The first showdown of the season between Top-10 MaxPreps Xcellent 25 teams pits eighth-ranked John Curtis (River Ridge, La.) against No. 10 Plant (Tampa, Fla.) at the Superdome in New Orleans. It is one of seven out-of-state matchups in the MaxPreps Top 10 Games of the Week.

The only other battle of Xcellent 25 teams could be an offensive spectacular when No. 6 Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) hosts No. 25 Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.). Both squads have high-powered passing attacks and average more than 40 points per game.

The rivalry game of the week takes place in Cincinnati where perennial Ohio state-title contenders Colerain and St. Xavier do battle. Colerain is hoping to break a three-game losing streak to the Bombers.

There is a three-way tie for first place in our season-long prediction contest between Kevin Askeland, Stephen Spiewak and Leland Gordon. All members of the trio have selected the correct winner in 17 of the 20 games we have featured.

Here's a look at this week's top 10 games of the week along with predictions by MaxPreps staff writers and contributors Mitch Stephens, Steve Montoya, Stephen Spiewak, Kevin Askeland, Leland Gordon and Jamie DeMoney.

MaxPreps Top 10 Football Games of the Week

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) vs. Curtis (River Ridge, La.)

The Superdome is like a second home for John Curtis. Of the Patriots' 24 state titles, 20 were won in that building. Curtis returned 13 starters and an amazing 65 lettermen from last year's 2A championship team. Thirteen different players had rushing attempts in the Patriots' 26-7 season-opening win over state-ranked St. Pauls (Covington).

It's the third straight year Plant will play an out-of-state opponent in the early going. (It lost to Abilene, Texas, in 2010 and beat Bergen Catholic of New Jersey last year.) The Panthers defense looked further along than their offense in an 18-0 season-opening shutout of Jesuit (Tampa) last week. They surrendered only 100 yards of offense but managed less than 200 of their own.

Mitch Stephens: Curtis 28, Plant 21
Steve Montoya: Curtis 17, Plant 14
Stephen Spiewak: Plant 21, Curtis 20
Kevin Askeland: Plant 28, Curtis 21
Leland Gordon: Curtis 24, Plant 21
Jamie DeMoney: Curtis 27, Plant 10



Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) at Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)

File photo by Randy Sartin

Junior Shuler Bentley looks to lead Byrnes to victory against Northwestern.

It's the first meeting between these South Carolina powers since the 2007 post-season. Since that game — a game won by Byrnes 14-0 — Northwestern has played in three 4A Division II title games (winning it all in 2010). In their first three games of the season, the Trojans averaged over 53 points and won by an average spread of 32. Junior quarterback Mason Rudolph threw six touchdown passes in a 56-28 rout of South Aiken last week. He has 11 scoring strikes for the season.

Byrnes has set the standard for excellence in the Palmetto State for the last decade, winning state titles eight times since 2002. During the same period the Rebels have lost only two home games – both coming last season. The Rebels opened this season with a 42-21 road win over then-nationally ranked Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) then beat Woodruff, 40-28, on the strength of over 400 passing yards from junior Shuler Bentley.

Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 28, Northwestern 27
Steve Montoya: Byrnes 42, Northwestern 31
Stephen Spiewak: Northwestern 17, Byrnes 14
Kevin Askeland: Northwestern 32, Byrnes 28
Leland Gordon: Byrnes 28, Northwestern 24
Jamie DeMoney: Byrnes 45, Northwestern 28
Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio) at St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Colerain was impressive in its first two games: a 28-15 season-opening win over state-ranked Pickerington Central and a 35-0 shutout of Ryle (Union, Ky.). Quarterback Alfred Ramsby and running back Chris Davis – whose leg injuries derailed Colerain's hopes last year – have accounted for six of the Cardinal's nine touchdowns this season.

St. Xavier earned its reputation as annually one of the best defenses in all of high school football, but it has already allowed 66 points in just two games this season. The Bombers gave up 50 or more points in back-to-back games only two other times since 2004. On offense, junior CJ Hilliard has been St. Xavier's stalwart, running for a pair of touchdowns in each of the first two games.

