MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

For the hungry football fan, last weekend's action was merely an appetizer. This week's MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week spotlights just a handful of offerings from a smorgasbord of outstanding prep matchups.

Four of this week's top games will be available to a national cable television audience, including a pair of contests between teams ranked in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard. On Friday, No. 9 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) will shoot for its second straight win over a ranked team this season when it entertains second-ranked Armwood (Seffner, Fla.). No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) travels to Hoover, Ala., to play No. 6 Prattville (Ala.) on Saturday. It will be the first game for the Raiders under coach Rocco Casullo.

Steve Montoya and Mitch Stephens share the lead after going 8-2 in the first week of our season-long prediction contest. Stephen Spiewak and Jamie DeMoney are tied for third after picking seven out of 10 games correctly. 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. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. No. 6 Prattville (Ala.)
The Rocco Casullo era begins at St. Thomas Aquinas with what is technically a neutral site game at Hoover (Ala.) against Prattville. Casullo was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach this spring after George Smith retired. Smith won 361 games in 35 seasons and closed his career with a five-year run that produced four state titles and two national championships. Aquinas has nine returning starters and is particularly strong at the running back position – led by senior Dami Ayoola – and along the defensive front seven, led by Miami-committed end Jelani Hamilton. First-year starting quarterback Max Lescano will need a pair of talented sophomore receivers – Corey Holmes and All Harris – to step up and help in the passing game.

From last season's 8-4 squad, Prattville returns 18 starters – including seven who have made FBS verbal commitments. They include Alabama recruit Justin Thomas at quarterback. Thomas was rated one of the top 25 athletes in the Class of 2012 by Tom Lemming. Florida State commit Justin Shanks – one of Lemming's top 25 defensive tackles – anchors the Lions' defense. Prattville is just 2-4 in its last six outings against out-of-state opponents. They lost last season to South Florida power Miami Central, 49-28.

Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Prattville 17
Steve Montoya: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Prattville 14
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Prattville 20
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Prattville 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 26, Prattville 7