Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell. (Photo: Greg Cava)
Here are five games that could help determine the Super 25 football champion:
RELATED: Meet the 2016 Super 25 Preseason football teams
MORE: When do the Super 25 Preseason teams open?
MORE: Super 25 Preseason teams in photos
No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at No. 5 Cedar Hill (Texas), Aug. 27
Two-time defending Super 25 champion Gorman heads to Texas for the highly anticipated and nationally televised season opener. There has been so much anticipation for this game that the trash talking was already going in March.
Gorman puts its 39-game winning streak on the line against a Cedar Hill team that returns 10 starters on offense, including Notre Dame quarterback commit Avery Davis.
“We’ll find out real quick what kind of team we are,” Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire said. “I know how good Bishop Gorman is. This is going to be a great game with great players for both teams. If you’ve won 39 in a row, you’ve done something special. It’s hard to win three in a row, much less 39.”
No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at No. 2 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Aug. 27
Grayson has been among the biggest stories of the offseason with a coaching change, a large number of transfers and a difficult schedule. We will find out quickly if the attention is warranted when Grayson hosts an IMG team that has elite recruits from around the nation all over the field.
IMG, now its fourth season of high school football, has the benefit of having coach Kevin Wright in his second season and players who have been on campus since July 18 after many took part in spring practice with the program.
No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) at No. 8 Booker T. Washington (Miami), Aug. 26
In last season’s opener, Aquinas ended BTW’s 41-game winning streak with a 35-3 victory on national television. Aquinas QB Jake Allen threw four touchdowns in the victory.
Aquinas would go on to win another Florida 7A title and Booker T. would equal the state record with a fourth consecutive title in 4A. The state champs meet again to open the season.
![May 19 2016 -- Fort Lauderdale, FL, U.S.A -- St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Roger Harriott (left) talks with Aquinas linebacker Derrell Shelton (right). St. Thomas Aquinas, the likely No. 1 team in the preseason Super 25, is hosting its annual gold and blue inter squad scrimmage at the schools stadium. -- Photo by Steve Mitchell USA TODAY Sports Images, Gannett ORG XMIT: US 134928 St. Thomas Aquin 5/19/2016 [Via MerlinFTP Drop]](http://usathss.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/xxx_st-_thomas_aquinas_dec_1975_82009341.jpg?w=1000&h=714)
St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Roger Harriott. (Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports Images)
“We want our kids to understand we are here to win a title – the national title, not just the state title,” Harris said. “We do the week-to-week thing, but the big picture never disappears because that’s the only purpose why we’re doing this.
MORE: Ice Harris has eyes on big prize in return to BTW
Deerfield Beach (Fla.) at No. 2 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Sept. 16
Deerfield Beach is not ranked in the Preseason Super 25 but is brimming with confidence after a 10-2 season that ended in a regional semifinal loss to eventual 8A state champion Flanagan.
Grayson has some elite players on defense and a potential matchup between defensive back Deangelo Gibbs and Deerfield receiver Jerry Jeudy – an Under Armour All-American who recently committed to Alabama – could be awesome.
“This is my last year. I’m trying to win it all. I’m not playing no games,” Jeudy told the Sun-Sentinel in the spring.
No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale), Sept. 30
If both teams are undefeated by the end of September, this could be the “Game of the Year.”
VIDEO: Watch as St. Thomas Aquinas players learn they are facing Bishop Gorman
As you might recall, Gorman quarterback Tate Martell called out Aquinas among several national powers he wanted the Gaels to face. Aquinas receiver Trevon Grimes, who could end up being Martell’s teammate next year at Ohio State, answered.
Of course, the games are scheduled by the schools and not the players, but this should be a fantastic matchup.
Five other games of note
- Aug. 27, No. 21 Warren Central (Indianapolis) vs. No. 7 Colerain (Cincinnati)
- Sept. 2, No. 24 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) at No. 6 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
- Sept. 23, No. 15 DeSoto (Texas) at No. 5 Cedar Hill (Texas)
- Oct. 16, No. 20 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
- Oct. 21, No. 4 IMG Academy at Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville)