Weekend Warm-Up: Week 3

The good folks at ESPN got even more than they bargained for with Mater Dei's highly entertaining three-overtime 46-43 win over Carson last night.

Let's face it, the network's primary reason for showing the game on ESPN2 to a national audience was that it featured the ESPNU 150's top-ranked player: Monarchs quarterback Matt Barkley.

I don't think anyone expected Mater Dei to need three overtimes -- and a little luck -- to beat Carson, a team not included in the Los Angeles Times' preseason Top 25.

I know that nobody expected Barkley to throw four interceptions in the game.

The USC recruit struggled with his accuracy, completing just 15 of 31 passes for 301 yards.

However, he did throw six touchdown passes, including the game-winning toss to Derek Campbell in the corner of the end zone.

Even the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year deserves an off night. Right?

I'll say this: Mater Dei's offense showed some of the continuity issues that led me to put the Monarchs lower in our preseason rankings than most other polls.

On the other hand, a gut-check kind of win like this can help build a mountain of confidence and help carry a team during the rest of the season.

Speaking of ESPN, the next stop on the Family of Networks' prep football cross-country tour is Tampa, Fla., on Friday night. No. 8 Armwood begins the regular season at regionally ranked Plant, which is led by Georgia recruit Aaron Murray at quarterback.

Plant's season ended at the hands of Armwood in last year's playoffs, so you know the Panthers have had this one circled for awhile.

Plant looked good in its spring and preseason scrimmages -- not to mention winning the Nike 7-on-7 title over the summer -- so watch out for what would be a minor upset here.

More teams on upset alert this weekend include No. 10 North Shore, No. 18 Skyline, No. 19 Rockhurst, and No. 25 Center Grove.

Just one week after a draining 10-6 win over defending state champ Katy, No. 10 North Shore must prepare for an extremely talented and explosive Eisenhower squad with five 3-star or better recruits, according to rivals.com.

No. 18 Skyline can stake its claim as not only the top team in Washington but the entire Pacific Northwest by beating defending Oregon 6A champion Sheldon at PGE Park in Portland. Two highly touted junior quarterbacks will battle in this one. Skyline's Jake Heap threw for over 3,100 yards and 31 touchdowns as a sophomore. Jordan Johnson of Sheldon had over 2,900 total yards and was named MVP of the state championship game.

Coaches never like a short turnaround to prepare for their next opponent, but this week it was particularly inopportune for No. 19 Rockhurst. Not long after the Hawklets played and won a rare Sunday game against Blue Springs South on ESPN, Coach Tony Severino and staff went to work breaking down film of three-time defending state champion Hutchinson (Kan.). The Salt Hawks own 36 consecutive wins and have a history of brilliantly executing the triple-option offense.

I guess nobody else would consider it an upset if regionally ranked Carmel beats No. 25 Center Grove. Since the National Prep Poll is the only place where the Trojans are ranked higher, I suppose a Center Grove win would actually be the upset. Either way, this should be a dandy early season game in the Indianapolis metro. Remember, Carmel won the 5A championship last season but lost a home game to Center Grove. Sixteen starters are back for the Trojans compared to 12 for Carmel.

Good high school football teams that play in Northern Kentucky often feel overlooked and underestimated by the general Ohio prep football fan populous. Some of those feelings could change this weekend if Kentucky 5A power Fort Thomas Highlands, which is ranked nationally by USA Today, can upset regionally ranked Cincinnati Colerain (which is No. 1 in the nation according to the Massey Ratings computer poll).

Highlands has won two state championships the last four seasons in Kentucky's second-largest classification, but the Blue Birds are zero for their last five in games against Cincinnati, Ohio, teams.

There's already a bit of fall in the air here in mid-America. Now, go out and enjoy some high school football this weekend!

Weekend Rewind: 9-2-08

I think it is safe to say that the 2008 high school football season is now officially out of the starting blocks.

Well over half of the teams in the preseason PrepNation 101 rankings now have at least one regular season game in the scorebook.

If you count the preseason kickoff games in Florida -- which apparently don't count when two Florida teams are playing but do count when it's a Florida team against a team from another state -- the 101 teams have won a collective 81 percent of their games so far. Six of the 15 losses suffered by the group came to fellow PrepNation 101 teams.

With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, it's time to break down some of the top team and individual performances from this past weekend.

The "rebuilding project" at Lakeland (Fla.) might already be over. The Dreadnaughts, Prep Poll champion in 2006 and No. 56 in the Preseason PrepNation 101, still are young with only six veteran starters entering this season. But Monday's emphatic 35-0 rout of defending Pennsylvania 4A champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic was a statement game. A major one.

Lakeland outgained PCC 398-64 and had 322 rushing yards in the game, which was played in Wheeling, W.Va.

In the preseason, I wrote: "Lakeland could seriously challenge for its fourth state title since 2004 if a reliable running back emerges to complement Haggins in the veer option attack."

On Monday, not one but four Lakeland running backs emerged to score touchdowns.

Another classic showdown between Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas for the Class 5A champioinship is looking more and more likely.

No. 1 Euless (Texas) Trinity started slow against preseason No. 66 River Ridge (La.) John Curtis, but finished strong. The weight of starting the season ranked No. 1 in the National Prep Poll might have been apparent when the Trojans trailed 6-0 after allowing a 20-play, 87-yard scoring drive to the Patriots in the second quarter.

But Trinity's defense allowed barely more than 100 yards total the rest of the way and outscored Curtis, 28-6, in the final 25-plus minutes of the game.

