RivalsHigh 100 Nov. 16 Update | Game of the Week: Texas Tussle | High School Network

Dallas Jackson
Rivals High Senior Analyst

"You always remember what you do in November."

It's as old a football saying as, "Defense wins Championships." But how true it is.

While some teams may be looking ahead to traditional Thanksgiving Day matchups, most of the country is concentrating on the state playoffs.

Almost everyone is through the first round; some are preparing to play regional championships. Whatever the case, these are games programs have been thinking about since the summer - and the ones players will remember for falls to come.

With that in mind, we preview some of the top games from across the land:

Be sure to post your thoughts on the message board.

Weekend Watch East St. Louis v W. Warrenville South

WHEN: Saturday 11/21, 1:00 PM LAST MEETING: 2007 Class 7A Semifinals, WWS won 26-0 KEEP AN EYE ON: East St. Louis senior running back Courtney Molton. In particular watch Molton in warm ups and see how well he's running. Molton is recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in an opening round win over Bradley. Molton played in last week's 27-14 win over O'Fallon and ran for 3 touchdowns but was still hobbled by the ankle in that game. Molton has been nothing short of spectacular this season for the Flyers as Molton has gained 2,133 yards and 35 touchdowns so far this fall. A healthy Molton means that the Flyers offense will be that much more explosive on the field turf surface at Red Grange field in Wheaton on Saturday. STAR POWER: You'll be hard pressed to find more potential D-1 level talent than with East St. Louis this season. Senior QB Deutchauz Wray is a three star ranked prospect who has scholarship offers from Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado and Colorado State. The Flyers are also loaded with underclassmen talent this fall. Junior WR Keante Minor (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) will be the next D-1 level receiver from the Flyers program. Senior DT Clint Tucker (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) will also be highly sought after from the Class of 2011. Junior DE Charles Tigue (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) along with junior OG John Clay Jr. (6-foot-2, 300 pounds) are players to watch. Wheaton South also has plenty of talent. Senior WR Mack Tracey (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) is drawing recruiting looks this fall along with senior K Nicholas Immekus (6-foot-0, 225 pounds) and senior OT Rocco Ammons (6-foot-5, 310 pounds). Junior QB Reily O'Toole (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) is also one of the top signal callers to watch from the Illinois Class of 2011. BEST MATCHUP: No question the best overall match up of this game will be the very large and physically imposing East St. Louis veteran offensive line against the smaller but very quick Wheaton South defense. So just how big is the East St. Louis offensive line this season? Nearly the entire East St. Louis offensive line played as underclassmen in the Flyers 2008 Class 7A state title team and averages an impressive 6-foot-4, 250 pounds per man. The Tigers defense has just three players barely over 200 pounds and the Tigers are based off of speed and the Tigers just beat a bigger team physically in St. Rita to advance. The game will no question be decided here. PREDICTION: While this is a long bus ride for the Flyers this week (285 miles) don't look for the trip to be a huge disadvantage since the Flyers played in back to back weeks to open the season in Ohio in losses to Elder in Cincinnati and against Middletown in Middletown, Ohio. If Wheaton South defense can handle the size of the Flyers offensive line they have a great shot here. The Flyers defense will need to find an answer for a very solid and a very diverse offense from Wheaton South. I'm taking Wheaton South in a very close game and this one could potentially be the closest and best overall game out of the entire Illinois state semifinal weekend. Wheaton South 24, East St. Louis 21 -- for more Illinois high school football visit EdgyTim.com.

