Some more key interstate matchups are on the docket this weekend.
Here is a look at the top four games of the week, with their
FOX Sports NEXT Top 50 ranking, as well as their top prospects to watch.
GAMES OF THE WEEK (9/6-9/8)
Friday- September 7: No. 13 Tampa (Fla.) Plant vs. No. 21 River Ridge (La.) John Curtis
A game featuring two of the south's top football programs. Plant is led by seniors in safety Paris Bostick (Georgia), outside linebacker Mitchell Wright (USF) and offensive lineman Richy Klepal (Florida State). John Curtis is ready for another state title run behind the play of linebacker Duke Riley, running back Brandon Porter, and offensive linemen Brandon Godfrey and Anthony Taylor. Defensive back Terrence Alexander and Malachi Dupree are two of Louisiana's top juniors.
John Curtis has had an amazing run under head coach J.T. Curtis. The Patriots are 506-54-6 with 24 state championships in 42 years. Meanwhile, Plant has turned into one of the Sunshine State powers under coach Robert Weiner. The Panthers have won four state titles since 2006.
Friday- September 7: No. 47 Sammamish (Wash.) Skyline vs. Salt Lake City (Utah) Cottonwood
From a star-power standpoint, the quarterback is the marquee position, and this game will feature the top two quarterbacks in the country in No. 1 ranked Max Browne from Skyline and No. 2 ranked Cooper Bateman from Cottonwood. The two have competed against each other at the Elite 11 and at The Opening, where Bateman's 7ON squad beat Browne's in the final.
But this game will be the high school teams. Cottonwood has had quite the offseason, losing their head coach and offensive coordinator, but with Bateman (Alabama) having receiver Inoke Lotulelei(BYU) and Siale Faikalatonga (Utah) to throw to andElijah Tupai up front, the Colts are looking to make noise in their state,
but have gotten off to a slow start.
Skyline has made plenty of it, winning three of the past four 4A state titles (and four out of the last five in two classifications), and last year, Browne carried the Spartans to the 4A state title. The USC verbal won't be alone, though, having Washington State pledge Peyton Pelluer leading the Spartans defense.
Friday - September 7: #40 Denver (Colo.) Mullen at #13 Concord (Calif.) De La
Salle
Colorado's finest program for the last decade takes on California's top
program for the last quarter century.
Mullen may have lost quarterback Cyler Miles (Washington) to graduation, but
their defense is stout, led by defensive linemen
Collin Albershardt and Timothy Coleman and linebackers Castille Bayers and
Patrick Healy.
Speaking of linebackers, De La Salle may have the best linebacker corps in the
West, headlined by USC commit Michael Hutchings. He's joined by Victor Egu
and D.J. Moffitt and they play behind a defensive line that features Austin
Hooper and junior Sumner Houston.
Saturday - September 8: #8 Miami (Fla.) Washington vs. #50 Miami (Fla.)
Central
An crosstown matchup features a pair of FOX Sports Next Top 50 squads.
Zach Barnes (Tennessee commit), and Jack Banda (Arizona State commit). All are 2013 prospects.
Miami Central: Central has two of the top 2014 running backs in the country in Joseph Yearby and Dalvin Cook. Both have numerous big-time offers, but both are committed –- Yearby to Florida State and Cook to Clemson. Other 2014 prospects to watch are offensive tackle Trevor Darling (Miami commit) and cornerback Deatrick Nichols. Leading the way in 2013 are safety Ahmad Thomas (Oklahoma commit), linebacker Marquez Hodges (Syracuse commit), cornerback Da’Wan Hunte (North Carolina State commit), and defensive end Chris Herise.
Booker T is led by LB Matthew Thomas (Alabama, Miami, FSU), OL Denver Kirkland (FSU, Miami), and DB Michael Johnson (FSU). Juniors Chad Thomas (DL), Nigel Patton (CB), and Treon Harris (QB)
will be among the most coveted prospects in the country in a years time.