As some states playoffs are getting underway, we’re seeing more and more district champions and more intense races.
Here are some games around the country that will have real consequences on seedings — and, in some cases, could be the end of the year for some strong teams.
SUPER 25: TOP 25 | REGIONAL | TOP STAR
Pencil these games into your schedule as matchups to follow in Week 11 of high school football around the country.
MATCHUP
No. 11 John Curtis (River Ridge, Louisiana) (8-0)
vs.
Archbishop Rummel (Metairie, Louisiana) (8-0)
When: 11/1, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Undefeated through eight weeks, Archbishop Rummel would love to prove it’s the best team in the state. To do that, it needs to beat John Curtis, ranked as the No. 11 team in the Super 25. John Curtis has scored more than 50 points in five of eight games with its elite rushing attack, but Archbishop Rummel has given up a total of 25 points this year. John Curtis might have to get creative to get through that unit.
MATCHUP
No. 10 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) (8-1)
at
Hoover (Alabaster, Alabama) (8-1)
When: 11/1, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Hoover, ranked No. 6 in the Southeast Region, continued its strong season last week with a win at Mountain Brook in Birmingham. This coming week will be the ultimate test of the Bucs’ season: IMG Academy is visiting. The Ascenders, who suffered their first loss two weeks ago, crushed Norland on Saturday. The Bucs will have to limit running back Kaytron Allen and figure out a way to move the ball consistently if they are to compete.
MATCHUP
No. 25 Lowndes (Valdosta, Georgia) (9-0)
vs.
Colquitt County (Moultrie, Georgia) (8-1)
When: 11/1, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Welcome to the Super 25, Lowndes. Your next matchup will be against Colquitt County, another strong Georgia team trying to prove it’s the best in the state. Colquitt County already has a Super 25 victory over Grayson back in Week 5, and another vs. Lowndes would end its regular season on a seven-game win streak. But Lowndes has been stellar, allowing a total of 20 points over the last four games. After Colquitt County’s huge win over the Vikings last year, Lowndes would like to end this regular season on a high note.
MATCHUP
No. 13 Chandler (Arizona) (9-0)
vs.
Hamilton (Chandler, Arizona) (8-1)
When: 11/1, 10 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: For the better part of two decades, Chandler could not beat Hamilton. Then, Chandler became the powerhouse of 6A and won four championships in five years while Hamilton lost its status, culminating in a 3-7 2018 season. But now these cross-town rivals are perhaps the top two teams in the conference. Can the Huskies reverse the tables back in their favor? Or can Chandler, who has won three straight games by a score of 49-0, go into the playoffs undefeated as the undisputed one seed?
MATCHUP
No. 12 Allen (Texas) (8-0)
at
Prosper (Texas) (7-1)
When: 11/1, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: After suffering its first loss of the season on Oct. 11, Prosper won its next two games by a combined score of 61-19. Now, it will be tested against powerhouse Allen for the second year in a row. Allen has shown that the offense can be dominant – two weeks ago, quarterback Raylen Sharpe had more than 450 total yards – but the defense can also when games when the offense isn’t on (last week, Sharpe had 91 yards but the D had seven sacks and prevented five fourth-down conversions, according to Star Local Media.) Prosper will need to have production on both sides of the ball if it is to compete.
MATCHUP
Avon (Indiana) (9-0)
at
Brownsburg (Indiana) (6-3)
When: 11/1, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: On Sept. 13, Avon beat Brownsburg 7-3. A 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter by Chrishon McCray was all the offense Avon could muster, but it was all it needed. Three Avon players had double-digit tackles (Clayton Peters with 14, Nathaniel James with 12, Joseph Sargent with 10) and Jordan Turley-Ford led the way for Brownsburg with 11 tackles. Now, they get a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. If you’re a believer that football nowadays doesn’t have enough defense, this is a game you’ll want to watch.
MATCHUP
Male (Louisville, Kentucky) (9-0)
at
duPont Manual (Louisville, Kentucky) (8-1)
When: 11/1, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Mountain Brook, coming off its first loss of the season, faces the bane of its program in Hoover. Over the last five seasons, Mountain Brook has lost every matchup to the Bucs, including last year’s playoff game. With only one loss to Hoover’s name, it has again been one of the top Alabama teams. But it hasn’t been as dominant the last two weeks as it was earlier in the season, winning those two games by one possession each. Is Mountain Brook in a good position to finally get the win?
