It's a Trinity League blockbuster this week as Mater Dei will look to spoil St. John Bosco's run at a mythical national championship.
Photos by Ted Aguirre/Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Our weekly look inside the Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week begins in Southern California's Trinity League, rated the
second-toughest high school football league in America by MaxPreps.
Holding down the No. 5 spot in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) still has a shot at a mythical national championship. But the Braves must first win the Trinity League, and the latest obstacle in their path is Mater Dei (Santa Ana). The Monarchs look to bounce back from an upset loss to Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) that spelled their exit from the Xcellent 25.
There are five more games in this week's Top 10 lineup involving Xcellent 25 teams. The highlights include No. 9 Katy (Texas) trying to extend its 46-game regular-season winning streak and capture a district crown when is plays crosstown rival Cinco Ranch, and No. 21 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) will travel to Philadelphia to take on a talented Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.) team that hasn't played a game in its own home state all season.
Jamie DeMoney correctly selected eight out of 10 winners in last week's games while Stephen Spiewak went just 5-5. That leaves the two tied for the lead in our season-long predictions contest with a 70-29-1 record. Leland Gordon, who picked seven out of 10 correctly last week, is only one game back.
Here's a look at this week's Top 10 games along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland, Leland Gordon, Colin Ward-Henninger and Jamie DeMoney.
MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)What to watch: Mater Dei's hopes for a Trinity League title depend upon upsetting undefeated St. John Bosco. Last week's 16-7 loss to Santa Margarita was a tough outing for senior quarterback Chase Forrest, who was picked off three times -- equaling the total number of interceptions he threw in the seven previous games. On the other hand, St. John Bosco junior quarterback
Josh Rosen was on the money last week in a 48-7 blowout over JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano). The five-star prospect had two touchdown passes in the game to bring his total to 17 for the season.
Just the facts: All six members of the Trinity League are among the Top 12 of MaxPreps' Pac-5 Division playoff rankings. St. John Bosco is No. 1 and Mater Dei checks is No. 3. … Friday's game will be the ninth meeting in the series since 2004. St. John Bosco has won the last two meetings after Mater Dei had won the previous six in a row.
Mitch Stephens: St. John Bosco 28, Mater Dei 24
Kevin Askeland: St. John Bosco 40, Mater Dei 14
Jamie DeMoney: St. John Bosco 31, Mater Dei 7
Stephen Spiewak: St. John Bosco 35, Mater Dei 28
Leland Gordon: St. John Bosco 21, Mater Dei 14
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. John Bosco 28, Mater Dei 21
