Take a deep breath. Week Two is over.
The No. 2 team in the country, North Shore (Houston, Texas), lost by three to perennial Texas power Katy. The matchup between then-No. 9 Marietta (Georgia) and St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) ended in back-to-back touchdown drives led by four-star quarterbacks.
St. Louis (Honolulu) crushed Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in a battle of Western powerhouses.
Now let’s do it all again.
Mark your calendars for the top 15 games in Week Three of the high school football season.
MATCHUP
Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill, Texas) at Parish Episcopal (Dallas, Texas)
When: 9/5, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Trinity Christian has won back-to-back championships and only lost one game during those two years. The Tigers face Parish Episcopal, a team looking to continue its forward momentum after reaching the semifinals last year. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2, and there’s a big reason to tune in: Four-star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is the son of Deion Sanders, is going against Preston Stone, ranked as the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country.
MATCHUP
No. 18 John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) at Edna Karr (New Orleans)
When: 9/5, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Two 2018 undefeated Louisiana championship teams face off to in a battle for supremacy in the state. Five-star 2022 Edna Karr defensive tackle Tygee Hill will get one of the tougher tests of his young career against a John Curtis offense that put up more than 40 points seven times in 13 games — including the championship — last year.
MATCHUP
Eastwood (El Paso, Texas) vs. Plano (Texas) at Ford Center at the Star
When: 9/5, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: This game isn’t about the players or the matchup, but the significance beyond the field. After the Walmart shooting in El Paso, Plano decided to cancel the game scheduled between their team and Eastwood (El Paso) on Sept. 6 at their home field, citing safety concerns. But a day later, the teams found an agreeable neutral facility, the 12,000 seat Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, on Sept. 5. They’ll face off as Eastwood continues working to overcome the tragedy.
MATCHUP
No. 4 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) at No. 14 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
When: 9/6, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: The game of the week, St. Joseph’s Prep doesn’t get much time to nurse the wounds from its opener in which the Hawks fell to then-No. 9 Marietta on a last-minute drive. They face an equally-daunting challenge a week later against No. 4 St. John’s. A pair of ALL-USA wide receivers in Rakim Jarrett of St. John’s and Marvin Harrison Jr. of St. Joseph’s Prep will take center stage in this battle of titans.
MATCHUP
No. 11 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
When: 9/6, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Don Bosco Prep returns to home-field advantage after falling to St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California) across the country last week. But they’re challenged once again vs. No. 11 Gonzaga. If Don Bosco Prep hopes to apply pressure to five-star quarterback Caleb Williams, they’ll have to get through the stellar offensive line with four three-star players including Penn State commit Olu Fashanu.
MATCHUP
No. 23 Highland Springs (Va.) at Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.)
When: 9/6, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Highland Springs won its 30th straight game last week. But Oscar Smith has been no slouch itself over the last three seasons, winning 36 of 43. Oscar Smith hopes to break the Springers’ streak, but that’s a tough ask against a talented team and secondary that includes four-star safety Malcolm Greene and three-star cornerback Damond Harmon.
MATCHUP
No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at Centennial (Peoria, Ariz.)
When: 9/6, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Centennial stands among the best teams in the country, winning the last two Arizona championships and knocking off out-of-state powerhouses Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) in the process. But while the Coyotes have been winning titles in Arizona, Mater Dei has won two straight National Championships. If Centennial is indeed the giant-slayer, can they take down this Goliath?
MATCHUP
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) vs. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
When: 9/6, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Cathedral Catholic is trying to prove they’re a legitimate California power after taking down then-No. 10 Saguaro (Scottsdale, Arizona) last weekend. Its next challenger is Centennial, an in-state powerhouse whose only losses over the last two seasons have been to Mater Dei, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) and St. John Bosco. If the Dons can become the fourth, they would join elite company.
MATCHUP
No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at Liberty (Henderson, Nev.)
When: 9/6, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Liberty’s non-conference schedule has been extremely difficult. Though the Patriots are 0-2, they’re a good team; it’s no coincidence both teams that beat them are now in the West Region Top 10. But St. John Bosco is a different cut. If Liberty is to win, four-star tight end Moliki Matavao will have to play a creative, unique game that Bosco isn’t accustomed to out of the tight end position, and the defense will have to stop the Braves’ diverse group of receiving threats. Those are both tough asks.
MATCHUP
King (Detroit) vs. Muskegon (Mich.)
When: 9/6, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: It’s a rematch of last year’s championship game, which King took 41-25. Muskegon wants vengeance on that loss, and the team knows they can do it; earlier in the 2018 season, Muskegon took down the Crusaders 24-21. But King has extra motivation of its own after losing its first game of the season and dropping out of the Super 25.
MATCHUP
St. Ignatius (Cleveland) at Mentor (Ohio)
When: 9/6, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: A pair of ranked teams in the Midwest Region face off Friday. Mentor crushed St. Ignatius in the matchup last season as quarterback Ian Kipp ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third. St. Ignatius hopes it can use that experience against Kipp to game plan better for him; but now that the three-star quarterback is a junior, he too has a year of experience under his belt.
MATCHUP
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) at Colerain (Cincinnati)
When: 9/6, 7 p.m.
Analysis: These battles between Cincinnati rivals are fierce. In eight matchups over the last four years, four have gone into overtime and six have been decided by one possession. Colerain has ended on top more often than not, going 6-2 against the Bombers in that span.
Now, the teams are in very different places. Colerain went 14-1 last year and played in the championship game; St. Xavier finished 5-6. But even that regular-season matchup was brutal, with Colerain eking out a 14-12 win. This rivalry is as good as it gets.
Update: The game location has been changed to Miami.
MATCHUP
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) vs. No. 8 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
When: 9/6, 7:30 p.m.
Analysis: These two Florida teams have met twice over the last two years, with IMG Academy winning by a combined score of 55-7. But both years, Northwestern went on to win the Class 6A state championship. The Bulls have a big win under their belt already this season, a five-star junior linebacker in Terrence Lewis and a talented wide receiver tandem in four-star Miami commits Romello Brinson and Marcus Fleming. Can this be their year to take down the Ascenders?
MATCHUP
Carol City (Miami, Fla.) at Miami Central (Fla.)
When: 9/6, 7:30 p.m.
Analysis: Last year, Carol City won the regular season matchup but Central got the win in the playoff battle. How will Carol City respond? The Chiefs suffered a tough 10-0 loss at the hands of Northwestern last week. In this battle between Miami foes, viewers have to be crossing their fingers four-star Carol City wide receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell and four-star Central cornerback Henry Gray get matched up on each other.
MATCHUP
22 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
When: 9/7, 11 p.m. ET
Analysis: This matchup is the final game of the Polynesian Bowl Classic, a tournament that will also feature St. John Bosco vs. Liberty and Saguaro vs. Faith Lutheran High School (Las Vegas). Can Servite extend Bishop Gorman’s losing streak to two games? The Gaels fell to St. Louis (Honolulu) last week, and as the host of this tournament, there will be even more pressure to get back in the win column.
