The Chattanooga rivals sit just nine miles apart and first played in 1908.
Both teams have veterans at skill positions.
Quarterback
Elliott Drapeau helped McCallie win a state title win in 2024. His opponent was Baylor and four-star quarterback
Briggs Cherry, who has led the Red Raiders to the last two state championship games, each of which ended in a loss to McCallie.
In five games this season, Baylor running back David Gabriel Georges has double-digit touchdown runs. The five-star junior is rated as the No. 3 running back in the Class of 2027. (PHOTO: Gary Fain)
No. 22
Central (Miami) will host
Northwestern (Miami) in a South Florida rivalry featuring teams with 17 state championships.
Central is back in the MaxPreps Top 25 after being forced to forfeit eight games in 2024. Northwestern won a state title last season but has a new coach after former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was suspended for the 2025 season.
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) heads to
Elder (Cincinnati) for a rivalry game that stretches back many decades. These teams have two common opponents this year, one of which is
St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio). Elder topped the Bombers last week 23-13 while Archbishop Moeller won 30-13 the Friday before.
Moeller has won the past three meetings while Elder won four in a row prior to that.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
Top 10 biggest games this week
No. 23 Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at No. 25 McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.)Friday, 7:45 p.m. (All times local) - Watch live and free MaxPreps | YouTube
Top players
McCallie: QB
Elliott Drapeau (6-5, 210), RB
Kris Lloyd (6-0, 215), WR
Keeyshawn Tabuteau (6-0, 180), OL
Moussa Seck (6-4, 328), S
Loia Valade (5-11, 180)
Baylor: QB
Briggs Cherry (6-4, 215), RB
David Gabriel Georges (6-0, 205), OT
Gabriel Osenda (6-7, 330), DE
Braxton Rein (6-6, 230), S
Kolby Barrett (6-2, 190)
Baylor and McCallie have played for over 100 years and have had some epic games, including the last two state championships. This season Baylor is loaded on offense with five-stars Osenda and Gabriel Georges and four-star quarterback Cherry. McCallie is led by a gritty unit that pulled off an upset over then-No. 6 Mission Viejo to earn a spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 two weeks ago.
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) at No. 22 Central (Miami, Fla.) Saturday, 7:30 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)
This Miami rivalry is one of the best in high school football and is lined with players that went on to NFL success including Amari Cooper, Lavonte David, Willis McGahee and James Cook. Northwestern is ranked No. 34 in our expanded top 100 and have won four in a row. Aside from a forfeit loss last season, Central won five straight games in this rivalry between 2021-23, including two playoff matchups.
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) at Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio) Friday, 7 p.m.
Top players
Archbishop Moeller: QB
Matt Ponatoski (6-2, 190), TE
Cooper McCutcheon (6-4, 235), OT
Kalel Johnson (6-7, 297), DL
Christian Harris (6-1, 290), OT
Patrick O'Brien (6-6, 280)
Elder: QB
Kaden Estep (6-0, 170), LB
Derek Uran (6-2, 200), WR
Chase Walpole (6-1, 185), RB
Tommy Becker (5-11, 185), WR
Jackson Ruth (5-10, 170)
This heated Cincinnati rivalry will see its 70th installment Friday. Elder is coming off an impressive 23-13 win over St. Xavier but this week will be the toughest test yet. Archbishop Moeller's only loss this year was a narrow 43-42 defeat against Chicago Mt. Carmel, the No. 1 team in Illinois.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) at No. 19 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) Friday, 7:15 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Cathedral Catholic: QB
Brady Palmer (6-5, 230), ATH
Honor Faalave (6-1, 190), WR
Isaac Cook (6-1, 185), LB
Stavros Hetrick (6-4, 205), LB
Kevin Clark (6-2, 195)
De La Salle: QB
Brayden Knight (6-3, 195), ATH
Jaden Jefferson (5-9, 170),
Duece Jones-Drew (5-8, 180), DB
Jelani Dyer (5-9, 160), DL
Wyatt Ferguson (6-0, 275)
Cathedral heads to Concord to take on the No. 1 team in Northern California in what could be a physical matchup. The Dons are ranked No. 93 in our expanded top 100 and are led by Faalave, who has six total touchdowns on offense. De La Salle's backfield of Jefferson, Jones-Drew and
Brady Smith has combined to rush for 1,005 yards with 19 touchdowns.
La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) at St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) Saturday, 7 p.m.
Top players
La Salle College: QB
Gavin Sidwar (6-3, 195), TE
John-Patrick Oates (6-3, 223), OT
Grayson McKeogh (6-7, 275), S
Joey O'Brien (6-3, 185), LB Zykee Scott (6-3, 225)
St. Joseph's Prep: QB
Charlie Foulke (6-2, 192), WR
Jett Harrison (6-2, 178), DL
Alex Haskell (6-4, 265), S
Simaj Hill (6-1, 180), S
Brandon Lockley Jr. (6-2, 216)
These teams have met over 100 times in a rivalry that dates back to 1915. St. Joseph's Prep has won two straight games after starting the season 0-3, with one loss coming to No. 2 St. Frances Academy 34-26. The only thing holding La Salle back from a perfect record was a 39-36 fall to Roman Catholic last week. These teams split the season series in 2024 with La Salle winning 35-34 in a quadruple overtime regular season thriller. In the postseason St. Joseph's Prep was victorious by a 21-14 result.
Brother Rice (Chicago, Ill.) at Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago, Ill.) Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top players
Brother Rice: QB
C.J. Gray (6-0, 195), TE
Jack McNamara (6-5, 235), DL
King Liggins (6-2, 285), DL
Brayden Parks (6-3, 305), DE
Kameron McGee (6-3, 234)
Chicago Mt. Carmel: WR
Quentin Burrell (6-3, 175), OT
Claude Mpouma (6-7, 308), DL
Braeden Jones (6-4, 250), DE
Joey Quinn (6-6, 250), CB
Tavares Harrington (6-3, 175)
This rivalry goes back to 1958 and both teams are undefeated. Chicago Mt. Carmel is No. 2 in the state and No. 61 nationally. The Caravan have been led by former Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch as head coach since 2018 and he has posted an 80-11 career record. Brother Rice is No. 4 in the state and 5-0 for the first time since 2018. The Crusaders are looking to win their first state championship since 1981.
No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Mater Dei: QB
Ryan Hopkins (6-3, 195), RB
Justin Lewis (5-11, 200), WR
Chris Henry Jr. (6-5, 210), LB
Sosene Schuster (6-2, 210), DB
C.J. Lavender Jr. (5-11, 175)
Orange Lutheran: QB
Reagan Toki (6-1, 185), RB
Jae Nembhard (5-8, 175), WR
Nico Bland (6-2, 190), S
Kiingbaraka Kizzee (6-3, 175), DE
Marcus Fakatou (6-7, 285)
Mater Dei rebounded after falling to Centennial by beating No. 6 Bishop Gorman 27-24 on Sept. 19. Hopkins has thrown for five touchdowns the past two weeks in his first year as the starter. This week he will have one of the top pass rushers in the country coming after him in five-star sophomore Fakatou, who has four sacks and five blocked kicks this season. The Lancers are ranked No. 33 in our expanded top 100.
The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) at No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) Friday, 7 p.m.
Top players
The First Academy: QB
Brian Dillard (6-0, 185), RB
Jaelyn Powell (5-9, 190), WR
Brian Williams (6-4, 190), LB
Ryon Smith (6-3, 228), S
Devin Jackson (6-3, 185)
St. Frances Academy: QB
Jae'Oyn Williams (5-10, 200), RB
Jaylen Burke (5-10, 195), WR
James Branch (6-3, 210), DL
Zion Elee (6-4, 235), DB
Jireh Edwards (6-2, 210)
St. Frances Academy hosts the No. 9 team in Florida. The First Academy has won four straight games since starting the season 0-2. The Royals have a balanced offense that has scored 12 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing scores. St. Frances has marquee wins over Chaminade-Madonna and St. Joseph's Prep with a close loss to No. 1 St. John Bosco 21-14. The Panthers are led by a pair of five-stars defensively in Edwards and Elee.
Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) at Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.) Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Thompson: QB
Trent Seaborn (6-1, 191), RB
Urijah Casey (5-9, 177), WR
Darion Moseley (6-0, 185), DE
Cam Pritchett (6-3, 240), DB
Eli King (5-11, 170)
Hewitt-Trussville: QB
Jack Floyd (5-8, 162), RB
Delvecchio Alston II (6-0, 210), WR
Dylan Cope (6-3, 190), LB
Antonio Wynn (5-10, 190), CB
Caden Ali (6-1, 170)
This top five Alabama showdown features two squads that have squared off every year since 2018. In three of those seasons they also met in the postseason. Undefeated Hewitt-Trussville comes in at No. 4 in the state with signature wins over Hoover and Vestavia Hills. Thompson is No. 2 and both of the losses have come against nationally-ranked squads in No. 3 Grayson and No. 24 Clay-Chalkville. Thompson has won seven straight games against Hewitt-Trussville with last season's 15-10 victory being the closest.
Guyer (Denton, Texas) at Coppell (Texas) Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Guyer: QB
Zephyr Kreye (6-4, 215), RB
Kaedyn Cobbs (6-1, 200), WR
Corbin Glasco (5-9, 175), DB
Jaylon Sterling (6-1, 180), DE
Zane Rowe (6-4, 250)
Coppell: QB
Carter Zingelmann (6-5, 220), RB
Jayden George (5-8, 190), WR
Jacob Anene (6-2, 175), LB
Madden Montague (5-10, 195), DB
Jaden Bibbs (5-10, 180)
A battle of teams in our expanded top 100. Guyer is No. 90 and has a pair of nail-biting losses to top 100 teams in Aledo and North Crowley. Coppell comes in at No. 99 and runs an offense that dominates on the ground. The Cowboys three-headed rushing attack averages nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns per game. This is the third straight season these teams have played and Guyer won both previous matchups.
