an average margin of 40.6 points per game. 



Last season, DeSoto snapped Duncanville's five-game win streak in the series with a 49-35 win. Daylon Singleton had a huge game hauling in six receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns to go with a 95-yard kickoff return score.
DeSoto was the last team to knock off Duncanville. The Eagles hope to do it again Friday. (Photo: Alex Garza)
DeSoto was the last team to knock off Duncanville. The Eagles hope to do it again Friday. (Photo: Alex Garza)
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) faces Trinity League rival Servite (Anaheim) on Friday in a matchup of undefeated teams. The Friars jumped into the MaxPreps Top 25 at No. 19 after beating JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) 20-7. 

Mater Dei has won 13 in a row against Servite with the Friars' last win coming in 2011.

Barring interference from Hurricane Milton, a couple big games in Florida are taking place this week. No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) takes on a red-hot Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) squad on Friday at Pitbull Stadium and American Heritage (Plantation) has a road test at Norland (Miami) on Saturday.

Another huge matchup is going down in Georgia as No. 3 Milton plays at Gainesville on Friday. 

Milton has won 17 in a row dating back to last year while Gainesville is 32-3 under head coach Josh Niblett since he took over before the 2022 season. Niblett led Hoover (Ala.) to a 171-26 record and six state titles during his 14-year tenure before taking the Gainesville job.

MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week



Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) - Watch live on NFHS Network

Top players

Duncanville: QB Keelon Russell (6-3, 175), WR Dakorien Moore (5-11, 185), WR Zach Turner (6-3, 215), LB Nehemiah Borner (5-11, 200), WR Ayson Theus (5-9, 175)

DeSoto: WR Daylon Singleton (6-0, 175), DL Keylan Abrams (6-1, 205), QB Kelden Ryan (6-2, 210), RB Deondrae Riden Jr. (5-11, 200), WR Ethan Feaster (6-2, 180)

This will be the 18th meeting between the two Texas powers since 2004 with DeSoto owning an 11-6 advantage in the series. The Eagles won 10 of 11 from 2004 until 2016 but the Panthers have won five of the last six. Duncanville is looking to add another quality win to prove its case to become the first team from the Lone Star State since 2018 to finish the season at No. 1 when North Shore (Houston) did. The Eagles have a chance to make a big jump in the MaxPreps Top 25 if they can knock off Duncanville for the second straight year.


Top players



Mater Dei: DL Tomuhini Topui (6-3, 320), RB Jordon Davison (6-0, 215), DB Daryus Dixson (6-0, 185), OL Kodi Greene (6-6, 300), LB Abduall Sanders (6-1, 225)

Servite: RB Quaid Carr (6-0, 180), QB Leo Hannan (6-4, 215), LB Isaiah Leilua (6-0, 205), DB Kaleb Aiava (6-0, 190), DL Tomas Cernius (6-4, 235)

Mater Dei has had one of the toughest schedules in the country and look to add another MaxPreps Top 25 win to its resume. This will be the fourth nationally-ranked opponent the Monarchs have faced. They opened Trinity League action with a 40-18 win over Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Davison finished with 13 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns. For Servite, Hannan hasn't played since suffering an injury in a 14-0 win over Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) on Sept. 6. If he can't go Friday, sophomore Colin O'Connor will get the start. Expect a heavy dosage from Carr who is coming off a season-high 184 yards in last week's win over JSerra Catholic.

Friday, 7 p.m. at Pitbull Stadium


Top players

St. Thomas Aquinas: DB Justice Fitzpatrick (6-0, 185), WR Julius Jones (5-11, 170), LB Travares Daniels (6-2, 200), DB Tavius Horne Jr. (5-11, 170), WR Ah’mari Stevens (6-0, 170)



Chaminade-Madonna: ATH Derrek Cooper (6-1, 190), DB Chris Ewald (6-0, 165), WR Jasen Lopez (5-11, 170), DL Donta Simpson Jr. (6-3, 280), WR Koby Howard (5-11, 185)

Aquinas has won six in a row since a season-opening 29-21 loss against No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). The Raiders face their biggest test since that loss. The Lions have dealt with plenty of injuries but have still found a way to win five consecutive games after an 0-2 start. Last week they had to start running back Jaquari Lewis at quarterback and he led them to a 37-8 win over Monarch (Coconut Creek). He completed 8 of 18 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown to go with 69 yards rushing and two more scores. This will be the first meeting between the two Florida powers since 1981.

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Top players

American Heritage: QB Dia Bell (6-2, 195), WR Malachi Toney (5-10, 190), RB Byron Louis (6-0, 205), DB Gregory Xavier Thomas (6-2, 190), WR Brandon Bennett (6-1, 175)

Norland: QB Ennio Yapoor (6-1, 215), DB Kenton Dopson III (6-0, 185), DL Mandrell Desir (6-4, 250), DL Darryll Desir (6-4, 225), DL Adrian Farrow (6-4, 250)

Norland got a huge victory last week with a dominant 33-14 win over Cocoa. The defense forced four turnovers, had a fumble return for a score and blocked a field goal. Yapoor accounted for 350 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. The Patriots have had one of the toughest schedules in the country with three losses coming against No. 3 Milton (Ga.), Chaminade-Madonna and Central (Miami) by a combined 15 points. Bell has been tremendous this season, throwing for 1,657 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 246 yards on the ground and two more scores.




