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Previewing Franklin vs. St. Joseph's Prep and Wood vs. Imhotep

Undefeated Franklin takes on tough Prep squad, while Wood-Imhotep features two 10-1 powers.

Jarrett McClenton (1) leads Archbishop Wood into a big matchup against Imhotep.
Jarrett McClenton (1) leads Archbishop Wood into a big matchup against Imhotep.Read moreJoseph Kaczmarek / For the Daily News / file photo

IF YOU LOVE high school football, head over to Northeast High today, set up camp and stay to see four teams competing in two, highly anticipated City title games.

In AAAA action, Catholic League champion St. Joseph's Prep takes on Ben Franklin, the Public League's last squad standing. In AAA play, PCL title-winner Archbishop Wood meets Pub poobah Imhotep Charter.

Both contests feature beaucoup Division I talent, and each could make for all-time great contests. However, because each side is so talented, either outcome could also be lopsided. Here are the particulars:

City AAAA Championship

Who: St. Joseph's Prep (7-3) vs. Ben Franklin (10-0)

When/Where: Today, 11:30 a.m. at Northeast High

TV: The Comcast Network

Notes: In this one, the Hawks will look to defend last year's title, which they won when they outlasted George Washington, 10-7. Then an inexperienced junior, Jack Clements quarterbacked the SJP in relief of Chris Martin, who had torn his ACL.

Martin would return for the PIAA playoffs and lead the Hawks to a state title. While Clements has proved capable this season (almost 60 percent passing, 15 TDs and 1,505 yards), the strength of Prep's offense comes on the ground.

Senior Olamide Zaccheaus (Virginia) owns 507 yards and eight ground tallies, while sophomore D'Andre Swift has 599 yards on 84 totes. Ah, but don't let those modest numbers fool you; either Hawk can hit 100, and in a hurry.

Speaking of pace, the undefeated Electrons like to score in bunches with a bevy of fast, dynamic wide receivers targeted by one of the city's best QBs.

With 35 touchdown tosses this season, senior signal-caller Kevin Caldwell set a city record, which he can put with nearly all of Franklin's major passing records. One of his favorite targets, Rapheal "Macho" Rodriguez, also broke a single-season city mark with 17 receiving TDs. Perhaps most impressive is Rodriguez's 23.2 yards-per-catch average. Coupled with Javier Buffalo's 22.5-yard average and Rasheem James' 15.3, the Electrons come big-play prepared.

What to look for: The Hawks' offense can ground and pound, but Clements also can hit John Reid (11 receiving TDs) for big plays. Reid, a Penn State commit, also will be challenged defensively at cornerback. The SJP pass rush, led by seniors Jake Strain and Jon Daniel Runyan (Michigan), will aid the defensive effort. For Franklin, a strong defensive effort up front will be paramount. Simon Gratz found success on the ground in the Pub title game. SJP is equally capable, if not more so. Similarly, the Electrons' offensive line must give Caldwell time and passing lanes. With emphasis placed on its receiving corps, watch out for running backs Jymere Toney and Edward Dennis.

AAA City Championship

Who: Imhotep Charter (10-1) vs. Archbishop Wood (10-1)

When/Where: Today, 4 p.m. at Northeast High

TV: The Comcast Network

Notes: This is the one everyone wanted.

After dominating AA play for years, the Panthers haven't missed a stride since stepping up to AAA, while the ever-dominant Vikings have won two AAA state titles in the last three seasons.

Interestingly, Imhotep hasn't played a game decided by fewer than 40 points since it annihilated Friendship Collegiate (D.C.), 58-20, in Week 4. Wood's PCL title win against Archbishop Ryan was 35-14, but before that, the Vikings hadn't been in a tight one since a Week 6 loss to La Salle, 35-31.

Hopefully, both squads still can call on late-game composure, despite few close calls this season.

The Panthers' offensive catalyst is ultra-elusive running back Tyliek Raynor. The junior has rarely needed 10 carries this season to reach 100 yards in a game. In fact, of his eight 100-yard performances, only twice has he needed double-digit carries (142 on 19 totes in Week 1 against Cardinal Mooney, Ohio; 108 on 14 against Friendship Collegiate, D.C.).

Senior QB Andre Dreuitt-Parks, the Pub recordholder for career passing yards with (4,194), can certainly spread the pill, but his main weapons are wideout D.J. Moore (Maryland) and tight end Naseir "Pop" Upshur.

Junior quarterback Anthony Russo also has that duty for Wood, the defending AAA city and PIAA champion. However, another option is handing the ball to Villanova-commit Jarrett McClenton. The senior running back won Daily News Player of the Year as a junior and has had an impressive encore. His 1,398 yards on 125 carries break down to 11.1 per attempt. For comparison, Raynor's 1,327 yards have come on 99 tries, for 13.4 per tote.

Wood senior rusher Alex Arcangeli also has bulldozed for 549 yards and has been Russo's top receiver, with 14 catches for 244 yards and four scores. Sophomore Mark Webb leads the team with five TD catches.

What to look for: With both defenses focused on stopping the run, both quarterbacks might need to make plays: run/throw for a key first down, make a critical adjustment or possibly engineer a game-winning drive. Defensively, Imhotep hasn't allowed more than two scores since Week 4 and has given fewer than six points per game since. Senior linebacker Shaquille Jones leads the Panthers, while his counterpart, Jake Cooper (Penn State), holds down the Vikings. With neither team being involved in many tight contests this season, this one could come down to composure. That could take the form of penalties or just sticking with a game plan even after one side gets up.