High school football's weekend slate is headlined by a pair of MaxPreps Top 25 matchups and a state title rematch in Michigan.
In Southern California No. 2
Centennial (Corona) will meet No. 6
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) at the Rose Bowl for the Southern Section Division 1 championship.
Centennial is coming off a 28-27 win over
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) last week to advance to the final for the first time since 2015. Santa Margarita is led by first-year head coach Carson Palmer, who has helped the Eagles defeat Mater Dei and Centennial this year.
Santa Margarita senior quarterback Trace Johnson threw two touchdowns in a 33-27 overtime win over Centennial back in August. Now the Eagles and Huskies meet again in the California Southern Section Division 1 final. (PHOTO: Kevin Ballton)
In Georgia, No. 1
Grayson (Loganville) and No. 11
Carrollton meet in the Class AAAAAA semifinals in a matchup between 12-0 squads.
Carrollton has scored at least 50 points in five straight games, including 51 in last week's playoff win. Grayson is looking to defend its 2024 state title, a game won over Carrollton. Last week the Rams scored three touchdowns in the second half to take down
Colquitt County (Norman Park) 31-10.
In Michigan, No. 21
Cass Tech (Detroit) and
Catholic Central (Novi) return to Ford Field for the second straight year in a battle for the Division 1 crown.
Cass Tech won the 2024 matchup 14-10, handing Catholic Central its only loss of the past two seasons. Both teams are 13-0.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
Top 10 biggest games this week
Centennial (Corona, Calif.) vs. No. 6 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) at Rose Bowl - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Centennial: QB
Dominick Catalano (5-10, 185), RB
Malaki Davis (6-0, 205), WR
Ty Plinski (6-3, 190), DB
Jaden Walk-Green (6-0, 190), LB
Jonathan McKinley II (6-2, 230)
Santa Margarita: WR
Trent Mosley (5-10, 175), QB
Trace Johnson (6-2, 180), WR
Ryan Clark (5-9, 150), DT
Isaia Vandermade (6-4, 270), CB
Ca'ron Williams (6-0, 170)
It's a rematch of one of the best games of the season when Santa Margarita defeated Centennial 33-27 in overtime on Aug. 28. Catalano and Johnson each threw two touchdowns while Williams had two interceptions on defense for the Eagles. Centennial head coach Matt Logan has over 300 wins and is looking to get back to a state title game for the first time since 2015. First-year Santa Margarita head coach Carson Palmer is the new kid on the block and the Eagles are one win away from reaching 10 victories for the first time since 2011.
No. 1 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) at No. 11 Carrollton (Ga.) Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Grayson: QB
Deuce Smith (5-11, 190), RB
Ashton Turner (5-8, 200), WR
Dawson Quarterman (6-4, 210), LB
Tyler Atkinson (6-3, 221), LB
Eli Harris (6-2, 215)
Carrollton: QB
C.J. Cypher (6-2, 188), WR
Ryan Mosley (6-4, 206), OT
Kweli Fielder (6-4, 315), CB
Dorian Barney (6-1, 180), CB
Tyler Boyd (5-11, 190)
Two undefeated MaxPreps Top 25 teams will battle for a trip to the Class AAAAAA semifinals. This is also a rematch of last season's state championship game, won by Grayson 38-24. Both teams have new quarterbacks. For Grayson, it's Smith, who hasn't missed a beat with 22 passing touchdowns since replacing the injured four-star Travis Burgess. Julian Lewis is now at Colorado after an outstanding career at Carrollton. Now it's Cypher, a freshman who has completed 73 percent of his passes while throwing just two picks all year. He has 16 offers including Auburn, Georgia and Miami.
No. 21 Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) vs. Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.) Sunday, 7 p.m. at Ford Field - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Cass Tech: QB
Donald Tabron II (6-4, 190), WR
C.J. Sadler Jr (5-10, 185), OL
Khalief Canty Jr. (6-5, 305), LB
Marcus Jennings (6-3, 205), LB
Brian Stovall Jr. (6-3, 224)
Catholic Central: QB
Duke Banta (6-4, 210), RB
Cedric Williams (5-11, 200), WR
Samson Gash (6-1, 185), DL
Jack Janda (6-6, 250), LB
Joshua Atiemo (6-1, 210)
The top two teams in Michigan are undefeated and meet in the postseason for the second straight year. Last year it was the semifinals and a thrilling 17-14 Cass Tech win with then freshman Tabron at quarterback. Now Tabron is looking to cap an outstanding sophomore campaign at Ford Field with more hardware. Catholic Central is No. 65 in our expanded top 100 and can win in all facets of the game. Only once this year have the Shamrocks allowed more than 20 points in a game.
No. 9 Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) vs. Prosper (Texas)Friday, 7 p.m. at Choctaw Stadium
Top players
Southlake Carroll: QB
Angelo Renda (6-0, 180), RB
Davis Penn (5-11, 195), WR
Brock Boyd (6-2, 185), DL
Crawford Taylor (6-2, 240), LB
Robbie Ladd (5-11, 193)
Prosper: QB
Braeden Imhoff (6-0, 176), RB
Bryce Robinson (5-8, 190), WR
Elliott Brown (6-3, 205), LB
Cade Smallwood (6-2, 215), DL
Jake Johnson (6-3, 290)
This is the toughest test of the season for Southlake Carroll and a trip to the Conference 6A Division 2 quarterfinals is on the fine. The Dragons have won every game this season by at least 28 points while scoring 49 or more in nine of 12 games. Prosper can score in bunches as well with seven games over 50, including the last four contests. Against teams in our expanded top 100 the Eagles have a 28-22 win over Westlake and a 31-30 loss against Allen.
