The second full week of the high school football season had a little bit of everything as it featured several ranked matchups, upsets and close calls.
As fun as Week 2 was, the third week of the season features just as many high profile showdowns and games that should have some teams on upset alert.
We took a look at the entirety of the country and nailed down which games in particular stood out to our group and why.
Here's a look at the top 10 games of the week, which include six games featuring USA TODAY Sports Super 25 teams.
But first, here are staff prediction standings heading into Week 3:
- 1. Alex Martin: 14-6
- T2. Alyce Brown, Joe Spears: 13-7
- T4. Ansley Gavlak, Logan Newman: 12-8
- 6. Ehsan Kassim: 10-10
Game of the Week: No. 6 Columbus (FL) at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
Date:
Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET
Watch Columbus at St. Thomas Aquinas LIVE on NFHS Network
Can A'mir Sears and the Explorers make it back-to-back weeks with massive upsets on the same field? They'll get that chance on Friday as they travel back to St. Thomas Aquinas, this time playing the hosts.
Sears was dynamic in Columbus' 33-28 win over Bishop Gorman last week. The Miami five-star commit had a pair of touchdown receptions to go along with three interceptions on defense.
St. Thomas Aquinas has been dominant through its first two games. The Raiders put on a show on national television last week, jumping out on DeSoto (TX) early and never letting up en route to a 38-14 victory.
Alex Martin prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 27, Columbus 17
Alyce Brown prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Columbus 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 31, Columbus 20
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Columbus 34, St. Thomas Aquinas 31
Logan Newman prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Columbus 21
Joe Spears prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Columbus 21
No. 3 St. Frances Academy (MD) at Vero Beach (FL)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET
St. Frances Academy got a bit of a scare in its season-opener, playing DeLand in a back-and-forth game before eventually pulling away for the 49-35 victory.
Things don't get any easier this week as they travel to another Florida program in Vero Beach that's been on a tear to open the season.
Notre Dame four-star pledge and Vero Beach quarterback Champ Monds has been the definition of efficient through two games, completing 83% of his passes for 591 yards and seven touchdowns. He has as many touchdown passes as incomplete passes.
Alex Martin prediction: St. Frances Academy 34, Vero Beach 28
Alyce Brown prediction: St. Frances Academy 38, Vero Beach 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. Frances Academy 27, Vero Beach 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. Frances Academy 34, Vero Beach 27
Logan Newman prediction: St. Frances Academy 35, Vero Beach 25
Joe Spears prediction: St. Frances Academy 38, Vero Beach 24
DeSoto (TX) at No. 16 Allen (TX)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. CT
Both programs kicked off their seasons in marquee matchups against two programs viewed by many as two of the best in the country. They both experienced different outcomes.
DeSoto traveled down to St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) and never could get into a flow against the nation's No. 1 team, ultimately heading back to Texas with a 38-14 loss.
Allen leaned on its defense and sophomore quarterback Ty Snell to prove former Duncanville quarterback Keelon Russell wrong in the Eagles' season-opener against the Panthers. Allen scored twice in the fourth quarter to secure the 26-7 win.
Alex Martin prediction: Allen 24, DeSoto 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Allen 24, DeSoto 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Allen 27, DeSoto 20
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Allen 27, DeSoto 17
Logan Newman prediction: Allen 33, DeSoto 30
Joe Spears prediction: Allen 27, DeSoto 21
St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) at No. 21 Brentwood Academy (TN)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. CT
Watch St. Joseph's Prep at Brentwood Academy LIVE on NFHS Network
Elite wide receiver play will be on display in this one as 2028 five-star receiver and Ohio State commit Jett Harrison squares off with some of Tennessee's best.
Brentwood Academy bounced back from its Week 1 loss to Baylor (TN) with a dominant 49-14 win over Brentwood (TN). Tennessee four-star receiver Kesean Bowman has been dynamic to start the season, but it's been MTSU commit Lex Baskin stealing the show.
Baskin's had back-to-back 100-yard performances and had a pair of touchdowns in last week's win.
Alex Martin prediction: Brentwood Academy 31, St. Joseph's Prep 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, St. Joseph's Prep 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Brentwood Academy 34, St. Joseph's Prep 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. Joseph's Prep 30, Brentwood Academy 28
Logan Newman prediction: Brentwood Academy 30, St. Joseph's Prep 27
Joe Spears prediction: Brentwood Academy 35, St. Joseph's Prep 21
Archbishop Moeller (OH) at No. 22 Trinity (KY)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET
Watch Archbishop Moeller at Trinity LIVE on NFHS Network
No team in the Midwest has made its case to be the best in the region quite like Trinity.
In back-to-back road games out of the state, the Shamrocks beat Anderson (OH) and Christian Brothers College (MO) by an average of 38.5 points.
