The biggest high school football game this week is going down in Texas between No. 3 Westlake (Austin) and Lake Travis (Austin) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Chaparral Stadium. These two programs have produced some of the best talent to come out of the Lone Star State. Drew Brees, Sam Ehlinger, Nick Foles and Justin Tucker are just a few of notable alumni from Westlake while Lake Travis has produced the likes of Hudson Card, Garrett Gilbert, Baker Mayfield and Garrett Wilson.
The Chaparrals have won 33 games in a row and the last team to beat them: Lake Travis back in 2019. That was the last meeting between the two because last year's game was canceled because of COVID-19. The Cavaliers have won 11 of the previous 15 meetings since 2006.
Another standout game also in Texas is Lone Star (Frisco) facing Ryan (Denton) at Ford Center at The Star on Friday. The winner clinches the district title and the Raiders have won the four previous meetings.
Two other contests in California are on tap in this week's slate as Serra (San Mateo) hosts St. Francis (Mountain View) with the West Catholic Athletic League title on the line. Corona del Mar (Newport Beach) at Warren (Downey) in the CIF Southern Section D2 bracket is also included.
Viliamu Teu, Saint Francis
Photo by Dennis Putian
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Lake Travis was close to joining the MaxPreps Top 25 in September before a 59-35 loss to Rockwall. A win over the No. 3 team in the country would get them back in the mix. During the Chaparrals 33-game win streak, 32 have come by double-digits. The only one-score game was a 24-21 win against the back-to-back 6A Division 1 state champs North Shore (Houston) in last year's state semifinals. The winner on Friday clinches the District 26-6A title. Klubnik is set to return on Friday after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury.
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The defending 5A Division 1 state champs have won six games in a row since a 14-7 overtime loss against Guyer (Denton). Lone Star comes in riding a seven-game winning streak after a 45-35 loss against Aledo. The Raiders have won all four meetings since 2016 and three have come by double-digits.
Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
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St. Francis had one of the biggest wins in the history of Northern California football earlier this season when they became the
first NorCal team to beat De La Salle (Concord) since 1991 with a thrilling 31-28 win. Saturday afternoon's matchup is huge for both schools because the winner will strengthen its case to represent Northern California in the CIF Open Division state championship on Dec. 11 at Saddleback College (Mission Viejo).
Friday, 7 p.m.
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Both teams are the only ones to give No. 23 St. John's (Washington, D.C.) a challenge this season. DeMatha lost a defensive battle 14-7 while Good Counsel went into the fourth quarter with a 21-14 lead before losing 34-21. This is the 24th meeting between the two WCAC powers since 2006 and the Stags have won 14 of the previous 23 including three in a row.
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Creekside began the season with one of the toughest three-game stretches in all of Georgia. They beat the defending AAAAAAA champs Grayson (Loganville) 19-14 to start the year then followed that up with a 27-20 win over Westlake (Atlanta) before a 17-14 loss against Cartersville. The Seminoles have outscored their last six opponents 283-21. Woodward Academy has won seven of nine games by double-digits and the winner on Friday clinches the Region 3-5A title.
Friday, 7 p.m.
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The Spartans have been the best team in Oklahoma during their 45-game win streak and are now four wins away from breaking Wagoner's mark of 48 set in 2017. They get a tough Hornets squad on Friday who have won five in a row since a 29-20 loss against Choctaw. This game features the two best players in Oklahoma in 2022 Oklahoma State commit Braylin Presley and 2022 Oklahoma commit Gentry Williams.
Friday, 6 p.m.
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Christian Brothers has won nine in a row since a 48-44 season-opening loss against East St. Louis (Ill.). The Spartans have won seven straight since dropping back-to-back games against East St. Louis and CBC. The Cadets won the first meeting 44-29 in September behind four rushing touchdowns from Heitert to snap a four-game skid against De Smet. The winner advances to the Class 6 quarterfinals awaiting the winner of the Marquette (Chesterfield) vs. St. Louis University (St. Louis) matchup.
Friday, 7 p.m.
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There was a lot of controversy surrounding Inglewood after its 106-0 win last week but one thing is certain the Sentinels are a very talented football team. Over the last three years they've gone 25-1 since Mil'Von James took over as head coach. Inglewood went 0-10 in 2018. The CIF Southern Section Division 2 bracket is one of the most competitive in the state and this is the only first-round matchup of undefeated teams.
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King is a Hail Mary away from being 10-0 on the season and the Crusaders head into the second round of the Division 3 playoffs winners of nine in a row. They had a huge 39-29 win over Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) to close out the regular season and Moore is the leader right now to be named the MaxPreps Michigan Football Player of the Year. The Panthers have won four straight since a 24-12 loss against St. Ignatius (Cleveland). These two met in last year's Division 3 quarterfinals and River Rouge won 33-30 thanks to a game-winning 27-yard field goal from
Tayshaun Massey.
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Iamaleava has been as good as any player in California during his junior season. The four-star quarterback has thrown for 2,204 yards but the most impressive stat is his 33 touchdown passes compared to one interception. The winner of this one awaits the winner of Orange Lutheran (Orange) vs. Simi Valley.
