MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

The latest edition of the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week is chock full of key postseason matchups for nationally ranked teams.

Six of the games this time around involve at least one team listed in the latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings. The most notable showdown takes place in Ohio, where No. 18 Colerain (Cincinnati) plays 24th-ranked crosstown rival Moeller with a trip to the Division I state semifinals on the line.

In addition, the nation's Nos. 1 and 2 teams both face tough second-round playoff tests against former Xcellent 25 teams. Top-ranked Washington (Miami) must survive University (Fort Lauderdale) to keep its hopes for a national championship and repeat 4A state title alive. Meanwhile, No. 2 DeSoto (Texas) could have its hands full with Coppell, whose only loss this year was to No. 3 Allen.

Only one game separates first and second place in our season-long predictions contest. Jamie DeMoney is sitting in the top spot for the second-straight week after correctly picking seven out of 10 winners a week ago. His 90-39-1 cumulative record is one game ahead of Stephen Spiewak and three games clear of Leland Gordon in third place.

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. Also be sure to check out our playoff brackets from around the country.


Colerain (Cincinnati) vs. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)

What to watch: No. 18 Colerain's recipe for success is no secret. The Cardinals (12-0) hammer opponents with a ground-based offensive attack that's totaled more than 3,900 yards this season while throwing for less than 700. Quarterback Kelvin Cook and running back Detuan Smith – both seniors – have more than 1,300 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns apiece. For Moeller (11-1), the top offensive weapon has been quarterback Gus Ragland. The senior has 1,657 yards passing, 1,153 rushing yards and 39 total touchdowns.

Just the facts: Saturday will be the sixth meeting between these teams – all coming in the playoffs – since 2004. Colerain holds a 4-1 edge in the previous five matchups, but Moeller beat the Cardinals in this same playoff round last season en route to the Division I state championship. … Moeller's championship last season was its eighth in school history but first since 1985. Colerain captured its only state title in 2004.

Mitch Stephens: Moeller 17, Colerain 14
Kevin Askeland: Colerain 35, Moeller 25
Jamie DeMoney: Moeller 30, Colerain 23
Stephen Spiewak: Colerain 31, Moeller 28
Leland Gordon: Moeller 24, Colerain 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: Colerain 28, Moeller 21