The eighth week of the high school football season brought out some results we necessarily didn't see coming including the top team in the nation getting upset on its own field.
What top games this week will leave is questioning our picks yet again? But first, here are staff prediction standings heading into Week 9:
- 1. Alex Martin: 60-19
- 2. Joe Spears: 58-22
- 3. Ansley Gavlak 55-24
- 4. Logan Newman: 53-26
- T-5. Alyce Brown, Ehsan Kassim: 52-27
Game of the Week: No. 1 Santa Margarita (CA) at No. 12 St. John Bosco (CA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. PST
Defensively, there haven't been many teams in the country as dominant as Santa Margarita. The Eagles have outscored their first seven opponents 219-37 this season and have not allowed more than seven points in a game since their 21-20 win over Centennial (CA) back on Aug. 28.
St. John Bosco provides a significant jump up in competition level for the Eagles over the last few weeks. It also provides an opportunity
to get some revenge.
Last season, the Braves picked up the win in this matchup, beating the Eagles 27-14. This season, St. John Bosco has won six straight games since its season-opening loss to Bishop Gorman (NV). They're averaging 41.8 points per game during the streak.
Alex Martin prediction: Santa Margarita 20, St. John Bosco 17
Alyce Brown prediction: Santa Margarita 28, St. John Bosco 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Santa Margarita 27, St. John Bosco 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Santa Margarita 24, St. John Bosco 20
Joe Spears prediction: St. John Bosco 21, Santa Margarita 20
Logan Newman prediction: Santa Margarita 21, St. John Bosco 17
No. 7 Columbus (FL) at Miami Central (FL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Greater Miami Athletic Conference Championship is on the line Friday night as the area's two best programs square off in a highly anticipated showdown.
Columbus has rolled since its narrow loss to St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) six weeks ago. The Explorers have won their last five games by an average of 42.8 points, with their closest win coming by 27 points.
Miami Central's resume is eerily similar to that of Columbus. The Rockets opened the season with an impressive cross-country win over Orange Lutheran (CA) and their only loss of the year came on the road to nationally ranked Buford by 11. They rebounded from that loss, winning their last four games by an average of 42 points.
Alex Martin prediction: Columbus 24, Miami Central 17
Alyce Brown prediction: Columbus 21, Miami Central 20
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Columbus 28, Miami Central 20
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Columbus 24, Miami Central 21
Joe Spears prediction: Columbus 23, Miami Central 21
Logan Newman prediction: Columbus 20, Miami Central 17
Prattville (AL) at No. 10 Thompson (AL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. CT
It's been a long time since the Warriors have been tested. It actually hasn't come this year, as they've won all seven of their games by 17 or more points.
Alabama quarterback commit Trent Seaborn has been nearly flawless for the Warriors offense, completing 78% of his passes for 2,014 yards and 24 touchdowns with no interceptions.
Prattville will be the Warriors' first challengesince Clay-Chalkville all the way back in August. The Lions are 7-0 and while they have won in blowout fashion nearly every week, they only beat Hoover (AL) by one and Spain Park (AL) by a touchdown.
Alex Martin prediction: Thompson 31, Prattville 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Thompson 28, Prattville 20
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Thompson 34, Prattville 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Thompson 35, Prattville 20
Joe Spears prediction: Thompson 35, Prattville 13
Logan Newman prediction: Thompson 33, Prattville 21
Archbishop Rummel (LA) at Edna Karr (LA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. CT
The Cougars and Raiders have only played each other four times, with Edna Karr coming out on top each time. However, last year's meeting was the closest, as Karr held on for a 21-14 win.
If any team could challenge ending Karr's state-long winning streak, it would be the Raiders. They're 6-0 on the year and are coming off an impressive 33-10 win over the same Brother Martin (LA) team that tested Edna Karr two weeks ago.
Karr, on the other hand, just beat John Curtis Christian (LA) by 12 while Rummell only beat them by one on Oct. 1. The Cougars have been dominant in all but two games this season, winning by an average of 21.8 points.
Alex Martin prediction: Edna Karr 24, Archbishop Rummell 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Edna Karr 28, Archbishop Rummell 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Archbishop Rummell 24, Edna Karr 17
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Archbishop Rummell 21, Edna Karr 17
Joe Spears prediction: Edna Karr 21, Archbishop Rummell 17
Logan Newman prediction: Edna Karr 17, Archbishop Rummell 14
Bishop Chatard (IN) at Elder (OH)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. ET
This cross-state rivalry pits one of Indiana's prominent programs against one of Ohio's best. The Trojans and Panthers have played 13 times since 2000 with Elder leading the series 10-3.
Playing again this year marks the fifth straight year that the two sides have played against each other with Elder winning three of those last four games, including the last two.
Elder won last week against Highlands (KY) 30-27 but lost its two previous games to Archbishop Moeller (OH) and St. Xavier (OH). Chatard's only loss of the year came to Cathedral (IN) on Sept. 11 but the Trojans have dominated every other in-state opponent they've played.
