MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

Video: Top 10 Games of the Week
See MaxPreps host Zack Poff break down this week's top games.

St. Thomas Aquinas won't get much time to rest as they head out West to Arizona to play undefeated Centennial. The Raiders shutout Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 44-0 on Monday night and showed why they have one of the top defenses in the country. Stranahan finished the game with minus 31 net yards.

Things don't get any easier for IMG Academy this week. The Ascenders overcame a fourth quarter deficit against Central (Miami) to extend their winning streak to 32 and up next is another 6A-District 16 opponent - Northwestern. The Bulls are 3-0 and have only allowed 14 points so far this year.

It is always a marquee matchup when DeSoto and Cedar Hill face off in the Battle of Beltline. This is one of the best rivalries in all of Texas and the Longhorns are hoping they can snap the Eagles 19-game winning streak. MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) @ Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

St. Thomas Aquinas: CB Asante Samuel Jr. (5-9.5, 165), CB Al Blades Jr. (6-0, 170), OLB Nik Bonitto (6-2.5, 205), RB Daniel Carter (5-11, 195) and WR Elijah Moore (5-11, 180)

Centennial: RB Zidane Thomas (5-10, 205), CB Dominique Hampton (6-2, 180), ATH Jaydin Young (5-10, 165), RB Alex Escobar (5-8, 185) and QB Ruben Beltran (6-1, 180)

Storyline

No high school has produced more NFL draft picks since 2006 than St. Thomas Aquinas and don't expect things to change with the roster they currently have. They are loaded with talent and they might have the best defense in all of high school football. Centennial is out to prove they belong in the national spotlight and if they pull off the upset against the Raiders expect them to have a spot in next week's Xcellent 25 rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Northwestern (Miami) @ No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Saturday, 4 p.m.

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Top Players

Northwestern: QB Tutu Atwell (5-8, 155), CB Divaad Wilson (6-0, 180), OLB Samuel Brooks (6-1.5, 195), DE Demetreius Mayes (6-2, 235) and OT Mark Fox (6-4, 290)

IMG Academy: DE Xavier Thomas (6-3, 265), CB Brendan Radley-Hiles (5-10, 180), RB Trey Sanders (5-11.5, 215), RB Noah Cain (5-11, 205) and DT Taron Vincent (6-2, 285)

Storyline

Northwestern is the first team outside of the Top 25 and a marquee road win against IMG Academy would jump them in to next week's rankings. They have one of the best quarterbacks in Florida in 2018 Louisville commit Atwell. The Bulls also have one of the top defenses in high school football. IMG Academy is loaded and they are going for its fourth consecutive quality win on Saturday night.

Cedar Hill (Texas) @ No. 7 DeSoto (Texas)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Cedar Hill: WR Joshua Fleeks (5-11.5, 170), RB Cameron Fleming (5-7, 170), CB Donovann Collins (5-11, 170), S Courtney Ogilvie (5-10, 175) and OT Parker Cupp (6-3, 285)

DeSoto: QB Courtney Douglas (6-0, 235), ATH Byron Hanspard Jr. (6-0, 170), CB Gemon Green (6-2, 165), S German Green (6-2, 170) and WR Jamal Brown (5-8, 170)

Storyline

This is one of the best rivalries in Texas and you can throw out the records when these two lock horns. DeSoto brings in one of the most explosive offenses in the country and as well as a very talented defense. Douglas waited patiently the last couple of years backing up two big-time quarterbacks in Tristen Wallace and Shawn Robinson, but the time is his now and he's taken full advantage of the opportunity. He has thrown for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the Eagles in rushing and rushing touchdowns. The Longhorns are loaded with talent and it starts with Fleeks and Fleming. This will be the 14th meeting between the two Texas powers since 2004. DeSoto has won seven of the previous 13.

Owasso (Okla.) @ Union (Tulsa, Okla.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Owasso: S Joshua Proctor (6-2, 190), S Wayne Jones III (6-0, 190), QB Will Kuehne (6-1, 170), DE Courtre Alexander (6-4, 225) and WR Tyrese Sisson (6-0, 190)

Union: WR CJ Moore (6-5, 175), DT Jordan Kelley (6-3, 290), S Patrick Fields (6-0, 190), WR Adrian Wilson (5-9.5, 170) and QB Peyton Thompson (6-2, 190)

Storyline

The top two teams in the state face off for the No. 1 spot in all of Oklahoma. This game features some of the best talent from the Sooner State. Moore, a 2018 Oklahoma State commit, has been one of the best playmakers in high school football and the same can be said for 2018 Ohio State commit Proctor.

St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) @ No. 16 Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Friday, 8 p.m. @ Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (Louisville, Ky.)

