What we’re watching: SBLive Power 25 high school football games of the week (Nov. 12-13)
On Monday we released our 13th 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 Friday and Saturday with an emphasis on what their results mean for the Power 25.
What we’re watching this week:
Nov. 12: Los Alamitos (Calif.) (9-1) vs. No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (9-1) (Division 1 Southern Section playoffs)
This is a great matchup on paper, but expect St. John Bosco to roll. Los Alamitos has a fantastic offense thanks to their trio of 2023 Oklahoma commits: quarterback Malachi Nelson and receivers Makai Lemon and DeAndre Moore, but the Griffins haven't faced a team as talented as St. John Bosco this season. The Braves should win comfortably to stay in next week's Power 25 top five.
Nov. 12: No. 11 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) (9-0) vs. No. 12 Chandler (Ariz.) (9-0)
Even though Arizona high school football is still in the regular season, this is the game of the week in high school football nationally. Last season, Hamilton lost a 23-21 heartbreaker to Chandler in the state championship game. Huskies QB Nicco Marchiol will be desperate to come out and get revenge this week. Marchiol, a West Virginia commit, has played like the Arizona high school football player of the year so far this fall throwing for 32 TD's in nine games.
Nov. 12: Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) (10-1) vs. No. 15 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) (10-1) (5A playoffs)
Bishop Gorman should win this game, but on paper, these are the two top teams in Nevada so it makes the list. There are 29 two-star or better recruits in Nevada in the Class of 2022, according to 247Sports, and Bishop Gorman has 11 of them on its roster, with four-star edge rusher Cyrus Moss leading the way. Liberty's top player is 2022 WR/RB Germie Bernard, a Washington commit. Bishop Gorman is the clear favorite to win though. They should stay in next week's Power 25.
No. 12: Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.) (9-2) vs. No. 18 Hoover (Ala.) (11-0) (7A playoffs)
Hoover beat Hewitt-Trussville 34-10 when the two teams played last month. Can the Buccaneers win by a similar margin this week to stay at No. 18 in the Power 25?
Nov. 12: Oak Mountain (Ala.) (7-4) vs. No. 19 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) (10-1) (7A playoffs)
2022 North Carolina QB commit Conner Harrell didn't play for Thompson last week due to an injury. If he's out again, this game should be closer than when Thompson won 48-0 in the regular season.
Nov. 12: Cane Bay (Summerville, S.C.) (9-2) vs. No. 22 Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.) (9-0) (Class AAAAA playoffs)
Dutch Fork has won all nine of their games by at least 29 points so far this year. As the Silver Foxes get deeper into the playoffs, that number has to eventually get lower, right? We'll see this week against 9-2 Cane Bay.
Nov. 12: Mission Viejo (Calif.) (9-1) vs. Corona Centennial (Calif.) (10-0) (Division 1 Southern Section playoffs)
Is Corona Centennial really a Power 25 team? Their defense plays like one, but what about their offense? That's what we're watching this week when the Huskies take on the Diablos, a team with one of the most underrated defenses in California high school football.
Nov. 12: Gonzaga (Washington D.C.) (5-4) vs. St. John’s (Washington D.C.) (8-0) (Capital playoffs)
Wasn't this game on the list last week? Yes, it was. St. John's pulled out a 20-17 win in the final game of the regular season and now will play Gonzaga again for the second straight week only this time it's in the playoffs. Overall this season, Maryland/Washington DC high school football is down from a national perspective besides Baltimore's St. Frances Academy, so even if St. John's wins again, they need a few teams to lose for them to make a future Power 25.
Nov. 12: Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) (10-1) vs. Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.) (11-0) (6A playoffs)
To eventually make the Power 25, Clay-Chalkville needs to win a state title due to not playing any 'national' teams in the regular season, so every game they play is a must win from here on out. The Cougars best player is 2022 Louisville QB commit Khalib Johnson. He's thrown for 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns so far this season.
Nov. 12: Theodore (11-1) (Ala.) vs. Central (Phenix City, Ala.) (11-0) (7A playoffs)
Central is in a similar position to Clay-Chalkville (see above). The Red Devils' top player is 2023 defensive lineman Tomarrion Parker.
Nov. 12 Fort Collins (Colo.) (9-0) vs. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) (10-0) (5A playoffs)
Valor Christian is another team where an undefeated state title would warrant serious Power 25 consideration. The Eagles top player is 2022 running back Gavin Sawchuk, an Oklahoma commit.
Nov. 12: Westfield (Ind.) (10-1) vs. Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.) (10-1) (6A playoffs)
In their first game of the season, Westfield lost 14-0 to Power 25 No. 23 Cathedral. Since then, the Shamrocks have won ten games in a row to move onto our Power 25 radar. If they keep winning, Westfield may eventually meet Power 25 No. 10 Center Grove in the playoffs in a game that would have major rankings implications.
Nov. 12: Brother Martin (New Orleans, La.) (3-5) vs. Archbishop Rummell (Metairie, La.) (5-3) (Division 1 playoffs)
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. Their playoff push begins this week against Archbishop Rummell.
Nov. 12: South Mecklenburg (Charlotte, N.C.) (9-2) vs. Hough (Cornelius, N.C.) (11-0) (4A playoffs)
Hough is the No. 1 ranked team in North Carolina after beating Chambers 16-10 in September. Like many of the teams before, the Huskies need an undefeated state title season to warrant Power 25 consideration so their showdown against South Mecklenburg is another game we're watching.
Nov. 12: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (8-2) vs. Skyridge (Lehi, Utah) (9-1) (6A playoffs)
The winner of this game will most likely play Corner Canyon in the 6A state championship in Utah. That game will be a 'win and you're in' Power 25 game. When Lone Peak played Skyridge in the regular season, Skyridge won 14-9.
Nov. 13: Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.) (8-2) vs. No. 9 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (9-0) (Non-Public A playoffs)
Bergen Catholic's dominant defense shouldn't have any issues with Donovan Catholic this week, even though the Griffins have an impressive 8-2 record. Expect the Crusaders to win and stay in next week's Power 25 top ten.
Nov. 13: Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) (9-2) vs. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) (11-0) (8A playoffs)
Lincoln-Way East is the No. 9 seed in the 8A playoffs in Illinois, so Loyola Academy, the one seed, should win this week to stay on our Power 25 radar. The Ramblers top player is 2023 defensive lineman Brooks Bahr. He's received a scholarship offer from Illinois.
Nov. 13: East (St. Louis, Ill.) (10-2) vs. Lemont (Ill.) (11-0) (6A playoffs)
East’s two losses on the year have come against No. 3 IMG Academy and No. 4 St. John Bosco. If the Flyers go on to win a state title in Illinois, that would certainly warrant a Power 25 look. In the second round of the 6A playoffs in Illinois, East travels to take on undefeated Lemont on the road this week. Lemont's top 2022 recruit is offensive lineman Mack Indestad, an Eastern Michigan commit. East's top player is 2022 receiver Luther Burden, a Missouri commit.
