As hard as it may be to believe, we are inching closer and closer to postseason high school football for many states around the country.
What does that mean? For most of the top teams around the country, the next weeks will feature key matchups with other top programs that could have an impact on the postseason. For others, they play some out-of-state opponents that have had them circled on the calendar for months.
That's the case for this week's slate of top games. But first, here are staff prediction standings heading into Week 7:
- 1. Alex Martin: 45-15
- 2. Joe Spears: 43-17
- T3. Alyce Brown, Ansley Gavlak, Logan Newman: 40-20
- 6. Ehsan Kassim: 38-22
Game of the Week: The St. James Academy (VA) at No. 2 IMG Academy (FL)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. ET
After cruising through their first four games of the season, Saturday night could be a program-defining night for the Strivers as they travel to Bradenton for a showdown with one of the nation's
premier programs.
Through four games, the Strivers have been the definition of dominant, averaging 58.8 points per game and winning by an average of 53.4 points. Last week they cruised past Cardinal Ritter College Prep (MO) 50-6.
IMG will be a significant jump up in competition level for the Strivers. Led by 2028 five-star quarterback Jayden Wade (840 yards, 13 touchdowns), the Ascenders are 5-0 and winning by an average of 43.2 points per game. Even in the one game where they were tested, IMG Academy responded by scoring 41 second-half points to beat The First Academy (FL) 48-27.
Alex Martin prediction: IMG Academy 34, The St. James Academy 24
Alyce Brown prediction: IMG Academy 35, The St. James Academy 27
Ansley Gavlak prediction: IMG Academy 38, The St. James Academy 31
Ehsan Kassim prediction: IMG Academy 41, The St. James Academy 13
Joe Spears prediction: IMG Academy 42, The St. James Academy 21
Logan Newman prediction: IMG Academy 44, The St. James Academy 30
No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) at Chaminade-Madonna (FL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m. ET
Friday night presents an opportunity for Chaminade-Madonna to get some revenge against a Raiders team that beat them 27-21 last year. Will they get the job done against the No. 1 team in the country?
St. Thomas Aquinas has only been tested once this year with its 31-24 win over Columbus (FL). Aside from that game, the Raiders have been dominant, outscoring the other four teams on their schedule 176-21.
Chaminade-Madonna's lone loss of the year came to Sierra Canyon (CA). Brady Quinn has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the state this year, completing 73% of his passes for 1,114 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Alex Martin prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 34, Chaminade-Madonna 14
Alyce Brown prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 37, Chaminade-Madonna 20
Ansley Gavlak prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 31, Chaminade-Madonna 20
Ehsan Kassim prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 34, Chaminade-Madonna 17
Joe Spears prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Chaminade-Madonna 17
Logan Newman prediction: St. Thomas Aquinas 27, Chaminade-Madonna 20
No. 20 Mater Dei (CA) at No. 5 Santa Margarita (CA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. PST
Mater Dei had the week off to regroup following a 25-8 loss to Bishop Gorman (NV), but things don't get easier as they have to travel to the top team in California.
Last year this was a defensive slugfest that saw the Eagles leave Mater Dei with a 7-6 win.
Stopping Adrian Petero will be the key to whether the Monarchs leave Rancho Santa Margarita with a win or loss. The sophomore has been on a tear this season, rushing for 443 yards and 10 touchdowns on 78 carries.
Alex Martin prediction: Santa Margarita 27, Mater Dei 17
Alyce Brown prediction: Santa Margarita 27, Mater Dei 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Santa Margarita 20, Mater Dei 17
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Santa Margarita 24, Mater Dei 20
Joe Spears prediction: Santa Margarita 20, Mater Dei 13
Logan Newman prediction: Santa Margarita 17, Mater Dei 13
No. 8 Thompson (AL) at Hoover (AL)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. CT
Thompson has been the team to beat in Alabama, but one team in particular has been a thorn in the Warriors' side over the last two years.
Hoover leads the overall series between the schools but from 2019-2023, Thompson won seven of the 10 meetings between the schools. Over the last few seasons, however, it's been Hoover coming out on top. The Buccaneers won by four total points, including a 33-30 game last season.
Led by Alabama quarterback commit Trent Seaborn (1,468 yards, 20 touchdowns), the Warriors have been dominant this season, winning by an average of 37.8 points. Hoover hasn't been as fortunate as the Bucs enter this game with a 3-3 record and suffered a last-second loss to Knoxville Catholic (TN) last week.
Alex Martin prediction: Thompson 34, Hoover 31
Alyce Brown prediction: Thompson 33, Hoover 28
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Thompson 38, Hoover, 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Thompson 37, Hoover 27
Joe Spears prediction: Thompson 45, Hoover 17
Logan Newman prediction: Thompson 34, Hoover 24
No. 25 Grimsley (NC) at Varina (VA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET
There haven't been many teams that have come close to ending Grimsley's 36-game winning streak. Varina was one of the few that came the closest as the Whirlies held them off at home last year, 21-14.
This year the Blue Devils get to host and get a chance at revenge. A weather-related tie to Oscar Smith is all that has kept them from being perfect record-wise this year. Over their last two games, they've outscored their opponents 86-13.
Aside from a 13-7 win over East Forsyth (NC) a few weeks back, this should be Grimsley's biggest regular season challenge. Like Varina, they've also been dominant over their last two games, outscoring Southwest Guilford (NC) and Western Guilford (NC) 120-6.
