Video: Top 20 Games of the WeekNo. 12 Chandler takes on Saguaro in the inaugural Arizona Open Division state championship.
For the past two weeks our Top 10 Games of the Week grew to 15 contests. This week there's even more action — so we expanded to 20. Over
half of the contests are for state championships but the Game of the
Week is going down in the Lone Star State.
No.
3 Duncanville (Texas) takes on No. 13 Southlake Carroll (Texas) with a
spot in the 6A Division 1 semifinal up for grabs. These two met in last
year's regional final and the Panthers rolled to dominant 51-7 win.
There are two other Top 25 matchups featured.
No.
19 Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) takes on No. 21 Elder
(Cincinnati) in the Ohio Division 1 championship and No. 9 Lowndes
(Valdosta, Ga.) hosts No. 18 North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) in the
Georgia 7A semifinals.
Get your popcorn
ready for the inaugural Arizona Open Division state championship featuring two heavyweights — No. 12 Chandler (Ariz.) and Saguaro
(Scottsdale, Ariz.). The Wolves have won three straight state titles in
the largest classification and the Sabercats are going for their seventh
straight championship.
Other state championship games featured this week include South Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Alabama, Louisiana and Washington.
MaxPreps Top 20 high school football Games of the Week
Top Players
Winning
the 6A Division 1 bracket in Texas is one of the hardest things to do
in high school sports. Both teams have won every game by double digits this year.
Carroll's Riley Dodge has done a tremendous job since being named the head coach
before the 2018 season, going 26-1. That one loss came against
the Panthers in last year's quarterfinal matchup. The same can be
said for Duncanville, Reginald Samples turned them into one of the
state's best programs after coming over from Dallas Skyline. He led them
to the school's first state title game appearance in 20 years last season and they
have a legit chance to win it all in 2019.
Friday, 8 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton)
Top Players
The last time Elder made it to the state championship was in 2008 and the Panthers haven't won it all since they went back-to-back in 2002 and 2003. Pickerington Central goes for its second state title since 2017. Crenshaw, then a sophomore, led them to a 56-28 win over Mentor (Ohio) to claim the school's first state championship. He set the Division 1 title game scoring six touchdowns.
Top Players
The 7A classification in the Peach State is one of the most competitive fields in the country and it's down to four. Lowndes made it this far last season before losing to the eventual state champs, Milton. The Vikings haven't won it all since 2007 when they beat North Gwinnett 34-6 to win the 5A championship. The Bulldogs won it all in 2017 and are two wins away from the school's second state title.
Top Players
This is a matchup fans have wanted to see for a long time. These are two of the most prestigious programs in Grand Canyon State and it's only right they face each other in the inaugural Open Division championship. The Wolves have won 25 straight games and Saguaro has reeled off 10 wins in a row after losing to Cathedral Catholic (San Diego). A win for the Sabercats would ensure them a spot in the Top 25 next week.
Top Players
Dutch Fork is one win away from adding its name to South Carolina greatness. If the Silver Foxes can hand Dorman its first loss of the season it would be four consecutive state titles for Dutch Fork, becoming the seventh program in South Carolina to win four straight. This is the ninth meeting between the two since 2007 and the last time they played was in the 2017 5A championship — a 28-27 Dutch Fork win.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
The other 7A Georgia semifinal features these two and the winner faces the Lowndes-North Gwinnett victor. Both are in the "Next 5" group so a win could get them in the Top 25. Whoever wins the 7A championship will end the year ranked. Marietta has won six straight since a 14-12 loss to McEachern (Powder Springs) and Parkview has won 11 straight since suffering its only loss of the year against Lowndes.
Top Players
These two Louisville rivals played earlier this season and it was an instant classic. Male won 20-17 in double overtime after 2020 Kentucky commit Cummings made a game-winning touchdown grab. One of these school's has won the 6A championship over the last five years. Male won it in 2015 and 2018 while Trinity did in 2014, 2016 and 2017. The last time they met in the state championship was in 2010 and the Shamrocks won 38-0. If the Bulldogs win. Chris Wolfe would become the first coach to beat Bob Beatty four straight times during his tenure at Trinity.
Top Players
Both team's only loss this year came against Katy. North Shore got revenge on the Tigers last week rolling to a 56-35 win. 2021 Virginia Tech commit Davis rushed for 283 yards and three scores while adding another three touchdowns through the air. The defending 6A Division 1 state champs have won 12 straight and the Eagles have reeled off 11 consecutive victories.