Alex Martin prediction: Elder 27, Bishop Chatard 17
Alyce Brown prediction: Elder 28, Bishop Chatard 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Elder 28, Bishop Chatard 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Bishop Chatard 24, Elder 20
Joe Spears prediction: Elder 31, Bishop Chatard 28
Logan Newman prediction: Elder 28, Bishop Chatard 20
Centennial (AZ) at Chandler (AZ)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. MT
It's a Super 15 West showdown in Arizona Friday night as Centennial puts its unbeaten record on the line against Chandler and four-star Oregon quarterback commit Will Mencl.
Mencl and the Wolves haven't suffered any setbacks sincelosing their season-opener to Basha (AZ) by 11. They also come into this game rested as their game against Cactus Canyon was counted as a forfeit and they were also off last week.
While Centennial hasn't played as hard of a schedule, the Coyotes have been as dominant for most of the year. Torrin Hill leads a potent receiving corps for the Coyotes, catching 31 passes for 777 yards and eight touchdowns.
Alex Martin prediction: Chandler 30, Centennial 27
Alyce Brown prediction: Chandler 31, Centennial 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Chandler 27, Centennial 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Centennial 23, Chandler 19
Joe Spears prediction: Chandler 28, Centennial 24
Logan Newman prediction: Centennial 21, Chandler 20
Johnston (IA) at Southeast Polk (IA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. CT
Southeast Polk's claim for best team in Iowa entering the postseason is now just two wins away from being complete. However, this week it'll have to beat a Johnston side that it has not beaten since 2023.
Johnston's lone loss came during the second week of the season as it lost by six to Dowling Catholic (IA). The Dragons would go on to win their next four games in blowout fashion but were tested last week in a 35-27 win over Sioux City (IA).
Southeast Polk has won some blowouts this year, but the Rams have been tested a good number of times. Their resume includes a 21-14 win over Liberty (IA), a 31-28 win over Dowling Catholic (IA) and a 32-28 win over Northwest (IA) last week.
Alex Martin prediction: Southeast Polk 34, Johnston 30
Alyce Brown prediction: Southeast Polk 35, Johnston 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Southeast Polk 31, Johnston 28
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Johnston 31, Southeast Polk 30
Joe Spears prediction: Johnston 28, Southeast Polk 24
Logan Newman prediction: Southeast Polk 32, Johnston 27
Las Cruces (NM) at Volcano Vista (NM)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. MT
Each of the last two seasons, Las Cruces has beaten Volcano Vista by double digits. However, the Hawks are unbeaten and making their case to be one of the state's top programs.
Led by junior quarterback Jude Herrera (1,689 yards, 26 touchdowns), the Hawks are 7-0 and have scored 50 or more points four times. They're winning by an average of 36 points per game.
Las Cruces is a one-point loss to Eldorado (NM) from also entering this game unbeaten. The Bulldawgs were dominant in five of the seven games they've played in this year thanks in large part to junior Aldo Gallegos (729 yards, 11 touchdowns).
Alex Martin prediction: Volcano Vista 35, Las Cruces 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Volcano Vista 28, Las Cruces 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Volcano Vista 28, Las Cruces 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Volcano Vista 34, Las Cruces 27
Joe Spears prediction: Volcano Vista 30, Las Cruces 21
Logan Newman prediction: Volcano Vista 38, Las Cruces 30
Mount Carmel (IL) at Loyola Academy (IL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. CT
It's been a weird season for Mount Carmel. The Caravan entered the year as the team to beat in Illinois but have since suffered in-state losses to East St. Louis (IL) and Brother Rice (IL).
Now they'll square off with a program that is familiar with beating them. From 2021-2024, Loyola Academy won three of the four games they played against the Caravan.
Mount Carmel won both meetings last year, but the Ramblers are the ones entering this year's matchup unbeaten. Unlike Mount Carmel, they beat Brother Rice (27-24) but did have their worst defensive performance last week as they had to hold off IC Catholic Prep (IL) 45-35.
Alex Martin prediction: Loyola Academy 42, Mount Carmel 41
Alyce Brown prediction: Mount Carmel 31, Loyola Academy 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Mount Carmel 34, Loyola Academy 31
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Loyola Academy 34, Mount Carmel 30
Joe Spears prediction: Loyola Academy 31, Mount Carmel 27
Logan Newman prediction: Loyola Academy 28, Mount Carmel 27
Puyallup (WA) at Sumner (WA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. PST
Last season, Puyallup and Sumner met in the state semifinals in a game that the Spartans walked away with a 42-35 victory in. Now, Puyallup is looking for some revenge.
No team in the state of Washington has been as dominant as the Vikings during their 6-0 start to the year. They've outscored their opponents 343-83 and won all but one of their games in blowout fashion. That one close call came in a 43-42 overtime win over Lake Stevens (WA).
Sumner is also unbeaten and won every game but one by double digits. However, the Spartans haven't been as dominant defensively, giving up an average of 19 points per game.
Alex Martin prediction: Puyallup 41, Sumner 21
Alyce Brown prediction: Pullayup 35, Sumner 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Puyallup 31, Sumner 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Puyallup 34, Sumner 21
Joe Spears prediction: Puyallup 34, Sumner 24
Logan Newman prediction: Puyallup 40, Sumner 30
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football schedule, score predictions for Week 9 Games of the Week
