One of the biggest games of the high school football season takes place Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl between No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).
This will be the sixth time since 2018 the league rivals will square off as the top two ranked teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 with Bosco holding a 3-2 edge in those meetings.
The last time Mater Dei and St. John Bosco faced each other as No. 1 and No. 2 was in the 2022 Southern Section Division 1 championship at the Rose Bowl. Bosco handed Elijah Brown his first career loss with a 24-22 win to claim their fourth section title.
Mater Dei holds a 9-6 edge in the series over the past decade.
MATER DEI VS. BOSCO: Rosters loaded with talent
Another MaxPreps Top 25 showdown is going down in Texas as No. 16 Atascocita (Humble) hosts No. 8 North Shore (Houston) on Friday. North Shore has won eight in a row in the series since Atascocita last notched a victory in 2017.
No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) looks to add another quality win to its resume against an undefeated East St. Louis (Ill.) squad. The Ascenders have won five in a row since a season-opening 35-34 loss at No. 19 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah).
American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) has faced one of the toughest schedules in the country and have another big test on Friday at No. 21 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The Patriots four losses have come against No. 3 Milton (Ga.), No. 17 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), Central (Miami) and Norland (Miami) by a combined 20 points.
Aquinas bounced back with a 44-6 win over Monarch (Coconut Creek, Fla.) after having its six-game win streak snapped against Chaminade-Madonna.
Another Trinity League matchup included in this week’s slate features No. 15 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) hosting Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) on Friday.
One of the biggest rivalries in Texas takes place on Friday as Lake Travis (Austin) hosts Westlake (Austin), which has won four in a row in the series. However, Lake Travis holds an 11-8 edge in 19 meetings since 2006.
Top 10 Football Games of the Week
1. No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. (All times local) – Watch live on NFHS Network
- 14 St. John Bosco
- 59 Mater Dei
Top players
Mater Dei: RB Jordon Davison (6-0, 215), DL Tomuhini Topui (6-3, 315), DB Daryus Dixson (6-0, 180), OL Kodi Greene (6-6, 300), DL Nasir Wyatt (6-3, 225)
St. John Bosco: WR Madden Williams (6-2, 180), DB Isala Wily-Ava (6-2, 195), QB Koa Malau’ulu (6-1, 165), DL Dutch Horisk (6-2, 230), DL Epi Sitanilei (6-5, 225)
This is the biggest and best rivalry in high school football with both programs finishing ranked in the top 10 every season over the last eight years excluding 2020 due to the pandemic. The winner of this game controls its own destiny when it comes to finishing No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25. Mater Dei was crowned MaxPreps National Champs in 2017 and 2021 while St. John Bosco took home that honor in 2019 and 2022.
2. No. 8 North Shore (Houston) at No. 16 Atascocita (Humble, Texas)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
- 27 North Shore
- 23 Atascocita
Top players
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)
Atascocita: RB Tory Blaylock (5-11, 190), QB Cardae Mack (5-10, 195), DB Brandon Washington (5-11, 170), WR Brodrick Malone (6-5, 200), OL Michael Musquiz (6-2, 300)
North Shore has been on a roll this season and could be on a collision course with No. 4 Duncanville to face each other for the sixth time over the last seven years in the Class 6A Division 1 state championship game. The Mustangs are 7-0 and winning by an average margin of 40.7 points per game. Atascocita has notable wins over Katy, Westlake (Austin) and Summer Creek (Houston).
3. No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at East St. Louis (Ill.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live on FloFootball
- 14 IMG Academy
- 13 East St. Louis
Top players
IMG Academy: QB Ty Hawkins (6-1, 195), OL Michael Carroll (6-6, 315), DB Zech Fort (5-11, 190), OL Keenyi Pepe (6-7, 280), LB Amarri Irvin (6-0, 195)
East St. Louis: DB Charles Bass (6-2, 180), RB TaRyan Martin (5-8, 175), LB Mekhi Mixon (6-0, 195), RB Larevious Woods (5-9, 195), WR Ronnie Gomiller (5-10, 175)
East St. Louis always plays legit competition and faces its biggest test of the season against a red-hot IMG Academy squad. The Flyers have played Atascocita, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and St. John Bosco since 2021. This will be the second meeting against IMG Academy with the Ascenders winning 49-8 in 2021 as Kaytron Allen rushed for 153 yards and three scores.
4. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) at No. 21 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
- 42 American Heritage
- 38 St. Thomas Aquinas
Top players
American Heritage: QB Dia Bell (6-2, 200), WR Malachi Toney (5-10, 165), RB Byron Louis (5-11, 200), DB Gregory Xavier Thomas (6-2, 190), WR Brandon Bennett (6-0, 170)
St. Thomas Aquinas: WR Julius Jones (5-11, 170), DB Justice Fitzpatrick (6-0.5, 185), LB Travares Daniels (6-1, 200), WR Ah’mari Stevens (6-0, 165), DL Trevor Sommers (6-3, 255)
Don’t let American Heritage’s 4-4 record fool you. The Patriots have played a brutal schedule and are a few plays away from being undefeated. Bell is putting together a tremendous junior campaign as he enters Friday’s matchup with 2,079 yards passing and 24 touchdowns to go with 392 yards rushing and three more scores.
They will be one of the favorites in 4A. St. Thomas Aquinas’ only two losses came against No. 5 Bishop Gorman and No. 17 Chaminade-Madonna. They will be one of the favorites in 5A with No. 14 Lakeland being their biggest threat.
5. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) at No. 15 Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Friday, 7 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
- 0 Servite
- 38 Orange Lutheran
Top players
Servite: RB Quaid Carr (6-0, 180), LB Isaiah Leilua (6-0, 205), DB Kaleb Aiava (6-0, 190), LB Brando Mosqueda (5-11, 195), DL Tomas Cernius (6-4, 235)
Orange Lutheran: LB Talanoa Ili (6-4, 220), QB T.J. Lateef (6-3, 190), TE A.J. Ia (6-6, 215), DB Benjamin Alefaio (6-0, 190), RB Steve Chavez (6-0, 215)
Servite played St. John Bosco tough last week but dropped its second game in a row with a 27-17 loss at SoFi Stadium. The Friars lost to Mater Dei 28-6 the week prior and have been without starting quarterback Leo Hannan since Sept. 6.
They have one of the best running backs in the state in Carr, who enters Friday’s game with 1,031 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. Orange Lutheran has won two in a row since a 28-24 loss at St. John Bosco. The Lancers beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) 23-17 and followed that up with a 13-10 win over Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) last week.
6. Westlake (Austin, Texas) at Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
- 28 Westlake
- 16 Lake Travis
Top players
Westlake: LB Elliott Schaper (6-3, 210), QB Rees Wise (6-2, 205), DB Brandon Clark (6-0, 180), TE Brody Wilhelm (6-5, 220), DL Connor Vasek (6-4, 230)
Lake Travis: DL Gus Cordova (6-3, 245), RB Vann Hopping (5-10, 195), QB Chaston Ditta (6-1, 190), LB Easton Aird (6-2, 205), WR Patrick Colby (6-2, 185)
Enjoying its first 7-0 start since 2015, Lake Travis is trying to do something it hasn’t since 2019 and that is beat Westlake. Hudson Card led the Cavaliers to a 20-19 win throwing for 211 yards and three touchdowns. The last meeting came in last year’s Class 6A Division 1 quarterfinals with Westlake winning 21-14, clinching its seventh straight appearance in the state semifinals.
7. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater, Fla.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live on FloFootball
- 35 St. Frances Academy
- 7 Clearwater Central Catholic
Top players
St. Frances Academy: DL Zion Elee (6-4, 220), DB Blake Woodby (5-11, 175), DB Jireh Edwards (6-1, 195), ATH Bryce Deas (6-1, 210), DB Byron Baldwin (6-1, 190)
Clearwater Central Catholic: QB Jershaun Newton (6-0, 205), RB Sean Cuono (5-10, 185), DL Gregory Thomas (6-0, 205), OL Dujuan Davis (6-7, 380), RB Nasir Hutchinson (5-8, 180)
St. Frances Academy has played one of the toughest schedules and its three losses came at No. 1 Mater Dei, No. 4 Duncanville and No. 15 Orange Lutheran. The Panthers are riding a three-game win streak heading into Friday’s matchup and are looking to maintain the momentum before facing No. 6 IMG Academy on Nov. 1. CCC lost its first game of the season 27-20 against No. 18 Venice (Fla.) last week.
8. No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
- 28 Bergen Catholic
- 17 St. Joseph Regional
Top players
Bergen Catholic: WR Quincy Porter (6-4, 205), RB Najee Calhoun (5-11, 190), DB Jordan Thomas (6-0, 175), DL Jermaine Kinsler (6-7, 260), DL Jackson Vaughn (6-4, 220)
St. Joseph Regional: DB Jahmir Joseph (6-0, 185), WR Nathan Bailey (5-8, 175), DB K.J. McClain (6-1, 170), QB Lamar Best (6-0, 175), RB John Forster (5-11, 190)
Three-time defending Non-Public A state champ Bergen Catholic has won six in a row since a season-opening 27-14 loss against No. 6 IMG Academy. Porter and Calhoun headline a talented offense. Porter has 32 receptions for 594 yards and seven touchdowns while Calhoun has rushed for 726 yards and eight scores. St. Joseph Regional bounced back with a 41-14 win over Pope John XXIII (Sparta) after a 35-28 loss against Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey). St. Joseph Regional is looking to snap its four-game skid against the Crusaders.
9. Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) at St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
- 24 Archbishop Hoban
- 21 St. Edward
Top players
Archbishop Hoban: ATH Brayton Feister (6-3, 230), LB Eli Lee (6-3, 230), DB Elbert Hill (5-10, 170), OL Sam Greer (6-7, 305), DB Tylan Boykin (6-1, 175)
St. Edward: LB Nate Gregory (6-0, 225), WR Zachary Hackleman (6-0, 170), DB Bradley Eaton (5-9, 170), OL Sawyer Prementine (6-4, 300), DL Jaden Woods (6-0, 285)
St. Edward, winners of three straight Division I state titles, is looking for momentum as it gets ready for the playoffs next week. The Eagles have dropped three of their last five games with tight losses against Massillon, Glenville (Cleveland) and Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati). Hoban has won back-to-back games after a 19-14 loss against Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls). This will be the fifth straight year these two Ohio powers square off and the Eagles hold a 3-1 edge.
10. Gainesville (Ga.) at Roswell (Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
Top players
Gainesville: LB Xavier Griffin (6-4, 215), OL Alex Payne (6-6, 285), QB Kharim Hughley (5-11, 180), DL Julius Columbus (6-2, 285), WR Taz Smith (5-10, 170)
Roswell: DL Kobby Sakyi-Prah (6-3, 225), QB Trey Smith (6-0, 190), RB Synkwan Smith (5-9, 170), ATH Nytrevain Davenport (6-0, 160), LB Ryder Duffy (5-11, 205)
Gainesville’s only two losses have come against No. 3 Milton and No. 7 Carrollton. Roswell’s only loss came against No. 12 Buford and it has won five in a row since. Both teams are still in contention to claim the AAAAA Region 7 crown. Roswell would need to run the table beating Gainesville on Friday then Milton next week.
The Red Elephants need to win Friday plus a Milton loss for a three-way tie if the Eagles beat an 0-8 Johns Creek squad on Friday. They would need Roswell to knock off the defending AAAAAAA state champs on Nov. 1. This will be the second meeting since 2022 and Gainesville won the previous one 35-28 to advance to the AAAAAA state championship game.