Top Players
This is the third and final 6A Division 1 quarterfinal featured. 2020 Texas commit Card is a game-time decision and Yarnell has filled in nicely since the future Longhorn went down with a foot injury. He's thrown for nearly 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading the Cavaliers to a 6-0 record. Judson is averaging over 50 points per game during the playoffs and have won all but one game this year. These two played in last year's quarterfinal and
Garrett Wilson led Lake Travis to a 38-21 win hauling in three touchdowns and racking up 139 receiving yards.
Top Players
St. Joseph's Prep was close to losing last week against Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) in the 6A semifinals but 2021 Ohio State commit Harrison saved the day. He made a remarkable touchdown catch in the back of the end zone on fourth down in the final seconds to send the game to overtime. The Hawks won 31-24 and are one win away from going back-to-back as the 6A state champs.
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton)
Top Players
Washington: WR
Jayden Ballard (6-2, 175), QB
Aidan Longwell (6-1, 190), , S
Luke Murphy (6-1, 185), OL OL
Terrence Rankl (6-5, 270), WR
Andrew Wilson-Lamp (6-2, 165)
Massillon Washington has gone 28-1 since 2018 with that lone loss coming against Archbishop Hoban (Akron) in last year's Division 2 state championship. They knocked off the three-time defending state champs in the quarterfinals and handed Avon its only loss of the season in the semifinals. The Tigers have the most playoff wins (39) without winning a state title and are hoping to end that streak on Thursday. This is the first state title game appearance for La Salle since 2016 when they capped off its third consecutive championship. The last time these two played was in 1972.
Top players
Bixby has won 24 consecutive games and four 6A-II state titles over the last five years. Stillwater has won 24 of its last 25 and the only loss coming against the Spartans in last year's championship. The defending state champs enter Friday's showdown averaging 57.7 points per game and Stillwater is putting up an average of 59.4 points. Expect fireworks at Wantland Stadium for the 6A-II crown.
Top Players
Jenks started the year 1-3 but has won seven of its last eight heading into Saturday night's 6A-I championship. The Rams are 12-0 and have won every game by at least 13 points. Owasso won the state title in 2017 and the Trojans are going for their first championship since 2015.
Top Players
The defending 7A state champs have won 12 in a row since a season opening loss to Hoover (Ala.) and last year's state runner-ups have gone 11-1 in 2019. Central rolled to a dominant 52-7 win in last year's state championship but expect this one to a lot more competitive.
Friday, 7 p.m. at Yulman Stadium (New Orleans)
Top Players
There will be a new state champion in Louisiana's Division 1 bracket after Catholic knocked off defending champion John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) 14-0 in the semifinals. Rummel also beat the Patriots 21-20 in overtime earlier this season to claim the 5A District 9 title. The Raiders are one win away from its first perfect season since 2012. The last time they won a state championship was in 2013 and the Bears won it all in 2017.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
Both teams got statement wins heading into the 4AA semifinals. The Cougars beat Mallard Creek (Charlotte) in the second round and Richmond improved to 13-0 handing Myers Park (Charlotte) its only loss of the season in the quarterfinals. They're one win away from making it back to the state title game for the second consecutive year and the Raiders are two wins away from winning their first state championship since 2008.
Top Players
These two met in the 3A state championship last year when Eastside Catholic rolled to a 31-13 win. O'Dea got its revenge earlier this season beating the defending champs 28-6. They dominated the line of scrimmage and the winner in the trenches has a good chance to bring home the title on Saturday.
Top Players
The 4A state title is on the line between an undefeated Camas squad and a Bothell team who has won 10 straight. The Cougars are trying to win their second state title in school history and that came in 2014. The Papermakers lone championship was in 2016.
Top Players
The winner moves on to compete for the CIF Division 1-AA title. Sierra Canyon made it all the way to the state championship last year before losing 19-17 to Liberty (Brentwood). The Trailblazers have reeled off 11 straight wins since suffering its only loss of the season against Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.). Reggie Bush's alma mater has won 10 in a row since losing in overtime to Herriman (Utah). They are one win away from playing in its first state championship since 2017 when they lost to
Joe Ngata and Folsom, 49-42.
Top Players
Oak Ridge: QB
Justin Lamson (6-2, 200), OL
Nicholas Scalise (6-6, 290), LB
Ryan Enney (6-0, 210), ATH
Avant Jacobs (5-9, 170), ATH
Mujahid Samad (6-0, 170)
The winner of this matchup will take on either Sierra Canyon or Helix in the CIF 1-AA state championship on Dec. 13 at Cerritos College (Norwalk). This is the third straight year Central is playing in the Northern California final and the first they aren't playing Folsom. Oak Ridge is playing in its first NorCal regional final.
