Some states are in the playoffs. Others are deciding champions.
This rendition of Top Games of the Week features 15 teams in win-or-go-home situations. One team has four straight championships on the line; another is set to play for its 11th in a row.
Take a look at the schedule of best games of the week.
RELATED: Super 25 National | Regional Rankings
MATCHUP
No. 18 Southlake Carroll (Texas) (11-0)
vs.
DeSoto (Texas) (9-2)
When: 11/22, 6:30 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: DeSoto may have been beaten twice this year, but both of those losses were one-point games. This team is just a couple breaks away from being undefeated. Southlake Carroll, though, is undefeated; the closest game was a 12-point win, and last week, the Dragons won by 78 points. They have been unstoppable behind sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers and freshman running back Owen Allen. It will take a big performance from some DeSoto player to keep up: maybe cornerback Jabbar Muhammad or Devyn Bobby, or perhaps an offensive weapon like leading wide receiver Lawrence Arnold. More likely, it’ll take a big performance from several Eagles.
MATCHUP
Thompson (Alabaster, Alabama) (10-1)
vs.
Hoover (Alabama) (10-2)
When: 11/22, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: The Thompson vs. Hoover playoff battle is on its way to being an annual thing, as this will be the third time in a row the two teams have met up with the season on the line. In 2017, Hoover won, and last season, Thompson got revenge. This year, it’ll be a battle between two of the top quarterbacks in the state: Thompson’s Sawyer Pate has completed 76% of his passes with 33 touchdowns to two interceptions while Robby Ashford has led Hoover to back-to-back playoff wins since his return from injury, including an overtime victory last week. His injury came in the regular season matchup against Thompson. Now healthy, can he lead the Bucs to a 2-1 playoff record against Thompson these last three years?
MATCHUP
Central Catholic (Pittsburgh) (11-1)
vs.
State College (Pennsylvania) (11-1)
When: 11/22, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Central Catholic vaulted up the East Regional Rankings after a 10-7 playoff win over Pine-Richland, its second victory against team this year. The Vikings’ next test is against State College and the Little Lions’ players who are under-the-radar nationally including running back Dresyn Green (1,134 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns) and linebacker Ryan Domico (94 tackles). Central Catholic has yet to allow more than 14 points this season. It will have to continue its dominance for this matchup.
MATCHUP
No. 13 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (11-1)
vs.
Liberty (Henderson, Nevada) (7-5)
When: 11/22, 10 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Bishop Gorman is going for its 11th straight championship this weekend. The team has dismantled every Nevada opponent that has crossed its path, allowing 20 total points in those eight games. But the Gaels haven’t yet this season faced a team with the talent or tough schedule of Liberty. The Patriots started 0-5 with five losses to out-of-state teams, two of which are currently in the top 15 of the Super 25. The Patriots then rattled off seven straight wins against Nevada competition, allowing double-digit points in only one game. Now they get Bishop Gorman. Can they finally knock the Gaels off the top?
MATCHUP
No. 10 Lakeland (Florida) (12-0)
vs.
Armwood (Seffner, Florida) (11-1)
When: 11/22, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last week was Lakeland’s first real challenge of the season, as the Dreadnaughts had to fight for a one-possession victory over Tampa Bay Tech. Now, they’ll meet Armwood and its deep group that includes a wide receiver corps led by four-star Charles Montgomery and five-star Agiye Hall. But an offense can only go so far against Lakeland. The defense, specifically how running back Demarkcus Bowman is contained, will likely be the defining factor. He’s been used tactically this season, getting 10 carries or fewer in four games and 20 or more just twice. Bowman was set loose last week. He might be again.
MATCHUP
No. 14 Mentor (Ohio) (12-0)
vs.
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) (11-1)
When: 11/22, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: The closest Mentor has come to losing this season was opening night. St. Edward took them to the wire but the Cardinals survived with a 29-28 win. It was the second year in a row with an opening week game between the two. In 2018, it was a three-point Mentor victory. In the playoffs, St. Edward won 24-14. In 2017, the two teams only met once, but it was a playoff game, and a tight 21-13 Mentor win. For as long as these two senior classes have been in high school, the battles have been tough and margins slim. St. Edward and Mentor meet again Friday night.
MATCHUP
No. 7 Katy (Texas) (11-0)
vs.
Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) (11-0)
When: 11/22, 9 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: After winning the 2017 Texas 6A D2 Championship, Cy-Fair was relegated up to D1. The Bobcats got all the way to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion North Shore. But undefeated Cy-Fair gets tested early in the 2019 playoffs, matching up with a Katy team that took down North Shore in the regular season. L.J. Johnson is close to the 2,000-yard, 40-touchdown plateau, needing only 56 yards and three touchdowns to get there. To reach those numbers, he might need more than one game. To extend the season, the Bobcats need to beat undefeated Katy and running back Ron Hoff. Can they do it?
MATCHUP
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) (11-0)
vs.
