The programs met twice last season with Centennial winning both, including a playoff victory that ended Mater Dei's season.
Sophomore running back
Asir Nembhard has led the Mater Dei offense, rushing for six touchdowns this season. Centennial counters with a three-headed monster at running back to go with a passing attack featuring
Jaden Jefferson and USC commit
Quentin Hale.
In another big game on the opposite side of the country, No. 21
Central (Miami, Fla.) travels to Georgia this week to take on No. 5
Buford (Ga.) in a matchup of 2-0 squads.
Head coach Bryant Appling's defending national champions at Buford haven't missed a beat in 2026, outscoring their first two opponents 80-26. (PHOTO: Corey Jones)
Central has a signature win against
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), which is coming off a win last week against a then-ranked
Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) program.
Buford hasn't missed a beat since winning the national championship last season with several top players graduating on both sides of the football. This week the Wolves add five-star Texas Tech commit
Jalen Brewster, who was ruled eligible today after transferring from
Cedar Hill (Texas). The defensive tackle is ranked as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2027
247Sports.
Baylor has averaged 42 points per game behind five-star running back
David Gabriel Georges, who rushed for three touchdowns last week in a 51-33 win.
Trinity is putting up 47 points per game, including a 59-point performance to open the season against one of the top teams in Ohio. Led by senior
Jamaurion Berry, the Shamrocks average 8.4 yards per rushing attempt.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
TOP 10 GAMES THIS WEEK
No. 13 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) at No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) – Watch live NFHS Network, MaxPreps Game of the Week
Players to watch
Centennial: QB
Jaden Jefferson (5-10, 175), RB
Malaki Davis (6-1, 220), WR
Quentin Hale (6-3, 195), DB
Dean Gibson (5-10, 190), LB
Matt Salmeron (5-11, 205)
Mater Dei: QB
Cameron Pooley (6-3, 215), RB
Asir Nembhard (5-9, 180), WR
Jaylen Grier (6-1, 175), DB
Isaiah Danns (6-0, 165), LB
Dailon Clanton (6-1, 210)
No. 21 Central (Miami, Fla.) at No. 5 Buford (Ga.) Thursday, 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)
Buford: QB
D.J. Hunter (6-2, 205), RB
A.J. Granville (5-9, 180), WR
Ashton Thomas (5-10, 175), LB
Brady Wagner (6-0, 220), DT
Jalen Brewster (6-3, 310)
No. 11 Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at No. 23 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Baylor: QB
Keegan Croucher (6-4, 205), RB
David Gabriel Georges (6-0, 210), TE
Braxton Rein (6-6, 235), S
Antwaun Adams (6-2, 185), LB
Khori Faulkner (6-0, 220)
Trinity: QB
Zane Johnson (6-1, 215), RB
Jamaurion Berry (5-10, 215), WR
Jason Hagan (6-1, 195), CB
Allen Evans (6-2, 190), DL
Sebastian Blue (6-3, 277)
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Players to watch
Cardinal Newman: QB
Pedro Martinez (5-11, 175), RB
Janarro Sumpter (5-10, 205), WR
Justin Barerra (5-10, 170), DE
Ty Kirkpatrick (6-3, 240), S
Kahlil Gabaud (6-3, 182)
West Boca Raton: QB
Trey Moran (5-11, 185), RB
Quinton Miller Jr. (5-9, 185), WR
Lorontae Davis (6-0, 185), DT
Joey Cammarata (6-1, 295), LB
Maxwell Reid (6-0, 210)
Milton (Ga.) at Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.) Friday, 7 p.m.
Players to watch
Milton: QB
Derrick Baker (6-2, 235), RB
Sheldon Atchison (5-10, 210), WR
Jordan Carrasquillo (6-2, 200), DE
Roman Tumminia (6-1, 220), S
Malik Rolle (6-2, 185)
Battle Ground Academy: QB
Bo Bryan (6-1, 200), WR
Maddox Porter (6-3, 190), WR
Max Curry (5-10, 180), DB
Kaden McNeal (5-10, 160), LB
Mannie Fentress (6-0, 215)
North Shore (Houston, Texas) vs. South Oak Cliff (Dallas, Texas) Saturday, 3 p.m. at Cotton Bowl
Players to watch
North Shore: QB
Javoris Taylor (6-0, 185), RB
Kaden Brandley (5-10, 190), WR
Jaden Kendrick (5-8, 160), S
Dasean Royal (5-10, 175), DE
Ezarian Fields (6-5, 212)
South Oak Cliff: QB
Jayden Williams (6-1, 175), RB
Kenneth Young (5-8, 180), TE
Brenden Freeney (6-5, 225), DE
Layndyn Dellums (6-3, 220), S
Jyrion Hampton (6-1, 175)
Bixby (Okla.) vs. Jenks (Okla.) Friday, 7:30 p.m. at H.A. Chapman Stadium
Players to watch
Bixby: QB
Isaiah Butcher IV (6-1, 210), RB
Tylan Montgomery (5-8, 180), WR
Hilkyah Sampson (5-10, 170), LB
Cain Brackney (6-2, 220), LB
Ben Puckett (6-4, 210)
Jenks: QB
Landon Kizzar (6-1, 185), TE
Braxton Daniel (6-4, 218), OL
Odaefe Oruru (6-6, 310), S
Kailib Dillard (6-2, 181), S
Clark Cariker (5-11, 190)
Waxahachie (Texas) at Guyer (Denton, Texas) Thursday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Waxahachie: QB
Jerry Meyer III (6-2, 195), RB
Taylen Strange (5-8, 190), WR
Jashawn Crayton (6-2, 185), DE
Carmelo Clawson (6-2, 220), CB
Braylon Davis (5-9, 165)
Guyer: QB
Carter Morgan (6-3, 200), RB
Kash Villegas (5-10, 195), WR
D.J. Reese (5-9, 180), DL
Logan Lokey (6-4, 250), DB
Landon De La Garza (6-0, 180)
Bellevue (Wash.) at Puyallup (Wash.)Saturday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Bellevue: QB
Kason Carta (6-2, 180), ATH
R.J. Ward (6-1, 205), CB
Kaden Johnson (6-0, 170), LB
Mose Kalio Kalepo (6-2, 215), DE
Kaden Kooner (6-3, 240)
Puyallup: QB
Noah Smith (6-0, 190), WR
J'Isaiah Mitchell (6-5, 196), OL
Gecova Doyal (6-4, 285), S
Markel Newell (5-11, 190), DT
Kitiona Tupua (6-3, 300)
No. 25 Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.) at Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.) Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network
Players to watch
Lee County: QB
Cohen Lawson (6-1, 195), RB
Jordan Bush (6-0, 180), WR
Jaden Upshaw (6-3, 200), LB
Jace Murray (5-11, 225), DB
Preston Manriquez (6-1, 200)
Colquitt County: QB
Khi Mitchell (5-10, 170), RB
Jason Stephenson Jr. (5-9, 170), WR
Antwan Lockett (6-0, 175), S
Johnte' Lewis (6-0, 160), S
Josh Alford (5-11, 180)
