For the second straight week Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) is featured in our Game of the Week, facing another Trinity League test Friday at No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). The Friars moved up three spots, to No. 5, in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings despite their 46-37 loss to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) last week. Servite gave the Monarchs their toughest challenge of the year and look to bounce back Friday night.
Both Servite and St. John Bosco are 8-1, each with a loss to Mater Dei. The winner likely will be the two-seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
There are three games from Georgia on this week's docket, but none bigger than Mill Creek (Hoschton) hosting No. 7 Collins Hill (Suwanee) on Friday. The winner clinches the 7A-Region 8 title.
Two big-time programs in Texas square off with the District 21-6A title on the line as North Shore (Houston) hosts Atascocita (Humble) on Friday. Both teams are just outside of the MaxPreps Top 25.
No. 24 St. John's (Washington, D.C.) faces another WCAC rival this week after beating DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 14-7 last Friday. Up next is Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) and the Falcons come in riding a four-game winning streak.
No. 6 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) ends its regular season against rival St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, NJ) and looks to close out a tough three-game stretch heading into the Non-Public Group A playoffs. They knocked off St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) 21-10 and took down Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) 38-28 last week.
No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) looks to extend its winning streak to 19 as they travel to Alabama and take on last year's 7A state runner-up, Auburn. The Tigers have gone 30-5 since 2019.
Nick Switzer, Hamilton
Photo by Marcus Wilkins
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local)
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This is the toughest back-to-back any team in the country as Servite faces St. John Bosco a week after No. 1 Mater Dei. It'll be interesting to see how these two play their cards Friday because there's a high probability they'lll face each other again in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. The Braves have won the last nine meetings after the Friars won seven straight from 2005-11.
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The Eagles defense has been lights out and posted five shutouts in their last six games. Mill Creek's defense also has been good and allowed 14 points or less in seven of eight games. The Hawks are currently one of the first five teams out of the MaxPreps Top 25 so a win on Friday could get them into the rankings next Monday.
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The Mustangs have reeled off six consecutive wins after a tough 27-21 loss against Westfield (Houston) while the Eagles have won four in a row since a 46-35 loss against Guyer (Denton). Both teams will be in the mix to compete for the 6A-Division 1 title this year.
Saturday, 1 p.m.
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The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference is one of the toughest leagues in the country and the Cadets are the favorites to win their first title since 2017. The Falcons won the WCAC crown in 2019 and are the defending champs since there was no postseason last season because of COVID. St. John's has had one of the best defenses in high school football and have not allowed more than seven points in any game.
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This is one of the best rivalries in New Jersey and the Marauders hope they can ruin the Crusaders' chances of finishing the year ranked in the Top 10. Bergen Catholic has responded to every adverse situation so far after erasing second-half deficits in each of the last two weeks to pull out double-digit wins. This will be the 19th meeting between the two since 2004 and they have split the last eight.
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The Ascenders responded with a dominant 49-8 win over a very good East St. Louis (Ill.) squad last week after a tough 24-14 victory against St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.) the week prior. The Tigers only loss this season came against (9-0) Central (Phenix City) and look to get some momentum heading into the 7A state playoffs with a tough matchup against the Ascenders.
Friday, 7 p.m.
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Outside of a 44-7 loss against No. 5 Servite (Anaheim), the Diablos have dominated every opponent winning every game by at least 17 points. They have notable wins over Long Beach Poly (Long Beach), Alemany (Mission Hills) and Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth). Mission Viejo has had this one circled on the calendar all year after the Tritons won last spring's meeting 10-7 to clinch the South Coast League title.
Friday, 7 p.m.
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Things do not get any easier for Highland after suffering its first loss of the season against Basha (Hamilton). Next up is the 15th-ranked team in the nation. Marchiol is among the short list of candidates to be named the MaxPreps Arizona Football Player of the Year and has accounted for 1,869 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns. His best quality does not show up on the stat sheet and he's one of the best leaders in high school football.
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The winner on Friday clinches the 5A-Region 7 title and both teams have gone undefeated against in-state opponents this year. Calhoun's only loss came Aug. 27 against McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and they have reeled off seven in a row since that defeat. The Hurricanes have gone 16-1 over their last 17 games with the lone loss coming in the 2020 AAAAA state championship against Warner Robins.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
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Both teams only loss of the season is against Ware County (Waycross) and the winner will finish as the runner-up in 5A-Region 1, which will help with playoff positioning. Warner Robins has made it to the AAAAA state championship game in each of the last four years while Coffee is fresh off a AAAAA semifinal appearance.