On a side note, Curtis players, staff and fans were expected to travel back to the New Orleans area today. Let's hope their trip is safe and the cleanup project awaiting them at home is minimal.

Week 2 National Prep Poll Top 25 Reax:

1. Euless, Texas, Trinity 28, John Curtis (La.) 12: Quality win over quality foe to start the season.
2. Duncan, S.C., Byrnes 36, North Gwinnett (Ga.) 21: Rebels start slow but explode late.
3. Valdosta, Ga., Lowndes 63, Woodland 0: Most dominant performance of any Top 25 team so far.
4. Batesville, Miss., South Panola 27, Vicksburg 6: Running game slowed by loss of Barksdale.
5. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Cincinnati Elder 24: Raiders dominate after falling behind 10-0
6. Concord, Calif., De La Salle was idle: Two tough tuneups on deck before Don Bosco comes to town.
7. Monroeville, Pa., Gateway 45, Penn Hills 17: Huge statement by Gators to start season.
8. Seffner, Fla., Armwood 31, Lake Gibson 14: Does not count in standings but still an impressive showing against quality foe.
9. Corona, Calif., Centennial was idle: Already looking forward to that Sept. 19 rematch with Mater Dei.
10. Houston, Texas, North Shore 10, Katy 6: Huge, huge statement win for Mustangs against defending 5A/II champ.
11. Jenks, Okla. was idle: 5A power Bixby awaits this week.
12. Cleveland, Ohio, Glenville 34, Pittsburgh Jefferson 13: Tarblooders looking to bring Division I title back to NEO.
13. Bastrop, La. was idle: This week's opener cancelled due to Hurricane; West Monroe coach offering to fill in.
14. Chesapeake, Va., Oscar Smith 43, Booker T. Washington 0: Tigers play inspired for fallen ex-teammate.
15. Louisville, Ky., Trinity was idle: Kentucky's most dominant program conspicuously absent from most other national polls.
16. Orange, Calif., Lutheran was idle: Orange County's most blue collar squad opens Saturday.
17. Sammamish, Wash., Skyline was idle. Opens Saturday against defending Oregon 6A champ Sheldon in its own back yard.
18. Prattville, Ala. 10, Cincinnati St. Xavier 15: Lions, predictably, struggled on offense against the Bombers.
19. Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep was idle. Ironmen still have two weeks to prepare for St. Xavier.
20. Chicago, Ill., Mount Carmel 49, Curie 7: Caravan dominates at Solider Field; might be only Chicago team to do so this year.
21. Kansas City, Mo., Rockhurst 42, ML No. 6 Blue Springs South 14: After big ESPN win, Rock now on upset alert with Kansas power Hutchinson coming to town Friday.
22. Plano, Texas 33, Irving MacArthur 7: Wildcats roll after trailing 7-5 early on.
23. Apopka, Fla. 39, Seabreeze 0: Michigan recruit Jeremy Gallon runs for over 300 yards with 3 TDs.
24. Phoenix, Ariz., Desert Vista was idle: DE Devon Kennard was most impressive player I saw on tape last year.
25. Greenwood, Ind., Center Grove 55, Perry Meridian 14: Win against Carmel on Friday could shake up other national polls.

PrepNation Player of the Week (Aug. 28-Sept. 1):
Toney Williams, RB, Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton. The University of Tennessee recruit ran 40 times for 350 yards and six touchdowns to lift his team to a thrilling 51-49 defeat of Chattahoochee. The 6-3, 230-pound bruiser also had a 27-yard touchdown reception.

PrepNation Team of the Week (Aug. 28-Sept. 1):
Long Beach (Calif.) Poly. The Jackrabbits, who started the season regionally ranked but outside the National Prep Poll preseason Top 25 for only the third time this decade, ended Miami Northwestern's 30-game win streak at the Miami Sports Kickoff Classic. Poly entered the national rankings at No. 12 in the Week 3 poll released on Monday.

Scary stuff: Oddsmakers, fans taking bets on HS games

File this one in the ever-expanding manila folder labeled "Is putting high school football games on national television bad for the game?"

Izzy Gould of the St. Petersburg Times reports today that at least one offshore online gambling website is planning to post a betting line for Friday's game between No. 8 Seffner (Fla.) Armwood and regionally ranked Tampa Plant.

The game will be televised by ESPNU.

Personally, I think it's very much a positive thing for ESPN, CBS College Sports, FOX Sports Net and other outlets to bring the nation's top prep teams and players into the collective living room of the American sports fan.

But, apparently, a significant enough portion of folks who have an offshore betting account are willing to play a side on any sporting event that pops up on their television.

Even a high school football game.

Is nothing sacred?

According to the story, online bettors who patronize the website 5dimes.com also had a crack at playing last year's Miami Northwestern vs. Southlake (Texas) Carroll game before the site pulled the game off its board due to "backlash from the community."

Week 3 National Prep Football Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After knocking off Florida's reigning Class 6A state champion in Miami to start the season, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly moved into the National Prep Poll Top 25 this week.

The Jackrabbits, who started the year outside of the national poll for just the third time this decade, are now No. 12 in the country after defeating Miami Northwestern, 29-7, in the inaugural Miami Sports Kickoff Classic. Northwestern graduated 10 Division IA signees off last year's team that finished ranked No. 2 in the National Prep Poll.

Fourteen of last week's Top 25 teams were in action last week. That does not include top-ranked Euless (Texas) Trinity and No. 13 Cleveland Glenville. Both teams were scheduled to play on Monday, after this week's rankings were released.