Some of Florida’s best high school football teams are accustomed to taking on top-tier competition at a national level. To that end, a number of Florida high school football teams have scheduled games against out-of-state opponents for the 2022 season; here are five of the biggest.
1. IMG Academy vs. St. Frances Academy (Nov. 18, 2022)
In 2021, the only thing that stood in the way of IMG and an undefeated season were the Panthers of St. Frances Academy. In the season finale, on their own field, the Ascenders were shockingly upset by St. Francis 34-24.
The Ascenders and Panthers will play again this season, with the only difference being that IMG has to travel to Baltimore, Maryland, for the contest. IMG vs. St. Francis should be a can’t-miss showdown between two high school football heavyweights.
2. IMG Academy vs. Central-Phenix City (Sept. 23, 2022)
The Ascenders made a trip to Alabama last October to take on Auburn, the previous season’s 7A state runner-up. IMG barely came away with the win, topping the Tigers 34-31, and they’ll face a similar journey and challenge this season, this time stopping about 40 minutes southeast of Auburn to take on the Red Devils in Phenix City.
The 2021 Class 7A runner-up, the Red Devils are one of the top teams in Alabama, and even defeated that same Auburn team twice last season (21-7 in the regular season on the road, 28-17 at home in the state semifinals). As expected with two teams of this caliber, talent will be aplenty, with intriguing one-on-one matchups such as Carnell Tate vs. AJ Harris and Francis Mauigoa vs. Tomarrion Parker likely to take place.
3. Venice vs. St. Frances Academy (Sept. 16, 2022)
Speaking of St. Frances Academy, the Panthers will also return to Florida in 2022 when they take on Venice, the defending high school football state champions at Florida’s highest classification. Similar to the IMG Academy game, storylines will be plentiful here, headlined by the returning talent for the Indians.
Among that talent are four-stars Damon Wilson and Elliot Washington on defense, as well as quarterback Ryan Browne. The Panthers don’t lack for talent, either; they’re headlined by three-star wide receiver Lamar Patterson, and a dominant defensive line featuring Dashawn Womack, Isaiah Neal, and Gabriel Williams.
4. St. Thomas Aquinas vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Aug. 27, 2022)
Defending Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas will open the 2022 season with one of the most compelling out-of-state opponents for a Florida high school football team, a matchup against St. Joseph’s Prep as part of the ESPN High School Kickoff. Featuring two of the top teams from Florida and Pennsylvania, this one is simply a must-see.
The Raiders are expected to be one of the state’s top teams again, while St. Joseph’s Prep is coming off an 11-3 season, with one of their losses coming to Georgia’s Milton High School. The Hawks enter the 2022 season with a talented roster as well, headlined by the linebacker duo of Josiah Trotter and James Heard.
5. American Heritage vs. Los Alamitos (Aug. 27, 2022)
While the Patriots will also travel to Georgia during the 2022 season (Lowndes, August 20), arguably the more intriguing of their out-of-state opponents comes the following week, on the same day as the previous contest on this list. Yes, it’s the second of those two ESPN High School Kickoff matchups, with American Heritage hosting one of the California’s top teams, Los Alamitos.
Headlining a strong Griffins team will be five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson, as well as two other top playmakers in five-star athlete Makai Lemon and four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. This will certainly be an early-season test for American Heritage, especially against the high-powered Los Alamitos offense.
Honorable Mention:
- Chaminade-Madonna vs. St. John’s (Aug. 27, 2022)
- American Heritage vs. Lowndes (Aug. 20, 2022)
- Miami Columbus vs. Benedictine (Aug. 26, 2022)
