High school football: No. 8 Bishop Gorman vs. No. 13 Mater Dei headlines top 10 biggest games this week

Massillon at St. Edward and Orange Lutheran vs. No. 6 Sierra Canyon among other key matchups.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Sep 16, 2026, 9:00am
This weekend's high school football slate is headlined by a matchup between No. 8 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) at No. 13 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

Mater Dei (4-0) has swept five previous meetings against Bishop Gorman (3-1) over the past decade. But this one will have added significance as the MaxPreps Game of the Week, which will be streamed live on the NFHS Network.

Coming off a 10-9 win over nationally-ranked Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Mater Dei also has victories over programs from Colorado and Utah. 

Bishop Gorman has a signature on its resume over Trinity League power St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).
Corey Hinton of Bishop Gorman led the Gaels to a win over St. John Bosco earlier this season. Now the junior running back leads his squad against Mater Dei. (PHOTO: Jenni Webber)
Corey Hinton of Bishop Gorman led the Gaels to a win over St. John Bosco earlier this season. Now the junior running back leads his squad against Mater Dei. (PHOTO: Jenni Webber)
In Ohio, Massillon Washington and St. Edward (Lakewood) square off in a matchup of 4-0 teams.

Massillon was won four in a row in the series but three of those were decided by one score or less. Senior Savior Owens had 226 yards and two touchdowns in the win for the Tigers last year.

In California, Orange Lutheran (Orange) will travel to No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth). 

Since falling to Central (Miami, Fla.) in the opener, Orange Lutheran has ripped off three straight wins including a 23-17 victory against Basha (Chandler, Ariz.).

Sierra Canyon has won its three games by an average of 30 points per contest. In a 52-0 win over Saint Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) last week, quarterback Demarco Hernandez completed all seven of his pass attempts with two touchdowns and ran for another score.

Read on for a complete look at this week's biggest games.

TOP 10 GAMES THIS WEEK

No. 8 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) at No. 13 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) – Watch live NFHS Network, MaxPreps Game of the Week


Players to watch

Bishop Gorman: QB Ace Amina (6-1, 185), RB Noah Cole (5-10, 205), WR Michael Blackmond (6-3, 190), CB Kamil Loud (6-1, 185), LB Tamatoa Gaoteote (6-1, 220)

Mater Dei: QB Cameron Pooley (6-3, 215), RB Asir Nembhard (5-9, 180), WR Gavin Honore (5-10, 180), DB Isaiah Danns (6-0, 165), LB Michael Davis (6-1, 220)

Friday, 7 p.m.


Players to watch

Massillon: QB Rasmus Haines (6-4, 200), RB Savior Owens (5-11, 225), WR Deontay Malone (6-0, 185), DE Brydon Feister (6-4, 240), LB Brayton Feister (6-3, 245)

St. Edward: QB Langston Lucas (6-0, 205), RB Ronnie Neal (5-11, 188), WR Caleb Hall (5-9, 160), DE B.P. Paulozzi (6-3, 240), DB Landon Lehmer (6-0, 195)

Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) at No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network


Players to watch

Orange Lutheran: QB Ezrah Brown (6-3, 185), RB Ryan Christianson (5-9, 190), WR Chris Flores Jr. (5-10, 165), S King Rich Johnson (5-11, 173), S Chauncey Washington II (6-3, 185)

Sierra Canyon: QB Demarco Hernandez (6-2, 190), RB Jaxsen Stokes (5-10, 190), WR Lance Brown (6-2, 185), DE Marcus Fakatou (6-7, 285), DL Stephan Harrison (6-5, 265)

No. 5 Buford (Ga.) at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.


Players to watch

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)

Grayson: QB Deuce Smith (5-11, 190), RB Ashton Turner (5-10, 200), WR Saif Bin-Wahad (5-9, 160), S London Goggans (6-2, 200), DB Kingston Moore (5-11, 180)

Puyallup (Wash.) at Lake Stevens (Wash.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network


Players to watch

Puyallup: QB Noah Smith (6-0, 190), WR J'Isaiah Mitchell (6-5, 195), OL Gecova Doyal (6-4, 285), S Markel Newell (5-11, 190), DT Kitiona Tupua (6-3, 300)

Lake Stevens: QB Blake Moser (5-11, 175), RB Jayvian Ferrell (5-9, 185), WR Deuce Wilson (5-7, 140), DE Antoine Griffin III (6-3, 220), LB Kayden Blanchard (5-11, 220)

No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network


Players to watch

IMG Academy: QB Jayden Wade (6-3, 200), RB Cayden Gould (6-0, 210), WR Eric McFarland lll (5-10, 175), DB Chuck Roberts (6-0, 180), LB Amarri Irvin (6-0, 220)

The First Academy: QB Deuce Woods Jr. (6-1, 175), RB Hyquez Russell (5-10, 180), WR Zechariah Jean-Bart (5-10, 155), CB Bam Whitfield (5-11, 190), DL J.P. Furtado (6-2, 300)

No. 20 North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) at Duncanville (Texas)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live NFHS Network


Players to watch

North Crowley: QB Jacob Torres (6-0, 190), RB Kiante Ingram (5-10, 190), WR Damarion Mays (6-4, 200), CB Jerry Outhouse Jr. (6-1, 180), S Elijajuan Houston (6-0, 195)

Duncanville: QB Maximus The Great Denson (6-3, 190), RB Brayden Arnold (6-0, 200), WR Trenton Yancey (5-11, 190), DT Byron Thompson (6-1, 260), LB Gatlon Cryer (6-0, 205)

American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) at Lakeland (Fla.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.


Players to watch

American Heritage: QB Neimann Lawrence (6-2, 200), RB Tremaine Mullen (5-9, 170), WR Michael Stringer (6-0, 195), DT Micah Price (6-2, 280), CB Amare Nugent (6-1, 185)

Lakeland: QB Kelin Hendrix (5-10, 185), RB Xavion Mitchell (5-10, 170), DE Andrew Sapp (6-4, 250), DL Santana Harvey (6-4, 235), DB Jordan Young (6-3, 180)

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.) at Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Friday, 7 p.m.


Players to watch

Cherry Creek: QB Bentley Unruh (6-2, 195), RB Chance Phillips (5-9, 210), WR Alijah Landrum-Hamilton (5-10, 170), LB Jeriah Barnes (5-11, 190), S Karson McKenzie (6-0, 185)

Valor Christian: QB Titus Huard (6-6, 215), RB Roger Garey (5-10, 170), WR Jackson Coleman (6-4, 205), DL Kellan Stenseth (6-3, 205), LB Danny Hamilton (6-1, 190)

Saturday, 7 p.m.


Players to watch

Kahuku: QB Lucky Suguturaga (6-0, 170), WR Bodhi Kaanga (5-10, 170), LB Siale Reid (6-1, 195), DL Puleivai Kaufusi (6-3, 265), DL Carson Graham (6-3, 250)

Miliani: QB Hunter Fujikawa (6-2, 205), WR Zion White (6-4, 190), LB Toa Satele (6-3, 215), DE Iosefa Miller (6-3, 230), DL Trison Satele (6-2, 275)

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