Desert Vista (Phoenix) snapped what was then the nation's longest winning streak (53 games) when it ran away with a 45-19 victory over Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) in last season's Arizona Division I state championship game. That rematch of one of last season's biggest upsets is part of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.
Among the nationally ranked teams with featured matchups this week is third-ranked Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). The Eagles open Trinity League action against Servite (Anaheim) playing without their standout quarterback Johnny Stanton. The Nebraska recruit is expected to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
Elsewhere, No. 20 Lassiter (Marietta, Ga.) is on upset alert against rival Walton (Marietta), the team that knocked it out of the state playoffs last season. Meanwhile, No. 23 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) takes on unbeaten league foe DeMatha (Hyattsville), looking for its first three-game winning streak against the Stags.
Jamie DeMoney's 8-2 record last week allowed him to open a two-game lead in our season-long predictions contest. He has correctly predicted the winner in 46 out of 60 (76.6 percent) games this year. In a tie for second place, just two games back, are Steve Montoya and Leland Gordon. Mitch Stephens and Stephen Spiewak share fourth place, only three games off the pace. Kevin Askeland sits in last place but is only four games behind the leader.
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, Leland Gordon and Jamie DeMoney.
MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week
Desert Vista played streak-buster last season in a huge victory over Hamilton in the state title game. Now the Huskies are looking for revenge in a Grand Canyon State marquee matchup.
Photos by Mitchell Reibel/Todd Shurtleff. Graphic by Bryce Escobar
Desert Vista was blown out by Hamilton five consecutive times before it stunned the Huskies in last year's Division I championship game, ending a winning streak that spanned 53 straight games. Eleven starters from 2011 are back this season including senior
Jarek Hilgers, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back who had a career-high 269 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the Thunder's 56-35 win against Saguaro (Scottsdale) last Friday.
Read Jason Skoda's game preview storyHamilton's two defeats at the halfway point of this year tie the total number of losses it had during the 2008-2011 seasons combined. But after starting the year at 0-2, the Huskies have won four consecutive games by double-digit margins. Last week they ran their all-time record to 17-0 against crosstown rival Chandler with a 34-18 victory.
Mitch Stephens: Desert Vista 28, Hamilton 27
Steve Montoya: Desert Vista 22, Hamilton 20
Stephen Spiewak: Desert Vista 35, Hamilton 21
Kevin Askeland: Hamilton 24, Desert Vista 21
Leland Gordon: Hamilton 35, Desert Vista 34
Jamie DeMoney: Hamilton 28, Desert Vista 14
