Two-minute drill: Dolphins, Jaguars, Gators, Seminoles, UCF, High Schools
Football is in full swing at all levels in Florida in the latest Two-Minute Drill from USA Today Florida Sports Network.
Once again, Florida will have a major say in determining which team will be crowned the mythical national champions of high school football.
Seven of the state’s best teams – IMG, Chaminade-Madonna, St. Thomas Aquinas, Cocoa, Miami Central, Plantation-American Heritage and Berkeley Prep – are ranked in MaxPreps’ preseason top 25.
Three of the top six teams in the country – Bishop Gorman (Nevada), St. John Bosco (California) and Milton (Georgia) – will play in the Broward County National High School Football Showcase in August.
Nobody can win the national championship in August, but a loss early in the season would set up a steep climb for the rest of the season and leave little room for error.
St. Frances (Maryland), Bergen Catholic (NJ) and Central (Alabama) are also among the top 25 teams playing against Sunshine State teams this fall.
Here are the top 10 games between Florida teams and opponents from out of state.
Stream Florida high school football live on the NFHS Network
(Note: Each Florida team was limited to one game on the slate.)
Just missed the cut
Valdosta (Georgia) at Jesuit, September 6; Bartram Trail near Ware County, Georgia, September 6; Coconut Creek near Baylor, Tennessee, September 6; Mary G. Montgomery (Alabama) at Pace, August 23; Bishop Moore near Tottenville (NY), August 29th.
10. Florida High at Thomas County Central (Georgia), Aug. 30
Florida High, the 2022 Class 2S runner-up, is playing its first out-of-state opponent since defeating Thomas County 35-15 in the 2021 season opener. The Seminoles went 10-3 last year and lost 17-10 to Pensacola Catholic in the regional championship. Thomas County went 15-0 and won Georgia’s Class 6A state championship last season. The Yellow Jackets’ roster includes senior four-star defensive back Kendarius Reddick (UCF commit) and junior four-star edge rusher Camron Brooks.
9. Mainland near Coffee (Georgia), September 20
The Buccaneers, who just won their second title, usually have a challenging schedule, and this year is no exception. That includes a road trip to Georgia to face 2023 state champion Coffee. The Trojans, who also play Gadsden County this fall, had a 15-0 record in 2023. Coffee has beaten a Florida opponent in two consecutive seasons: Bolles in 2023 and St. Augustine in 2022. Mainland went 14-1 in 2023 and defeated St. Augustine to win the Class 3S championship. They are led by senior defensive lineman Christian Hudson (UCF commit) and junior linebacker Dennis King III.
8. Pensacola Catholic at Montgomery Catholic (Alabama), Sept. 13
The Crusaders will play two Alabama opponents that are 15-0 and won the state championship in 2023: Montgomery Catholic and Mobile Christian, so it’s a matter of luck which game makes the list. Montgomery’s dominance in 2023 — the Knights outscored their opponents 614-73 — was impressive. Pensacola Catholic was 11-3, won a regional title and lost to Class 2S runner-up Bradford in the semifinals. Crusaders senior quarterback Ryan Huff has chosen Old Dominion.
More: High school quarterbacks to watch in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties entering the 2024 season
7. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland) in Columbus, August 30
A battle of defending champions. Good Counsel won its last 10 games in 2023 to claim the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Capital Division championship with a 7-0 win over DeMatha. Good Counsel, which Jones defeated in 2023, boasts several Power 4 newcomers, including defensive back Faheem Delaine (Ohio State freshman). Columbus went 13-2 and won its second consecutive Class 4M championship in 2023. The Explorers are led by senior four-star defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald.
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6. St. Frances (Maryland) at Clearwater Central Catholic, Oct. 25
St. Frances, which also plays IMG this season, is coming off a down year but is a perennial contender that enters 2024 as one of the nation’s top 20 teams. The Panthers have several Power 4 players, including four-star Auburn players Blake Woodby and Bryce Deas. CCC has been the Class 1M runner-up each of the past two seasons. The Marauders, led by senior quarterback/athlete Jershaun Newton (Illinois player) and senior running back Sean Cuono (Indiana), have been the Class 1M runner-up each of the past two seasons.
5. Monarch at Cedar Grove (Georgia), September 6
Cedar Grove had an up-and-down start to the 2023 season but got into its stride late in the year. The Saints finished the season on an eight-game winning streak and won the Class 3A state championship. Cedar Grove senior running back Bo Walker has committed to Georgia. Monarch is coming off an 11-win season and a Class 4M regional championship. The Knights return an experienced senior class with wide receiver Samari Reed (Ole Miss commitment) and edge rusher Romando Johnson (West Virginia commitment).
4. Milton (Georgia) at American Heritage, August 23
Milton, led by senior quarterback Luke Nickel (Miami commit), returns to Florida for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Eagles took a 7-0 lead against Western but lost 14-10 on a rain-soaked field. Milton won 12 of its last 13 games to capture Georgia’s Class 7A state title. American Heritage moved into 2023 with a 10-2 record, with losses coming to Class 1M champion Chaminade and Class 2M champion Berkeley Prep. The Patriots boast a talented offense featuring five-star junior quarterback Dia Bell (Texas commit) and four-star senior running back Byron Louis.
More: Recruiting: Florida State’s elite 2026 quarterback makes his college choice and leaves the state
3. Bergen Catholic (NJ) at IMG, August 29
Bergen Catholic can only hope this year’s trip to Florida goes better than last year, when the 2023 Crusaders were crushed 61-21 by Chaminade-Madonna. It wasn’t all bad news for the Crusaders in 2023. They rallied, winning their final nine games and claiming their third consecutive New Jersey Non-Public A state title. Bergen Catholic’s roster includes 2026 edge rusher Jermaine Kinsler, who began his prep career at Ocala-Trinity Catholic. IMG once again has a loaded roster, including senior wide receiver Donovan Olugbode (Missouri commitment) and senior linebacker Gavin Nix (Miami commitment).
2. Bishop Gorman (Nevada) at St. Thomas Aquinas, August 24
Once again, Aquinas opens the season against the defending national champions. After losing to St. John Bosco in 2023, the Raiders host Bishop Gorman to open the 2024 regular season. Aquinas has its sights set on an unprecedented sixth consecutive state title. Bishop Gorman is a perennial national power, having beaten Chaminade and Miami Central in Las Vegas the past two years. Gorman’s graduating class already has seven players committed to Power 4 programs, including offensive linemen Douglas Utu (Tennessee commitment) and SJ Alofaituli (Miami commitment). Aquinas has four-star junior defensive back Justice Fitzpatrick and a strong sophomore receiver class.
1. St. John Bosco (California) vs. Chaminade-Madonna, August 24
Chaminade went undefeated in 2023, won the Class 1M title and finished as the No. 2 team in the nation in several polls. The Lions will face St. John Bosco, which was the 2022 national champion and was the No. 3 team in the nation in one poll last season. St. John Bosco opened its 2023 season in Florida, comfortably beating St. Thomas Aquinas 20-7. Bosco once again has a full roster, including four-star junior receivers Daniel Odom and Madden Williams. Chaminade counters with a revamped offense led by five-star junior running back Derrek Cooper and four-star junior receiver Jabari Brady.
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