Football season is here.
The Super 25 Preseason Rankings has been released. Some teams have played their first games, while others are beginning Friday night and in the upcoming weeks. School is back in session for much of the country.
Let the fun begin.
Here are some dates to mark on your calendar to tune in when teams ranked in the Preseason Super 25 face off.
Of course, teams will enter and exit the Super 25 as the season goes on, so this is by no means the be-all end-all of the elite matchups. But take a look at some of the teams expected to be among the top in the nation this year, many of which face out-of-state competition.
MATCHUP
No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. No. 20 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
When: 8/24
Analysis: These two teams are on the opposite side of the country, but they have at least one commonality: Both of their respective 2018 seasons ended in heartbreaking championship losses. They’ll look to flip the page in 2019 as they start the season against each other. Which contender will come out on top in a game with stars on both sides of the field?
MATCHUP
No. 6 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) vs. No. 15 Central (Miami, Fla.)
When: 8/24
Analysis: Central has been one of the better teams against national competition over the last couple years, with wins including a five-overtime victory over St. John’s, a 43-27 showing against St. Thomas Aquinas and a 24-20 win over Bishop Gorman in the last two seasons. They’ll be tested right off the bat this year against a St. Frances Academy squad that has not lost a game since November 2016.
MATCHUP
No. 9 Marietta (Ga.) vs. No. 11 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
When: 8/30
Analysis: Marietta is trying to prove itself after going 5-6 last year; what better way to do that than play the second game of the season against one of the best teams in the country? Defensive end BJ Ojulari and safety Rashad Torrence II will be key in stopping St. Joseph’s offensive attack, and ALL-USA tight end Arik Gilbert will be working overtime to help Marietta’s offense go.
MATCHUP
No. 12 St. Louis (Honolulu) vs. No. 18 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
When: 8/30
Analysis: The two traditional non-California powerhouses in the Pacific Region, St. Louis and Bishop Gorman will fight to prove which is better. St. Louis extended its winning streak to 27 games on Thursday, and it would be shocking if that ended next week before the Crusaders and Gaels match up on Aug. 30. Can Gorman do the honors of finally taking them down?
MATCHUP
No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) at No. 11 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
When: 9/6
Analysis: Two of the best quarterbacks in the region, Sol-Jay Maiava and Kyle McCord will go head-to-head in a battle that could decide the East, depending on the fate of St. Frances Academy. But that’s not the only position battle. Which wide receiver will be the stand out: Rakim Jarrett or Marvin Harrison Jr.? Will Mekhail Sherman or Jeremiah Trotter Jr. be a bigger difference-maker at linebacker? In a star-studded matchup with regional importance, this is a game to see.
MATCHUP
No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. No. 11 St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
When: 9/13
Analysis: If they line up against each other, Preseason ALL-USA cornerback Elias Ricks of IMG and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of St. Joseph’s could put on a show. But those are only two of the Div. 1-bound stars that will be on the field today. IMG and St. Joseph’s have established themselves as two of the premier teams in the country. They’ll fight for supremacy in September.
MATCHUP
No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. No. 6 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
When: 9/14
Analysis: The two traditional powerhouses tee off in a battle of the East vs. West. The only thing St. Frances Academy struggles to do is find opponents willing to take them on; why not test themselves against the reigning back-to-back National Champions and Chosen 25 quarterback Bryce Young? Facing off early in the schedule, this game could set the tone for the entire season for two title contenders.
MATCHUP
No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) at No. 9 Duncanville (Texas)
When: 9/14
Analysis: Could the winner of this game eventually become the Super 25 National Champion? Like the Mater Dei/St. Frances game on the same day, it’s not unthinkable. St. John’s has an incredibly difficult schedule, facing St. Joseph’s Prep, Duncanville, IMG and Mater Dei in a four-week stretch. Duncanville has the Texas gauntlet it is expected to face in the playoffs. If both teams go on successful runs, this game would make the difference.
MATCHUP
No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) vs. No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
When: 9/21
Analysis: Following meetings with St. Joseph’s Prep and Duncanville, St. John’s College meets IMG Academy, who will be coming off a game against St. Joseph’s Prep. ALL-USA cornerback Elias Ricks will get another challenger in Rakim Jarrett, and Mekhail Sherman will be instrumental to stopping the run game that will now include Lovasea Carroll. This battle of top 10 schools could have National Championship implications.
MATCHUP
No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.)
When: 9/27
Analysis: In a roundabout way, St. John’s could give credence to one side of the California vs. Texas high school football debate. If St. John’s is only able to defeat one of Duncanville or Mater Dei, that winner would get bragging rights over the other. Not that this battle between two top-five teams needs any more storylines; how does the dominant St. John’s defense match up against Mater Dei’s deep offense? Will Mater Dei CB Domani Jackson line up against WR Rakim Jarrett? Also, that whole bragging rights thing would go out the door if St. John’s takes them both down, which is an absolute possibility.
MATCHUP
No. 6 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) vs. No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
When: 10/18
Analysis: If you scroll back to the Aug. 24 section of this page, you’ll see St. Frances has not lost a game since November 2016.
That was to IMG Academy. St. Frances got shut out 38-0. Three years means a new generation of high school talent, but the taste might still be there for St. Frances. Star defenders including Chris Braswell, Jordan Toles and Luke Hill will have to make sure IMG can’t push the game out of hand again. These two historic powerhouses will tee off in one of the biggest events of the regular season.
MATCHUP
No. 17 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) vs. No. 20 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
When: 10/19
Analysis: Last year, DeMatha was seconds away from winning the championship. Then Gonzaga quarterback Caleb Williams threw a Hail Mary, won the game, and the Eagles walked away with a 46-43 title. This will be the two schools’ first meeting since that game. Need say more? You don’t want to miss this spectacle.
MATCHUP
No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
When: 10/25
Analysis: In each of the last three years, this has been a preview for the CIF-SS championship game. But only once in those three seasons has the team that won the first matchup won the title game as well, when JT Daniels led Mater Dei in 2017. Last year, Bosco beat the Monarchs in the regular season but Mater Dei took them down in the title game. Both years, Mater Dei was named the National Champions. With quarterback DJ Uiagalelei playing his final high school season, can he lead Bosco to the top?
MATCHUP
No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) vs. No. 20 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
When: 11/2
Analysis: Since defeating St. John’s in the 2016 WCAC championship, DeMatha has not beaten the D.C. powerhouse. St. John’s avenged that 2016 loss by beating the Stags 17-14 in the 2017 championship, and then winning again in the 2018 regular season. The two teams did not match up in the postseason last year; if they don’t again this year, this November game will be the only chance to watch them battle it out.
MATCHUP
No. 5 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) vs. No. 17 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
When: 11/9
Analysis: Here’s why St. John’s College couldn’t meet DeMatha in the postseason last year: The Cadets were knocked out of the playoffs in a defensive battle against Gonzaga that was clinched with a 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Think the Cadets have forgotten? Not likely. They’ll get another shot at Caleb Williams and co., who is working to repeat as champions after last year’s magical run.
BONUS MATCHUP
No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
When: 8/23
Analysis: If there’s an unranked team that could take down St. Thomas Aquinas, it’s De La Salle. Though the Spartans lost star defenders Henry To’oto’o and Isaiah Foskey, head coach Justin Alumbaugh expects the experienced offense behind quarterback Dorian Hale to keep them in the battle with any team. With 27 straight North Coast Section championships, De La Salle has become synonymous with elite California football. This won’t be an easy game for the No. 1 team in the country as De La Salle tries to vault back into the Super 25.
