RivalsHigh 100 Nov. 9 Update | Game of the Week: Trojan War | High School Network

November 12, 2009

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Senior Analyst

The second week in November should be a week that seperates teams from the pack. In two major states there are some great game to keep an eye on for the week 11 of Weekend Watch 2009.

In Ohio, two of the best teams in state - the nation's No. 4 squad Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius is set to take on Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville. The two teams know each other well and have played three very tight games in the last two seasons. This game should be no different and come down to the wire.

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Weekend Watch No. 4 St. Ignatius v No. 27 Glenville

WHEN: Saturday 11/14, 7:00 PM LAST MEETING: 08/29/09, St. Ignatius won 14-13 KEEP AN EYE ON: Glenville QB Cardale Jones. The 6-foot-3 junior signal caller has all the tools and is built in the Terrelle Pryor mold, but struggled mightily in Glenville's week one loss to St. Ignatius. In that game, Jones did not complete a pass in the first half (0-for-6) and was eventually replaced by all-purpose star Christian Bryant under center. In that game Jones showed flashes of brilliance, shaking off defenders with his powerful frame and breaking off several substantial runs. But if Glenville is to extract revenge against the Wildcats, he will have to play much better this time around. Otherwise, head coach Ted Ginn, Sr. will quickly replace him with Bryant. STAR POWER: There is enough electricity in this game to light up the Cleveland skyline. Each team has a wealth of talented playmakers both at the skill positions and across the front sevens. Glenville, of course, boasts one of the best secondaries in the country with Bryant, Latwan Anderson, and strong safety Aaron Morris. On offense, the uber-athletic Tarblooders feature a variety of speedsters in flanker Shane Wynn, running back Robert Walton, Jr. along with Bryant and Anderson who can line up all over the field. On the other sideline, St. Ignatius is led by Mr. Football candidate Mark Myers at quarterback, a 6-foot-4 lefty that has seen his stock rise with a terrific senior season. The Pitt recruit has thrown for 1,921 yards and 19 TDs against only three interceptions. The offense is well-balanced with junior tailback Bobby Grebenc shouldering the load. Grebenc has eclipsed 1,200 yards on the season. Defensively the Wildcats boast a dominant front seven keyed by talented linebackers Scott McVey and Jake Ryan. Ryan, who missed last week's 17-0 playoff win over Boardman with an injured hand, will be back in the lineup this week. BEST MATCHUP: The Glenville offense vs. the St. Ignatius defense. Over the past several seasons, Glenville literally has their way with nearly every other defense they have faced outside St. Ignatius. Forty and fifty point outings are the norm for the explosive Tarblooders, but St. Ignatius has seemed to find the right formula to keep them grounded. In their previous two meetings (both St. Ignatius wins) the Tarblooders have scored just one offensive touchdown. They were shut out of the endzone on offense in the week one affair, with their only points coming on two field goals and a blocked punt returned for a score. If they are to beat the Wildcats, the offense is going to have to figure out how to solve the St. Ignatius 3-3-5 defense. They certainly have the players to do it. However, it is easier said than done against a Wildcat unit that is fast, aggressive and shows multiple looks. McVey has totaled more than 20 tackles and five sacks in the last three meetings dating back to last season. PREDICTION: Determining the winner in this series is about as reliable as rolling the dice in Las Vegas. Both teams know each other like the back of their hand (this is their fourth meeting in two years) and each game has been decided by three points or less. Glenville won last season's opener on a last-second field goal 20-17 but St. Ignatius returned the favor in the playoffs with an 8-7 win en route to the Division I state title. In the opener this season, St. Ignatius got a last-second touchdown pass from Myers to edge the Tarblooders 14-13. Since these teams first met back in 2003, no team has won by double digits. Looking at this game, expect much of the same: a low-scoring, down-to-the wire finish. Glenville will win if it can break a couple big plays on offense and avoid the mental mistakes that have plagued them throughout the years. St. Ignatius will emerge if they give Myers time in the pocket and limit Glenville's explosive return game and special teams plays. The winner will be automatically labeled the overwhelming favorite to represent Northern Ohio in the Division I state championship. St. Ignatius 16 Glenville 14 -- for more Ohio high school sports coverage visit OhioVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch No. 20 Glades Central v No. 85 Pahokee

WHEN: Friday 11/13, 7:30 pm LAST MEETING: 11/14/08, Glades Central won 19-14. KEEP AN EYE ON: An hour west of Palm Beach, Fla. there's a place called 'Muck City'. There isn't much there besides sugar cane. But when it comes to high school rivalries, not many can match the atmosphere and talent than the Muck Bowl - an annual game held during the last week of the regular season between cross-town rivals Pahokee and Glades Central. (Locals refer the soil in this rural area as 'Muck', hence its name). The Raiders have won two consecutive against Pahokee, but the Blue Devils have three consecutive state titles. Surely a state title would have more importance, right? Not so fast. "This game is king because you could win a state title and it doesn't matter if you lose to Pahokee," said former Glades Central WR Rantavious Wooten. "It's everything and there's no question, this is the one game you just can't afford to lose. At the end of your career you talk about how many Muck Bowls you've won." STAR POWER: Speed dominates both of these teams and that is never more evident then the talent both programs have produced on the college level and NFL. Pahokee has more than had their share of big talent like Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest), Janoris Jenkins (Florida), Anquan Boldin (FSU) and Martavious Odoms (Michigan). Glades Central might be even more impressive with big standouts like Deonte Thompson (Florida), Santonio Holmes (Ohio State), Fred Taylor (Florida) and Jesse Hester (FSU). The Raiders have three 3-star players that include DB Travis Bell (Mississippi State), ATH Greg Dent (Miami) and TE Clive Walford, not to mention star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and QB L.J. Thomas. On the other side, the Blue Devils have an impressive roster as well, including three 4-star prospects in WR Chris Dunkley and WR De'Joshua Johnson (FSU) and DT Richard Ash. Not to mention six 3-star players in LB Zach Allen (Wake Forest), DB Raheam Buxton (Miami), DT Antonio Ford (Wake Forest), DB Merrill Noel (Wake Forest) and WR Fred Pickett (West Virginia). BEST MATCHUP: If you're looking for a huge battle, it would have to be the Glades Central secondary, powered by Greg Dent match-up against Fred Pickett, Chris Dunkley, and at times DeJoshua Johnson. Not only are these match-ups about as good as it gets but fans get a chance to watch some of the top talent around Florida all in one game. If Pahokee can find a way to get their wide outs the ball it would give them a huge lift. PREDICTION: When it's the Muck Bowl all the records can be thrown out and no game is bigger around the state of Florida in my opinion when you factor in the pure hatred, intensity, atmosphere, and the talented prospects that always play in this game. This year Pahokee has struggled in getting their dynamic receivers the ball and that will be a challenge again. At the end of the day, quarterback play is going to be the difference and that greatly favors Glades Central with standout star L.J. Thomas. Glades Central 20, Pahokee 6 -- for more on Florida sports visit FlaVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch Other Predictions (2009: 63-36)

Game of the Week: No. 88 Wayzata (Minnesota) 24 def No. 86 Eden Prairie (Minnesota) 16 Alta (Utah) 31 def No. 96 Bingham (Utah) Meridian (Mississippi) 36 def George County (Mississippi) 6 Seton Hall Prep (New Jersey) 34 def. St. Augustine (New Jersey) 31 **Email Request** Palo Verde (Nevada) 16 def Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 9 **Email Request** East St. Louis (Illinois) 44 def O'Fallon (Illinois) 10**Email Request** Have your game picked next week: Email Dallas Jackson