Big games, huge commitments and highlight plays are frequently occurring on the gridiron across the nation this year.
Here’s a look at 10 of the top headlines entering another week of the high school football season, with a full slate of games scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 20-22.
1. Schools raising money for cancer research
Numerous schools have been participating in the Touchdowns Against Cancer drive sponsored by MaxPreps and Pledge It.
With one week remaining, Lausanne Collegiate has raised the most money at $17,528, far ahead of the other participating schools. Teams raise money by scoring touchdowns during a three-week span, which began on Sept. 7.
More information about the drive can be found here.
#shoutout to Eric Gray @ericdgray1 of Lausanne Collegiate Lynx (TN) showing his support for Touchdowns Against Cancer on & off the field. ✔👏
Eric has scored 13 TD’S so far in the 2018 season for the 4-0 Lynx.
📷:@_quillig #touchdownsagainstcancer @NationsBestFB @StJude pic.twitter.com/TlDFB9ohxD— TouchdownsAgainstCancer (@TDsAgainstCancr) September 17, 2018
2. Ohio State commit continues to excel
Although Chaparral (Ariz.) lost for the first time this season when it fell to Saguaro (Ariz.) this past Friday, junior quarterback Jack Miller keeps having success.
Through four games, Miller has 1,299 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.
Miller also recently gave up an update on his commitment to Ohio State during an appearance on “Over the Middle” on YurView.com.
In case you needed to see it again, here’s the full game recap from last night’s @ChapfootballAZ vs. @saguarofootball game. #azpreps #azhsfb https://t.co/JQVanvNsY8 pic.twitter.com/xM9FXRRkav
— YurView Arizona (@YurView_AZ) September 16, 2018
3. 4-star lineman still being pursued
Jonah Tauanu’u, an offensive lineman for Narbonne (Calif.), committed to Oregon a little more than a month ago. And he is standing firm behind that decision.
But that hasn’t stopped other schools from pursuing him.
Tauanu’u recently told 247sports.com that he still hears from many schools, including USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida and LSU. He also said he would still like to take visits for the experience, although he wants to stay committed to Oregon as of now.
SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!
FOREVER COMMITTED‼️‼️
🦆🦆💛💚
(Please No hate) pic.twitter.com/GVFukZJ6HF— Jonah Tauanu’u (@jztauanuu) August 12, 2018
4. 5-star 2020 wide receiver showcases elite speed
This junior wide receiver is so fast that he makes it look like defenders aren’t even trying to chase him down.
Julian Fleming, who plays for Southern Columbia (Pa.), showcased an example of that quickness this past Friday in his team’s 48-0 win over Shamokin (Pa.).
Fleming hauled in a pass and sprinted right between three defenders to easily break off a huge touchdown reception. The speed he possessed on the play was incredible.
Julian Fleming was OUT 💨 @julian_040 pic.twitter.com/bC857jFoMa
— Overtime (@overtime) September 15, 2018
5. University Lab on the national rise
University Lab (La.) improved to 3-0 this past Friday with its 41-21 win over Catholic-B.R. (La.). The Cubs also own victories over Mandeville (La.) and Southern Lab (La.) this season.
This week, University Lab climbed one spot in the USA Today Super 25 poll to No. 16.
University Lab will look to continue to move up when it travels to face West Feliciana (La.) this Friday.
MUST WATCH –> 🔥🔥 Battle In Baton Rouge | University Lab vs Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, LA) Action Packed Highlights
📺 https://t.co/WQ2WVNuzRL— UnderTheRadar (@_UnderTheRadar_) September 15, 2018
6. Matchup to watch: IMG Academy at Mater Dei
Last week, IMG Academy (Fla.) had its game against St. John’s (Washington D.C.) cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.
Weather shouldn’t be an issue for IMG Academy’s huge matchup this Friday.
IMG Academy, which is still ranked No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25 poll, will travel to take on Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), which is the No. 3 team in the rankings.
IMG Academy still sits at 3-0 while Mater Dei, which was idle last week, is 3-1. Mater Dei’s lone loss was a forfeit for using an ineligible player in its season opener against Bishop Amat on Aug. 17.
7. Other big-time matchups
There are plenty of other great games to watch this weekend.
Here are the ones that will air live on YurView and streamed live on YurView.com this week:
Arizona — Basha vs. Red Mountain (Friday)
Louisiana — Notre Dame vs. Catholic New Iberia (Friday)
Oklahoma — Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond Memorial (Thursday), Owasso vs. Union (Friday) and Choctaw vs. Del City (Friday)
Nebraska — Omaha Westside vs. Creighton Prep (Thursday)
Rhode Island — North Kingstown vs. Bishop Hendricken (Friday)
8. Incredible Play of the Week
Dominick Blaylock (Walton High School, Marietta, Ga.) continues to make big plays in his final season before heading to Georgia next fall.
In Walton’s 27-24 win over North Gwinnett (Ga.) this past Friday, Blaylock, a wide receiver, did it all — 51 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards and he even completed a 40-yard pass on a key fourth-down play in the fourth quarter.
Not only that, but Blaylock also made a remarkable play to score his team’s game-winning touchdown.
Lining up at quarterback, Blaylock kept the ball and broke three tackles on a rushing touchdown to put Walton ahead in the final minute.
#Walton HS (GA) & #Georgia #Bulldogs commit 2019 WR Dominick Blaylock (@domblaylock_1) scores what would be the game-winning 11-yard TD vs #NorthGwinnett pic.twitter.com/aD4SqO3HAg
— Sleeper Athletes (@SleeperAthletes) September 15, 2018
9. Top Performance of the Week
Less than a week after committing to Texas A&M, Demond Demas (North Forest High School, Houston, Texas) showed exactly why he was heavily pursued. And he didn’t need to touch the ball many times to do it.
Demas scored four touchdowns in North Forest’s 50-7 win over Booker T. Washington (Texas) last Thursday, and he only touched the ball five times. He had three receiving touchdowns and a punt return score.
It could have been an even bigger night for Demas. His one touch that wasn’t a score, a 27-yard reception, would have been a touchdown had it not been called back for holding.
Started the video a little late but for some reason they decided to punt to Demond Demas. He still has not been tackled @DemondDemas1 pic.twitter.com/KokjnEHob2
— Brian Perroni (@Perroni247) September 14, 2018
10. Recent commitments
2020 defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (University Lab High School, Baton Rouge, La.), a 4-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to LSU on Sept. 17.
All praise to God 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/MyXaciwSoV
— Jaquelin roy (@d1roy1000) September 17, 2018
2019 tight end Chris Hickman (Burke High School, Omaha, Neb.), a 4-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Nebraska on Sept. 15.
First off I’d like to thank god, my family, friends, teachers & coaches for all their support. After taking my time to decide what school that I feel is the best fit for me, I would like to announce I am committing to the University of Nebraska pic.twitter.com/ZdCx6XihWO
— Chris Hickman (@hickmanchris1) September 16, 2018
2019 safety Christian Archangel (O. Comeaux High School, Lafayette, La.), a 3-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Louisiana Tech on Sept. 15.
Lets Get it ❗️ #TechPed19ree🔴🔵😍 @JeffBurris93 @CoachTFitch @LATechFBRecruit @LATechFB pic.twitter.com/X4pyXVXVlR
— Christian Archangel 1️⃣ (@SavageSZN10) September 15, 2018
2019 defensive end Anthonie Cooper (Millennium High School, Goodyear, Ariz.), a 3-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Arizona State on Sept. 11.