Top players

Milton: QB Luke Nickel (6-2, 215), WR C.J. Wiley (6-4, 195), TE Ethan Barbour (6-3, 235), OL Brayden Jacobs (6-7, 310), RB TJ Lester (5-10, 200)

Gainesville: DL Xavier Griffin (6-4, 215), OL Alex Payne (6-6, 285), DL Julius Columbus (6-2, 285), QB Kharim Hughley (5-11, 180), WR Taz Smith (5-10, 170)

Milton had to play two games last week because of Hurricane Helene. The Eagles beat Seckinger (Buford, Ga.) 44-7 last Monday then took down Lanier (Sugar Hill, Ga.) 49-7 on Friday. Up next is one of their toughest challenges of the season. They already own quality wins over No. 13 Buford (Ga.) and American Heritage and look to strengthen their resume on Friday. Gainesville's only loss came at No. 7 Carrollton, 45-16. In their six wins they are winning by an average margin of 36.8 points per game.

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

Top players



Coffee: RB Tyrese Woodgett (5-10, 185), LB Jyarius Carter (6-1, 220), LB Chris Reed (5-9, 215), OL Kyler Smith (6-3, 310), DL Cupris Morgan (6-3, 230)

Lee County: RB Ousmane Kromah (6-2, 210), QB Weston Bryan (6-4, 225), LB Greg Batson (6-1, 210), DL Jeramiah McCloud (6-3, 280), DB Lasiah Jackson (6-3, 170)

The Trojans are getting close to joining the MaxPreps Top 25 as they check in at No. 39 in our expanded top 100. They got their biggest victory of the season snapping Thomas County Central's (Thomasville, Ga.) 20-game win streak with a 35-23 win two weeks ago. Up next is another defending state champion riding a long win streak. The defending AAAAA state champs have won 21 games in a row.

Thursday, 6 p.m. - Watch live on NFHS Network

Top players

Bishop Gorman: OL SJ Alofaituli (6-3, 280), OL Doug Utu (6-4, 320), WR Derek Meadows (6-5, 200), DB Jett Washington (6-5, 200), DL James Carrington (6-2, 270)

Arbor View: WR Damani Warren (6-4, 210), QB Thaddeus Thatcher (6-2, 180), LB Christian Thatcher (6-2, 215), WR Jayden Williams (5-9, 160), DL Brian Townsend (6-4, 225)



This one features the top-two ranked teams in the state. Arbor View started the season with an impressive 45-44 win over Lincoln (San Diego). Bishop Gorman's only loss was a 31-15 defeat at No. 1 Mater Dei. The Gaels have won three in a row since that loss with a notable 55-28 win over No. 16 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.). They have outscored their first two in-state opponents 99-0. Bishop Gorman is 11-0 all-time against the Aggies.


Top players

JSerra: LB Madden Faraimo (6-3, 230), QB Ryan Hopkins (6-4, 195), OL Jake Flores (6-6, 275), DB Logan Christensen (6-0, 180), DL Simote Katoanga (6-5, 250)

Orange Lutheran: LB Talanoa Ili (6-4, 220), QB T.J. Lateef (6-3, 190), TE A.J. Ia (6-6, 215), OL Samuela Utu (6-5, 310), WR WR Chris Flores Jr. (5-10, 165)

JSerra was without its four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo last week and allowed 335 yards on the ground in a 20-7 loss against No. 19 Servite. There is a chance he returns this week and he leads the team with 56 tackles. The Lancers came close to knocking off No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) last week but the Braves pulled out a 28-24 win after Koa Malau'ulu connected with Carson Clark for the go-ahead score with under a minute remaining. This will be the 19th meeting since 2006 and they have split the past 18.




Top players

Hamilton: DB Dajon Hinton (5-11, 180), QB Rich Lucero Jr. (6-4, 200), WR Roye Oliver III (5-11, 150), DB Niko Jandreau (6-0, 190), DL Ben Jones (6-1, 215)

Basha: RB Noah Roberts (6-0, 185), OL Jake Hildebrand (6-6, 285), WR Gio Richardson (5-11, 170), OL Sam Garcia (6-4, 320), QB Broderick Vehrs (6-0, 185)

Basha showed it can hang with the best teams in the country with a narrow defeat at No. 10 Mission Viejo (Calif.) 31-28. The Bears have won two in a row since that loss, including a 35-32 win over Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) last week. Travis Dixon has done a phenomenal job since taking over as head coach before the season leading the Huskies to a 5-0 start. He led the program to back-to-back state titles in 2003 and 2004 as the starting quarterback. Basha has won three of the previous four meetings between the two.




Top players

St. Frances Academy: DL Zion Elee (6-4, 220), DB Blake Woodby (5-11, 175), DB Jireh Edwards (6-1, 195), DB Raylaun Henry (6-2, 160), LB Bryce Deas (6-1, 210)

Hun: QB Jack Moran (6-5, 225), WR Liam Thorpe (6-0, 190), WR Bryce Kania (6-4, 195), DL Kole Briehler (6-2, 265), TE Drae Tyme (6-5, 235)

The Hun School already have two quality wins against Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago) and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Rabun Gap, Ga.) but look to add its biggest victory Friday against St. Frances Academy. Moran has been putting up video game numbers through six games with 2,836 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. He has thrown for at least 350 yards and three touchdowns in every game. All three of the Panthers' losses have come against nationally-ranked opponents in No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 4 Duncanville and No. 16 Orange Lutheran.