High School Preview: Big matchup in Florida looms; Idaho teams are already talking playoffs

By Annmarie Toler | Posted 9/21/2017

Photo via @IMGAFootball

Fall is here! Sept. 22 marks the first day of the Autumn Equinox and another week of high school football is underway.

Let's take a look at some of the top games around the country.

Florida football is back in action in most parts of the state. MaxPreps game of the week is a matchup between MaxPreps nationally ranked No. 12 Central (Miami) vs. No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton).

This will be the first game for IMG Academy in three weeks, and the first game for the Central Rockets in two weeks after they were stuck in Las Vegas after playing No. 11 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) due to Hurricane Irma.

RELATED: Miami Dolphins help Miami Central High School football team return home

Both rosters are full of talented players.

Looking to Miami's sideline, its key players are running back James Cook, who is fielding offers from Georgia, Louisville, Florida State, Alabama and many more. Cornerback Chandler Jones, who is a hard commit to Louisville, and wide receiver Terrell Perriman, who has caught the attention of Utah, Central Florida, Miami and many more.

The IMG Academy Ascenders have an equally talented sideline. Defensive end Xavier Thomas caught the attention of many schools. but has committed to Clemson. He plays alongside Nolan Smith, weak-side defensive end, who is a hard commit to Georgia. Ascenders wide receiver Trey Sanders has committed to Alabama, and cornerback Brendan Radley-Hiles is a hard commit to Nebraska.

Farther up the East Coast, No. 6 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) is will host, No. 17 St. John Bosco from Bellflower, California.

St. John’s quarterback Kevin Doyle has caught the attention of Ole Miss, Boston College, Indiana, Iowa and more.

St. John Bosco is led by dual-threat quarterback Re-al Mitchell, as well as safety Jaiden Woodbey, who is a hard commit to Ohio State, and four-star cornerback recruit Chris Steele.

Tennessee has a big matchup Friday night has No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 6A face off. City rivals Oakland High School (Murfreesboro) vs. Blackman High School (Murfreesboro) will meet.

The Oakland Patriots are 4-0 and Blackman is 5-0.

Idaho is starting Week 5 of high school football and they are already talking playoffs.

Looking at Idaho’s 4A level, No. 3 Emmett (Emmett) will host No. 1 Skyview (Nampa).

The Emmett Huskies (3-1) lost their first game of the season last week against Middleton when they lost a 20-0 lead heading into the second half.

Zane Hines, Huskies head coach told the Idaho Statesman, “I wouldn’t say it’s a must-win,” Hines added “but it’s one if we want to compete for the league championship, which is a goal we have, this is one of the games we have to win.”

Skyview is 4-0, and favored in this game, but this 4A level matchup is going to be one to watch.

With playoff odds on the line in 5A level, Borah High School (Boise) will host Centennial High School (Boise).

Borah High School head coach Jason Burton told the Statesman, “We tell guys by Week 5, we need to be playing the best football of the year. … The next five weeks are the most important weeks of the season.”

Be sure to enjoy the first football games of Fall and remember, if you have a play you'd like us to share, place it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #USAFBTopPlay.

RELATED: USA Football Weekly Film Session

Share