The seventh week of the season saw its fair share of close games, especially when it came to three of the top five teams ranked in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings.
Will that be the case this week? This week's slate of games that could have some teams on upset alert and one game in Texas that has the potential to be a Game of the Year candidate if it plays out the way everyone thinks it might.
But first, here are staff prediction standings heading into Week 8:
- 1. Alex Martin: 54-16
- 2. Joe Spears: 51-19
- 3. Ansley Gavlak 49-21
- 4. Alyce Brown 48-22
- 5. Logan Newman: 47-23
- 6. Ehsan Kassim: 45-25
Game of the Week: No. 16 North Crowley (TX) at No. 13 Waxahachie (TX)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. CT
This will be the first ever meeting between the schools and it comes at the perfect time. Both teams enter the game unbeaten and have been dominant through the first seven weeks of the season and are both coming off an off week. Finding a way to slow down
Waxahachie's offense will be the key for North Crowley as Waxahachie has scored 60 or more points in its last two weeks.
Alex Martin prediction: Waxahachie 33, North Crowley 31
Alyce Brown prediction: Waxahachie 28, North Crowley 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Waxahachie 31, North Crowley 27
Ehsan Kassim prediction: North Crowley 34, Waxahachie 30
Joe Spears prediction: Waxahachie 45, North Crowley 37
Logan Newman prediction: North Crowley 30, Waxahachie 27
No. 1 St. Frances Academy (MD) at The St. James Academy (VA)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m. ET
Anyone who was overlooking The St. James Academy entering last week's contest against IMG Academy (FL) isn't anymore as it took IMG nailing a last-second 47-yard field goal to get the win. The Strivers will get the chance to bounce back this week against the only team that beat them last year. When the Strivers and Panthers squared off last November, St. Frances Academy cruised to a 35-0 win.
Alex Martin prediction: St. Frances Academy 37, The St. James Academy 35
Alyce Brown prediction: St. Frances Academy 31, The St. James Academy 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. Frances Academy 34, The St. James Academy 28
Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. Frances Academy 27, The St. James Academy 13
Joe Spears prediction: St. Frances Academy 35, The St. James Academy 28
Logan Newman prediction: St. Frances Academy 33, The St. James Academy 27
Orange Lutheran (CA) at No. 11 St. John Bosco (CA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. PST
There aren't many teams that have played a harder schedule to start the year than Orange Lutheran. The Lancers have passed nearly all of those tests with their only losses coming by one to Central (FL) and by 18 to Sierra Canyon (CA). Things don't get easier this week as they take on a St. John Bosco team that's won five straight, all by double digits.
Alex Martin prediction: St. John Bosco 24, Orange Lutheran 20
Alyce Brown prediction: St. John Bosco 28, Orange Lutheran 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. John Bosco 27, Orange Lutheran 17
Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. John Bosco 28, Orange Lutheran 16
Joe Spears prediction: St. John Bosco 41, Orange Lutheran 21
Logan Newman prediction: St. John Bosco 28, Orange Lutheran 17
No. 20 De La Salle (CA) at Monte Vista (CA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7:15 p.m. PST
De La Salle has put together a solid 6-0 start to the season and that will be tested Friday night as they take on a fellow unbeaten team in Monte Vista. The Spartans just shut out Cathedral Catholic (CA) 42-0, while the Mustangs have each of their first six games by double digits. The last time they played each other was in 2024 as De La Salle rolled to a 42-7 win.
Alex Martin prediction: De La Salle 30, Monte Vista 20
Alyce Brown prediction: De La Salle 35, Monte Vista 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: De La Salle 34, Monte Vista 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: De La Salle 35, Monte Vista 21
Joe Spears prediction: De La Salle 38, Monte Vista 21
Logan Newman prediction: De La Salle 38, Monte Vista 14
Cardinal Newman (FL) at Chaminade-Madonna (FL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 6:30 p.m. ET
Thanks to another standout performance from junior quarterback Brady Quinn, the Lions were only a point and blocked field goal away from upsetting St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) last week. They once again face one of the Sunshine State's best programs as they travel to West Palm Beach for a meeting with Cardinal Newman. The Crusaders have won back-to-back games by double figures since losing to West Boca Raton four weeks ago.
