Playoff seeding is at stake between the Trinity League rivals that have played 17 times since 2016, seven of which were in the postseason.
Both teams enter 7-2 with losses against the same opponents, No. 2
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) and No. 7
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.).
St. John Bosco is led by three-year starter
Koa Malau'ulu, who has thrown for 1,790 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Mater Dei counters with freshman
Paytyn Guess, who threw or 148 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in a 52-38 win over
Orange Lutheran (Orange) last week.
Koa Malal'ulu has been the starting quarterback at St. John Bosco since his freshman season. In three games against Mater Dei, the junior has passed for 699 yards and four touchdowns. (PHOTO: Paul Rodriguez)
In Louisiana No. 22
Edna Karr (New Orleans) squares off with
St. Augustine (New Orleans) in a battle of 8-0 teams.
Edna Karr has won five-straight in the series by an average of 21.8 points per game. But St. Augustine has won every game this season by at least two touchdowns while scoring over 40 points in every outing.
One of Georgia's biggest rivalries takes place as
Valdosta takes on
Lowndes (Valdosta) for the 49th time. Over the past 12 meetings, each team has six wins with Valdosta earning a 23-14 victory last season.
Both teams are undefeated at 8-0 and ranked in the top 100. Valdosta has scored over 50 points in every game this season while Lowndes has four shutouts.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
TOP 10 GAMES THIS WEEK
No. 11 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 18 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)Friday, 7 p.m. (All time local) – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
St. John Bosco: QB
Koa Malau'ulu (6-2, 185), RB
Maliq Allen (5-9, 185), WR
D.J. Tubbs (5-11, 180), LB
Ethan Coach (6-3, 205), DL
Simote Tupou (6-1, 245)
Mater Dei: QB
Paytyn Guess (5-10, 160), RB
Asir Nembhard (5-9, 180), WR
Gavin Honore (5-10, 180), DB
Isaiah Danns (6-0, 165), LB
Michael Davis (6-1, 220)
No. 22 Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.) at St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.) Saturday, 7 p.m.
Players to watch
Edna Karr: QB
Forest Johnson (6-0, 180), RB
Jermond Macklin (6-0, 186), WR
Ky'mani Henry (5-10, 160), DE
Juelz Batiste (6-5, 235), DB
Juan Jasmin (6-0, 185)
St. Augustine: QB
Jaelle Noble (6-3, 210), RB
Patrick Robinson II (5-9, 180), WR
Lucas Jefferson (6-0, 170), DE
Jacques Robichaux III (6-4, 240), LB
Braylon Walters (5-10, 215)
Valdosta (Ga.) at Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) Friday, 8 p.m.
Players to watch
Valdosta: QB
Tripp Perry (6-3, 185), RB
Deron Foster (5-9, 190), WR
Marquis Fennell (5-10, 185), DL
Jordin Foster (5-11, 255), DB
A.J. Hill (5-11, 180)
Lowndes: QB
Trey Robertson (6-3, 187), RB
Mason Woods (5-9, 170), WR
Kaevone Thomas (6-2, 200), LB
Marcus Vaughn (6-2, 225), LB
John Hogan (6-0, 212)
Central (Miami, Fla.) at Carol City (Miami, Fla.) Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Players to watch
Central: QB
James Perrone (6-2, 195), RB
Ninaud Joseph (5-9, 185), WR/CB
Trezavant Boyd (5-11, 160), LB
Steven Moore (6-1, 215), CB
Aaron Ellis (5-11, 175)
Carol City: QB
Malik Leonard (6-1, 172), RB
Bryn Davenport (6-0, 170), WR
Nicholas Lennear (6-0, 170), DE
Trevoris Finley Jr (6-3, 240), LB
Temorris Campbell (6-2, 210)
Broken Arrow (Okla.) at Bixby (Okla.) Friday, 7 p.m.
Players to watch
Broken Arrow: QB
Shamar Banner (6-3, 209), RB
Corey Sango Jr. (5-10, 180), WR
Kyran Myers (5-9, 160), S
Jack Gardner (6-2, 180), LB
Malik Ross (6-2, 220)
Bixby: QB
Reece Madden (6-3, 205), RB
Tylan Montgomery (5-8, 180), WR
Hilkyah Sampson (5-10, 175), LB
Ben Puckett (6-4, 210), DB
Kaiden Flowers (5-10, 170)
No. 2 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) at Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Santa Margarita: QB
Fletch Palmer (6-2, 195), RB
Adrian Petero (5-6, 190), WR
Kiyan Callis (5-10, 175), LB
Aydan Steen (6-2, 210), DL
Kingston Jimmerson (6-2, 280)
Orange Lutheran: QB
Reagan Toki (6-0, 190), RB
Ryan Christianson (5-9, 190), WR
Chris Flores Jr. (5-10, 165), S
King Rich Johnson (5-11, 175), S
Chauncey Washington II (6-3, 185)
The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) at Lakeland (Fla.) Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
The First Academy: QB
Deuce Woods Jr. (6-1, 175), RB
Hyquez Russell (5-10, 180), WR
Zechariah Jean-Bart (5-10, 155), CB
Bam Whitfield (5-11, 190), DL
J.P. Furtado (6-2, 300)
Lakeland: QB
Kelin Hendrix (5-10, 185), RB
Xavion Mitchell (5-10, 170), DE
Andrew Sapp (6-4, 250), DL
Santana Harvey (6-4, 235), DB
Jordan Young (6-3, 180)
Friday, 8 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Central: QB
Bobby Coleman (6-1, 180), RB
Jayshaun Woodhouse (5-7, 180), WR
Braylen Averett (5-10, 170), OL
Jatori Williams (6-5, 330), DE
Marcus Price (6-2, 240)
Clay-Chalkville: QB
Cornelius Eldridge Jr. (6-0, 175), WR
Nasir Ray (6-1, 205), DE
Keith Richmond (6-3, 225), DB
Leland Johnson (5-11, 185), DB
Jamario Yadao (5-11, 165)
Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.) at Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Players to watch
Carrollwood Day: QB
Myles McDonald (6-0, 205), RB
Kameron Battle (5-10, 185), WR
Derrell Hines Jr. (6-2, 180), DL
Zylen Little (6-2, 305), LB
Rashaun Fitts Jr. (5-11, 215)
Cardinal Newman: QB
Pedro Martinez Jr. (5-11, 176), RB
Janarro Sumpter (5-10, 205), WR
Justin Barerra (5-10, 170), LB
Chris Laborde (6-1, 201), LB
Cooper Clark (5-10, 185)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live MaxPreps YouTube
Players to watch
Frederick Douglass: QB
Jayden Guzman (5-10, 170), RB
Dakari Talbert (5-10, 185), WR
Jackson Ross (6-2, 200), S
Cionne Conn (6-1, 180), DL
Preston Bates (6-3, 280)
Boyle County: QB
Jhet Raleigh (6-1, 165), TE
Seneca Driver (6-7, 250), T
Christian Bryant (6-3, 285), DB
Gavin Johnson (6-1, 190), S
JaKain Logan (6-0, 180)
