RivalsHigh 100 Update | Showdown in Arizona: Game of the Week | High School Network

October 22, 2009

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Senior Analyst

The high school football season is headed down the homestretch towards the playoffs and teams are seperating themselves each week. This week brings some high profile measuring stick game for the eight week of Weekend Watch 2009.

In South Carolina two bitter rivals we go to battle as the No. 3 team in the country, Duncan (S.C) Byrnes faces off with Roebuck (S.C) Dorman.

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Weekend Watch No. 3 Byrnes v Dorman

WHEN: Friday 10/23, 8:00 PM LAST MEETING: 11/28/08, Byrnes won 29-14. KEEP AN EYE ON: Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore. The five-star athlete had the national stage two weeks ago and despite having a solid game in most statistical areas, he put the ball on the ground three times at critical moments during the game. He is getting limited touches because of blow out games and has rushed for 924 yards on just 123 carries, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Despite the wide open, spread passing attack that Byrnes is known for, the offense revolves around Lattimore and Dorman knows that. STAR POWER: There may be more star power in this game than any other in the country this week. The Rebels of Byrnes have a five star in Lattimore, two four star defensive ends in Corey Miller (6-4, 227) and Brandon Willis (6-4, 250), both of whom have committed to Tennessee. They boast three three-star players in wide receivers in Jazz King (5-11, 180) and Torian Richardson (5-11, 175) who both hold more than five major offers, and defensive back Zach Miller (5-11, 167). Quarterback Chas Dodd is a two-star player who has committed to Rutgers and has thrown for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. Dodd has been the starting quarterback on the last two Rebels' championship teams. On the Dorman side of the ball, keep an eye on junior wide receiver Charone Peak (6-3, 185), who has already garnered more than a dozen offers from major programs. BEST MATCHUP: The Dorman offense against the Byrnes defense. Much has been said about the Byrnes offense, but it is the defense that will be tested this week. The Cavaliers have an outstanding quarterback in Johnny Foster, who is dangerous through the air and as a runner. Foster has passed for more than 1,400 yards this season and his favorite target, Charone Peak, is the state's top wide receiver prospect for the Class of 2011. The Cavs are averaging 37 points per game, far better than any South Carolina team the Rebels have faced. PREDICTION: Last season, the Cavaliers beat the Rebels in their first contest by running the football and controlling the tempo of the game. While they don't have the mammoth offensive line that they had a season ago, the Cavaliers are not just a one-dimensional team this year. That said, the Byrnes offense is a scoring machine that few teams have found an "off" switch for, and this game has the potential to be ugly. While the Cavaliers should keep it close for a half, the Rebels will continue their tradition of running away from teams in the second half. Byrnes 42, Dorman 20 -- for the best South Carolina high school sports coverage visit SCVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch No. 18 St. Ignatius v No. 32 St. Xavier

WHEN: Saturday Oct 24, 7:00 PM LAST MEETING: 10/18/08, St. Ignatius won 19-16 (OT) KEEP AN EYE ON: St. Ignatius junior tailback Bobby Grebenc. The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder entered the season as a virtual unknown but has already put together one of the finest rushing seasons at St. Ignatius this decade. Grebenc, a north-south style runner, has been the Wildcats' most reliable offensive weapon with 170 carries for 869 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has scored eight touchdowns in the past two weeks alone. For St. Xavier it is a similar story as sophomore Connor Hundley has emerged as the go-to ball carrier. The 5-9, 180-pound Hundley has rushed for 744 yards has had four 100-yard games under his belt. STAR POWER: As is the case almost every season these two square off, both teams will have Division I recruits at quarterback. St. Ignatius is led by senior Mark Myers and the 6-foot-4 left-hander hasn't disappointed in his first full season under center. The Pitt commit has thrown for 1253 yards and 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Calling the shots for X is 6-foot-5 Luke Massa, a University of Cincinnati commit. Massa has thrown for 1082 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. In an ironic twist, Myers and Massa last squared off as sophomores in 2007 when the starting quarterbacks for both teams went down with injuries. BEST MATCHUP: St. Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle vs. St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht. That's right the head coaches are the most intriguing matchup in this contest. Both are widely considered not only two of the top coaches in the state, but the entire country. Kyle (head coach) and Specht (defensive coordinator) joined forces this past summer to lead Team USA to the Junior World Championship gold medal. Needless to say, the two masterminds know each other very well. Both teams deploy the unique 3-3-5 defense and similar pro-style offensive attacks. Whichever coach can craft the better game plan or throw in a few new wrinkles could give their team a decisive advantage. PREDICTION: Although there is plenty of talent on the offensive side of the ball for both teams, don't expect the scoreboard operator to be busy. Whenever the Wildcats and Bombers get together it usually results in a down-to-the-wire defensive struggle. In fact, each of the last two games were decided in overtime by 3 points (a 19-16 OT win by St. Ignatius last season and a 17-14 triple overtime win by St. X in '07). Both teams once again have stout defenses--particularly in the front seven--and are no strangers to playing in low-scoring battles. St. Ignatius won 10-7 over Harding two weeks ago while St. Xavier escaped with a 3-2 win over St. Edward last week. Once again, this game should be extremely close and not decided until the final minutes. I'll give St. Xavier the ever-so-slight edge due to their lights-out defense that's allowing just 7.3 ppg. St. Xavier 14, St. Ignatius 10 -- for more on Ohio sports visit OhioVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch Other Predictions (2009: 50-24)

Game of the Week: Hamilton (Arizona) 20 def. Brophy (Arizona) 12. Sycamore (Ohio) 22 def. Lakota West (Ohio) 17 Arroyo (California) 18 def. Mt. Eden (California) 6 **Email Request** Woodson (Virginia) 30 def. West Springfield (Virginia) **Email Request** South (Kansas) 38 def. Blue Valley (Kansas) 10 **Email Request** Carmel (Indiana) 28 def. Westfield (Indiana) 10 **Email Request** Have your game picked next week: Email Dallas Jackson