MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

For the third time this season, the nation's top-ranked team will be put to the test by a powerful opponent from outside its state's borders.

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), No. 1 in both the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 writers poll and the Freeman Computer Rankings, plays defending Ohio Division I champion St. Edward (Lakewood) Saturday at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y. St. Edward, ranked No. 9 in the Xcellent 25 and No. 24 in the computer rankings, is the third team on Don Bosco's schedule that was nationally ranked in at least one preseason poll.

Meanwhile, the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week also includes another Xcellent 25 matchup. This one kicks off Thursday in South Florida, where No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas hosts No. 24 Miramar. Aquinas has won its last five games against Top 25 teams, dating back to 2009.

Other intriguing contests across the nation include a couple of crosstown rivalry games. In Georgia, it's the 50th "Winnersville Classic" with Lowndes shooting for its eighth straight win over longtime nemesis Valdosta. Out west, there's a rematch of last year's CIF-SS Northern Division title game as undefeated Westlake hosts once-beaten Oaks Christian.



Even with back-to-back 6-4 weeks, Kevin Askeland continues to hold a three-game lead over his next-closest competitors in our season-long prediction contest. The biggest story from the rest of the field is the resurgence of Mitch Stephens who, after a slow start to the year, has been on target with 17 of his last 20 selections and now is in a four-way tie for second place with Jamie DeMoney, Steve Montoya and Stephen Spiewak.

You can track our overall results and standings all season long by clicking here.

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.

No. 9 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. No. 1 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

Defending Ohio Division I champion St. Edward is 6-0 this season and has a 21-game winning streak overall. The Eagles were dominant in 2010, winning by an average margin of 26 points. This year, St. Edward's scoring output is down more than a field goal per game compared to last season, but statistically speaking its defense is slightly better. Michigan-bound offensive tackle Kyle Kalis and four other Eagles senior linemen are committed to BCS-caliber colleges. With its 52-13 blowout of Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.) on Sept. 24, St. Edward improved its record to 17-1 against non-Ohio teams since 2004.

In addition to beating top opponents from California and Florida this year, Don Bosco Prep also has already defeated its toughest league opponent. Last week, despite trailing by a point to start the fourth quarter, the Ironmen beat Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 33-22. Super sophomore Jabrill Peppers and senior Elijah Shumate combined for more than 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Don Bosco has won 39 straight games and owns eight consecutive wins against out-of-state competition. This game was moved to Fordham University just last week after originally begin scheduled for Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.

Mitch Stephens: Don Bosco Prep 28, St. Edward 10
Steve Montoya: Don Bosco Prep 21, St. Edward 14
Stephen Spiewak: Don Bosco Prep 28, St. Edward 10
Kevin Askeland: Don Bosco Prep 35, St. Edward 13
Jamie DeMoney: Don Bosco Prep 23, St. Edward 20

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No. 24 Miramar (Fla.) at No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Miramar (4-0) recorded its second consecutive shutout with a 20-0 victory over Cypress Bay (Weston) last week. The Patriots have lost to St. Thomas Aquinas every season since 2007 by an average of 30 points per game. However, last year they were the only team to stay within 20 points of the Raiders, losing 23-7 on Oct. 15.



After slipping past then-nationally ranked Prattville (Ala.) in the season opener, 34-31, St. Thomas Aquinas has clicked back into domination mode in the last three games. On Sept. 23, the Raiders thumped then-nationally ranked De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 30-6, and overall they've won their last three by an average margin of 34 points. Junior Fred Coppet ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns on only six carries in a 56-13 rout of MacArthur (Hollywood) last week.

Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Miramar 21
Steve Montoya: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Miramar 21
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Miramar 17
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 30, Miramar 14
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Miramar 17

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Calvert Hall (Baltimore) at Gilman (Baltimore)

Calvert Hall, the No. 2 team in the Baltimore Sun's area rankings, travels to No. 1 Gilman, whom the Cardinals beat the last two seasons. Calvert Hall (4-0) had an extra week to prepare for the Greyhounds. Its last action was Sept. 24 in a 41-7 blowout of Coolidge (Washington, D.C.).

Gilman enters the game with a 4-1 record and a loss only to No. 10 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) this season. The Greyhounds are loaded with Division I talent, led by MaxPreps Top 100 prospect receiver Cyrus Jones and junior quarterback Shane Cockerille. The two hooked up on a 68-yard scoring strike in last week's 42-8 rout of Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.). Cockerille also ran for three scores in the game.