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) vs. Central (Miami, Fla.) Saturday, 7 p.m.
Top players
Northwestern: QB
Neimann Lawrence (6-2, 195), WR
Calvin Russell Jr. (6-5, 195), OT
Anthony Bell (6-4, 290), DB
Amari Oquendo (6-0, 170), LB
Jordan Campbell (6-3, 230)
Central: LB
Karon Maycock (6-2, 210), WR
Brandon Kinsey (6-2, 192), CB
T'ari Miller (6-4, 180), LB
Steven Moore (6-1, 215), CB
Quartavius Lyons Jr. (6-1, 178)
A trip to the 3A semifinals is on the line between two teams just outside the MaxPreps Top 25. Northwestern is undefeated and No. 26 while Central sits at No. 29 with one loss. That one loss was to Northwestern on Oct. 4 by a score of 30-21. Central had its chances and the game was within one possession until the end of the fourth quarter.
No. 23 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) vs. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) Friday, 7 p.m. at MetLife Stadium
Top players
Don Bosco Prep: QB
Carson Schoen (6-1, 190), RB
Dante DeLuca (5-10, 220), WR
Isaiah Alvarez (6-2, 175), LB
Mikahi Allen (6-3, 230), DB
Jack Demenna (5-10, 180)
St. Joseph Regional: QB
Mason Geis (6-1, 195), RB
Kyshawn Bryant (5-10, 180), WR
Stalin Knowlden (5-9, 150), DE
Cameron Aime (6-0, 210), LB
Ryan Barry (6-0, 180)
A week after winning the Non-Public A title over rival Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep is going for its first state crown since 2015. This game is a rematch from October when St. Joseph Regional took Don Bosco to overtime. The Ironmen prevailed 17-14 to remain undefeated. St. Joseph has won five straight since, including a 43-42 overtime win over Bergen on Oct. 25.
Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) vs. Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.) Saturday, 6 p.m. at Corona del Sol High School - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Basha: QB
Brodie Vehrs (6-0, 200), RB
Noah Roberts (6-1, 205), OT
Jake Hildebrand (6-7, 300), CB
Mason Lewis (6-0, 205), DE
Dante Bruley (6-3, 230)
Liberty: QB
Brayden Stevens (5-10, 165), RB
Jayden Sanchez (5-10, 170), TE
Kam Segall (6-3, 220), LB
Hudson Dunn (6-2, 215), S
Zeth Thues (6-1, 195)
Liberty has won the past two Open Division state championships with the 2024 title coming against Basha. Now the two schools that sit an hour apart will battle for a trip to the state title. The Lions have just one blemish on their record and it was a 63-39 shootout loss to national No. 25 Corner Canyon in September. The only loss for Basha also came against a nationally-ranked team in No. 18 Hamilton, which plays Chandler in the other semifinal.
Brownsburg (Ind.) vs. Westfield (Ind.) Saturday, 7 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium
Top players
Brownsburg: QB
Oscar Frye (6-2, 195), RB
Aiden Jobe (5-8, 180), WR
Branden Sharpe (5-11, 165), DE
Dami Sowunmi (6-5, 260), S
Chancelor Adams (6-3, 175)
Westfield: QB
Cooper Melvin (6-2, 170), RB
Deacon King (6-1, 215), WR
Andrew Noble (6-0, 185), DE
Alex Aramboles (6-0, 220), DB
Logan Loring (6-3, 180)
There is no love lost between these two squads that battled until the end of the 2024 Class 6A state championship, won by Brownsburg 22-17. The teams met again this season and Brownsburg, ranked No. 28 in our expanded top 100, won 14-10. Westfield is ranked No. 99 this year and held halftime leads in each of those contests. Everything has clicked since, as the Shamrocks have won seven games in a row under head coach Josh Miracle.
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio) Friday, 7 p.m. at Arlin Field
Top players
St. Edward: QB
Jonny Evanchick (6-1, 175), RB
Brandon White (5-8, 200), WR
Zach Hackleman (6-1, 175), DE
Collin Crocker (6-2, 230), DB
Makhi Boone (6-1, 175)
Olentangy Orange: QB
Levi Davis (6-0, 185), RB
Lucas Fickel (6-0, 210), WR
M.C. Walker (6-0, 185), LB
Kingston Johnson (6-1, 215), DB
Colby Luling (6-3, 185)
St. Edward is ranked No. 92 in our expanded top 100 and has won three of the past four Division I state championships. The exception was last season when star running back White missed the playoffs due to an ACL injury. He is back for his senior year and sits at 3,987 career rushing yards, the most in school history. Undefeated Olentangy Orange is ranked No. 94 and will play in its first state semifinal in school history.
Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) vs. Chandler (Ariz.)Saturday, 6 p.m. at Dobson High School - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Hamilton: QB
Daniel Vaita (6-1, 185), RB
Skyler Cole (5-11, 195), WR
Roye Oliver III (5-11, 165), DE
Derrick LeBlanc Jr (6-2, 228), LB
Mitchell Raner (6-0, 190)
Chandler: QB
Will Mencl (6-4, 205), RB
Chase Ochoa (5-11, 203), WR
Jai Jones (6-2, 177), LB
Jayden Arnold (6-1, 200), S
Austin Reese (6-0, 175)
These rivals played in one of the best games of the year to end the regular season and now will battle with a trip to the Open Division state championship game on the line. Hamilton trailed 34-13 with nine minutes left in the third before scoring five second-half touchdowns to win 55-41 in the regular season. Chandler is coming off a 45-34 win last week over Brophy College Prep and are a win away from reaching its first state championship game since 2021.