Mission Viejo (California) (11-0)
When: 11/22, 10 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: In two seasons under Chad Johnson, Mission Viejo only has two on-field losses (four wins were taken away due to forfeit last year). One was a playoff game against Mater Dei. The Diablos, ranked in the West Region, get another shot at the Monarchs one week after a 38-35 scare vs. Servite (Anaheim, California). Prior to that game, the defense had not given up more than 14 points in a single game this season. That unit will have to return to form, and quarterback Peter Costelli will have to be more efficient to take down the explosive Mater Dei offense and formidable defense.
MATCHUP
Washington (Massillon, Ohio) (12-0)
vs.
Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) (11-1)
When: 11/22, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Archbishop Hoban capped off its fourth straight championship season last year with a win over Washington Massillon in the title game. Now, they meet two rounds earlier with a trip to the semifinals on the line. Since the Knights’ Week 3 loss, they have only allowed more than 20 points once and scored 40 or more in all but three. Meanwhile, Washington quarterback Aidan Longwell is coming off a 14-for-15, five-touchdown performance. Can the Tigers prevent Hoban from getting close to becoming the second team in Ohio history to win five straight championships?
MATCHUP
No. 9 Allen (Texas) (11-0)
vs.
Rockwall (Texas) (9-2)
When: 11/22, 10 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last season, Allen and Rockwall met in the playoffs. Both teams scored more than 30 points in the first half but the defenses stiffened up in the second, and Allen walked away with the win. Now, they’ll meet up again. Allen has dominated a relatively difficult schedule this season but will be pressed as they take the field at AT&T Stadium to play Rockwall, who has scored 45 points or more in eight of 11 games. Sophomore quarterback Braedyn Locke has had a stellar season leading the high-powered Yellowjackets offense, but Allen is a new test for him. Should he not be as efficient as necessitated, running back Zach Henry will be key, as he ran for two touchdowns and 118 yards in last season’s matchup.
MATCHUP
St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey) (7-3)
vs.
Don Bosco (Ramsey, New Jersey) (6-4)
When: 11/23, 1 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Don Bosco Prep took down St. Joseph Regional a month ago, but after losing four games this season, the Ironmen were stuck with a third seed and a semifinals matchup against the Green Knights. If the tides are to turn, St. Joseph Regional will have to look at the rushing attack on offense and rushing prevention on defense. Don Bosco’s Kyle Monangai had 212 yards and a score and Jalen Berger had two touchdowns to go with 90 yards, while star Green Knight running back Audric Estime was limited to a paltry 48 yards.
MATCHUP
No. 20 Owasso (Oklahoma) (11-0)
vs.
Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) (9-2)
When: 11/23, 7 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: In last year’s playoffs, Broken Arrow stifled Owasso’s offense and won 10-7 to end the Rams’ season. Two months ago, the teams met up again as Owasso went on the road and gave the Tigers their first loss of the season in a 42-19 beatdown. But that game doesn’t matter so much anymore. It’s the playoffs, and this is the second year in a row one team’s season will end at the hands of the other. Defensive lineman Jaylen Moss, who leads Broken Arrow in tackles for loss (18.5) and sacks (8.0), will be relied upon to get pressure on quarterback Cole Dugger, who has 37 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
MATCHUP
Saguaro (Scottsdale, Arizona) (10-1)
vs.
Hamilton (Chandler, Arizona) (9-2)
When: 11/23, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last year, Hamilton wrapped up its first losing season ever as Saguaro was winning its sixth 4A championship in a row. Now, after a massive Hamilton turnaround and another successful Sabercats season, the two are matched up in the semifinals of the brand new Open Division. Hamilton took one-seed Chandler to the brink in the regular season and beat two-time defending 5A champion Centennial last week, while Saguaro cornerback Kelee Ringo has been dominant as a running back as well as his usual defensive role. Can Saguaro make yet another championship appearance? Or has Hamilton officially returned?
MATCHUP
No. 12 Chandler (Arizona) (11-0)
vs.
Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Arizona) (10-0)
When: 11/23, 8 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: Last week, Salpointe Catholic’s Bijan Robinson became the first Arizona high school running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in three straight seasons and broke the state touchdown record. How Chandler, who has perhaps the top defense in the state, plans to limit him is the primary intrigue in this game. On the other end is Dae Dae Hunter, the Chandler running back who has exploded for 1,465 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. If 4A Salpointe Catholic can knock off the 6A power in the semifinals for the first Arizona Open Division semifinals, stopping Hunter is a key.
MATCHUP
Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland) (8-3)
vs.
St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) (7-4)
When: 11/24, 6 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape: A month after St. John’s took down Good Counsel 34-31 with a touchdown with just over one minute remaining, the two meet up for the WCAC Championship. The Cadets are battle-tested, going through four straight weeks – and four straight losses – of Super 25 competition before running undefeated through league play. Good Counsel has seen its share of adversity as well, including a five-overtime win over then-Super 25 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.). The WCAC championship game is must-watch football (remember the Hail Mary last year to end the game?). How will these teams battle?
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