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Top Players

St. Xavier: OG Wyatt Smock (6-4, 290), WR Cameron Garrett (6-2, 185), OG Chase Farris (6-5, 315), QB Jack Albers (6-1, 180) and RB Anthony Moretti (5-9, 165)

Trinity: WR Rondale Moore (5-8.5, 175), DT Stephen Herron Jr. (6-3.5, 235), QB Nick Bohn (6-0, 180), DE Arak McDuffie (6-5, 240) and RB Luke McGuire (5-10, 175)

Storyline

It's a Kentucky 1 vs. 2 showdown this Friday night. Already one of the biggest rivalries in high school football, both enter undefeated making this game that much bigger. This will be the 82nd meeting and Trinity has bragging rights owning the series lead 41-37-2. Trinity has won five straight.

Carmel (Carmel, Ind.) @ No. 14 Ben Davis (Indianapolis)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Carmel: QB Jake McDonald (5-11.5, 180), DE Beau Robbins (6-4, 240), LB Joey Schmidt (6-1, 205), RB Camari Hunt (5-11, 170) and WR Atticus Clouse (5-10, 170)

Ben Davis: QB Reese Taylor (5-10, 155), RB Johnny Adams (5-11, 190), LB Sir'Zion Dance (5-10, 220), WR Broc Thompson (6-2, 175) and CB Elijah Ball (6-1, 190)

Storyline

The defending 6A state champs hope to hand Ben Davis its first loss of the season. Taylor has been on a roll during his senior year, leading the Giants to a 6-0 start while averaging nearly 50 points per game. The 2018 Indiana commit has emerged as one of the top candidates for National Player of the Year this season.

Steele (Cibolo, Texas) @ No. 20 Judson (Converse, Texas)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Top Players

Steele: S Caden Sterns (6-1, 190), RB Brenden Brady (5-11, 190), S JT Woods (6-2, 175), CB Jayveon Cardwell (5-11.5, 175) and QB Onyx Smith (6-0, 195)

Judson: QB Julon Williams (5-9.5, 180), DT Demarvin Leal (6-4, 255), RB Sincere McCormick (5-9, 175), S Rashad Wisdom (5-10, 190) and LB Brody Stoepler (5-9, 175)

Storyline

This game features two of Texas' best players in Williams and Sterns. These two teams met last year when Judson was ranked in the Top 25 and Steele rolled to a 30-9 win. This game will be in Converse this year and Judson has won its last 15 home games. This is a big game for Williams because the 2018 Houston commit faces a big-time defense and the future Cougar has put his name in the National Player of the Year conversation.

St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) @ Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Saturday, 1 p.m.

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St. Joseph Regional: DE Howard Cross (6-2, 240), TE Matthew Alaimo (6-4, 225), QB Nick Patti (6-3, 200), S Evan Stewart (6-1, 205) and RB Isaiah Hopkinson (5-8, 160)

Bergen Catholic: QB Johnny Langan (6-3, 220), RB Josh McKenzie (5-9, 185), RB Rahmir Johnson (5-10, 175), LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste (6-5, 200) and WR Dylan Classi (6-0, 190)

Storyline

Bergen Catholic snapped its two-game losing skid last week with a league win over Paramus Catholic (N.J.). This will be St. Joseph Regional's first league game and the Green Knights bounced back strong after losing to St. John's (D.C.) and then shutting out Delbarton (N.J.) 48-0. The North Jersey Super - United Red League is one of the toughest in the country and the winner will puts itself in a great position approaching the midway point of the season.

Serra (Gardena, Calif.) @ Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.)
Thursday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Serra: LB Merlin Robertson (6-3, 240), WR Bryan Addison (6-5, 180), CB Max Williams (5-8, 170), WR John Jackson (6-1, 180) and WR Kobe Smith (6-2, 175)

Chaminade: RB Andrew VanBuren (6-0.5, 215), WR Michael Wilson (6-2, 180), QB Ryan Stevens (6-1, 170), LB Blake Antzoulatos (6-2, 215) and DT Alex Gubner (6-3, 290)

Storyline

Two of the most talented teams in Southern California face off Thursday. Chaminade's only loss came to No. 6 St. John Bosco (Calif.), while Serra has won two in a row since starting the season 0-2. The Cavaliers have produced some of the most talented players in California over the last decade and this roster is loaded led by Robertson, Addison and Williams.

Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) @ No. 11 Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Lone Peak: QB Brock Jones (6-1, 190), OT Connor Pay (6-5, 270), WR Brigham Trowbridge (5-9, 175), WR Cody Collins (6-1, 185) and LB Andrew Ostler (5-11, 205)

Bingham: RB Braedon Wissler (5-7, 165), WR Brayden Cosper (6-3, 195), WR Dax Milne (6-0, 180), S Cole Moody (6-1, 185) and OLB Lolani Langi (6-2, 195)

Storyline

These teams faced off in last year's 5A state championship game and Bingham pulled out a 17-10 win to claim its third state title in a four-year span. The Miners have won all six games to start the 2017 season by double-digits and are winning by an average margin of 31 points per game. Lone Peak bounced back strong after suffering a loss in its second game, winning its next four games and averaging 44 points per game.