Alex Martin prediction: Grimsley 28, Varina 27
Alyce Brown prediction: Grimsley 31, Varina 27
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Grimsley 28, Varina 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Grimsley 30, Varina 24
Joe Spears prediction: Grimsley 28, Varina 24
Logan Newman prediction: Grimsley 24, Varina 21
Don Bosco Prep (NJ) at Bergen Catholic (NJ)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 1 p.m. ET
There are a lot of great high school football rivalries in New Jersey, but the fierce battle between the Ironmen and Crusaders stands out amongst the rest. This year marks meeting No. 84 between the teams with Don Bosco leading the series 43-38-2.
Bergen Catholic has bounced back nicely since dropping its first two games to Central Catholic (PA) and Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD) to start the season. Over their last two games, they beat St. Joseph's Prep and St. Peter's Prep by an average of 27.5 points. Trey Tagliaferri has completed 72% of his passes for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns with only one interception.
Don Bosco really hasn't been tested yet, with their 13-point win over St. Joseph Regional last week being the closest game they've had this year. Their offense has been led by junior running back Casi Thomas, who has rushed for 514 yards and nine touchdowns.
Alex Martin prediction: Don Bosco Prep 30, Bergen Catholic 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Don Bosco Prep 34, Bergen Catholic 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Don Bosco Prep 31, Bergen Catholic 27
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Don Bosco Prep 34, Bergen Catholic 24
Joe Spears prediction: Don Bosco Prep 38, Bergen Catholic 17
Logan Newman prediction: Don Bosco Prep 24, Bergen Catholic 20
Edna Karr (LA) at Brother Martin (LA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. ET
Can Brother Martin end Edna Karr's winning streak? The Cougars have won 32 games in a row and, despite graduating a ton of talent last season, have not missed a beat in 2026.
A 21-14 win over Ruston (LA) is the closest the streak has come to ending this year. In their three other wins, they've won by an average of 36 points with two shutouts.
Led by Texas five-star receiver commit Easton Royal, Brother Martin is undefeated, but the Crusaders were tested last week. Royal had two touchdown grabs in the 24-22 win over Jesuit (LA), including an incredible one-handed snag to open the scoring. They'll need more of that on Friday as they look to avenge last year's 42-13 loss to the Cougars.
Alex Martin prediction: Edna Karr 27, Brother Martin 20
Alyce Brown prediction: Edna Karr 24, Brother Martin 21
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Edna Karr 31, Brother Martin 24
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Edna Karr 32, Brother Martin 27
Joe Spears prediction: Edna Karr 38, Brother Martin 17
Logan Newman prediction: Edna Karr 24, Brother Martin 20
Lawrence North (IN) at Warren Central (IN)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. ET
If you want fireworks, look no further than the far east side of Indianapolis on Friday night. The last time the Warriors and Wildcats faced off on the field, Lawrence North walked away with a 63-48 win after scoring 28 fourth-quarter points.
Five-star Indiana receiver commit Monshun Sales has not played since the second week of the season, so Izayveon Moore (432 yards, 7 touchdowns) has been pivotal in the Wildcats bouncing back with five straight wins since their season-opening loss to Brownsburg. They've won by an average of 31.6 points during that stretch.
Four-star Kentucky linebacker commit Sean Fox (55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) has the Warriors defense at their best entering the game. Warren Central has only allowed 15 points in its last three games. Senior running back Keyon Thomas paces the offense with 881 yards and 10 touchdowns, while quarterback Anthony Dennison has 13 touchdown passes to zero interceptions.
Alex Martin prediction: Warren Central 31, Lawrence North 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Warren Central 31, Lawrence North 27
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Warren Central 27, Lawrence North 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Lawrence North 34, Warren Central 28
Joe Spears prediction: Warren Central 42, Lawrence North 28
Logan Newman prediction: Lawrence North 33, Warren Central 27
Miami Carol City (FL) at Grayson (GA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET
Going into the season, it would have been logical to believe that by the time this game rolled around, both teams would likely be unbeaten or maybe one combined loss between them. That's not the case, though.
Carol City has the road loss to Lee County (GA) and also had to forfeit its season-opening win. However, over its last three games, they've been dominant, outscoring opponents 143-0.
Grayson's had one of the weirdest seasons. The Rams started the season with losses to North Gwinnett (GA) and Sandy Creek (GA) but bounced back with wins over Langston Hughes (GA) and Brunswick (GA). Their two-game winning streak was snapped two weeks ago in a 23-13 loss to Buford (GA).
Alex Martin prediction: Grayson 27, Carol City 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Carol City 35, Grayson 24
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Grayson 31, Miami Carol City 28
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Carol City 27, Grayson 25
Joe Spears prediction: Carol City 34, Grayson 24
Logan Newman prediction: Carol City 24, Grayson 21
Mountain Ridge (UT) vs Herriman (UT)
Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. MT
Is this the year that Herriman finally gets to one-up its crosstown rival?
Located less than five miles away from each other, Mountain Ridge leads the all-time series against the Mustangs. They've won four of the last five meetings, with Herriman's only win coming in 2022.
Last year's game was close, with Mountain Ridge holding on for the 22-14 win. This year, the teams come into the game with a combined record of 13-1. Mountain Ridge has been dominant, outscoring its opponents 337-88, while Herriman had been on a tear before losing to Lehi (UT) 22-20 last week.
Alex Martin prediction: Mountain Ridge 34, Herriman 24
Alyce Brown prediction: Mountain Ridge 28, Herriman 27
Ansley Gavlak prediction: Mountain Ridge 28, Herriman 21
Ehsan Kassim prediction: Mountain Ridge 24, Herriman 20
Joe Spears prediction: Mountain Ridge 23, Herriman 20
Logan Newman prediction: Mountain Ridge 27, Herriman 21
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school football schedule, score predictions for Week 7 Games of the Week
