Rivalry matchups across the country, including Texas, Florida and Ohio lead this week’s batch of top high school football games.
Take a look at the schedule to see the top 15 high school games, which could affect the regional and national rankings.
MATCHUP
No. 7 Katy (Texas) vs. Tompkins (Katy, Texas)
When: 10/3, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Tompkins is still trying to catch up to its neighbor in this crosstown rivalry, but both teams come into this game undefeated. Yet there’s a large disparity in national perception between the two schools. Katy is ranked in the top 10 of the Super 25 while Tompkins, frankly, isn’t in the discussion. Can they show the country they need to be taken seriously?
MATCHUP
Lone Peak (Utah) at Skyridge (Utah)
When: 10/3, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Both teams are coming off tough, tough losses. Lone Peak fell to Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) after blowing a 17-7 lead with two minutes left in the game, while Skyridge lost by one point to Pleasant Grove (Utah). A win for either would do wonders as playoffs rapidly approach in Utah. Skyridge didn’t allow more than 14 points in any of its first four games, but the defense hasn’t been dominant the last two — but regaining its stature against Lone Peak is a tough ask.
MATCHUP
No. 21 Marietta (Ga.) vs. Edgewater (Fla.)
When: 10/4, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Marietta hasn’t played since Sept. 13, when it suffered its first loss of the season. That means it’s had three weeks to mull over that one defeat. Its return comes against Edgewater, a team who got to the Florida 7A Final Four last season as a seventh seed and has scored at least 48 points in four of its six games this season.
MATCHUP
Central (Miami, Florida) vs. Northwestern (Miami, Florida)
When: 10/4, 7:30 p.m. ET
Analysis: Northwestern has knocked Central out of the playoffs in both of the last two years. While the Rockets hope for a win this time around, the Bulls know not to get cocky; last year, Central won the regular season matchup. It’s time for one of the better rivalry matchups as the two try to prove superiority over the other in Miami.
MATCHUP
No. 25 Guyer (Denton, Texas) at Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
When: 10/4, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: The No. 7 and 8 teams in the Southwest Region go head-to-head as both are looking to avoid the first loss of the season. Last year, Carroll defeated Guyer at home; now the Wildcats, playing host this tear, hopes to return the favor. But against top Texas competition, Guyer has struggled on defense, allowing 57 and 36 points in the first two games, respectively — though the Wildcats did win both. Carroll sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has completed 75.2% of his passes and averages 288 passing yards per game, hopes his offense can put up points like that. They might have to to win.
MATCHUP
No. 4 Duncanville (Texas) vs. Skyline (Dallas, Texas)
When: 10/4, 8:30 p.m. ET
Analysis: Last year, Skyline talked a ton of trash prior to its game against Duncanville… and then got beaten 63-6. Skyline isn’t undefeated coming into the game this year, but there’s no question they’d like to beat the Dallas-area rival just as badly as in years past. Can Skyline make it close? Or is Duncanville in a league of its own?
MATCHUP
Central Catholic (Ore.) vs. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
When: 10/4, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Last week, Jesuit was considered a top-five team in Oregon by MaxPreps before a 42-41 overtime loss dropped them down the rankings. Despite Jesuit falling out of the top 10, Central Catholic can’t take this matchup lightly — and the Rams know it, as they fell to Jesuit 42-16 last season. After going 21-4 combined over the last two seasons, the Crusaders take a fierce offense to play against perhaps the best team in the state.
MATCHUP
Lakeville (Minn.) North vs. Lakeville (Minn.) South
When: 10/4, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: North has thoroughly dominated this rivalry, not losing to South since 2010. That’s nigh on a decade of solid victories, including in last year’s playoffs. But South is on the come-up; after going 1-8 in 2016 and 4-6 in 2017, the Cougars went .500 last season and started this year 3-1. Could this be the year they take down the Panthers?
MATCHUP
No. 19 Mentor (Ohio) vs. Solon (Ohio)
When: 10/4, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Mentor is on a roll this season, beating St. Edward and St. Ignatius early this season and winning its latest two games by a combined margin of 136-7. But Solon has been a thorn in Mentor’s side the last few seasons, beating the Cardinals in 2015 and 16, hanging tight in a 38-34 Mentor victory in 2017 and then beating the Cardinals in overtime last season. The Comets hope to knock Mentor off its pedestal this year as well.
MATCHUP
No. 17 Chandler (Ariz.) vs. Perry (Ariz.)
When: 10/4, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: The Arizona Interscholastic Association released the first rankings for the new Open Division and Perry is on the outside looking in – in part because the team lost after head coach Preston Jones suspended 30 players two weeks ago. It’s do-or-die against the team that beat them in the last three 6A state championship games, Chandler. The Wolves have a new head coach, a new quarterback and a new running back, but they look as strong as ever.
MATCHUP
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) vs. Elder (Cincinnati)
When: 10/4, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Elder has looked good so far this season, but nobody has been able to take down St. Xavier yet. Yet last year, Elder put the works on the Bombers, beating the crosstown rivals 51-26. Doing it again would be an accomplishment. Maybe Ohio State tight end commit Joe Royer, who had three touchdowns last week, can play a pivotal role for Elder.
MATCHUP
No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
When: 10/4, 10 p.m. ET
Analysis: Trinity League play is underway. Servite’s only loss this season was to Las Vegas power Bishop Gorman while St. John Bosco has remained undefeated through five and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has yet to throw an interception. But Servite sophomore quarterback Noah Fifita has been posting his own strong numbers, averaging more than 300 yards per game and has thrown 18 touchdowns to just one interception.
MATCHUP
Catholic Baton Rouge (La.) at St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.)
When: 10/4, 8 p.m. ET
Analysis: Baton Rouge has taken down St. Thomas More in each of the last four seasons, including last year’s 52-43 shootout. St. Thomas More has been good over that span, getting double-digit wins in all of the seasons, but the Cougars haven’t been to the Bears’ level. Both teams have started undefeated this year. Who will send the other its first loss?
MATCHUP
American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) at Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
When: 10/4, 7 p.m. ET
Analysis: Last year, Cardinal Gibbons beat American Heritage in the annual matchup for the first time this decade. Can the Chiefs start a streak of their own? They’ll have to have a strong game all-around against this opponent who has yet to allow 20 points this season.
MATCHUP
Winton Woods (Cincinnati) at Christian Brothers (St. Louis)
When: 10/5, 2 p.m. ET
Analysis: In this battle between state lines, one of the better Missouri teams finds itself facing a good Cincinnati squad. Christian Brothers is coming off back-to-back 13-1 championship seasons while Winton Woods has gone 13-2 but fallen in the playoffs each of the last two years. It’ll be an interesting game between teams you might not expect to face off.