Mitch Stephens: Gilman 28, Calvert Hall 17
Steve Montoya: Gilman 17, Calvert Hall 7
Stephen Spiewak: Gilman 28, Calvert Hall 21
Kevin Askeland: Gilman 30, Calvert Hall 21
Jamie DeMoney: Gilman 30, Calvert Hall 23

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Mentor (Ohio) at Solon (Ohio)

The Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title could be decided this week when undefeated Mentor travels south to take on fellow unbeaten Solon. Although Mentor was a member of a different conference prior to this fall, these teams still met nine times in the previous seven seasons. Mentor holds a 5-4 edge in those games but has lost two straight to the Comets including a 31-21 decision in 2010. Last week, Mentor improved to 6-0 while handing Brunswick its first loss of the season. Standout junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky had more than 300 yards passing with four total touchdowns in a 38-14 win.

While Mentor has been blowing opponents away with an outstanding offense that averages 44 points per game, Solon has been equally hard to handle on defense. The Comets have surrendered just 33 points all season and if not for allowing a safety to Buchtel (Akron) on Sept. 9, they would have four shutouts in six games. Solon enters the game with a 26-game regular season winning streak.



Mitch Stephens: Solon 21, Mentor 14
Steve Montoya: Solon 21, Mentor 20
Stephen Spiewak: Mentor 21, Solon 20
Kevin Askeland: Mentor 35, Solon 24
Jamie DeMoney: Solon 24, Mentor 17

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Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) at Desert Vista (Phoenix)

Hamilton forced four turnovers in the fourth quarter of its 28-21 win over rival Chandler last week. The Chandler miscues helped the Huskies erase an eight-point deficit and extend their winning streak to 46 games. It's the second-longest active streak in the nation and the longest unbeaten run in Arizona history. Hamilton has played Desert Vista four times since 2005, winning all four by an average of over 28 points.

Desert Vista, like Hamilton, is 6-0. The Thunder is the top-ranked team in Arizona, according to MaxPreps' Freeman Rankings – one spot ahead of Hamilton. Desert Vista won its first five games by an average of more than 41 points per game but needed a last-second field goal from Scotty Goldfein to knock off previously unbeaten Saguaro (Scottsdale), 31-28, last week. Senior Dominic Kereluk and junior Jarek Hilgers each rushed for more than 100 yards in the game.

Mitch Stephens: Desert Vista 28, Hamilton 27
Steve Montoya: Hamilton 38, Desert Vista 28
Stephen Spiewak: Hamilton 20, Desert Vista 17
Kevin Askeland: Hamilton 42, Desert Vista 28
Jamie DeMoney: Hamilton 27, Desert Vista 20

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Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) at Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)

These crosstown rivals met twice last season. Westlake won the regular season contest, 31-12, but Oaks Christian took the rematch, 29-28, in a CIF championship game. Oaks Christian has won three straight since opening the year with a 31-21 loss to nationally ranked Bellevue (Wash.). Sophomore Brandon Dawkins has played well since taking over the starting quarterback position from Logan (Utah) transfer Luke Falk (who has since transferred back to Utah). Dawkins, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, has completed more than 80 percent of his passes for more than 450 yards and seven touchdowns.

Despite graduating a number of key offensive performers off last year's 12-2 team, Westlake is 4-0 this season and averaging 51 points per game. Junior Justin Moore, in his first season as the starting quarterback, has completed more than 60 percent of his passes for 814 yards with seven touchdowns and only one interception. Moore threw three touchdown strikes to senior Connor Cook in last week's 73-28 wipeout of Royal (Simi Valley).



Mitch Stephens: Westlake 22, Oaks Christian 21
Steve Montoya: Oaks Christian 42, Westlake 35
Stephen Spiewak: Oaks Christian 35, Westlake 27
Kevin Askeland: Oaks Christian 35, Westlake 34
Jamie DeMoney: Oaks Christian 38, Westlake 27

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Valdosta (Ga.) at Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)

This is the 50th renewal of the rivalry game known as the "Winnersville Classic" by locals. Valdosta has more wins (860) than any team in prep football history along with 23 state titles since 1913. The Wildcats have won 33 of the first 49 in this series despite losing the last seven meetings. Valdosta was 5-0 before losing to undefeated King (Lithonia) last week, 16-3. The Wildcats' defense has been stellar all season, giving up just more than a touchdown per game on average.

