High school football: No 3 Duncanville vs. No. 9 North Crowley headlines MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

The final installment of MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week for the 2024 season includes some massive playoff matchups, including the Class 6A Division 1 semifinals in Texas between No. 3 Duncanville and No. 9 North Crowley (Fort Worth) on Saturday.

Duncanville is two wins away from winning its third straight state title. The Panthers are loaded with talent led by five-stars Keelon Russell and Dakorien Moore. Russell has thrown for 3,874 yards and 51 touchdowns while Moore has 67 receptions for 1,322 yards and 18 scores.

Colorado-bound wideout Quentin Gibson headlines the North Crowley offense, one of the most explosive units in the country. The three-star receiver has 81 catches for 1,721 yards and 31 touchdowns.

In California, No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) faces No. 21 De La Salle (Concord) in the Open Division state championship Saturday. Mater Dei is seeking its fifth state championship while De La Salle looks to make it eight and snap a seven-game state championship game losing streak.

A huge semifinal matchup in North Carolina's Class 4A field takes place Friday between undefeated teams as Grimsley (Greensboro) hosts defending champ and No. 24 Weddington (Matthews), winners of 19 in a row.

Edna Karr (New Orleans) and Alexandria lock horns in Louisiana's Division I Select state championship Saturday at Caesars Superdome. Edna Karr has won six state titles while Alexandria hopes to win its first in school history.

No. 13 Lakeland vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in Florida's 5A championship headlines the three state title games from the Sunshine State included in the Top 10 Games of the Week. This will be the seventh time these programs have met in the title game with Lakeland holding a 5-1 edge. MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week

• • 36
    North Crowley
  • 34
    Duncanville

  12/14 Final

Duncanville: QB Keelon Russell (6-4, 190), WR Dakorien Moore (6-2, 185), WR Zach Turner (6-3, 215), LB Nehemiah Borner (5-11, 200), DL K.J. Ford (6-3, 240)

North Crowley: WR Quentin Gibson (5-9, 170), OL John Turntine (6-4, 305), OL Henry Fenuku (6-3, 285), LB Jonathan Cunningham (6-2, 200), QB Chris Jimerson (5-11, 175)

Russell improved his postseason record to 16-0 and 42-1 overall with a 31-13 win over Bridgeland (Cypress) last week. North Crowley is 28-1 over the last two years with the only loss coming against Duncanville in last year's semifinals, 52-10. The winner will face No. 6 North Shore (Houston) or Westlake (Austin) on Dec. 21 at AT&T Stadium for the Class 6A Division 1 championship.

• • 15
    De La Salle
  • 37
    Mater Dei

  12/14 Final

Mater Dei: RB Jordon Davison (6-0, 215), DL Nasir Wyatt (6-2, 210), OL Kodi Greene (6-6, 300), WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (6-3, 180), DB Daryus Dixson (6-0, 180)

De La Salle: DL Matthew Johnson (6-5, 250), RB Derrick Blanche (5-8, 175), RB Dominic Kelley (6-0, 195), DL Myah Telona (6-2, 270), ATH Jaden Jefferson (5-9, 160)

Mater Dei is looking to close out the season with a ninth win over a MaxPreps Top 25 opponent. The Monarchs beat No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 31-24 in the Southern Section Division 1 championship, the first one-score game of the season for the nation's top-ranked team. De La Salle clinched its spot in the championship with a 7-3 win over Pittsburg in the North Coast Section Open title game, the program's 32nd straight section crown. Mater Dei and De La Salle have met twice previously in the state championship game with the Monarchs winning both, 52-21 in 2017 and 35-21 in 2018.

