Across the PrepNation: Weekend Warmup 10-2-2008

Those of us lucky enough to have access to FOX Sports Net Southwest on our cable or satellite service can eye ball preseason No. 1 Euless Trinity Thursday evening.

The Trojans, who dropped to No. 3 in this week's National Prep Poll, play Fossil Ridge at 7:00 PM CDT.

Trinity has been very solid if not spectacular in going 4-0 to start the season. Its four opponents -- including Louisiana power John Curtis Christian -- have a combined 13-3 record.

But there have been some warning signs that Trinity could be in for an upset somewhere down the road if it does find some more explosive plays on offense. The Trojans have only scored more 30 points once and were held to 17 in last week's win against Keller.

The weekend TV slate:

There are a number of interesting matchups for our viewing pleasure. On Thursday night, ESPN2 has the annual grudgematch between D.C.-area Catholic league powers Good Counsel and DeMatha. Good Counsel enters the game at 4-0 and ranked No. 5 in this week's East Coast regional rankings. DeMatha is currently 3-1 with its only loss coming to Baltimore private school power Gilman in Week 2. Kickoff is at 6:30 PM EDT.

Defending Pennsylvania 4A champ Pittsburgh Central Catholic is on FOX Sports Net Pittsburgh Thursday evening, taking on Penn Hills at 7:00 PM EDT. The Vikings have won four in a row since being blown out, 35-0, by No. 17 Lakeland (Fla.) in their opener.

Regionally ranked defending Colorado 5A titlist Grandview is at Overland Thursday evening at 7:00 PM MDT with FOX Sports Net Rocky Mountain providing coverage. The Wolves (5-0) will be looking for their fourth shutout already this season.

If you are going out to watch a game in your area on Friday night, be sure to set those DVRs. Not one but two Top 5 teams will share a national cable spotlight with No. 2 Byrnes hosting defending Florida 2B champ Pahokee and No. 4 Lowndes taking on regionally ranked Warner Robins Northside.

This is a chance for Byrnes to get its third out-of-state win over a quality opponent, which never hurts a team's claim for moving up in the national polls. Pahokee will play the game with extremely heavy hearts following the loss of senior linebacker Norman Griffith, who was shot and killed last weekend outside a dance in nearby Belle Glade, Fla.

ESPNU has the game at 8:00 PM EDT.

Lowndes will be in for a dogfight as it defends the Georgia 5A title it won last season for the fourth time since 1999. A 5A field of contenders that already included No. 16 Camden County got even tougher with the arrival of Northside, which has won 35 straight games and back-to-back 4A crowns.

CBS College Sports will handle the coverage for this one, beginning at 8:00 PM EDT.

Comcast Cable customers throughout the Southeast will have a chance to catch a huge matchup in Mississippi. No. 5 South Panola puts its nation's best 80-game winning streak on the line when it travels to the south Memphis metro to face Olive Branch. The Conquistadors are 4-1, including a 48-47 win against Pahokee (Fla.). Kickoff is set for 7:00 CDT.

Two-time defending Minnesota 5A titlist Eden Prairie has its own winning streak at stake when it travels to Minnetonka Friday night, a game to be televised by FOX Sports Net North at 7:15 PM CDT. The Eagles, ranked No. 5 in this week's Midlands regional rankings, have won 33 consecutive games. Minnetonka is no pushover. The Skippers' only loss this season came at the hands of regionally ranked Wayzata.

It's Valley vs. Valley pride on the line Friday night in So Cal when San Fernando Valley power Sherman Oaks Notre Dame hosts Santa Clarita Valley stalwart Saugus at 7:30 PM PDT on FOX Sports Net Prime Ticket. Notre Dame, 3-0 and always one of the top teams in the CIF-SS, is led by rivals.com three-star linebacker Jordan Barrett. Saugus (2-1) features all-state running back Ryan Zirbel, who ran for over 2,000 yards as a junior.

In between your Saturday afternoon college football viewing, try to squeeze in Cypress Bay (Fla.) at Katy (Texas), which will be shown by ESPNU at 2:30 PM CDT. Cypress Bay (3-0) is an up-and-coming power in Broward County while Katy has one of the deepest and richest traditions ever in Texas schoolboy football.

Wrap up the weekend with one of two Sunday showings of Mahwah at Wayne Hills (N.J.) on MSG+. Wayne Hills enters the game with the longest win streak in the Northeast region at 43 games. Air times are 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM EDT.

This weekend's Top 3 list:

The current Top 3 leagues (or equivalent) for high school football in the entire country.
1) Trinity League (Southern California)
2) Greater Catholic League (Cincinnati)
3) Region 5A - 1 (Georgia)

Discuss amongst yourselves.

This weekend's UPSET ALERT:

No. 2 Byrnes vs. Pahokee (Fla.): Pahokee has the speed to cover any receiver and could put a damper on the Rebels' passing game. The Blue Devils also have a huge offensive line that should make moving the football against Byrnes' front seven a real possibility. The real question is if Pahokee can contain -- or even slow down slightly -- Byrnes junior RB Marcus Lattimore.

No. 4 Lowndes vs. SE No. 9 Northside: The Vikings aren't real fancy on offense and Warner Robins Northside is pretty close to dominant on defense. A 10-7 win by either team isn't out of the question.

No. 5 South Panola at Olive Branch: OB already has beaten Pahokee (Fla.), so the Conquistadors aren't lacking in confidence -- or talent. The Tigers, who have won 80 straight, have beaten Olive Branch seven times in the last four seasons.

No. 10 Poly at Lakewood: Perhaps more than any other team, the Lancers have the talent -- and the motivation -- to end Poly's 73-game winning streak in the Moore League. The Jackrabbits edged Lakewood last season, 13-6.

No. 11 North Shore at Lufkin: The Mustangs are likely to show some rust after a three-week Hurricane Ike-induced layoff. I can think of a lot easier places to try to restart your engines than Abe Martin Stadium, home of the Panthers. If North Shore can get the win, it will set a new state record with 73 consecutive regular season wins.

No. 13 Louisville Trinity vs. St. Xavier: This is one of a handful of rivalries across the country that can draw a crowd numbering over 38,000 for a regular season game, which happened in 2005. A similiar turnout is possible Friday night at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium as both teams enter the game with undefeated records. Both squads have offenses led by Division I-bound running backs and stout and speedy defensive units. A St. X win here would barely even qualify for as an upset.

No. 17 Lakeland vs. Miami Killian: The is the second of back-to-back home games against salty South Florida teams for the Dreadnaughts. Last week, Lakeland came from behind to beat Boyd Anderson, 27-22, on homecoming. This Friday's task could be even tougher because it involves trying to contain the Cougars' four-star running back Lamar Miller.

No. 25 Carmel at Warren Central: Although new coach John Hart has scrapped the triple option in favor of the spread, the results look similiar for Warren Central. The Warriors are steamrolling opponents, just like the old days when the Warriors became the first Indiana team to win four consecutive state championships from 2003-06. Carmel already survived its first tough league test of the season against Center Grove. Test #2 will not be any easier.