MATCHUP
Hutchinson (Minnesota) (9-0)
vs.
Marshall (Minnesota) (9-0)
When: 11/1, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Ranked as top-10 teams in Minnesota by MaxPreps, these undefeated teams (both have Tigers as the mascot) face off in the second round of the playoffs. The last time these two teams played was the second round of the 2016 playoffs, when Marshall won 17-14. Hutchinson has caught on fire offensively, scoring more than 40 points in five of the last six games and has not allowed more than 15 points since Sept. 13. Marshall has allowed more than 15 just once this season and has scored 40-plus six times. Expect a battle on both sides of the ball.
MATCHUP
Muskego (Wisconsin) (10-0)
vs.
Mukwonago (Wisconsin) (7-3)
When: 11/1, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: The playoffs are underway in Wisconsin, beginning with a rematch of an Oct. 4 game between these two top-10 teams in the state. If Mukwanago is to win its time, the main objective is clear: Keep Alex Current contained. In that matchup less than a month ago, he had three rushing touchdowns: an 18-yarder, an 81-yarder and one for 95 yards late in the fourth quarter. This game can be competitive if Mukwonago makes proper adjustments — namely, letting good defense be overshadowed by long gains in yardage.
MATCHUP
Mesquite (Texas) (7-1)
at
Rockwall (Texas) (7-2)
When: 11/1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Over the last two weeks, Mesquite and Rockwall both faced Lee (Tyler, Texas). Both won, but in different ways – Mesquite won 18-14, but it was just the second time the Skeeters had been held under 20 points this season. Meanwhile, Rockwall won 35-32, another show of its offensive capabilities. Mesquite will need another similar defensive performance to contain sophomore quarterback Braedyn Locke (31 touchdowns to six interceptions) and senior running back Zach Henry (118.3 yards per game, 10 touchdowns), or to put up a more typical number of points.
MATCHUP
Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colorado) (9-0)
vs.
Grandview (Aurora, Colorado) (8-1)
When: 11/1, 9 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last year’s matchup between these teams was a double-overtime Grandview victory. Cherry Creek would like to get the win this year, and for more than bragging privileges going into the playoffs: With the win, the Bruins would have an undefeated regular season. To do that, they’ll have to contain junior running back Noah Schmidt, who is averaging 178.6 rushing yards and has 15 touchdowns through nine games.
MATCHUP
No. 6 St. Louis (Honolulu) (9-0)
vs.
Punahou (Hawaii) (11-1)
When: 11/2, 12 a.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: The top two teams in Hawaii face off for the ILH Open Division Championship. St. Louis is going for its fourth straight championship and has beat Punahou in two of the last three. The Crusaders have been rolling this season, and only one game has even been close: the Sept. 20 matchup vs. Punahou, a 25-19 win. Can Punahou make a couple adjustments to win the game? If so, it would end a winning streak that has stretched since 2016 – a regular season loss that year to Punahou.
MATCHUP
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Maryland) (6-2)
at
St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) (4-4)
When: 11/2, 1 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: St. John’s couldn’t beat the dominant non-Maryland powerhouses it faced during the season, at one point falling to 2-4. But, against Bishop McNamara and Good Counsel, St. John’s played like the Cadets team we have come to know, winning both matchups. Now, they’ll try to get above .500 against DeMatha. Last year, the Cadets won 13-7 in the regular season and the two did not face off in the playoffs. Don’t miss this game, just in case it is the only time the two play against each other this year.
MATCHUP
Washington (Massillon, Ohio) (9-0)
at
McKinley (Canton, Ohio) (9-1)
When: 11/2, 2 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Massillon has beat McKinley in each of the last three years, but all three games were within one possession. In 2017 it was a one-point win and in 2016 a two-point victory. They’ll face off again as Massillon tries to take an undefeated record into the postseason. Last week was the first time Massillon scored less than 40 points in a game. McKinley hasn’t been as consistent offensively, but even in its loss, it scored 48 points. This could be a shootout.
MATCHUP
St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) (5-3)
at
St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) (8-0)
When: 11/2, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last week’s loss was a heartbreaker for St. Joseph Regional. After a really strong season for most the year, the Green Knights are now in danger of losing three games in a row to end the regular season. Undefeated St. Peter’s Prep is now ranked as the best New Jersey team in the regional rankings. With two losses to St. Joseph Regional last year, one of which bounced the Marauders out of the playoffs, getting on top would be noteworthy for St. Peter’s Prep.
