High school football's weekend slate is headlined by No. 12
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) traveling to No. 1
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) in a Trinity League battle Friday.
St. John Bosco (9-0) has national title hopes with signature wins over No. 2
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) and No. 11
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.).
Although Mater Dei (6-2) has two losses for the first time since 2015, the Monarchs still have as much talent as anybody.
Every elite Bosco player will be covered by a Mater Dei blue-chipper and vice versa. Both schools have nearly 40 players with a Division I offer.
Bosco and Mater Dei have combined to win four national championships since 2017.
In nine games this season, junior St. John Bosco running back Maliq Allen has four touchdown runs and three scoring receptions. The three-star has 1,365 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground since last season. (PHOTO: Marc Gewertz)
In Florida, No. 17
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) travels to No. 14
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the MaxPreps Game of the Week. The powerhouse programs have a combined 65 players with Division I offers.
Chaminade-Madonna features three four-star wide receivers in
Jasen Lopez (Florida State),
Ah'Mari Stevens (Miami) and sophomore
Tromon Isaac Jr., easing some of the pressure on freshman quarterback
Malik Leonard.
Edna Karr has three shutouts on its resume this season but will be tested by a John Curtis Christian (7-0) squad that has scored 30 rushing touchdowns. Senior running backs
Jacobi Boudreaux and
Gavin Ledet have combined for 16 of those while sophomore quarterback
London Padgett has five.
Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.
Top 10 biggest games this week
No. 12 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 1 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Mater Dei: QB
Ryan Hopkins (6-3, 195), RB
Justin Lewis (5-11, 200), WR
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (6-2, 185), LB
Shaun Scott (6-3, 235), DB
C.J. Lavender Jr. (5-11, 175)
St. John Bosco: QB
Koa Malau'ulu (6-2, 185), RB
Maliq Allen (5-8, 190), WR
Madden Williams (6-2, 190), LB
Josiah Poyer (6-2, 233), DB
Jailen Hill (6-3, 170)
Mater Dei took down St. John Bosco twice last season on its way to a national championship. Now the Braves are the nation's No. 1 team. Quarterback Malau'ulu is out for revenge after completing 23 of 50 passses for three touchdowns and three picks in two games against Mater Dei last year. The sophomore has taken a huge jump this season with 30 touchdown passes against one interception.
No. 17 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) at No. 14 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live and free MaxPreps | YouTube
Top players
Chaminade-Madonna: QB
Malik Leonard (6-0, 170), RB
Derrek Cooper (6-2, 205), WR
Jasen Lopez (5-11, 175), WR
Ah'Mari Stevens (6-0, 170), S
Angelo Smith (5-10, 170)
St. Thomas Aquinas: QB
Mason Mallory (6-2, 195), WR
Julius Jones Jr. (5-11, 175), OT
Mark Matthews (6-6, 300), CB
Justice Fitzpatrick (6-2, 190), EDGE
Daniel Norman (6-4, 235)
Each team dropped their season openers and haven't lost since. Since falling to No. 2 St. Frances Academy, Chaminade-Madonna has fought its way back into the MaxPreps Top 25 with three shutouts and a big win over American Heritage. Freshman quarterback Leonard has thrown 20 touchdowns against three interceptions. Aquinas lost to then-No. 1 Mater Dei back in August and has outscored opponents 341-99 since. The Raiders are coming off a gritty 19-12 win over American Heritage last week. Four-star wide receiver Jones Jr. has 10 touchdown receptions.
No. 9 Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.) at John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) Friday, 7 p.m.