Weekend Watch No. 21 Madison Central v Olive Branch

WHEN: Friday 11/20, 7:00 pm LAST MEETING: 11/21/08, Madison Central won 50-49. KEEP AN EYE ON: Madison Central pitch and catch combo senior quarterback Peyton Johnson and junior receiver Tobias Singleton. Johnson is completing almost 65% of his passes this season for more than 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns. Singleton has pulled in 48 passes for 664 yards and 10 scores. The defense at Madison Central gets all the press but the Jaguars have averaged over 39 ppg on the season and more than 55 ppg since October 1st. If Johnson and Singleton get the passing game going and mix in passes to L.J. Hollins and big TE Will Bryan it's going to be a very difficult match-up for the Olive Branch defense. STAR POWER: These are two of the most talented teams in the state. In the most recent MagnoliaPreps.com ranking Madison Central sits at No. 1 a spot they have maintained all season while Olive Branch ranks No. 10. Madison Central is headlined by the nations top defensive tackle tandem in four-star prospect Carlton Martin and three star prospect Byron Bennett. Both tackles are ranked in the top 30 in the naton according to rivals.com and they pack quite a punch often each requiring double teams that allows middle linebacker Tyrese McDonald open lanes to opposing ball carries. But, not since an opening week match against Hattiesburg (28-16 MC win) have the Jags faced an offensive line near the quality of Olive Branch. OB has at least three legitimate I-A offensive linemen across their front including four star prospects Shon Coleman (6-foot-7, 285), Damion Robinson (6-foot-8, 330) and three star product Eric Lawson (6-foot-6, 320). Keyshun Shipp (5-foot-11, 215) has found plenty of running room behind the massive offensive line, he currently has 1,646 yards and 21 touchdowns. Madison Central also runs the ball, but it's more of a group effort, six Jaguar backs have more than 200 yards rushing, Tamarco Taylor leads the pack with 720 yards and seven touchdowns. As a team Madison Central has rushed for 2,934 yards and have scored 44 touchdowns on the ground. BEST MATCHUP: The Olive Branch offensive line vs. the Madison Central defensive front. Olive Branch quarterback Todd Mays is seldom under center and works out of a spread formation with Shipp along side. The Madison Central defense uses multiple sets out of a base 4-3. Can the massive Olive Branch offensive line keep two of the best defensive tackles in the nation at bay long enough for Mays to complete a few passes, will they allow Shipp to get free in the secondary or will Madison Central follow South Panola's lead from a few weeks back and push around the much larger Quistordors? If Bennett and Martin gain control of the middle early in this game and allow the speedy Jag linebackers open lanes to the Shipp and other Olive Branch ball carriers it could be a long night. PREDICTION: Both of these programs have produced great teams over the years but have struggled to get out from behind the long shadow cast by South Panola's 89-game winning streak and five consecutive state titles. This year Madison Central stepped to the fore front and has rarely been challenged. Olive Branch is battle tested in games against Rivals100 teams Memphis University School and South Panola. Madison Central may be more talented than either of those schools and are led by five-time state champion coach Bobby Hall. The game will be played in the Jungle at Madison Central, where they rarely lose. Olive Branch has struggled against teams this year that match up with them in pure talent. The winner of this game advances to the 6A North State Championship game where they will meet the winner of South Panola vs. Clinton. Madison Central 38, Olive Branch 24 -- for more on Mississippi football check out MagnoliaPreps.com.

Weekend Watch No. 66 Woodland Hills v Bethel Park

WHEN: Friday 11/20, 7:30 PM LAST MEETING: 9/25/09, Woodland Hills won 21-17 KEEP AN EYE ON: Woodland Hills junior RB/DB Lafayette Pitts. While Pitts isn't a player that's generally a headline-grabber, he played a major role in Woodland Hills' victory over Bethel Park the first time the two teams met this season. Pitts was one of two defenders in the end zone that broke up the pass as Bethel Park QB Matt Bliss looked for receiver Lewis Dibble on a slant pattern at the end of the game. Offensively, Pitts was on the receiving end of a 34-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter from QB John Yezovich, which proved to be the game-winning score. STAR POWER: Bethel Park RB Bre Ford rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the regular season, and had 22 carries for 75 yards and 61 yards receiving in last weekend's win over Shaler. QB Bliss was 13 of 16 for 177 yards last weekend as well, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to RB Nick Kwiatkoski. FB Jared Pratt also had 65 yards on the ground including a 17-yard touchdown. For Woodland Hills, the star all season has been RB Dom Timbers, who was just shy of 1,000 yards in the regular season. He scored three touchdowns Friday night against Pittsburgh Central Catholic and racked up 129 yards. QB Yezovich has been steady all year, leading a balanced offensive attack. He tossed a 11-yard scoring pass to Mike Lee on Friday in the winning effort. BEST MATCHUP: The Bethel Park offensive line against the Woodland Hills defensive line. This proved to be the game-winning matchup for Woodland Hills in the teams' first meeting, as the Wolverines' defense held after Bethel Park had a first and goal at the 4-yard line late in the game and failed to score. Since that game, however, the Bethel Park starting offense has been on a roll, scoring on 18 straight possessions according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a streak that ended in the second half of last weekend's playoff win over Shaler. Bethel Park head coach Jeff Metheny credited his offensive success to the strength of his offensive line. Meanwhile, according to a separate report in the Post-Gazette, Woodland Hills won its playoff game last weekend over Central Catholic in part due to the strength of its defensive line, including another goal line stand late in the first half that maintained the Wolverines' 22-3 lead and prevented Central Catholic from gaining momentum heading into the locker room. PREDICTION: The WPIAL semis have been known to produce classic games, and this one should be no different. Woodland Hills is undefeated in the WPIAL this season, its lone loss coming at the hands of Steubenville, Ohio, in Week 1. Bethel Park surprised the WPIAL last season by reaching the finals and knocking off Gateway at Heinz Field, and is once again surprising many by making another deep run into the WPIAL playoffs after an apparent rebuilding year. The run, however, will come up just short, as the Woodland Hills defense will again be just a bit too much for the Bethel Park offense. Woodland Hills 21, Bethel Park 17. -- for more Pennsylvania high school sports coverage visit PaPreps.com.