Lowndes (5-1) had an extra week to prepare for Valdosta following its 35-17 win over a then-unbeaten Ware County (Waycross) team on Sept. 23. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), ranked No. 22 in this week's Xcellent 25, is the only team to beat the Vikings this season, winning 20-13 on Sept. 2. Three different Lowndes running backs — Mike Moore, Dee Daniels and Nicholas Burgman — have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this year.

Mitch Stephens: Lowndes 28, Valdosta 24
Steve Montoya: Lowndes 14, Valdosta 7
Stephen Spiewak: Lowndes 35, Valdosta 31
Kevin Askeland: Lowndes 28, Valdosta 27
Jamie DeMoney: Lowndes 17, Valdosta 14

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Skyline (Dallas) at Dallas Jesuit

Undefeated Skyline is one of the top-scoring teams in Texas 5A at the midway point of the season. The talented Raiders average more than 45 points per game and are winning by an average margin of 36 points. Junior quarterback Devante Kincade (6-2, 180) has been a superstar, completing nearly 80 of his passes for more than 1,200 yards with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His favorite receiver is Texas-bound senior Thomas Johnson, who has more than 500 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in five games. Skyline beat Jesuit last season, 43-24. It's the only other time these teams have met on the gridiron.



While Skyline's Johnson might be the top senior receiver in Texas, Jesuit's Jake Oliver is arguably the top junior wideout in the state. Oliver, a 6-4, 192-pounder, has caught 58 passes for nine touchdowns and more than 800 yards in just five games. Senior Brian Buell took over the quarterback position two weeks ago after junior Jack Brezette broke his leg in a 35-28 loss to Coppell (Jesuit's only defeat this season). Buell threw for more than 300 yards with four touchdowns in Jesuit's 42-34 come-from-behind, double-overtime win over Berkner (Richardson) last week. The Rangers trailed 28-14 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Mitch Stephens: Skyline 34, Jesuit 24
Steve Montoya: Skyline 24, Jesuit 14
Stephen Spiewak: Skyline 35, Jesuit 14
Kevin Askeland: Skyline 28, Jesuit 21
Jamie DeMoney: Skyline 49, Jesuit 45

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Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.) at Jefferson City (Mo.)

These Show Me State powers have combined to win 19 state titles over the past four decades. Rockhurst has four championships since 2000, including last year's Class 6 crown. The Hawklets (6-0) recorded their 20th consecutive win when they shut out Hickman (Columbia) last week, 21-0. Senior Jordan Walker had more than 700 rushing yards in Rockhurst's first three games but suffered an injury in a Sept. 16 win over Liberty. Rockhurst has dominated this series in recent years, winning the last seven meetings by an average margin of nearly 20 points.

Jefferson City is hungry for its first state championship since 1997. The Jays certainly have the look of a contender, winning their first six games by an average margin of 35 points. Last week, they piled up five touchdowns in the first quarter and romped past Washington, 70-15. Senior running back Devon Moore ran for three touchdowns, pushing his total to 13 this season.

Mitch Stephens: Jefferson City 42, Rockhurst 35
Steve Montoya: Jefferson City 35, Rockhurst 21
Stephen Spiewak: Rockhurst 35, Jefferson City 28
Kevin Askeland: Rockhurst 42, Jefferson City 24
Jamie DeMoney: Jefferson City 31, Rockhurst 23

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Mission Viejo (Calif.) at Redlands East Valley (Calif.)

Mission Viejo (4-1) hasn't lost a regular season game to a California opponent since 2008. That streak could be in jeopardy this Friday in the Inland Empire. The Diablos could be without USC commit Jahleel Pinner again at running back. The 6-foot, 218-pounder missed last week's 31-0 shutout of Carson with an ankle injury. Additionally, senior quarterback Alex Bridgford has struggled with accuracy this season. He's completed less than 50 percent of his passes and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is nearly 1-to-1. These teams also met a year ago this week. Mission Viejo won the game handily, 42-14.



Redlands East Valley is 4-0 and three of its wins were shutouts. Quarterback Austin Decoud played his best game of the season in last week's 34-0 rout of Chino Hills. The 6-3, 212-pound senior completed 12 of 18 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 46 yards and another score.

Mitch Stephens: Redlands East Valley 17, Mission Viejo 14
Steve Montoya: Mission Viejo 28, Redlands East Valley 14
Stephen Spiewak: Mission Viejo 28, Redlands East Valley 14
Kevin Askeland: Mission Viejo 30, Redlands East Valley 14
Jamie DeMoney: Mission Viejo 29, Redlands East Valley 27

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