MaxPreps Top 10 High School Football Games of the Week

Video: MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week
Three Top 25 matchups are highlighted by No. 2 Mater Dei vs. No. 5 IMG Academy.

Get your popcorn ready. This week's slate of games could very well be the best we see all year.

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.) is one of the biggest games high school football has ever seen. There will be more than 40 Division I players on the field Friday night. The Ascenders roll into Santa Ana riding a 40-game winning streak and, if you don't count the Monarchs' forfeit loss from earlier this season, Mater Dei has won its last 19 games, and has never trailed at any point.

Bragging rights are on the line in South Florida when No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) hosts No. 11 Miami Central. Amazingly, this is first ever meeting of the two South Florida powerhouses.

Two of the top teams from Georgia square off too when No. 13 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.) faces No. 22 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.). These three games will feature over 100 future Division I players.

Three other Peach State teams are featured this week. Marietta (Ga.) travels to the nation's Capital to battle No. 4 St. John's (Washington, D.C.) and Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.) hosts Buford (Ga.) in a huge in-state matchup.

A big-time Oklahoma clash takes place when two undefeated teams lock horns — Jenks and Broken Arrow. The winner of this game will claim the No. 1 spot in the Sooner State.

Mission Viejo (Calif.) had an impressive win last week over Upland (Calif.) to improve to 5-0 and if the Diablos can get past Orange Lutheran on Friday there's a good chance they crack the Xcellent 25 rankings presented by the Army National Guard.


No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) @ No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. @ Santa Ana Stadium (All times local)

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Top Players

IMG Academy: DE Nolan Smith (6-3, 230), RB Trey Sanders (6-0, 215), OT Evan Neal (6-7.5, 360), RB Noah Cain (5-10, 210), LB Jaleel McRae (6-2, 230)

Mater Dei: ATH Bru McCoy (6-2.5, 215), CB Elias Ricks (6-2, 180), QB Bryce Young (6-0, 175), OG Myles Murao (6-3, 270), DT Keyon Ware-Hudson (6-2, 305)

There isn't a more hyped game on the schedule than this one. It's the game everyone wanted to see last year, as the Monarchs and Ascenders finished 1-2 in the final Top 25 rankings, and the matchup in 2018 is still a big-time game. The winner is in a great spot to contend for the No. 1 spot. Both teams have been dominating opponents. Mater Dei has won its last three games by a combined score of 147 to -0. IMG Academy has outscored the opposition 126-14 through its first three games.

No. 11 Central (Miami) @ No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Miami Central: CB Henry Gray (5-11.5, 170), QB Maurice Underwood (6-3, 170), DE Jesus Machado (6-1, 205), LB/DE Tatum Bethune (6-0, 215), RB Lexington Joseph (5-6.5, 170)

St. Thomas Aquinas: S Jordan Battle (6-1, 190), CB Jaden Davis (5-9, 165), WR Marcus Rosemy (6-0.5, 180), LB Derek Wingo (6-2, 210), DE Tyreak Sapp (6-2, 255)

Any other week this game would take the No. 1 spot. This is one of the biggest games of 2018 and it's the first time these two Florida powers are facing each other. Just like the IMG-Mater Dei game, this one features a ton of talent as over 30 Division I players will take the field Friday. The Raiders have cruised to a 4-0 start and have outscored the opposition 187-6. The Rockets bounced back strong last week after its five overtime loss to No. 4 St. John's (Washington, D.C.) and shutout Edison (Miami) 41-0. This is a statement game for both teams.

No. 13 Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.) @ No. 22 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Top Players

Colquitt County: RB Daijun Edwards (5-11, 185), RB Ty Leggett (5-10, 170), LB Rashard Revels (6-0, 195), CB Jay Ward (6-1, 175), OL Kamaar Bell (6-3, 320)

Grayson: LB Owen Pappoe (6-0.5, 210), OT Wanya Morris (6-5.5, 310), S Kenyatta Watson II (6-2, 185), DE Kevin Harris (6-4, 230), WR Kenyon Jackson (6-5.5, 195)

There is a good chance these two see each other again in the 7A playoffs, as they're the cream of the Peach State and loaded with talent. The Packers have scored at least 40 points in every game this year and haven't allowed more than 14 points to any opponent through their first five contests. The Rams had a setback a few weeks ago Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) but have bounced back to win their last two games.

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Marietta (Ga.) @ No. 4 St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Saturday, 2 p.m.

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Top Players

Marietta: QB Harrison Bailey (6-4, 220), ATH Arik Gilbert (6-5, 250), WR Ramel Keyton (6-3, 180), DE BJ Ojulari (6-4, 215), OT Jake Wray (6-5, 290)

St. John's: WR Rakim Jarrett (6-0, 180), RB Keilan Robinson (5-9, 185), DT Tre’ Williams (6-2.5, 310), CB Luke Hill (5-11, 180), QB Sol-Jay Maiava (6-0.5, 185)

Both of these teams have played two of the toughest schedules in the country. St. John's has fared much better. The Cadets are 3-0 while the boys from Georgia are 1-3. St. John's had its biggest game of the season canceled last week against No. 5 IMG Academy because of Hurricane ,so you know they are hungry to get back on the field. The Cadets have looked like one of the best teams in the country in 2018 and they are on the short list of teams who can contend for the No. 1 spot.