Weekend Watch No. 70 Anderson v Elder

WHEN: Saturday 11/21, 7:00 PM LAST MEETING: First Meeting KEEP AN EYE ON: Anderson running back Kyle Slater. The 6-foot, 195-pound senior standout is the catalyst for undefeated Anderson, who entered the Rivals national rankings for the first time all season. Slater, who is approaching 6,000 career rushing yards, is a threat to score each and every time he touches the football. The Redskins' coaching staff are not afraid to hand the ball off to Slater 35-40 times in a game. Last week, in Anderson's 41-20 victory over Middletown, he rushed 36 times for 256 yards and four touchdowns, including two key TD runs in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. 200-yard outings are more the rule than the exception for Slater, so if Elder can "hold" him to around 100 rushing yards they will drastically improve their chances for a victory. STAR POWER: In addition to Slater, Anderson gets a wealth of production out of quarterback Brandon Bornhouser. A run-first signal caller in the Redskins' run-oriented offense, Bornhouser can also beat teams with his legs. He chipped in with 130 rushing yards last week against Middletown. Fans won't get a chance, however, to see Anderson's standout tackle Andrew Norwell, as the Ohio State recruit was lost earlier in the season to a leg injury. For Elder, the offense revolves around All-Ohio quarterback Mark Miller. Last season as a junior the 6-foot, 185-pound Miller captured Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors in leading the Panthers to a state title game appearance. His two main weapons are Indiana commit Tim O'Conner at wide receiver and Notre Dame recruit Alex Welch at tight end. O'Conner recently returned from a broken wrist suffered midway through the season and caught a 16-yard touchdown pass last week from Miller. If the game is close, Elder can call on the big leg of kicker Tony Miliano, considered to be one of the premier placekickers in the state. BEST MATCHUP: Miller vs. the Anderson defense. Elder can pass the ball extremely well, especially now that O'Conner is back in the fold. Anderson doesn't mind getting into high-scoring battles, but probably doesn't want to put their vaunted running game up against the well-oiled Elder passing game and try to match points. Anderson's defense has had some rocky outings, but have been bailed out by an offense averaging right around 40 points per game. It would be a shock if a tough Elder defense allows that many points, so its paramount that the Anderson secondary get some pressure on Miller and not allow him to get in rhythm. Miller set the Division I state title game record last season for completions (27), attempts (50) and yards (399) last season, so he's certainly capable of having a big outing. He only threw 19 passes last week in Elder's 17-14 win over St. Xavier, but efficiently completed 15 of them for 150 yards and a touchdown. PREDICTION: The Division I, Region 4 final is usually a test of will and character between two teams that had to run the gauntlet. This year is certainly no exception, as both Elder and Anderson each won two big games just to get here. Anderson is no stranger to the Ohio state playoffs, having reached the Division II state championship each of the past two seasons (capturing the title in 2007) prior to being moved up to D-I this year. Elder is a Division I postseason mainstay, having reached the state title game three times this decade (two D-I titles). All being said, neither team is going to be caught up in the moment. Anderson, at 12-0, looks the part of a team on a mission. Elder will present a formidable obstacle, but the Redskins' running game is clicking on all cylinders and can simply wear out opponents. Anderson 27, Elder 23 -- for more Ohio high school sports coverage visit OhioVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch No. 11 DeMatha v No. 52 Good Counsel

