The MaxPreps Game of the Week lived up to the hype as No. 3 Miami Central (Miami) held on for a 42-35 win over Columbus (Miami) in the GMAC Championship at Traz Powell Stadium. The Rockets jumped out to a 35-7 halftime lead but the Explorers scored 21 consecutive points in the third quarter to cut the lead to 35-28.
The Rockets responded as
Keyone Jenkins connected with
LaWayne McCoy to cap off a 65-yard touchdown drive to take a 42-28 lead with 10:23 left. Columbus answered with a score with 8:08 remaining but the Rockets defense would hold on down the stretch forcing a fumble as the Explorers were trying to drive down the field to tie it. Four-star defensive lineman
Rueben Bain had another monster night racking up four sacks giving him 17 on the season.
Senior quarterback
Keyone Jenkins threw for four touchdowns and 2023 Pittsburgh commit
Lamar Seymore had a huge night racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and two scores. McCoy hauled in two touchdown receptions as the Rockets improved to 8-0 and added another quality win to their resume.
Denton Guyer's (Denton, Texas) five-star quarterback
Jackson Arnold put on a show on national television leading the Wildcats to a 49-7 win over Allen (Texas) on ESPN2. The Wildcats improved to 8-0 and have won every game by at least 17 points. Arnold was featured in our
MaxPreps Player of the Year Watch List. The 2023 Oklahoma commit completed 25 of 28 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns while adding 84 yards rushing and another score.
Senior wide receiver
Landon Sides has been Arnold's favorite target all season and hauled in seven receptions for 132 yards and two scores. Junior wideout
Josiah Martin posted eight receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Five-star safety
Peyton Bowen added an impressive 60-yard punt return score.
No. 15 Duncanville (Texas) was the only other MaxPreps Top 25 team to play on Thursday and cruised to a 63-0 win over Skyline (Dallas). The Panthers improved to 7-0. Up next for the 6A Division 1 state runner-up is rival DeSoto (Texas) on Oct. 28. The Eagles are 6-1 and their only loss came against No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) won its 26th game in row beating Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) 52-7 at Saddleback College. The Monarchs control their own destiny when it comes to finishing the year as the top-ranked team in the country and have one Trinity League matchup left on Oct. 28 at Servite (Anaheim) before the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs get underway. Junior quarterback
Elijah Brown completed 13 of 14 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) won its second game in a row after a 17-7 loss against Mater Dei (Santa Ana) beating Orange Lutheran (Orange) 48-7. The Braves close out the regular season against Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Oct. 28.
MaxPreps Top 25 National Scoreboard
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) at Saddleback College (Mission Viejo)
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Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Traz Powell Stadium (Miami)
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Thursday, 6 p.m. - ESPN2
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