After Mater Dei ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Super 25, the Monarchs had their bye week.
Now, they return to a challenge — crossing the country to face off against St. John’s (Washington, D.C.).
That’s just one of the best games that will take place this week. Take a look at the schedule to see the top 15 high school games, which could affect the regional and national rankings.
MATCHUP
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)
When: 9/27, 8:30 p.m. ET
Analysis: One game won’t fix an overall disappointing season for St. John’s … but beating the No. 1 team in the country would at least get rid of a bad taste after losing to three straight Super 25 teams, two of which are now in the top five. If St. John’s, which was ranked as high as No. 4 this season, can manage to take down Mater Dei, it would throw the entire national rankings leaderboard into a loop after the Cadets were bested by No. 4 Duncanville (Texas) and No. 5 IMG (Bradenton, Florida). But can they stop quarterback Bryce Young?
MATCHUP
Valdosta (Ga.) at Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)
When: 9/27, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Lowndes crushed Northwestern (Miami, Florida) last week 48-21, continuing a season in which they have now outscored opponents by a total of 145 points. The Vikings’ next test will be against Valdosta in a clash of inter-city rivals and two of the four Georgia teams in the Super 25 Southeast Regional Rankings. Which team will take its first loss of the year?
MATCHUP
No. 16 Grayson (Loganville, Ga). at Colquitt County (Ga.)
When: 9/27, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Another Georgia matchup, Colquitt County’s only loss was when they put up 49 points against Voldasta — but the opponent put up 50. They’ll have to defend better to stop Lafayette Gurvin Jr., the Grayson running back who averages about 135 rushing yards a game.
MATCHUP
No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. Carol City (Miami, Fla.)
When: 9/27, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Carol City may be below .500, but they’ve played a difficult schedule with losses to Central (Miami, Florida) and Northwestern. Can they turn the season around against the No. 2 team in the country? St. Thomas took down now-No. 10 De La Salle (Concord, California) in the opener and has feasted on lower-quality teams since. This will be the Raiders’ second real test this season.
MATCHUP
Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) vs. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
When: 9/27, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Corner Canyon has beat up on top Utah competition this season while Lone Peak has ventured out-of-state, taking down then-ranked Narbonne (Harbor City, California) but falling to Las Vegas power Bishop Gorman in a close game. The Chargers and Knights are 1A and 1B in Utah, with undefeated Corner Canyon entering the Western Regional Rankings this week. A win for either team would be a huge resume-booster and declare them the preeminent team in the state.
MATCHUP
Lamar (Arlington, Texas) vs. Martin (Arlington, Texas)
When: 9/27, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: This Texas rivalry pits a pair of Arlington teams against each other, but for several years, the game heavily favored Martin. In the four seasons from 2014-17, Martin scored more than 40 points each time and outscored Lamar 210-111. But last year Lamar broke through, destroying Martin 58-5. Can the Vikings do it again?
MATCHUP
No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) vs. Booker T. Washington (Miami, Florida)
When: 9/27, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: After beating Northwestern, St. Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia and St. John’s, this game against Booker T. Washington looks to be one IMG can handle. But the Ascenders can’t let this be a trap game. The Tornadoes are very capable, with a 4-1 record and their only loss coming by three points. They’ve scored more than 30 points in all games but that loss — when they had 29. That loss was also their only game allowing more than 11 points. IMG is the favorite, but they can’t take it easy against Booker T. Washington.
MATCHUP
Mission Viejo (Calif.) vs. Upland (Calif.)
When: 9/27, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Mission Viejo’s main nemesis since hiring Chad Johnson as head coach last season is itself. Use of an ineligible player last season forced it to vacate four wins. If those had counted, it would be 15-2 over this season and last. But Upland has a weapon unlike anyone Mission Viejo QB Peter Costelli has come across: Chosen 25 linebacker Justin Flowe. The Diablos will have to be on their mark to beat 3-1 Upland, who has yet to allow 30 points this season, and remain undefeated.
MATCHUP
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
When: 9/27, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Don Bosco Prep’s 1-2 record is more of a symptom of its schedule than its talent — not many teams can beat St. John Bosco or Gonzaga (Washington D.C.). Bergen Catholic’s loss last week, though to a good team, isn’t as forgivable as those aforementioned Super 25 teams. Bergen Catholic needs this win to prove it’s as good it looks on paper, while a win for Don Bosco Prep would give the team the feeling that it’s in the class right below the Super 25 contenders. That’s a good thing.
MATCHUP
Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) vs. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) at University of Louisville Cardinal Stadium
When: 9/27, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Last year, the matchup between these rivals had an estimated attendance of 18,500 people, according to the Courier Journal. That’s down from the 2008 mark of 38,872 attendees, but these Louisville foes rage on. Trinity is coming off its first loss of the season, a double-overtime defeat at the hands of Male (Louisville, Kentucky), but a win over St. Xavier could propel them back up the Midwest Rankings.
MATCHUP
Longview (Texas) vs. Rockwall (Texas)
When: 9/27, 8:30 p.m. ET
Analysis: So far this season, Longview either wins in absolute blowouts — two wins came by a combined score of 95-0 — or in tight battles, as the other two wins were by a total of 13 points. Rockwall scores in droves, putting up at least 45 points in all four games. That includes its loss, in which the Yellowjackets put up 59 points. If Longview’s trend is to continue, they’ll have to keep pace with the Rockwall offense, because it seems unlikely they’ll blow out this team led by sophomore quarterback Braedyn Locke (393 yards per game, 6.33 TD to INT ratio) and four-star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, an Ohio State commit averaging almost 200 receiving yards a game.
MATCHUP
Eden Prairie vs. Wayzata
When: 9/27, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Eden Prairie has outscored opponents 116-13, but over the last two weeks, it hasn’t broken the 20 points mark on offense. If Wayzata can hold them there again, the Trojans have a chance — but they’d also have to score, which is tough against the Eagles. Wayzata averages about 24 points per game, a solid mark, but not ideal against a defense this tough. This battle between what MaxPreps considers the No. 4 and 5 Minnesota teams could be a tight one.
MATCHUP
No. 6 St. Louis (Honolulu) vs. Mililani (Hawaii)
When: 9/28, 1:30 a.m. ET
Analysis: Mililani prepared for its battle against St. Louis, the in-state rival who has not lost a game in three years, by taking on No. 3 St. John Bosco. Mililani fell to the Bellflower, California opponent, as most teams do. But taking down St. Louis would be a spectacular win in its own right. No Hawaii team comes close to the Crusaders’ stature. Mililani, the No. 2 team in the state, has as good a shot as any to be the one to defeat them.
MATCHUP
No. 9 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at No. 18 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.)
When: 9/28, 1 p.m.
Analysis: St. Frances bounced back from its Mater Dei loss by shutting out Norland (Miami, Florida) 49-0. But after a week against weaker competition, the Panthers are back up against a Super 25 opponent. To knock off St. Joseph Regional, they’ll have to manage Audric Estime, who is averaging 139 rushing yards and has seven touchdowns in just three games.
MATCHUP
No. 12 John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) at St. Augustine (New Orleans)
When: 9/28, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Putting up 42 points in the first game looked good. Then John Curtis scored 55 in game two. To top that, the Patriots put up 72 points last weekend. Where do they go from here? St. Augustine, sporting a 3-0 record with two 40-plus point games, is one of the better teams in Louisiana, but so was John Curtis’ week one opponent. Defenders like three-star Byron Turner Jr. will have to have excellent games to stop John Curtis’ offensive machine.