Finally, back at home, they'll face another out-of-state opponent and one that they lost to on the road by three last season. Moeller kicked off its season with a 31-24 loss to Princeton (OH) but bounced back last week with a 45-7 win over Groveport-Madison (OH).
Alex Martin prediction: Trinity 37, Archbishop Moeller 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Trinity 31, Archbishop Moeller 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Trinity 35, Archbishop Moeller 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Trinity 34, Archbishop Moeller 20
Logan Newman prediction: Trinity 33, Archbishop Moeller 27
Joe Spears prediction: Trinity 42, Archbishop Moeller 21
Providence Day (NC) at No. 24 Hough (NC)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET
Watch Providence Day at Hough LIVE on NFHS Network
Two of North Carolina's top teams in the latest Super 15 East rankings square off in this one.
The Mustangs and Huskies combined to go 27-0 last year and each won a state championship. They're unbeaten so far this year as well and both are coming off of blowout victories.
Hough got its offense going in a 35-10 win over Cardinal Gibbons (NC) while Providence Day recorded its first shutout of the season in a 34-0 win over Rolesville (NC).
Alex Martin prediction: Hough 17, Providence Day 14
Alyce Brown prediction: Providence Day 24, Hough 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Providence Day 20, Hough 17
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Providence Day 24, Hough 20
Logan Newman prediction: Hough 24, Providence Day 20
Joe Spears prediction: Hough 24, Providence Day 21
Creekside (GA) at St. Joseph Regional (NJ)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 1 p.m. ET
In its season-opener, St. Joseph Regional played in what will be a game of the year contender by the time the season comes to an end. The Green Knights led by 30 on the road at Mount Carmel (IL) before the Caravan would mount their comeback and secure the 48-44 victory.
Creekside had a much-needed week off after losing their season-opener to Clay-Chalkville (AL) 29-20.
Alex Martin prediction: St. Joseph Regional 24, Creekside 20
Alyce Brown prediction: St. Joseph Regional 35, Creekside 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. Joseph Regional 30, Creekside 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Creekside 34, St. Joseph Regional 27
Logan Newman prediction: Creekside 30, St. Joseph Regional 27
Joe Spears prediction: Creekside 28, St. Joseph Regional 24
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) at Roman Catholic (PA)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. ET
Roman Catholic's gauntlet of a schedule returns home this week after traveling west to St. John Bosco and kicking off the season with a 45-25 loss.
Don Bosco Prep didn't have any issues in its season-opener.
Junior running back Casi Thomas led their offensive attack, carrying the ball 24 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Armwood (FL).
Alex Martin prediction: Don Bosco Prep 30, Roman Catholic 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Don Bosco Prep 28, Roman Catholic 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Don Bosco Prep 31, Roman Catholic 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Roman Catholic 27, Don Bosco Prep 24
Logan Newman prediction: Don Bosco Prep 27, Roman Catholic 24
Joe Spears prediction: Don Bosco Prep 35, Roman Catholic 24
Gainesville (GA) at East St. Louis (IL)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. CT
Turnovers plagued the Red Elephants in their Week 1 loss to Buford (GA). Close early on, they finished the evening with five turnovers, resulting in a 39-19 loss.
Gainesville had the week off last week and will be rested against an East St. Louis that's experienced major highs and some lows to kick off the season.
The Flyers scored 21 fourth-quarter points last week to send their game against American Heritage (FL) into overtime tied at 28. That would be the extent of that comeback though as they lost their first game of the season 35-28.
Alex Martin prediction: East St. Louis 27, Gainesville 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Gainesville 24, East St. Louis 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: East St. Louis 27, Gainesville 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: East St. Louis 27, Gainesville 20
Logan Newman prediction: Gainesville 27, East St. Louis 21
Joe Spears prediction: Gainesville 28, East St. Louis 27
Southlake Carroll (TX) at North Crowley (TX)
Date: Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.
Watch Southlake Carroll at North Crowley LIVE on NFHS Network
The Dragons and Panthers each picked up wins last week but did so in vastly different ways.
North Crowley jumped out on Aledo (TX) early taking a 26-point lead into the half and keeping that lead as they finished the night with a 26-0 victory.
Southlake Carroll trailed Jenks (OK) by as many as 20 in the first half before mounting a ferocious second-half comeback. Illinois receiver commit Brody Knowles had 180 yards and two touchdowns as they pulled out an improbable 34-33 win.
Alex Martin prediction: North Crowley 24, Southlake Carroll 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Southlake Carroll 28, North Crowley 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: North Crowley 27, Southlake Carroll 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Southlake Carroll 27, North Crowley 23
Logan Newman prediction: North Crowley 24, Southlake Carroll 23
Joe Spears prediction: North Crowley 24, Southlake Carroll 21
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football schedule, score predictions for Week 3 Games of the Week
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