Alex Martin prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 31, Cardinal Newman 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 28, Cardinal Newman 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 31, Cardinal Newman 28
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 34, Cardinal Newman 24
Joe Spears prediction: Chaminade Madonna 34, Cardinal Newman 28
Logan Newman prediction: Chaminade-Madonna 33, Cardinal Newman 24
Catholic Central (MI) at St. Mary’s Prep (MI)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. ET
It's been a long time since the Shamrocks have lost a game as they've won 20 straight games dating back to last season. One of the few teams that have tested them during this run is St. Mary's Prep as Catholic Central won last year's meeting between the two schools 29-15. These two teams would be unbeaten going into the matchup if it wasn't for King (MI), which beat the Eaglets 44-42 earlier in the season.
Alex Martin prediction: Catholic Central 31, St. Mary’s Prep 13
Alyce Brown prediction: Catholic Central 35, St. Mary's Prep 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Catholic Central 24, St. Mary's Prep 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Catholic Central 31, St. Mary’s Prep 27
Joe Spears prediction: Catholic Central 24, St Mary’s Prep 20
Logan Newman prediction: Catholic Central 30, St. Mary’s Prep 25
DeSoto (TX) at Lancaster (TX)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. CT
Since losing 35-0 to North Shore (TX) to open the season, Lancaster has rattled off four straight wins. This week poses their biggest challenge since that season-opening loss as DeSoto has seemingly found its form. A lot of the success is thanks to Texas Tech four-star running back commit SaRod Baker, who has rushed for 639 yards and nine touchdowns.
Alex Martin prediction: DeSoto 34, Lancaster 20
Alyce Brown prediction: DeSoto 31, Lancaster 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: DeSoto 34, Lancaster 27
Ehsan Kassim prediction: DeSoto 33, Lancaster 28
Joe Spears prediction: DeSoto 28, Lancaster 24
Logan Newman prediction: DeSoto 33, Lancaster 21
Lake Oswego (OR) at West Linn (OR)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. PST
Last year when these two teams played, it wasn't close as West Linn rolled to a 38-16 victory, handing Lake Oswego its only loss on the year. The Lakers never got the chance to avenge that loss as West Linn lost to Central Catholic in the semifinals and Lake Oswego would beat them a week later for the state title. West Linn has lost once this year has been dominant in its four wins while Lake Oswego has won by 27 or more points four times.
Alex Martin prediction: Lake Oswego 27, West Linn 24
Alyce Brown prediction: West Linn 31, Lake Oswego 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Lake Oswego 31, West Linn 28
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Lake Oswego 35, West Linn 27
Joe Spears prediction: Lake Oswego 24, West Linn 21
Logan Newman prediction: West Linn 24, Lake Oswego 20
La Salle Academy (RI) at Bishop Hendricken (RI)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. ET
No. 1 and No. 2 in the state of Rhode Island square off Friday night as La Salle Academy looks to end a three-game losing streak to Bishop Hendricken. The Hawks started off the season with back-to-back losses to out-of-state teams but have bounced back, winning their each of the last three games by double digits. La Salle Academy was rolling up until last week when the Rams went on the road and lost by 25 to Ohio State five-star quarterback commit Christopher Vargas and St. John's Prep (MA).
Alex Martin prediction: La Salle Academy 27, Bishop Hendricken 25
Alyce Brown prediction: La Salle Academy 28, Bishop Hendricken 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: La Salle Academy 34, Bishop Hendricken 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Bishop Hendricken 24, La Salle Academy 17
Joe Spears prediction: La Salle Academy 21, Bishop Hendricken 20
Logan Newman prediction: La Salle Academy 28, Bishop Hendricken 24
Martinsburg (WV) at Morgantown (WV)
Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Et
Martinsburg dominated Morgantown when these two met in the regular season last year, but the Mohigans got their revenge in the Class AAAA championship game with a 28-21 win. Fans of both teams are likely expecting something similar to what happened in last December's meeting. They're both undefeated on the year with Morgantown winning by an average of 32.4 points and Martinsburg winning by an average of 45.8 points.
Alex Martin prediction: Martinsburg 37, Morgantown 27
Alyce Brown prediction: Morgantown 35, Martinsburg 31
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Martinsburg 37, Morgantown 31
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Morgantown 38, Martinsburg 34
Joe Spears prediction: Martinsburg 31, Morgantown 27
Logan Newman prediction: Martinsburg 38, Morgantown 30
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football schedule, score predictions for Week 8 Games of the Week
