10 Games To Watch

SEPT. 8 St.Joseph's (Philadelphia) at Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.)

The traditionalpowers are loaded at QB: Matt Simms of Don Bosco, Chris Whitney of St.Joe's.

SEPT. 8 Union(Tulsa) vs. Jenks (Okla.)*

Since heating upin the mid-1990s, this is arguably the best high school football rivalry in thenation. These two teams have combined to win every Oklahoma Class 6A titlesince '96.

SEPT. 9 St.Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati)†

A battle betweentwo of Ohio's top teams will showcase RBs Frank Edmonds of St. Edward andDarius Ashley of St. Xavier.

SEPT. 15 St.Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.) at Canyon (Calif.)

Will St. Bonny'sdefense penetrate Canyon's offensive line and stop RB J.J. DiLuigi?

SEPT. 16 Lakeland(Fla.) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati)‡

This is themarquee matchup of the 18-team Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.

SEPT. 22 OaksChristian (Westlake Village, Calif.) at St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)

In terms of puretalent, this could be the game of the year: the high-powered Oaks offenseagainst St. Bonaventure's stingy D.

SEPT. 29 JohnCurtis (River Ridge, La.) at Hoover (Ala.)

Hoover has plentyof star power, but can its stout defense stop John Curtis's all-everythingRB-WR-KR-DB Joe McKnight?

OCT. 7 MissionViejo (Calif.) at De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

Revenge will beon De La Salle's mind after the Spartans' 36--26 loss last year.

OCT. 26 Lufkin(Texas) at The Woodlands (Texas)

This matchupbetween two of Texas' top teams will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

OCT. 28 McKinley(Canton, Ohio) at Washington (Massillon, Ohio)

In the 114thmeeting of this rivalry, Washington must stop RB Morgan Williams.

* At Skelly Stadium in Tulsa

† At Paul BrownStadium in Cincinnati

‡ At NippertStadium in Cincinnati

PHOTO

RON SCHWANE/AP

St. Xavier RB Darius Ashley