Mitch Stephens: St. Xavier 24, Colerain 20
Steve Montoya: St. Xavier 21, Colerain 14
Stephen Spiewak: St. Xavier 17, Colerain 14
Kevin Askeland: Colerain 24, St. Xavier 21
Leland Gordon: St. Xavier 28, Colerain 21
Jamie DeMoney: St. Xavier 34, Colerain 28
Mullen (Denver, Colo.) at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Mullen had extra time to prepare for De La Salle with a bye week following its 14-13 win over Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) on opening weekend. Snapping Valor Christian's 25-game winning steak -- and beating the team that won two straight 4A state titles and was favored to win it all in 5A this year -- was an impressive debut for Tom Thennel as the Mustangs' head coach.

De La Salle looked mid-season sharp in its 41-7 rout of state-ranked Bellarmine (San Jose) in the season-opener. Senior Tiapepe Vitale was the offensive star with 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The Spartans need a win over Mullen to reach the .500 mark in games versus its last 10 out-of-state opponents. Since 2002, De La Salle is 4-5 against non-California teams and has lost four of its last five.

Mitch Stephens: De La Salle 28, Mullen 14
Steve Montoya: De La Salle 35, Mullen 21
Stephen Spiewak: De La Salle 42, Mullen 17
Kevin Askeland: De La Salle 45, Mullen 14
Leland Gordon: De La Salle 28, Mullen 21
Jamie DeMoney: De La Salle 30, Mullen 7
South (Anchorage, Alaska) at Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)
South averages 313 rushing yards per game and quarterback Zach Lujan has over 600 passing yards and nine touchdowns. The Wolverines were dominant in their first four games – beating Alaskan rivals by a combined margin of 199-9 -- but will face a significant upgrade in level of competition in No. 13 Vista Murrieta.

It's the second straight game against a non-California foe for Vista Murrieta, which raised the curtain with a 37-26 win against ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) last week. Quarterback Nick Stevens, a Colorado St. recruit, had two touchdowns passing and one rushing for the Broncos, who rallied after trailing 20-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

Mitch Stephens: Vista Murrieta 49, South 14
Steve Montoya: Vista Murrieta 42, South 14
Stephen Spiewak: Vista Murrieta 35, South 10
Kevin Askeland: Vista Murrieta 48, South 7
Leland Gordon: Vista Murrieta 42, South 14
Jamie DeMoney: Vista Murrieta 50, South 14
St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Last season Spencer Aukamp led the Green Knights to their third group state title in four years and 15th overall. As a sophomore, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound quarterback completed 65 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns and nearly 1,800 yards. Aukamp's top receiving target is 6-3, 205-pound senior Ricky Jeune.

Good Counsel slipped out of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 despite beating Gilman (Baltimore), 20-19, in overtime last week. For the second straight game, Dorian O'Daniel was the go-to weapon for the Falcons' offense. The Clemson-bound running back had over 140 yards on the ground and two touchdowns – including the game-winner – against Gilman.

Mitch Stephens: Good Counsel 21, St. Joseph Regional 20
Steve Montoya: Good Counsel 21, St. Joseph Regional 14
Stephen Spiewak: Good Counsel 28, St. Joseph Regional 21
Kevin Askeland: Good Counsel 28, St. Joseph Regional 27
Leland Gordon: Good Counsel 28, St. Joseph Regional 21
Jamie DeMoney: Good Counsel 35, St. Joseph Regional 21
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) vs. Gilman (Baltimore, Md.)
Don Bosco has only five starters back from last season's No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. But with a 46-game winning streak and plenty of young talent ready to step up, the Ironmen are still worthy of their national ranking to start the year. Bosco's streak – the second-longest in the nation – will be tested this week and possibly next when the Ironmen travel to play No. 24 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Gilman has two losses to nationally ranked teams on its ledger already. A defeat Saturday to No. 18 Don Bosco Prep would make it three-for-three. Maryland-bound quarterback Shane Cockerille has played well in both games, accounting for five of the Greyhounds six touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: Don Bosco Prep 34, Gilman 21
Steve Montoya: Don Bosco Prep 31, Gilman 20
Stephen Spiewak: Don Bosco Prep 21, Gilman 7
Kevin Askeland: Don Bosco Prep 28, Gilman 27
Leland Gordon: Don Bosco Prep 35, Gilman 21
Jamie DeMoney: Don Bosco Prep 26, Gilman 23
Mentor (Ohio) at St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
Mentor hopes to avenge a loss to St. Ignatius in last year's playoffs and state its case as Northeast Ohio's top contender for the Division I title for 2012. North Carolina commit Mitch Trubisky had nearly 500 combined passing and rushing yards and ran for the game-winning touchdown in a 34-27 road triumph over McDowell (Erie, Pa.) last week.

Defending Division I champion St. Ignatius was dominant in its first two games. The Wildcats trounced reigning Division III champ Mooney (Youngstown), 31-7, in the opener and breezed past Michigan title contender De La Salle (Warren), 49-13, last week. Quarterback Mike Lamanna had over 350 passing yards and four touchdowns while De La Salle's star Shane Morris – a University of Michigan recruit – barely cracked 100 with no touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 21, Mentor 14
Steve Montoya: St. Ignatius 17, Mentor 7
Stephen Spiewak: St. Ignatius 31, Mentor 20
Kevin Askeland: St. Ignatius 14, Mentor 7
Leland Gordon: St. Ignatius 21, Mentor 20
Jamie DeMoney: St. Ignatius 24, Mentor 20
Jenks (Okla.) vs. DeSoto (Texas)

Jenks fell short against archrival Union (Tulsa) last week, losing a 14-7 defensive struggle in the annual Backyard Bowl. A loss to DeSoto would give Jenks an 0-2 start for the first time in 27 seasons. At the bare minimum Jenks needs this trip to go better than the last time it played outside the state of Oklahoma. In 2005, the Trojans were pummeled (44-0) by a Springdale (Ark.) team that finished in the Top 10 of every national poll.

DeSoto was dazzling in a 37-14 season-opening win over Martin (Arlington). Diminutive junior quarterback Desmon White (5-7, 135) had over 350 combined passing and rushing yards with three touchdowns. Oregon-bound senior running back Dontre Wilson added over 250 total yards – rushing, receiving and returns – and accounted for the Eagles' two other touchdowns.

Mitch Stephens: DeSoto 35, Jenks 28
Steve Montoya: DeSoto 28, Jenks 21
Stephen Spiewak: DeSoto 28, Jenks 14
Kevin Askeland: DeSoto 28, Jenks 27
Leland Gordon: DeSoto 24, Jenks 21
Jamie DeMoney: DeSoto 38, Jenks 24
Union (Tulsa, Okla.) at Trinity (Euless, Texas)

Running back Justin Silmon, a 5-10, 176-pound junior, had 97 yards rushing and 39 receiving and scored the game-deciding touchdown in Union's 14-7 win over Jenks. Saturday's game at Trinity will be the Redskins' fifth against an out-of-state opponent since 2006. They are 3-1 in the previous four contests.

While Union got a hard-fought win, Trinity is regrouping after a 31-24 overtime defeat to No. 5 Bellevue (Wash.) last Thursday in Seattle. Trinity is now 3-1 against out-of-state opponents in games played since 2008. It was the first time the Trojans played outside the state of Texas.

Mitch Stephens: Trinity 42, Union 28
Steve Montoya: Trinity 33, Union 20
Stephen Spiewak: Trinity 28, Union 24
Kevin Askeland: Union 35, Trinity 27
Leland Gordon: Trinity 35, Union 28
Jamie DeMoney: Trinity 28, Union 21

Jamie DeMoney is a Regional Content Manager and Product Specialist for XOS Digital PlayerOnDemand. He has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years.