• • 23
    Weddington
  • 35
    Grimsley

  12/13 Final

Weddington: LB Thomas Davis Jr. (6-2, 205), DL Trajen Odom (6-4, 285), DL Aiden Harris (6-5, 255), LB Braeden Barger (6-1, 225), DL Andrew Harris (6-2, 225)

Grimsley: QB Faizon Brandon (6-4, 200), DL Bryce Davis (6-3, 240), RB Mitchell Summers (5-8, 175), ATH Kaden Catoe (6-0, 165), TE D.J. Howerton (6-4, 220)

Weddington is loaded with future FBS players on defense and allowing just 8.7 points per game. Grimsley has the top-rated player in the Class of 2026 under center in Brandon and a big-time running back in Summers. They are averaging 47.8 points per game. These two met in last year's 4A quarterfinals and Weddington handed the Whirlies their only loss of the season. The winner will face Rolesville or Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh) in the 4A state championship Dec. 20.

• • 8
    Alexandria
  • 53
    Edna Karr

  12/14 Final

Edna Karr: DL Richard Anderson (6-4, 300), WR Taron Francis (6-2, 205), DB Aiden Hall (6-2, 185), QB John Johnson (6-0, 180), WR Oliver Mitchell (6-3, 175)

Alexandria: RB J.T. Lindsey (5-11, 185), QB Karsen Sellers (6-1, 170), WR Darius Washington (5-8, 165), WR Jimmie Duncan (5-11, 180), LB Xzavier White (6-2, 210)

Expect fireworks Saturday at Caesars Superdome when the top two teams in the state face off for the Division I Select crown. Edna Karr was in its first one-score game last week but prevailed with a 21-19 win over Catholic (Baton Rouge). The Cougars are going for their first state title since 2019. Alexandria went undefeated during the regular season for the first time in its 56-year history and is one win away from winning the school's first state title. They beat John Curtis Christian (River Ridge) 24-13 last week. These two played in last year's Division I Select quarterfinals and the Cougars won 40-34.

• • 0
    Lakeland
  • 34
    St. Thomas Aquinas

  12/12 Final

Lakeland: LB Malik Morris (6-1, 225), DB Keon Young (6-0, 170), DB Sammy Etienne (6-1, 185), DB Jermichael Gillis (6-1, 170), WR Shanard Clower (5-10, 170)

St. Thomas Aquinas: WR Julius Jones (5-11, 165), DB Justice Fitzpatrick (6-2, 190), WR Ah’mari Stevens (6-0, 170), LB Travares Daniels (6-2, 200), RB Cedric Wyche ll (5-10, 200)

Both teams have been in close games to reach the 5A state championship. Lakeland needed three overtimes to beat Niceville last week 34-33. The Dreadnaughts needed a last-second field goal to beat Tampa Bay Tech (Tampa) in the quarterfinals. Aquinas had to overcome a 13-6 halftime deficit against Manatee (Bradenton) last week to pull out a 16-13 win. The Raiders beat Atlantic (Delray Beach) in double overtime in the quarterfinals 49-42. St. Thomas Aquinas became the first school in state history to win five consecutive state titles last season and would love to make it six.

• • 10
    North Shore
  • 35
    Westlake

  12/14 Final

North Shore: DB Devin Sanchez (6-2, 170), QB Kaleb Bailey (6-2, 190), LB Charles Ross (6-2, 210), WR Quanell Farrahkan Jr. (5-11, 185), WR Deion Deblanc (5-10, 180)

Westlake: LB Elliott Schaper (6-3, 210), QB Rees Wise (6-2, 215), TE Brody Wilhelm (6-5, 220), DB George Jones lll (6-0, 180), DL Cullen Devine (6-3, 230)

North Shore is one win away from clinching a spot in the Class 6A Division 1 state championship game for the sixth time in the last seven years. The only time the Mustangs didn't make it was when Cade Klubnik led Westlake to a 24-21 win in the semifinals in 2020-21. This will be the fourth meeting between the two Texas powers since 2015 and the Mustangs hold a 3-1 edge, including semifinal wins in each of the past two seasons.

