What we’re watching: SBLive Power 25 high school football games of the week
On Monday we released our twelfth SBLive Power 25 of the 2021 high school football season, a weekly look at the top high school football teams in the country.
Here’s a closer look at the top high school football games from around the country being played Thursday through Saturday with an emphasis on what their results mean for the Power 25.
What we’re watching this week:
Nov. 4: Liberty (Frisco, Texas) (8-1) vs. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) (9-0)
Lovejoy is 9-0 and one of Texas' top teams, but the Leopards only have one signature win on the season (Frisco). This week, Lovejoy gets a shot at quality win No. 2 with the playoffs on the horizon.
Nov. 5: Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) (8-1) vs. No. 3 Westlake (Austin, Texas) (9-0)
Star 2022 Clemson QB commit Cade Klubnik will return from injury to play in this game for No. 3 Westlake. That's a bad sign for Lake Travis.
Nov. 5: St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.) (4-2) vs. No. 16. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) (6-1)
St. Thomas More hung with No. 2 IMG Academy well into the fourth quarter before eventually losing 24-14 when the two teams met in October. What will the Chancellors look like in their upset bid against St. Frances Academy this week? Can the Panthers outperform IMG and win by a wider margin?
Nov. 5: No. 20 Bixby (Okla.) (9-0) vs. Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) (8-1)
Bixby should win this game comfortably, but it makes the list because it's a Power 25 team facing off against a one loss team. Earlier this year, Bixby beat Choctaw 70-7. Choctaw beat Booker T. Washington 29-20 this season.
Nov. 5: No. 23 Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) (10-1) vs. Decatur Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) (9-1)
Even though Decatur Central only has one loss, it came against No. 10 Center Grove 56-7. When Cathedral played Center Grove this season, the Fighting Irish kept the game closer, losing 21-6. Cathedral should come out on top this week and stay in next week's Power 25.
Nov. 5: Gonzaga (Washington D.C.) (5-4) vs. St. John's (Washington D.C.) (8-0)
St. John's needs style points to eventually make the Power 25. The Cadets are undefeated, but haven't beaten a nationally relevant program yet this season. A blowout win over Gonzaga could lead to a Power 25 berth.
Nov. 5: Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) (7-2) vs. Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) (9-0)
Similarly to St. John's, Archbishop Spalding needs style points although their fate has almost already certainly been decided as it pertains to the Power 25. The Cavaliers needed overtime to get past 5-4 Gonzaga Prep in September. That's a result that hurts their Power 25 chances. This week's game against Mount St. Joseph is a still a big one though. The winners will claim the MIAA A Region title this season.
Nov. 5: Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.) (7-1) vs. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) (9-0)
Basha needs to win to stay on the periphery of the Power 25. We'll find out much more about the Bears during the Open Division playoffs in Arizona in a few weeks. Have they closed the gap on No. 11 Chandler and No. 12 Hamilton? Time will tell.
Nov. 5: Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.) (7-3) vs. Maryville (Tenn.) (10-0)
Maryville is a Top 50 team in the country according to one prominent high school football team ranking system, so their playoff game against Dobyns-Bennett is a matchup we’re paying attention to this week. Maryville's top player is 2022 wide out Markel Fortenberry, a Liberty commit.
Nov. 5: Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.) (8-1) vs. Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
Creekside is a three-point loss away from an undefeated season playing against some top-tier competition. Since entering region play in Week 4, the Seminoles have been flat-out dominant. In six region games, they have allowed only 21 points, three of them shutouts, and not one of those opponents scored in double digits. Can they keep that level of play going against undefeated Woodward Academy this week?
Nov. 5: Ryan (Denton, Texas) (8-1) vs. Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) (8-1)
These two one loss teams will fight it out to stay on our Power 25 radar this week. The winning team will claim the 5A-1 Region II District 5 title in Texas. Lone Star's top player is 2022 Oklahoma State QB commit Garret Rangel. Ryan's is 2022 safety Austin Jordan, a Texas commit.
Nov. 6: Richards (Oak Lawn, Ill.) (8-2) vs. East (St. Louis, Ill.) (8-0)
East's two losses on the year have come against No. 2 IMG Academy and No. 4 St. John Bosco. If the Flyers go onto win a state title in Illinois, that would certainly warrant a Power 25 look. Their state title push begins against Richards at home on Saturday.
Nov. 6: Brother Martin (New Orleans, La.) (2-5) vs. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.) (4-2)
Brother Martin was undefeated before having to forfeit five games for fielding an ineligible player. The Crusaders could still make the Power 25 if they win a state title in Louisiana in a few weeks. Saturday's game against John Curtis Christian will provide a good gauge of where the program is at following the forfeits. Brother Martin's top player is senior safety Corey Lambert Jr.
Nov. 6: Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (8-0) vs. Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) (8-0)
Both of these teams are on the outside looking in of the Power 25. The winning team will move firmly onto our radar.
