What we’re watching: SBLive Power 25 high school football games of the week (Week 12)

Every week, SBLive reporter Connor Morrissette previews the country’s top high school football games with an emphasis on what their results mean for the Power 25. Here’s what we’re watching this week.

On Sunday we released our 12th Power 25 of the 2020 high school football season, a weekly look at the top high school football teams in the country.

Every week, SBLive reporter Connor Morrissette previews the country’s top high school football games with an emphasis on what their results mean for the Power 25. Here’s what we’re watching this week.

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Nov. 12: East (Salt Lake City, Utah) (8-4) vs. No. 8 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) (12-0) (6A playoff semifinals)

Led by star quarterback Jaxson Dart, Corner Canyon should win this semifinal game, but East has won six in a row. East is rolling and will give Corner Canyon its best shot.

Nov. 12: Skyridge (Lehi, Utah) (10-2) vs. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (11-1) (6A playoff semifinals)

This game pits Utah's second-best team (Lone Peak) against the state's third-best team (Skyridge). The winner will stay on the Power 25 periphery.

Nov. 12: Katy Taylor (Texas) (6-1) vs. Katy (Texas) (5-1)

After last week's upset loss to Tompkins (Katy, Texas), Katy will look for a bounce-back win against Katy Taylor. If Katy loses, its chances of returning to the Power 25 will be slim.

Taylor has two great senior offensive line prospects in Bryce Foster and Hayden Conner.

Nov. 13: No. 20 Cedar Hill (5-0) vs. No. 6. Duncanville (Texas) (4-1)

Here's the game of the week. Cedar Hill debuted in the Power 25 last week following a win over DeSoto (Texas). Duncanville hasn't recorded a signature win in 2020 — this is its chance.

Both teams are loaded with talent. Cedar Hill's top player is senior Tennessee quarterback commit Kaidon Salter. Duncanville is led by Savion Byrd, a generational offensive line prospect.

Nov. 13: Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) (9-1) vs. No. 10 De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, Mo.) (4-0) (Class 6 playoff quarterfinals)

Howell has played 10 games and De Smet has played four. On paper, De Smet is the better team with its eight Division I football commits, but will the Spartans be rusty?

Nov. 13: Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) (9-2) vs. No. 12 Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) (11-0) (7A playoffs)

This is a battle between two of Alabama's top three teams. When they met in the regular season, Thompson won 35-21. Junior quarterback Conner Harrell threw for four touchdowns in that game for the Warriors.

Nov. 13: St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio) vs. No. 16 Pickerington Central (Ohio) (11-0) (Division 1 state championship)

Pickerington Central is a win from a perfect season. Its top player is senior wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr., a Notre Dame commit. St. Xavier's top player is senior wide receiver Liam Clifford, a Penn State commit.

Nov. 13: Avon (Ohio) (10-0) vs. No 19. Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) (9-0) (Division II state semifinals)

One of these teams will lose its first game of the year and it will end their season. Harsh.

Hoban's top player is defensive lineman Darryl Peterson, a Wisconsin commit. The Knights are our second-ranked team in Ohio and are favorites in the game.

Nov. 13: Guyer (Denton, Texas) (5-1) vs. No. 23. Allen (Texas) (4-0)

Allen is ranked in the Power 25 and Guyer was ranked for a few weeks at the beginning of the season. This is a win-and-you're-in game. The victor will be in next week's Power 25.

Nov. 13: Whiteland (Ind.) (9-1) vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind) (9-1) (5A Regional Championship)

If Cathedral wins the 5A state championship in Indiana, the Fighting Irish will have a chance to make the Power 25. They're three wins away.

Nov. 13: St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.) (6-0) vs. Carencro (Lafayette, La.) (6-0)

This is a game St. Thomas More must win for the Cougars to stay in the Power 25 discussion.

Nov. 13: La Salle (Cincinatti, Ohio) (8-2) vs. Washington (Massilon, Ohio) (9-1)

Washington has won nine in a row. If the Tigers beat La Salle, they'll most likely play No. 19 Archbishop Hoban for a state title. That will be a win-and-in game for the Power 25.

Nov. 13: Parish Episcopal (Dallas, Texas) (6-0) vs. Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth, Texas) (5-0)

The winner will stay on the periphery of the Power 25. Parish Episcopal quarterback Preston Stone is committed to SMU. Nolan Catholic’s J’Dan Burnett will be responsible for slowing Stone down. He has six sacks this season.

Nov. 14: Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (1-3) vs. No. 18 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) (4-0)

Expect Bergen Catholic to win this one, but it is a rivalry game and Don Bosco Prep will give Bergen its all. A defeat for the Crusaders would knock them out of the Power 25.

Nov. 14: Acadiana (Lafayette, La.) (5-0) vs. Catholic (Baton Rouge, La.) (5-2)

The top teams in Louisiana are all neck and neck this season. It's a close race for No. 1 and Acadiana, St. Thomas More and Brother Martin are all in the running. A big win for Acadiana would help separate it from the pack. St. Thomas More beat Catholic 39-38 on Oct. 16.