Most of last week's top games zeroed in on California teams going against out-of-state powers.
This week's Top 10 Game of the Week slate features five intrastate contests among Golden State Top 25 teams.
However, the top game — top-ranked Mater Dei at Arizona power Centennial — is an out-of-state battle, as is No. 21 Servite traveling to perennial national power Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.
Video: Top 10 MaxPreps California Games of the Week Five intrastate games pitting 10 ranked teams highlight big Golden State week.
The rest of the games pit Golden State standouts battling against fellow Californians.
MaxPreps California Top 10 high school football Games of the Week
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) at Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)7 p.m. Friday (NFHS)Top Players
If ever there was a trap game for the nation's No. 1 team Mater Dei (2-0) it would be this. A week in front of its showdown with St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), in a game that would pit the No. 1 and 2 teams in the country, the Monarchs must avoid complacency against the fourth ranked team in Arizona. Under Richard Taylor, the Coyotes (1-0) have won at least 10 games 15 straight seasons and over the last five seasons have gone 64-8.
No. 3 Centennial (Corona) at No. 6 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)7 p.m. Friday (NFHS)Top Players
Two teams coming off very impressive wins. Centennial (1-1) defeated previously ranked Orange Lutheran (Orange) 56-14 behind 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns by Nicholas Floyd, 10 tackles from Jacob Mitchell and a remarkable four pick-6s from the secondary. Cathedral Catholic used a stellar defensive effort, including a goal-line stand in the final seconds to knocked off Arizona's No. 1 team Saguaro, 18-10. Joseph Sprague and Swafford had key interceptions for the Dons.
No. 21 Servite (Anaheim) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)8 p.m. Saturday
Top Players
Servite: TE
Jake Overman (6-3, 230), DE
Tristen Wilson (6-2, 195), OL
Nicholas Martinez (6-6, 300), WR
Tetairoa McMillan (6-3, 185), ATH
Noah Avinger (5-11, 165)
A great interstate rivalry continues after a three-year layoff. Servite might not think the rivalry so great, as it has lost five straight times to the perennial national power Gaels. The first meeting was a humdinger as then-sophomore quarterback Tate Martell came off the bench to ignite a late rally, lifting Gorman to a 31-28 win at Servite in 2011. After that, it was rather lopsided, with Gorman winning 42-0, 41-17, 48-27 and 38-7. Servite (1-0) started 2019 with a 48-7 win over J.W. North. The Friars allowed just 133 yards. Gorman comes in licking its wounds following a 31-19 loss at St. Louis (Honolulu). The Gaels opened with an impressive 40-7 home win over Orem (Utah).
No. 7 Mission Viejo at No. 14 La Habra7 p.m. FridayGame Preview and
Follow LiveTop Players
Following a gritty 21-14 opening-night win over Upland, La Habra breezed past Redlands East Valley 56-7, taking a 42-7 halftime lead before cruising. Zanelli threw five first-half touchdown passes. Mission Viejo's backfield of Scott and Jacquez Robertson has combined for 411 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) at No. 16 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village)7 p.m. FridayGame Preview and Follow Live
Top Players
Oaks Christian: WR
Ethan Calvert (6-3, 230), QB
Jameson Wang (6-1, 190), WR
Bryce Farrell (5-11, 170), LB
Dylan Devito (6-1, 220).
Oaks Christian (1-1) needs a big rebound following a 26-point loss to Grace Brethren last week. With a win over the Trailblazers (2-0), the sting of that will defeat will largely go away. Sierra Canyon is coming off a big 37-12 win over Lawndale in which five different players scored touchdowns. This is the first time the two Southern Section powers have met.
Doug Brumfield, Serra-Gardena
File photo by Doug Stringer
WR
LV Bunkley-Shelton (6-0, 180), LB
Justin Houston (6-4, 200), WR
Ronald Gilliam (6-0, 192), CB
Devyn King (5-11, 175), QB
Doug Brumfield (6-5, 213), QB
Maalik Murphy (6-4, 205)
In the first meeting between the Southern Section powers, college prospects are everywhere, including Serra's tandem quarterbacks Brumfield, a senior and UNLV commit, and Murphy, rated one of the best sophomores in the country. In a 41-14 opening win over Garfield last week, running back Jaylon Armstead rushed for 223 yards and five touchdowns on five carries. The combination of Casey to Wilson is one of the best in the state. They connected seven times for 117 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-26 win over Rancho Cucamonga last week.
No. 15 Upland at No. 25 Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley)7 p.m. FridayGame Preview and
Follow LiveTop PlayersUpland: LB
Justin Flowe (6-2, 225), LB
Jonathan Flowe (6-1, 210), QB
Evan Rowe (6-1, 185), RB Tyevin Ford (6-0, 150), RB-LB Kyle Floyd (6-0, 180)
Rancho Verde: QB
AJ Duffy (6-1, 197), RB
Jordan Jefferson (5-7, 165), WR
Andre' Mckinney Jr. (5-8, 150), WR
Jonah Carnell (5-11, 170), LB
Kenya Dorsey II (6-0, 225)
Rancho Verde (2-0) entered the Top 25 rankings after outscoring its first two opponents, 94-7. It's a big step up for the Mustangs against Upland, which rebounded from a tough 21-14 loss to La Habra. The Highlanders got a 48-0 win over Crenshaw as quarterback Evan Rowe completed two early touchdown passes to Daniel Sosa and the defense did the rest. Upland beat visiting Rancho Verde 24-13 last season in the only game between the two teams.
7:30 p.m. Saturday at James Logan (Honor Bowl)
Game Preview and Follow LiveTop PlayersLiberty: QB
Jay Butterfield (6-6, 205), RB
Brenden Bell (5-10, 185), WR
Cody Muth (6-1, 185), OL/DL
Payton Zdroik (6-1, 265), OL/DL
Akili Calhoun (6-4, 250)
Clayton Valley: QB
Jake Kern (6-2, 200), RB
Makhi Gervais (5-11, 165), LB
Rocky Aven (6-0, 195), OL/DL
Kavika Baumgartner (6-2, 270)
Another big game at the Honor Bowl, this is a rematch of a North Coast Section Open Division semifinal game last season, a 42-14 Liberty victory. The loss ended Clayton Valley's season.
Serra (San Mateo) vs. Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Levi's StadiumGame Preview and Follow LiveTop PlayersSerra: WR
Terence Loville (6-0, 180), QB
Daylin McLemore (6-3, 195), RB/FS
Nate Sanchez (5-11, 180), DL
Nusi Malani (6-6, 260)
Menlo-Atherton: WR
Troy Franklin (6-2, 180), WR/DB
Justin Anderson (6-0, 170), QB
Matt MacLeod (5-11, 170), LB
Joe Posthauer (6-1, 195)
Two of the Central Coast Section's top teams — each winners of a state title — collide at Levi's Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers. Both are coming off with resounding wins over top Bay Area teams, Menlo-Atherton over Bellarmine (51-14) and Serra over Pittsburg (58-21).
No. 17 Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) at Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates)3 p.m. FridayGame Preview and
Follow LiveTop PlayersPalos Verdes: QB
Jake Jellison (5-11, 175), ATH
Julian Alessi (6-1, 175), RB/CB Jacob Wilson (5-10, 175), RB/LB
Dominic Ciolino (5-8, 170).
Palos Verdes (2-0) could move into the Top 25 with an upset of Corona del Mar (2-0), which has looked sharp in two victories, piling up 99 points and 1,017 yards. Of those, Garbers, a Washington commit, has 820 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. Humphreys, a Stanford commit, has 18 catches for 282 yards and Schlom had hauled in six TD passes.