• • 28
    Lincoln
  • 26
    Pittsburg

  12/13 Final

Pittsburg: DB Jadyn Hudson (6-2, 180), DL Jewelous Walls (6-3, 225), RB Jamar Searcy (5-8, 180), WR Kenneth Ward (5-8, 175), QB Marley Alcantara (5-10, 180)

Lincoln: QB Akili Smith Jr. (6-5, 215), WR Ty Olsen (6-2, 190), RB Aden Jackson (5-11, 200), DB Cammeron Purnell (6-1, 180), WR Courtney Miller-Thompson (5-10, 165)

Both teams were in tough matchups last week but found a way to win. Lincoln was trailing 27-14 against Newbury Park in the fourth quarter but outscored the Panthers 20-0 in the final 10 minutes to pull out a 34-27 win. Pittsburg fell in a 21-0 hole against Folsom, then scored 28 unanswered points and held on for a 28-27 win. The Pirates are 0-2 in state championship games, losing to Narbonne (Harbor City) in 2017 and Liberty (Bakersfield) in 2022. The Hornets are 1-1 in title games with a loss to Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) in 2018 and a win over De La Salle in 2022.

• • 41
    American Heritage
  • 31
    Jones

  12/13 Final

Jones: QB Dereon Coleman (6-1, 160), WR Vernell Brown III (5-11, 170), WR Larry Miles (6-0, 175), RB Jaquail Smith (6-1, 185), LB Quimaine Myers (6-1, 220)

American Heritage has had to overcome an injury to its five-star quarterback Dia Bell to clinch a spot in the 4A state championship. He suffered a leg injury in the second round of the playoffs. Four-star wide receiver Malachi Toney has filled in under center and completed 12 of 15 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-28 win over St. Augustine last week. Up next is an undefeated Jones squad with one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Coleman has put together a tremendous junior campaign throwing for 3,238 yards and 28 touchdowns to go with 303 yards rushing and another score. This is the second state title game appearance for Jones as it lost to Northwestern (Miami) in the 5A championship in 2019.

• • 35
    Dutch Fork
  • 21
    Summerville

  12/13 Final

Dutch Fork: LB Josh Smith (6-2, 210), WR Boykin Bickley (6-2, 175), QB Ethan Offing (6-0, 190), DB Elgin Sessions (6-0, 180), RB Maurice Anderson (6-0, 205)

Summerville: WR Jaiden Kelly-Murray (5-11, 180), RB Jayven Williams (5-8, 160), QB Jaden Cummings (6-0, 185), DL Yasir Smith (6-5, 265), ATH Keshon Washington (6-0, 220)

Dutch Fork has dominated since Tom Knotts took over as head coach and is making its ninth straight state title game appearance. The Silver Foxes are 7-1 in those games with the lone loss coming in 2021 to Gaffney. They have won every game by double digits this season with the closest being a 24-14 win over Irmo (Columbia). Summerville is going for its 13th state title in program history but first since 1998. This will be the eighth meeting between the two since 2006 and Dutch Fork has won the previous seven.

• • 52
    Venice
  • 19
    Lake Mary

  12/14 Final

Venice: WR Winston Watkins Jr. (5-10, 175), RB Gata Wilder (5-9, 180), RB Dorien Irving-Jones (5-11, 180), LB Landon Marsters (6-3, 210), DL Asharri Charles (6-3, 225)

Lake Mary: QB Noah Grubbs (6-5, 190), LB Luke Prieto (6-1, 195), WR Carson Friedman (5-11, 175), RB Isaiah Thomas (5-10, 175), LB Eli Straker (5-9, 185)

Venice's only loss this season was a 21-16 defeat against No. 18 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). They own three wins against teams playing for a Florida state title this week — Cocoa, Northwestern (Miami) and Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater). Lake Mary's two losses came in overtime against No. 13 Lakeland and a 26-21 loss vs. Dr. Phillips (Orlando). They just knocked out Dr. Phillips with a 24-13 win in the 7A semifinals last week. Grubbs, a Notre Dame commit, has thrown for 2,781 yards and 34 touchdowns this season.