National High School Football Games of the Week: Aug. 28-30

Get ready for another exciting weekend as the high school football season heats up across the country. From coast to coast, top teams will battle for supremacy under the Friday night lights. This week’s schedule is another one packed with must-watch matchups, featuring talent-laden teams from powerhouse programs and games with future college stars on full display. Here’s a look at the 10 biggest games you won’t want to miss from Aug. 28-30.

No. 5 IMG Academy (Fla.) at Winslow Township (N.J.)

When: Thursday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. ET
Where: Carey Stadium, Ocean City, N.J.

No one yet has seemed to come up for an answer when it comes to playing the vaunted IMG Academy Ascenders. Through two games, Ascenders head coach Greg Studrawa‘s bunch has been dominant in games against The First Academy (Fla.) and Hoover (Ala.) to start the season. The Ascenders’ passing attack has been fueled by a couple sophomore four-star sensations in quarterback Jayden Wade and wide receiver Eric McFarland. The defending 2024 NJSIAA Group 4 state champion Winslow Township, which features a strong receiving group, led by UConn commit Quayd Hendryx and Boston College pledge Nyqir Helton.

Massey Prediction: IMG Academy 41, Winslow Township 7

No. 12 Bergen Catholic (N.J.) at No. 17 East St. Louis (Ill.)

When: Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Carey Stadium, Ocean City, N.J.

In what will be the night cap to the opening night of the Battle at the Beach Classic in Ocean City, the Flyers and Crusaders open their high school football season against each other. Bergen Catholic has a number of Power Four prospects all over its roster, including four-stars Jackson Vaughn, Jordan Thomas (Ohio State commit), Jermaine Kinsler (Texas A&M commit) and Amiir Woodward. East St. Louis counters with a talented roster of players themselves, as four-star Myson Johnson-Cook will make his debut after transferring from DeSoto (Texas) during the off-season.

Massey Prediction: Bergen Catholic 28, East St. Louis 20

La Salle College Prep (Pa.) vs. Malvern Prep (Pa.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Carey Stadium, Ocean City, N.J.

Third and final game on our list that will be played at the historic Carey Stadium will be between the Explorers and Friars on Friday night. When these two teams faced each other last season, it would be La Salle College Prep coming away with the 21-17 win over Malvern Prep. Now the pair will take to the field in New Jersey as state championship contenders out of Pennsylvania. La Salle College Prep’s offense is led by Missouri commitment Gavin Sidwar, who led the Explorers to a 23-6 win over Central Catholic last week.

Massey Prediction: La Salle College 23, Malvern Prep 20

Oscar Smith (Va.) at Gonzaga High (D.C.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Buchanan Field, Washington, District of Columbia

When it comes to high school football games being played between DMV schools, this is the crème de la crème of them all when Oscar Smith travels to downtown Washington D.C. to face Gonzaga. These two programs did not face each other last season, which brings a little extra intrigue to the matchup. The Eagles’ defense is loaded on the defensive line, led by Michigan commit Carter Meadows and Penn State commitment Tyson Harley. Oscar Smith’s offense will look to its air attack to soften the Gonzaga defense, led by a pair of four-stars in quarterback Lonnie Andrews III and Michigan pledge Travis Johnson.

Massey Prediction: Gonzaga 26, Oscar Smith 21

No. 22 Thompson (Ala.) at No. 7 Grayson (Ga.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Grayson Ram Stadium, Loganville, Ga.

Does it get any better when Alabama and Georgia go at it? It’s best on best when these two Southeast titans clash and both are undefeated through the opening weeks of the high school football season. Grayson is coming off a solid 24-19 victory over Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, with the Rams having already played rival Collins Hill to start the 2025 campaign. The Rams will be up against a Thompson Warriors team that began the season dominating Carver in a 37-6 rout, with four-star junior quarterback Trent Seaborn throwing for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Massey Prediction: Thompson 28, Grayson 27

Guyer (Texas) at Aledo (Texas)

When: Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Tim Buchanan Stadium, Aledo, Texas

Though neither team is nationally ranked, this is a good ole Texas high school football showdown. Guyer began last season with a tone-setting 35-30 win over Aledo, en route to a 10-4 record and playing well into the Class 6A Division II playoffs. The Wildcats feature one of Texas’ top defensive line units, led by a pair of junior stalwarts in four-stars Zane Rowe and Khyren Haywood. Aledo will look to Notre Dame commitment Kaydon Finley to have a big night. Finley in 2024 caught 81 passes for 1,432 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

Massey Prediction: Aledo 35, Guyer 31

Cherry Creek (Colo.) vs. Cardinal Mooney (Fla.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Austin-Tindall Sports Complex, Kissimmee, Fla.

Colorado’s No. 1 ranked Cherry Creek will make their way down to Florida to face off against 2024 Class 2A state semifinalist Cardinal Mooney, who is coming off a 41-6 beatdown of True North Classical Academy last week. The Bruins made easy work of Regis Jesuit, winning in a 45-10 decision to start the high school football season off 1-0. For Cherry Creek, they’re the second Colorado team since 2023 to make their way to the Sunshine State, with the most recent being Erie facing off against Vanguard. Cardinal Mooney will look to slow down UConn commit Jayden Fox, who last season rushed for over 1,800 yards on 186 carries and scored 19 touchdowns.

Massey Prediction: Cherry Creek 38, Cardinal Mooney 18

Basha (Ariz.) at Brophy College Prep (Ariz.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29 at 100 p.m. ET
Where: Ray Laing Field, Phoenix, Arizona

The Grand Canyon State kicks off high school football action around the state and there’s several matchups that stick out, but probably none like this blockbuster tilt out in Phoenix. Host Brophy College Preparatory features quite possibly most NFL bloodlines of any roster in the entire country, with players like quarterback Case Vanden Bosch, athlete Bastian Vanden Bosch, receivers Daylen Sharper, Devin Fitzgerald and Donovan McNabb, Jr. all having fathers who played in the league. Basha will look to establish its run game behind junior running back Noah Roberts, who last season carried the rock 152 times for 1,062 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. 

Massey Prediction: Basha 35, Brophy College Prep 21

No. 10 Centennial (Calif.) at Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)

When: Friday, Aug. 29, 10 p.m. ET
Where: Trabuco Hills High School Football Stadium, Mission Viejo, Calif.

It wasn’t the debut that Santa Margarita head coach Carson Palmer probably envisioned when his Eagles fell in a 7-3 defensive slugfest to Mission Viejo. Now sitting at 0-1, things don’t get any easier playing some of the nation’s top teams as they will host a Centennial team that defeated Servite, 42-14. Huskies quarterback Dominick Catalano had himself a huge day against the Friars’ secondary, completing 22 of 35 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

Massey Prediction: Centennial 34, Santa Margarita Catholic 22

No. 20 DeMatha Catholic (Md.) vs. No. 21 St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.)

When: Saturday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: Abbesinio Stadium, Wilmington, Delaware

St. Joseph’s Prep School has probably been either sick to their stomachs since last week’s heartbreaking 31-28 loss to American Heritage, in which they blew a 28-point lead, or itching to get back on the field to redeem themselves. We like to think its the latter as the Hawks will head out of state again for their second game of the high school football season against DeMatha Catholic, who will play their first. The Stags will challenge the Hawks’ secondary with a trio of wide receivers in Joshua Parker, Chace Irvin and Evan Jones, respectively.

Massey Prediction: St. Joseph’s Prep 30, DeMatha Catholic 20

How to Follow National High School Football

For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.