Top players
Edna Karr: QB
John Johnson (6-0, 180), WR
Xavier Owens (6-1, 150), DL
Richard Anderson (6-3, 340), S
Aiden Hall (6-2, 195), CB
Hayward Howard Jr. (6-2, 175)
John Curtis Christian: QB
London Padgett (6-0, 170), RB
Jacobi Boudreaux (5-11, 190), WR
Darryck Horton Jr. (5-11, 170), DB
Prentice MacKyeon Jr. (6-2, 190), LB
Jeffrey Curtis (5-9, 200)
John Curtis Christian is 7-0 for the first time since 2019 and ranked No. 99 in our expanded top 100. The running game led by senior running back Boudreaux averages 332 rushing yards per game. Now the Patriots have the No. 9 team in the nation featuring a nasty defense led by Texas pledge Howard Jr. along with LSU commits Anderson and Hall.
Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.) at No. 13 Carrollton (Ga.) Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Douglas County: WR
Devin Carter (6-1, 175), WR
Aaron Gregory (6-3, 180), OT
Joshua Sam-Epelle (6-9, 340), EDGE
Jordan Carter (6-4, 245), S
Kennedy Green (6-2, 195)
Carrollton: QB
C.J. Cypher (6-2, 188), WR
Ryan Mosley (6-4, 206), OT
Kweli Fielder (6-4, 315), CB
Dorian Barney (6-1, 180), CB Tyler Boyd (5-11, 190)
This game has firepower at every position as Douglas County four-star wide receivers Gregory (Texas A&M) and Carter (Florida State) will go up against Carrollton four-star defensive back Dorian Barney (Ole Miss). Carrollton has a top wide receiver of its own in four-star Mosley (Georgia). Freshman quarterback Cypher has completed 72 percent of his passes and has the Trojans undefeated. Douglas County is ranked No. 57 in our expanded top 100 and has two losses this season, one of which was against No. 8 Buford 34-26.
Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) at Valdosta (Ga.)Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Lowndes: QB
Jayce Johnson (6-4, 210), RB
Mason Woods (5-9, 170), WR
Ar'Tavian Brown (6-4, 193), LB
Garrick Harris (6-0, 217), DB
Anthony Martin (5-9, 165)
Valdosta: QB
Tyrieke Wade (6-1, 187), RB
Deron Foster (5-10, 245), WR
Prince Jean (6-1, 180), DT
Jevaris Kier (6-1, 195), LB
Tremaine Johnson (5-10, 180)
The Winnersville Classic was first played in 1968 and this year features two teams ranked in our national top 100. Lowndes is No. 68 and looking to complete its first perfect regular season since 2019. Valdosta checks in at No. 97 with the lone loss coming to No. 83 Colquitt County. The offensive fireworks could be on full display as each team averages over 40 points per game.
Puyallup (Wash.) at Graham-Kapowsin (Graham, Wash.)Friday, 7 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Puyallup: QB
Noah Smith (5-11, 180), WR
Lawson Looker (5-11, 165), ATH
J’Isaiah Mitchell (6-5, 196), WR/DB
Jayden Woodland (6-1, 175) OL
Gecova Doyal (6-6, 290), DE
Keegan Johnson (6-0, 245)
Graham-Kapowsin: QB
A.J. Tuivaiave (6-4, 210), RB
Blake Pearson (6-1, 220), WR
Kase Betz (5-11, 170), CB
Maurice Williams (6-1, 180), DT
Julius Hernandez (6-1, 235)
Puyallup has rolled through every opponent this season including the defending state champ Sumner 58-22 on Oct. 4. The Vikings are the top team in Washington and No. 88 in our expanded top 100. Three receivers have over 500 yards and a fourth receiver in
Luke Parker had two touchdown grabs last week. Parker started the first four games at quarterback and successfully made the transition to receiver when Smith became eligible. Graham-Kapowsin is ranked No. 9 in the state and has won four of the past five contests over Puyallup. The Eagles are led by sophomore three-star quarterback Tuivaiave, who has 15 throwing touchdowns and five rushing scores.
Milton (Ga.) at Roswell (Ga.) Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Milton: QB
Ben Halevi (6-11, 185), RB
Bentley Hickman (5-11, 210), WR
Jordan Carrasquillo (6-2, 190), DB
Keelan Wonsley (6-0, 190), LB
Blaize Battaglia (6-1, 215)
Roswell: QB
Trey Smith (6-0, 190), RB
Nick Peal (6-0, 205), WR
Wills Campbell (6-2, 200), LB
Brody Duffy (5-11, 185), DB
Ian Foust (6-0, 190)
Milton has won the last six battles in this rivalry that dates back to 1950. This time, Roswell is ranked higher by a tad. The Hornets are ranked No. 43 in our expanded top 100 with a loss to No. 8 Buford and a narrow 37-35 win over Gainesville. Milton is No. 48 with losses to each of those teams. The Eagles have had to replace many key players including quarterback Luke Nickel from the 2024 squad that finished 15-0 and No. 2 in the country. Roswell quarterback Smith is in his second season as a starter with 18 passing touchdowns and 16 rushing scores this season.
The St. James Performance Academy (Springfield, Va.) at No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) Saturday, 7 p.m.
Top players
The St. James Performance Academy: WR
Jayden Kitchens (6-3, 195), WR
Josiah Teasley (6-5, 190), S
Eltonino Hicks (6-3, 195), DE
Marcus Ogbogu (6-3, 240), LB
Josiah Perry (6-2, 220)
St. Frances Academy: TE
Damon Hall (6-5, 215), ATH
Jermaine Smith (6-5, 215), DE
Zion Elee (6-4, 235), S
Jireh Edwards (6-2, 210), CB
Raylaun Henry (6-2, 180)
St. James is playing football for the first time this year with signature wins The Hun School from New Jersey and Maryland No. 4 Our Lady of Good Counsel. Now the No. 3 team in Virginia gets the No. 2 team in the country. The Panthers held a fourth quarter lead against No. 1 St. John Bosco before falling 21-14 on Sept. 5. Led by two five-stars on defense, St. Frances has allowed just one touchdown in the past five games.
Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) at Irmo (Columbia, S.C.)Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Watch live NFHS Network
Top players
Dutch Fork: QB
Jaxon Knotts (6-0, 200), RB
Kyle Henry (5-7, 160), WR
Stone Furrey (5-10, 180), S
Mario Anderson (5-10, 180), CB
Taddrick Gibson (5-11, 167)
Irmo: QB
Dre’Von Dopson (6-2, 180), RB
Amire White (5-11, 200), WR
Maleek Miller (5-11, 180), DE
Jaiden Bryant (6-4, 260), S
Jamar Grissett (6-2, 165)
Two of the top teams in South Carolina will battle for the Region 4-5A title this week. These schools sit eight miles apart and the fierce rivalry began in 1996. Dutch Fork is ranked No. 3 in the state and is going for its fourth straight state title. Irmo is ranked No. 4. These teams both played state No. 8 Oceanside Collegiate Academy. Irmo won 35-28 while Dutch Fork fell 24-20.
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) at No. 25 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) Friday, 7 p.m.
Top players
St. Peter's Prep: QB
Tyler Bell (6-1, 192), RB
Abdul Turay (5-10, 180), WR
Hunter Watson (6-1, 170), DL
Will Maloof (6-5, 215), DB
Ty'ire Clark (5-11, 190)
Don Bosco Prep: QB
Carson Schoen (6-1, 190), RB
Dante DeLuca (5-10, 220), WR
Isaiah Alvarez (6-2, 175), LB
Mikahi Allen (6-3, 230), DB
Jack Demenna (5-10, 180)
Don Bosco Prep has rolled to a perfect record with wins over the Garden State's No. 2 and 3 teams in Bergen Catholic and St. Joseph Regional. This week the Ironmen welcome in the No. 6 team in the state, St. Peter's Prep. Just two years after going 1-9, the Marauders also have a big win over St. Joseph Regional. Bell is rolling at quarterback with 23 touchdown passes against one interception. Last week in a 30-9 win over Pope John XXIII, Bell had the best game of his career, completing 15 of 16 passes for 243 yards and two scores.
