Six Top 25 teams are featured in this week's slate.
Friday's game between IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) is one of the most anticipated of the year. There will be nearly 50 players with at least one offer from an FBS program and 27 are already committed to a Power 5 school.
These
powerhouse programs have only played once before in 2016 when the Ascenders rolled to a 38-0 victory.
The
Ascenders have won 50 of their last 51 games while the Panthers have
reeled off 29 of their last 30. The only loss for each? The
current No. 1 team in the country, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).
A big-time Georgia showdown is going down between No. 21 Marietta (Ga.) and McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) with the winner having the 7A inside track.
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference has two games featured. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) hosts No. 18 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and St. John's (Washington, D.C.) takes on No. 25 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).
The other states featured this week include California, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama.
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) at Morgan State University (Baltimore)
Top Players
This is a statement game for both schools as it's the last time this year either faces a Top 25 opponent. IMG Academy has won 50 its last 51 games while the Panthers have won 29 of their last 30. Both teams lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). This will be the second meeting between the two programs. The Ascenders won the previous one in 2016 behind a strong game from
Kellen Mond,
Trey Sanders,
Grant Delpit and
Dylan Moses.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
Two teams that will be favorites to win the 7A state title face off with first place on the line in Region 3. McEachern had a close call last week but escaped with a 19-14 win over Hillgrove (Powder Springs) to improve to 6-0. Marietta handed North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.) its first loss of the year with a 49-0 win. 2020 Tennessee commit Bailey completed 19-of-23 passes for 410 yards and had seven total touchdowns.
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Top Players
The last time these two DMV powers played was in the WCAC championship and Gonzaga pulled out a 46-43 in one of the craziest games over the last decade. The Eagles are looking to bounce back after a five-overtime loss to Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) last week . The Stags have won five straight since a season opening loss on the road against No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).
Friday, 7 p.m.
Top Players
The Cadets wanted to have the toughest schedule in the country to get them ready for the WCAC so don't let its 3-4 record trick you. They are still one of the best teams in high school football and loaded with talent. Good Counsel got a huge win last week against Gonzaga and looks to ride that momentum to a 2-0 start in the WCAC.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
If you like offense, this game is for you. Corona Centennial scored at least 60 points in three of the last four games and is averaging 51 points per game. Norco has eclipsed the 60-point mark twice this season and are averaging over 52 points per game. This is the 17th meeting between the two since 2004 and the Huskies have dominated, winning 14 of the previous 16 including nine straight.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
Two of the Palmetto State's best square off as both enter 7-0. Byrnes has outscored the opposition 312-48 and won every game by at least 25 points. Dorman has been just as dominant outscoring its opposition 321-45. The Rebels have won 16 of the previous 20 meetings but the Cavs have won the last two.
Top Players
The Bucks started the year 0-2 but have won five straight and outscored the opposition 250-6 during the winning streak. They face the toughest test of the season on Friday as the Raiders have been rolling in 2019. Aquinas has won all six games by double digits.
Top Players
The Wildcats puts their 7-0 record to test against a team just outside of the Top 25 rankings. The Packers have won four straight since a one-point loss to Valdosta (Ga.) and got a signature win three weeks ago against Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) by 24 points.
Both look to bounce back after suffering losses last week to the top two teams in the country. JSerra Catholic had its four-game winning streak snapped against St. John Bosco and Servite lost its second straight. Both losses have come against the Braves and Mater Dei. All five combined losses by both schools have come against Top 25 teams. This is the 14th meeting between the two since 2006 and the Friars have won nine of the previous 13 but the Lions have won the last two.
Top Players
Hoover is going for its 500th win in school history but must get past a very tough Rebels squad to earn it. Josh Niblett's team has battled injuries all season long. Ashford has been out since early September and Pauley missed last week. Other guys have stepped up though. The Buccaneers are 4-0 since Ashford suffered a foot injury and Hayes filled in at running back last week rushing for 280 yards and four touchdowns in their 42-35 win over Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.). Hoover has dominated this series, they are 16-4 over the last 20 meetings and have won four straight.
