Ranking this week's area high school football games

I went ahead and ranked the top high school football games this week involving area teams. Here's a look, along with the rest of the state schedule (games Friday unless noted):

>>>Columbus East (13-0) at New Palestine (13-0), Class 4A semistate, 7 p.m.:

Purdue recruit Markell Jones is now the state's all-time single-season rushing leader. Jones rushed for 307 yards on 31 carries in a 42-14 win over Evansville Reitz and now has 3,379 yards and 59 touchdowns on the season. He eclipsed the record of New Haven's Cory Jacquay (3,366) set in 2001. Not only is this a matchup of No. 1 (Columbus East) vs. No. 2 (New Palestine) but it is a rematch of last year's semistate, won 49-14 by Columbus East. Expect a closer game this year.

>>>Evansville Mater Dei (13-0) at Monrovia (11-2), Class 2A semistate, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.: A tough road for sixth-ranked Monrovia gets tougher with No. 1 Mater Dei. Monrovia has a chance because it can run the ball. The Bulldogs have been held under 300 rushing yards just twice this season – 286 in a 46-12 win over South Putnam and 287 in a 22-20 win over Speedway.

>>>Cathedral (7-5) at Bloomington South (11-1), Class 5A semistate, 7 p.m.: This is the game I've been looking forward to in 5A. Bloomington South has been sufficiently tested, losing only to 6A Southport. This is the one 5A team I think can put up some points on Cathedral's defense.

>>>Tri-West (12-1) at Heritage Hills (12-1), Class 3A semistate, Saturday, 6 p.m.: Tough assignment for fifth-ranked Tri-West on the road at No. 6 Heritage Hills, which has been excellent defensively all season. So has Tri-West. This has the the makings of a great game.

>>>North Vermillion (13-0) vs. Lutheran (10-3), Class A semistate, at Roncalli, 7:30 p.m.: Both programs won a regional for the first time with victories last week and knocked out teams that had reached the semistate round last year. Lutheran has played a superior schedule, which could help in a game like this one.

Other games in the state this weekend:

>>>LaPorte (7-5) at Fort Wayne Snider (10-2), Class 5A semistate, 7:30 p.m.

>>>New Prairie (12-1) at Northridge (11-2), Class 4A semistate, 7:30 p.m.

>>>Andrean (13-0) at Fort Wayne Luers (11-2), Class 3A semistate, 6 p.m. Saturday

>>>Lafayette Central Catholic (10-3) at Rensselaer Central (13-0), Class 2A semistate, 7:30 p.m.

>>>South Adams (7-6) at Pioneer (12-1), Class A semistate, 7:30 p.m.

>>>A quick reminder on the state finals schedule for next weekend. The Class 6A game between Carmel (13-0) and Ben Davis (11-2) will be played on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium, which is different from previous years when the largest class has played on Saturday night. The state finals schedule:

Class 2A - Friday, Nov. 28, noon

Class 4A - Friday, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m.

Class 6A - Friday, Nov. 28, 7:05 p.m.

Class A - Saturday, Nov. 29, noon

Class 3A - Saturday, Nov. 29, 3:30 p.m.

Class 5A - Saturday, Nov. 29, 7:05 p.m.