National High School Football Predictions: Oct. 15-18

Earlier this week, we shared game predictions based on the Massey Ratings for the biggest high school football games of the weekend. Today, Rivals national high school sports reporter Andy Villamarzo makes his picks:
Monsignor Farrell (N.Y.) at Iona Preparatory School (N.Y)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Wellington Mara Field, New Rochelle, New York
Undefeated Iona Preparatory School (6-0) and Monsignor Farrell (5-1) squaring off Friday night pits a couple of New York’s top teams against each other, with the offenses taking center stage. North Carolina commitment Crew Davis has been the go-to-guy for the Gaels out of pistol gun formation sets as they look to remain undefeated against a Lions’ group that’s yielding just 15.6 points per game to opponents. We feel like this one should come down to the wire with the home team coming away with the win.
Prediction: Iona Preparatory School 27, Monsignor Farrell 20
Hun School (N.J.) at No. 3 St. Frances Academy (Md.)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Under Armour Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
There’s an argument to be had that St. Frances Academy (4-1) is playing right now about as anyone in the entire country. The Panthers last week rolled to a 60-0 rout of Connecticut’s St. Thomas More and have looked like they’re clicking on all cylinders. The Hun School (5-1) had won their first five games before losing to Virginia’s The St. James Academy, 30-14, last week. This game has all the feel of another Panthers’ rout in Baltimore.
Prediction: St. Frances Academy 49, Hun School 18
NFL Academy (U.K.) at No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ET
Where: IMG Stadium, Bradenton, Fla.
IMG Academy (6-0) makes their long awaited return home and will play in front of their student body, fanbase in Bradenton the rest of the season. Head coach Greg Studrawa has this IMG Academy team playing very balanced offense football behind the right arm of sophomore sensation Jayden Wade, who has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The NFL Academy is coming off a St. Thomas Aquinas, a 41-38 loss. The last time NFL Academy visited, they were soundly beaten by Edgewater. We could see something similar happen with IMG Academy cruising to another victory.
Prediction: IMG Academy 45, NFL Academy 17
Thompson (Ala.) vs. Hoover (Ala.)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, Ala.
What could be a rematch in Alabama’s Class 7A playoffs, both programs meet before then on Friday night in one of the state’s best games. Last year’s meeting between the Alabama powerhouses needed overtime as the Warriors edged out the Buccaneers, 27-26, in overtime. Thompson (6-2) has won consecutive games with their two losses on the season have come to Grayson and Clay-Chalkville. Chip English’s Hoover Bucs has picked up steam recently with three straight wins. Jeremiah Tabb (636 yards) and Florida State commit Jonah Winston (449 yards) both lead the team’s wide receiving corps. Since last year was a one-point affair, why not for a second straight time.
Prediction: Hoover 20, Thompson 19
Hamilton (Ariz.) at Pinnacle (Ariz.)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Pinnacle High School Football Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona
Hamilton (6-0) is averaging a eye-popping 58.8 points per game and has simply looked nearly unstoppable offensively. The Huskies’ offense is led by one of the top sophomore wide receivers nationally in four-star talent Roye Oliver, who has caught 45 passes for 822 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Pinnacle (5-1) secondary will have to find a way to slow down Hamilton’s offense, but we have a funny feeling that trend is not going to stop on Friday night, however.
Prediction: Hamilton 51, Pinnacle 27
No. 1 St. John Bosco (Calif.) at No. 14 Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Saddleback College Stadium, Mission Viejo, Calif.
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Could Santa Margarita Catholic knock off the country’s No. 1 ranked team this week? Former NFL Pro Bowler Carson Palmer has done stellar job in his first season at the helm of his alma mater and looks to lead his Eagles to what would be a third signature win, the other two being a 33-27 overtime victory over No. 10 Corona Centennial and a 7-6 defensive slugfest against No. 11 Mater Dei. St. John Bosco‘s offense has been playing at a very high level this fall, with sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu throwing for 1,226 yards and 20 touchdowns. This one will be a defensive battle between the two teams, but the Braves find a way like they have every time this season thus far.
Prediction: St. John Bosco 17, Santa Margarita Catholic 7
West Linn (OR) at Lake Oswego (OR)
When: Friday, Oct. 17, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Cobb Field, Lake Oswego, Oregon
The top two teams out of Oregon face off on Friday night, which will be easily the state’s must-watch game of the year. Last year the two Oregon powers met twice, with Lake Oswego (6-0) winning the regular season meeting, 21-17, but West Linn (6-0) getting revenge and winning Oregon’s Class 6A Open state championship, 44-30. Offense will be no issue for either side, but something about being the home team here between competitive rivals leans towards Lake Oswego here.
Prediction: Lake Oswego 32, West Linn 28
Archbishop Moeller (OH) at St. Edward (OH)
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 3 p.m. ET
Where: First Federal Lakewood Stadium, Lakewood, Ohio
The Archbishop Moeller Fighting Crusaders’ (6-2) prolific offense has been rolling behind the play of Kentucky commit Matt Ponatoski behind center. St. Edward (7-1) counters with a balanced offensive attack, led by the quarterback-running back duo of Jonny Evanchick (1,118 yards passing, 19 touchdowns) and Brandon White (1,066 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns). We could see this being high scoring, but on one side, anyways.
Prediction: Archbishop Moeller 35, St. Edward 21
Miami Southridge (Fla.) vs. Miami Central (Fla.)
When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. ET
Where: Traz Powell Stadium, Miami, Fla.
Miami Central (5-1) fell to rival Miami Northwestern back on Oct. 4, 30-21, but nonetheless it will be the Rockets representing in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) championship game on Saturday night against undefeated Miami Southridge (8-0). The Rockets remain the biggest threat to their rivals, the Bulls repeating as Class 3A state champions. USF pledge James Perrone (1,841 yards, 20 touchdowns) could be the difference maker in this matchup for the Spartans. We give Miami Central the one touchdown edge at Traz Powell Stadium.
Prediction: Miami Central 28, Miami Southridge 21
How to Follow National High School Football
For national high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals National High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals National High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.