It’s formally playoff season for highschool soccer, as this week’s slate of video games includes quite a lot of High 25 groups and a few intriguing matchups throughout the nation, with groups seeking to make a push for a state title.
Let’s break down the highest 5 matchups of the week, with the highest pair coming from the CIF Division in California.
Mater Dei (CA) vs. Centennial (CA)
A five-star quarterback towards the No. 1 group within the nation? Signal me up.
That’s what we’re getting when five-star Husan Longstreet and Centennial tackle powerhouse Mater Dei at dwelling, seeking to avenge their 42-25 loss within the season opener.
Nonetheless, Centennial performed that recreation with out Longstreet, who could possibly be the difference-maker in serving to the Huskies pull off the upset over Mater Dei. A current USC commit, Longstreet has thrown for 1,641 yards, 19 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season, whereas main the Huskies to a 9-1 report as a begin, solely dropping his season debut.
Since then, Centennial has thrived, being seen as a High 25 group within the nation, with Longstreet doubtless trying three-star broad receiver Cory Butler’s method for a lot of the night time.
Mater Dei has been the very best group within the nation this yr and is led by Michigan four-star commit Jordon Davison at operating again. Davison has been electrical this yr, speeding for 875 yards and 13 touchdowns, main the cost for Mater Dei’s offense.
Mater Dei has gained each recreation by double digits this yr, with six of their 10 wins coming by a minimum of 21 factors. They’ll look to increase the streak after they journey to face Centennial on Friday night time, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
Orange Lutheran (CA) vs. St. John Bosco (CA)
In one other battle between High 25 groups in California, Orange Lutheran takes on St. John Bosco on Friday night time, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
Led by Nebraska four-star quarterback commit T.J. Lateef, Orange Lutheran has gone 8-3 this yr, with blowout losses to Mater Dei and Bishop Gorman, in addition to a 28-24 defeat to St. John Bosco within the common season.
A dual-threat quarterback, Lateef threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns, whereas speeding for 78 yards on 10 carries within the first recreation, but it surely wasn’t sufficient for Orange Lutheran, who can be in search of revenge.
St. John Bosco has gone 10-1, with their lone loss being a 59-14 defeat by the hands of Mater Dei. They’re led by the duo of freshman quarterback Koa Malau’ulu and broad receiver Madden Williams. Malau’uluwith has thrown for 1,308 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions this season, whereas Williams has caught 44 passes for 773 yards and 12 touchdowns to this point.
Malau’ulu carried out very nicely within the common season matchup with Orange Lutheran, throwing for a career-high 272 yards and 4 touchdowns, whereas finishing 75 p.c of his passes. With the deal with Williams in that one, Malau’ulu linked with junior wideout Carson Clark for 11 catches, 121 yards and a rating within the win.
Each groups had been ultra-competitive within the first matchup between the colleges, and that needs to be the case once more on Friday.
Lowndes (GA) vs. Buford (GA)
In a matchup between two 10-1 Georgia groups, a spot within the quarterfinals is within the air on Friday night time when Lowndes takes on Buford, marking the primary assembly between the 2 high packages.
Lowndes solely has a 38-35 loss to Colquitt County on their report, successful all of their remaining video games, whereas scoring a minimum of 30 factors in 9 of these video games.
Quarterback Jayce Johnson has thrown for 1,676 yards, 16 touchdowns and two interceptions this season, whereas additionally speeding for 308 yards and three scores on the bottom.
He’s appeared to attach primarily with high wideout Jaylin Carter, who averages over 75 receiving yards per recreation, whereas operating again Marvis Parrish has supplied a big risk on the bottom with 906 speeding yards and 24 complete touchdowns on the yr.
Buford is led by Tennessee operating again commit Justin Baker, who has 784 speeding yards and eight touchdowns on the yr. Quarterbacking the group is Dayton Raiola, a three-star Nebraska commit and the brother of Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola. The youthful Dayton has tossed for 1,595 yards, 17 touchdowns and solely three interceptions this yr for Buford.
It’ll be a tricky matchup on each side, as Buford’s lone loss got here to Milton within the season opener in an in depth 13-10 recreation. Which aspect can prevail on Friday?
Walsh Jesuit (OH) vs. Archbishop Hoban (OH)
We’re heading to the state of Ohio for our subsequent matchup of the week, as Walsh Jesuit and Archbishop Hoban are set for a rematch of their shut 19-14 common season matchup, which went in favor of the previous, with a spot within the Division II semifinals on the road.
Walsh Jesuit has been an ideal 13-0 to start out the yr, with eight of these wins coming by a minimum of 26 factors, because of a high-octane offense led by senior quarterback Kellen Moten and junior broad receiver Milan Parris.
Archbishop Hoban, then again, has gone 11-2, dropping 19-14 to Walsh Jesuit and 28-14 to 12-0 Archbishop Spalding within the season opener. They’ve a feisty protection, as no group has scored over 28 factors on all of them season lengthy.
They’re led by a pair of Ohio State commits, four-star defensive again Elbert Hill and three-star linebacker Eli Hill, on that aspect of the ball. Each ought to contribute to what could possibly be one other slugfest on Friday night time.
Douglas County (GA) vs. North Cobb (GA)
Going again to the Peach State, we’ve got a battle between Douglas County and North Cobb for a spot within the 6A quarterfinals on Friday night time.
Douglas County stands at 9-2, with their two losses coming towards High 25 opponents: Buford and Carrolton. Aside from that, they’ve cruised via, most just lately beating Mill Creek to open the playoffs 27-18 final week.
They’re led by Texas A&M four-star receiver commit Aaron Gregory, who has 777 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns this season, whereas four-star junior wideout Devin Carter isn’t far behind with 590 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.
North Cobb, standing at 11-0, has crushed each opponent by double-digits whereas blowing out their justifiable share of groups. Freshman operating again Zach Belyeu has exploded on the scene, speeding for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns on the yr, whereas quarterback Nick Grimstead has performed a very good job of defending the soccer.
In what could possibly be an explosive recreation between two sturdy offenses, a quarterfinal spot awaits for the winner on Friday night time, the place kickoff is ready for 7:30 p.m.