Mission Viejo (Calif.) @ Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Top Players

Mission Viejo: QB Joey Yellen (6-2.5, 210), ATH JoJo Forest (5-11, 175), ATH Akili Arnold (5-11, 170), DE Reece Hite (6-4, 225), RB Jamari Ferrell (5-8, 175)

Orange Lutheran: WR Kyle Ford (6-2, 215), QB Ryan Hilinski (6-4, 240), WR Logan Loya (5-11.5, 170), CB KJ Trujillo (6-1, 170), LB Zach Brogden (6-1, 215)

Orange Lutheran gets the perfect opponent to get them ready for the Trinity League. No one will have a tougher schedule in Southern California than the Lancers. They lost to No. 9 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) earlier this season and now face an undefeated Mission Viejo team before beginning league play. The Diablos are one of the first five teams out of the Top 25, so a win against a very talented Orange Lutheran squad could jumps them into the rankings next week.

Jenks (Okla.) @ Broken Arrow (Okla.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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Jenks: OT Brady Latham (6-5, 290), QB Ian Corwin (6-0, 180), RB/LB Noah Hernandez (5-10, 190), C Hunter Hoyt (6-2, 280), WR/CB Blake Pitcock (6-1, 190)

Broken Arrow: OG Andrew Raym (6-5, 300), RB Noah Cortes (6-0, 210), LB Zach Marcheselli (6-2, 220), DT Demeco Roland (6-2.5, 280), CB Myles Slusher (5-10, 170)

The No. 1 spot in the Sooner State is up for grabs and the winner has a good chance to jump in the rankings down the road. Both teams have cruised to 3-0 starts and have won every game by double digits. Jenks has dominated the season series between the two since 2004. They have won 14 of the last 16 meetings and three straight.

Buford (Ga.) @ Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.

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Buford: RB Derrian Brown (5-10, 180), C Harry Miller (6-4, 300), QB Aaron McLaughlin (6-4, 225), CB Jalen Huff (6-0, 175), OG Riley Simonds (6-3.5, 325)

Archer: CB Andrew Booth (6-1, 190), S Jalyn Phillips (6-0, 200), WR Braylen Weems (5-11, 170), QB Carter Peevy (6-3, 205), DE Colby Wooden (6-4, 230)

Archer dropped its season opener against Milton (Ga.) but has reeled off three straight outscoring the opposition 130-17. Buford's only loss of the season came against one of the most talented teams from Florida, Deerfield Beach, and the Wolves have scored at least 40 points in their three wins. Booth is one of the top recruits overall from the Class of 2019 and Brown just committed to Texas earlier this week.

American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) @ Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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American Heritage: DB James Williams (6-3, 200), QB Edwin Rhodes (6-0, 160), LB Dorian Jones (6-0, 220), RB Lavelton Williams (5-11, 220), TE Beau Johnson (6-1, 210)

Chaminade-Madonna: WR John Dunmore (6-2, 170), CB Te'cory Couch (5-9.5, 150), S Keontra Smith (5-11, 195), DE Cameron Williams (6-5, 215), CB James Williams (5-11, 175)

If it wasn't for St. Thomas Aquinas and Miami Central playing this week this would be the top game in Florida. There will be a bunch of Division I talent on the field. Both teams won a state title in 2017 and will be in contention again in 2018. Heritage had its 28-game winning streak snapped to open the year against No. 17 Carol City (Miami) but the Patriots have bounced back and won three straight. The Lions have won three straight too after dropping their season opener against a very talented Deerfield Beach squad.

Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) @ Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

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Don Bosco Prep: RB Jalen Berger (6-0, 190), LB Jonathan Alvarado (6-1, 230), ATH Kyle Monangai (5-9, 195), QB Jahquil Batts (6-2, 205), OT Travis Cepalia (6-3, 265)

Bergen Catholic: RB Rahmir Johnson (5-10, 175), DE Aeneas Dicosmo (6-3, 220), S Jordan Morant (6-1, 195) TE Tyler Devera (6-4, 230), LB Anthony Corbin (5-11, 205)

Bergen Catholic looks to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season last week against a very good St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) team. Mike Teel looks like he has Bergen Catholic back after a 2-8 season in his first year after taking over for Greg Toal. The former Don Bosco Prep coach played a major role for Bergen Catholic last year as an assistant for the Crusaders last season. This is a huge game for Bergen because the Crusaders don't want to start 0-2 in one of the toughest leagues in the country.

No. 12 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) @ Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m.

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De La Salle: LB/RB Henry To'oto'o (6-2, 230), TE/DE Isaiah Foskey (6-5, 235), LB Jhasi Wilson (6-1, 215), S/RB Shamar Garrett (5-7, 170), CB Amir Wallace (6-0, 160)

Buchanan: RB Kendall Milton (6-2, 210), ATH Jalen Cropper (6-0, 155), ATH Brock Jones (6-0, 175), RB Levi Willems (5-10, 175), QB DJ Stevenson (6-2, 170)

Buchanan is one of the most talented teams De La Salle will face in 2018, which is saying a lot after the Spartans have wins over Folsom (Calif.) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). The Bears have one of the top rated running backs from the Class of 2020, Milton, and a big-time playmaker in Cropper, a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2019. The Spartans are coming off a hard earned win against Gorman and the No. 12 team in the country will look to improve to 6-0 on Friday night. To'oto'o showed his versatility in last weeks' 27-21 win rushing for 100-plus yards, two scores, and led the team with 11 tackles.

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