Of all of the six match-ups within the High School Football America on Friday, each was won by the team that was favored coming-in, according to our proprietary algorithm, but three of those winners did it on the road, making the wins a little more impressive.
Three-time defending South Carolina champ South Pointe travelled to Buford (2-1), winners of 11 overall Georgia state football titles, and came away with a 33-27 victory. The Stallions (4-0) were led by Clemson-recruit Derion Kendrick, who ran for two scores and passed for two.
@SPHSstallions @RHHerald_Preps pic.twitter.com/wDVN9bf3G3
— Steven Bowers (@bowerss11) September 16, 2017
Next week, South Pointe will take-on four-time defending North Carolina state champ Shelby.
Related: Top 100 Scoreboard
No. 18 St. Joseph’s Prep took on No. 36 Archbishop Wood in a battle of reigning Pennsylvania state champs. The Hawks, who are Pennsylvania’s defending 6A champs, beat the reigning 5A champs 27-7 at Widener University’s Quick Stadium. The game came one week after Prep beat nationally-ranked St. Peter’s Prep (New Jersey) and Wood beat nationally-ranked Bergen Catholic (New Jersey).
The Hawks, who were expected to take a step-back after losing dynamic running back D’Andre Swift to graduation and Georgia, were led by senior quarterback Marquez McCray, who threw for 141 yards, plus added over 50 on the ground.
St. Joe’s Prep quarterback Marquez McCray converted 9 of 15 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. @quezz14 @SJPrep_Sports pic.twitter.com/JfTeWiIax9
— Rick O’Brien (@ozoneinq) September 16, 2017
St. Joe’s now leads this great Philly series with seven wins in nine games.
No. 19 Corona Centennial (California) got its star quarterback Tanner McKee back and rolled to a 52-6 win over No. 54 Narbonne (California). McKee, who was injured two weeks ago in the Huskies’ loss to IMG Academy (Florida), was 20-for-27 for 241 yards and one TD pass.
.@McKeeTmckee pic.twitter.com/FV6kwmZCdb
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) September 16, 2017
No. 21 Ben Davis rolled to its fifth straight win Friday with a 45-16 win over No. 73 Warren Central in the 91st version of the Circle City Showdown. The victory was the 100th career win for Giants’ head coach Mike Kirschner.
Ben Davis 45 – Warren Central 16! A great night at BD and Coach Kirschner’s 100th victory! pic.twitter.com/AMJvdsCQQo
— Ben Davis Football (@BenDavisFB) September 16, 2017
Ben Davis QB Reese Taylor, who has given his verbal commitment to Indiana, ran for three scores and passed for two touchdowns.
In Southern California, No. 32 Mission Viejo used a strong defensive effort to shutdown No. 41 Long Beach Poly and its 4-star, Florida-recruit QB Matt Corral. The Diablos’ defense came-up with four interceptions, including a Pick-6 from UCLA-bound Olaijah Griffin in the 12-7 road victory.
Postgame w/ @OlaijahGriffin a special player who made a special play in his pops’ Warren G’s city pic.twitter.com/H8qnXVDaKM
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 16, 2017
Related: Mission Viejo/Poly preview (video)
No. 39 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) travelled to New Jersey and picked-up a very impressive 27-0 shutout win over No. 53 Don Bosco Prep (1-2). The Panthers (3-0) intercepted the Ironmen four times and allowed only 160 yards in total offense. Don Bosco has now dropped six straight games to out-of-state opponents, including a loss at nationally-ranked Byrnes (South Carolina) to open the season.
