Week 1 - 10 Games To Keep An Eye On

We are now off and running in the 2025 high school football season here in the Sunshine State, and as you will notice each and every week, there are going to be games that will be very interesting.   The landscape of football in the Sunshine State has changed and no longer can you play an average schedule and qualify for the state playoffs or even greater, get national attention.   Over the first few weeks, we will not only see our state teams clash against each other, but plenty of matchups with out of state powers will also take place – like the first week when we will be in the national spotlight.   If you have followed us over the past few years, you know that each and every Friday during the high school football season, we shine the spotlight on 10 games to keep an eye on.   We are NOT predictors of games. We just shine the spotlight on the matchups that we feel will be competitive. There are NO guarantees that the games we choose will be close, but for the most part, they are all contests that fans want to see.   Here are the first week games that could be interesting:   Baltimore St. Frances Academy, Maryland vs. No. 2 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, Saturday. This is one of those ESPN 2 games that have plenty of national interest as part of the prestigious Broward County Football Showcase. A rematch of two years ago when the Lions beat St. Frances Academy. Both teams are stacked with talent, and while the humidity could take a toll, the 8 p.m. start makes things much easier.   Santa Ana, California Mater Dei vs. No. 3 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Saturday. This is another of the Broward Showcase events that everyone has waited a long time to see. The beasts of the east vs. the national champions from the west. This is a game where weather could take a toll - with a 3:30 p.m. testing depth on both sides. The Raiders are at home, but this is the toughest opponent they have lined up against in many, many years.   No. 7 Venice vs. No. 22 Tampa Bay Tech. Could the defending 7A state champions be looking ahead to next week's titanic rematch with Miami Northwestern? It's a good bet that while they are young, they have superior coaching and the objective is to win game 1 without thinking about week 2. The Titans will be stacked with talent, and they figure to be a program to watch, but the Vikings have bigger fish to fry in 2025.   No. 10. Plantation American Heritage vs. Philadelphia St. Joseph's Prep, Pennsylvania. Another of the Broward Showcase games that will be viewed on ESPN 2 and this promises to be an exciting matchup between two elite programs with talent on both sides of the field. They are both defending champions that are well coached and have veteran leadership. St. Joseph's Prep was in this event two years ago, battling St. Thomas Aquinas down to the end.   No. 13. Miami Norland vs. No. 28 Lake Mary. This is a really interesting matchup against one of the state's more athletic programs in the Vikings against the defending 7A state runner up. The Rams have talent and have added some quality pieces, but Norland is also on a mission – looking to rebuild with a challenging schedule. A road win on opening night would be huge for a program with a new head coach for the first time in over two decades. Winner will certainly use the game as a springboard for 2025.   No. 19. Niceville vs. Tallahassee Lincoln. Here is another tremendous opening night game that will matchup two of the better teams in the region. Lincoln went on the road for a kickoff classic and showed many that they will once again be in the mix in the district and region. The Eagles continue to come close every season, and while they lost some quality talent, this program has long had the depth that wins championships. Could this be the year?   No. 27. Bradenton Manatee vs. Bellflower St. John Bosco, California. A major step up for the Hurricanes as they welcome in the No. 2 team in the country to start the season out with. This is the third straight year that this California power opens the season in Florida – after two years at the Broward County National Showcase. Manatee is coming off one of its top seasons in a long time, but there are several positions to fill against by far the toughest team on their schedule.   No. 30. Tampa Jesuit vs. Fort Myers Bishop Verot. Two programs that have something to prove as the season gets started. The Tigers had a huge off-season with impressive talent, including Florida's No. 1 player for the Class of 2027 – while the Vikings are looking to return to the state playoffs once again this season. This is confidence builder.   Oviedo vs. Orlando Bishop Moore. After a surprising win against defending 7A state runner up Lake Mary in the kickoff classic, the Lions have to be feeling good going into this game against one of the emerging and talented programs in Florida. Two well coached program that made the playoffs and returned several eye-catching prospects that colleges have already checked out.   Vero Beach vs. Eau Gallie. This is one of those games that really is sliding beneath the radar screen with the Indians coming off a thrilling 30-30 tie in the kickoff classic against 4A power Miami Norland and the Commodores beating Plantation. These are two programs who believe they can make a strong post season run. Eau Gallie dropped a season-ending game to eventual 3A state champion Miami Northwestern. Vero Beach lost to Orlando Dr. Phillips.     WEEK 1 FLORIDA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD   THURSDAY RESULTS   Boca Raton Christian 35, Deerfield Beach Somerset Key 17   Boca Raton Olympic Heights 30, Riviera Suncoast 6   Bonita Springs 32. Cape Coral Ida Baker 22   Coral Springs Charter 20, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest 13 (OT)   [player_tooltip player_id='1895147' first='Crawfordville' last='Wakulla'] 37, Tallahassee Leon 20   Delray American Heritage 54, North Lauderdale Somerset Prep 0   Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, Port St. Lucie Tradition Prep 6   Fort Myers Evangelical Christian 29, Naples First Baptist 0   Gainesville Buchholz 15, Ocala Vanguard 13   Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy 34, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy 12   Miami Carol City 35, Hialeah 25   Jacksonville Bolles 34, Coconut Creek Monarch 15   Jacksonville Christ's Church 35, Young Kids In Motion 8   Kissimmee Tohopekaliga 35, Bradenton IMG State 14   Lakeland 31, Auburndale 21   Land O'Lakes 26, New Port River Ridge 8   Maitland Orangewood Christian 37, Taylor 20   Melbourne Central Catholic 35, Boynton Beach Somerset Canyons 7   Miami Coral Reef 54, South Miami 0   Miami Edison 46, Hialeah American 0   Miramar Everglades 20, Fort Lauderdale Northeast 19   Panama City Bay 42, Panama City Beach Arnold 6   Peachtree Ridge, Georgia 31, Sunrise Piper 6   South Fort Myers 46, Fort Myers Gateway 6   Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy 42, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 35   Tavernier Coral Shores 20, Somerset South Homestead 12   Vero Beach St. Edward's 49, Belle Glade Glades Day 21   Westland Hialeah 35, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 0   West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 49, Fort Pierce John Carroll 0   Weston Cypress Bay 40, Parkland Douglas 7     UPDATED CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS. <a>https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2026-rankings/</a>   Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a>   You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.   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We are now off and running in the 2025 high school football season here in the Sunshine State, and as you will notice each and every week, there are going to be games that will be very interesting.