It's yet another titanic matchup involving No. 1 Don Bosco Prep in this week's Top 10 Games of the Week. Ninth-ranked St. Edward of Ohio is the latest team that will try and flatten the Ironmen.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
For the third time this season, the nation's top-ranked team will be put to the test by a powerful opponent from outside its state's borders.
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), No. 1 in both the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 writers poll and the Freeman Computer Rankings, plays defending Ohio Division I champion St. Edward (Lakewood) Saturday at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y. St. Edward, ranked No. 9 in the Xcellent 25 and No. 24 in the computer rankings, is the third team on Don Bosco's schedule that was nationally ranked in at least one preseason poll.
Meanwhile, the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week also includes another Xcellent 25 matchup. This one kicks off Thursday in South Florida, where No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas hosts No. 24 Miramar. Aquinas has won its last five games against Top 25 teams, dating back to 2009.
Other intriguing contests across the nation include a couple of crosstown rivalry games. In Georgia, it's the 50th "Winnersville Classic" with Lowndes shooting for its eighth straight win over longtime nemesis Valdosta. Out west, there's a rematch of last year's CIF-SS Northern Division title game as undefeated Westlake hosts once-beaten Oaks Christian.
Even with back-to-back 6-4 weeks, Kevin Askeland continues to hold a three-game lead over his next-closest competitors in our season-long prediction contest. The biggest story from the rest of the field is the resurgence of Mitch Stephens who, after a slow start to the year, has been on target with 17 of his last 20 selections and now is in a four-way tie for second place with Jamie DeMoney, Steve Montoya and Stephen Spiewak.
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. 9 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. No. 1 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)Defending Ohio Division I champion St. Edward is 6-0 this season and has a 21-game winning streak overall. The Eagles were dominant in 2010, winning by an average margin of 26 points. This year, St. Edward's scoring output is down more than a field goal per game compared to last season, but statistically speaking its defense is slightly better. Michigan-bound offensive tackle
Kyle Kalis and four other Eagles senior linemen are committed to BCS-caliber colleges. With its 52-13 blowout of Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.) on Sept. 24, St. Edward improved its record to 17-1 against non-Ohio teams since 2004.
In addition to beating top opponents from California and Florida this year, Don Bosco Prep also has already defeated its toughest league opponent. Last week, despite trailing by a point to start the fourth quarter, the Ironmen beat Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 33-22. Super sophomore
Jabrill Peppers and senior
Elijah Shumate combined for more than 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Don Bosco has won 39 straight games and owns eight consecutive wins against out-of-state competition. This game was moved to Fordham University just last week after originally begin scheduled for Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.
Mitch Stephens: Don Bosco Prep 28, St. Edward 10
Steve Montoya: Don Bosco Prep 21, St. Edward 14
Stephen Spiewak: Don Bosco Prep 28, St. Edward 10
Kevin Askeland: Don Bosco Prep 35, St. Edward 13
Jamie DeMoney: Don Bosco Prep 23, St. Edward 20