WHEN: Saturday 11/21, 7:00 PM LAST MEETING: 10/09/09, DeMatha won 24-21 KEEP AN EYE ON: The two quarterbacks. Both Good Counsel and DeMatha rely on their running games. Thus, the signal callers tend to get overlooked. Earlier in the season both Good Counsel's Zach Dancel and DeMatha's Danny Tapscott were mere game managers who were asked to make a play or two, hand the ball off and - most importantly -- not make mistakes. But as the season's worn on both have become key playmakers, even if their roles haven't necessarily expanded. Dancel, a junior southpaw, has completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,097 yards and nine touchdowns against only three interceptions this season. He had his best performance against DeMatha on Oct. 9, when he went 11-for-16 for 146 yards and a touchdown. Tapscott, meanwhile, has completed 57 percent of his throws for 1,293 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two picks. Ever since his inconsistent performance against Good Counsel six games ago, Tapscott has completed 63 percent of his passes for 572 yards. Whichever quarterback steps up could make the difference in this game. STAR POWER: There's enough talent on these two squads to field a small college team. Both DeMatha and Good Counsel are sending their entire secondaries to Division I schools. The Stags' back four includes Kyrrel Latimer (Virginia), Jeff Knox (Pittsburgh), Lorenzo Waters (undecided) and Michael Coley (undecided). The Falcons' defensive backs are Louis Young (Stanford), E.J. Scott (Virginia), Blake Countess (undecided) and the injured Frank Tamakloe (Wisconsin), who broke his arm and will miss the game. And that's just the secondary. DeMatha has one of the best offensive lines in the country with Arie and Cyrus Kouandjio, Shane Johnson, Bobby Cafles and Jake Geiser. Running back Marcus Coker (Iowa) missed several games with an injury, but he still managed to finish fifth in the state with 1,564 yards. Good Counsel has one of the best linebacker corps in Maryland with A.J. Bowman, Troy Gloster and Chris Pitsenberger. Defensive end Vince Croce is a fierce pass rusher with BCS written all over him. And don't forget about the dynamic running-back tandem of Wes Brown and Mike Nittoli, who have combined for over 2,000 yards this year. BEST MATCHUP: DeMatha running back Marcus Coker vs. Good Counsel's linebackers. Coker, the highest-rated running back in Maryland, looks like Jamal Lewis in his prime. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound Iowa recruit has the speed to motor by defensive backs and the power to pummel linebackers. Before missing about three games with an injury, Coker was well on his way to a 2,000-yard season. The last time he faced Good Counsel he thrashed their defense for 213 yards and three scores. But those numbers are slightly deceiving. For three quarters, Bowman, Gloster, Pitsenberger and the rest of Good Counsel's defense held Coker to just 81 yards and no touchdowns. But in the final frame the Stags' offensive line wore down the Falcons' front. Coker benefitted, busting through for 132 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries. PREDICTION: It's hard to bet against DeMatha, a team that has won six straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships. The Stags are an astounding 33-4 in the WCAC playoffs under 28th-year head coach Bill McGregor. In the last five championship games the Stags have beaten none other than their archrival Falcons. Before this season, Good Counsel had won the last two regular season games against DeMatha only to fall in the championship several weeks later. But this year Good Counsel lost the regular season game, 24-21, after allowing 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Are the Falcons destined to bounce back in the title game? One year, maybe, but not this season. DeMatha is a resilient, veteran team that knows how to close out a season. Good Counsel will keep it close, but DeMatha will bring home their seventh straight championship. DeMatha 20, Good Counsel 17 -- for more Maryland high school sports coverage visit MDHigh.com.

Weekend Watch No. 63 Dorman v No. 83 Irmo

WHEN: Friday 11/20, 7:00 PM LAST MEETING: Preseason scrimmage, August 2009. KEEP AN EYE ON: Irmo quarterback David Olson. The 6-3 first year starting senior has proven to be one of the more effective passing quarterbacks in the state for the 2010 class. Despite a late start in the recruiting race, his performance at camps and combines this past Summer, combined with his prowess as a starting senior, has attracted recruiters from the SEC and ACC at several of his games this year. He has an offer from Princeton with serious interest from Virginia. STAR POWER: Irmo running back Mustafa Greene may not be taking the field this weekend due to a nagging ankle injury that hampered him much of his junior season, and has resurfaced as a grimlan to the senior's last season. Dorman junior wide receiver Charon Peak has a long list of offers already and is one of the state's top targets for the Class of 2011. BEST MATCHUP: The Dorman offense against the Irmo defense. With the injuries to the Irmo offensive line up, which last week inlcuded four starting skill players, the Jacket defense had to pick up the slack and did so by shutting out Hillcrest. This week, they will get a tougher test with a Cavalier offense being run by quarterback Johnny Foster, who has passed for more than 1,600 yards this season and is extremely dangerous as a runner as well. Look for the Irmo offense to take away the strength's of the Cavalier offense in an effort to help their own limping offense. PREDICTION: If the Jackets were healthy, it would be a favored Irmo hosting Dorman. With the challenges the Jackets are facing with their injury situation, however, and a Dorman team that has been playing very solid football the past few weeks, including a 17-10 loss to Byrnes, Dorman enters this game on the road as a slight favorite. Dorman 21, Irmo 14. -- for more South Carolina high school sports coverage visit SCVarsity.com.

Weekend Watch Other Predictions (2009: 67-40)

Game of the Week: No. 27 Allen (Texas) 34 def No. 50 Southlake Carroll (Texas) 26 No. 85 Bingham (Utah)27 def Davis (Utah) *State Title Game* Have your game picked next week: Email Dallas Jackson