Looking back at the last 10 high school football seasons, what are some potential “dream matchups” that you would have liked to see? Using teams from Alabama, Florida and Georgia, we went through this exercise. Here are our picks for the must-see dream games from each of the last 10 seasons.
2021: Thompson vs Collins Hill
Who else would it be? The Class 7A state champions this past season in Alabama and Georgia, respectively, Thompson and Collins Hill were both truly elite on both sides of the ball, making this an easy choice among potential dream matchups here.
Concluding the 2021 Georgia season at an undefeated 15-0 – they later lost to Washington’s Graham-Kapowsin in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series – Collins Hill was led by two-way star and No. 1 recruit Travis Hunter, along with quarterback Sam Horn. Thompson didn’t lack for talent, either, with offensive fireworks provided by quarterback Conner Harrell and wide receiver Ryan Peppins, while the elite pass rushing duo of Jeremiah Alexander and Peter Woods starred on the defensive side of the ball.
2020: Grayson vs IMG Academy
Looking back at the 2020 season, there may not have been a high school football team nation-wide better that year than IMG Academy. However, if you were to make the argument for one team potentially better than the Ascenders, the Grayson Rams might’ve led that conversation, making this another marquee pairing among dream matchups.
Both teams finished the 2020 season undefeated, with both also led by highly touted quarterbacks in JJ McCarthy and Jake Garcia. Alongside those two, IMG and Grayson featured top names such as JC Latham, Xavian Sorey, Ja’Corey Brooks, Phil Mafah, and more.
2019: Marietta vs St. Thomas Aquinas
One of the nation’s top teams back in 2019, St. Thomas Aquinas went an undefeated 15-0 in a season that included a Class 7A state championship, as well as wins over notable out-of-state teams such as De La Salle and St. Louis. Facing off against the Raiders in another one of our dream matchups would be Georgia 7A state champion Marietta, a team that topped then-undefeated Lowndes in the state title game.
The 2019 Blue Devils had one of Georgia’s top passing offenses in recent memory, led by quarterback Harrison Bailey and five-star tight end Arik Gilbert, as well as a defense led by edge rusher BJ Ojulari. Facing off against that offense would be a St. Thomas Aquinas defense led by outside linebacker Derek Wingo that allowed only 150 total points all season, as well as an offense led by wideout Marcus-Rosemy Jacksaint.
2018: Central-Phenix City vs IMG Academy
There might not have been a more impressive team across the Southeast during the 2018 high school football season than Alabama’s Central-Phenix City, a team that went undefeated to capture the Class 7A state championship. As for the Red Devils opponent that we’d want to see, why not go against an IMG Academy team that went 7-1, with their lone loss coming on the road to Mater Dei in California 28-24.
Leading that Central-Phenix City team was an offensive featuring names such as Peter Parrish, A’Montae Spivey and EJ Williams, along with a defense, led by Ray Thornton, that allowed only 108 total points to opponents in 2018. That IMG team was no joke either; led by the five-star trio of Nolan Smith, Trey Sanders and Evan Neal, the Ascenders actually did go into Alabama that season, beating eventual 7A semifinalist Hoover 48-7.
2017: Rome vs American Heritage
Arguably the top team in Georgia during the 2017 season was Class 5A’s Rome, a Wolves team that went 15-0 to win a state title, averaging 50.5 PPG offensively in the process. To face off against that high-powered offense as one of our dream matchups, why not pick an American Heritage team that went undefeated to win the Florida 5A title?
That Patriots team was led defensively by two five-star cornerbacks in Patrick Surtain II and Tyson Campbell, as well as two seniors in Andrew Chatfield and Nesta Silvera, who each totaled double-digit sacks. As for the Rome offense, American Heritage would have their hands full defensively against the junior trio of Knox Kadum, Jamious Griffin and Xavier Roberts.
2016: Grayson vs IMG Academy
The Grayson Rams lost only one game during the 2016 season on their way to a Class 7A state championship, with that loss coming at the hands of IMG Academy 26-7 in the season opener. How about a rematch between two of the Southeast’s top teams that season?
Grayson was led by quarterback Chase Brice, along with a roster that also featured a few other notable seniors such as Deangelo Gibbs, Jamyest Williams and Breon Dixon. That IMG team, however, was squarely in the conversation for the nation’s best in 2016, led by quarterback Kellen Mond and the five-star defensive duo of Joshua Kaindoh and Dylan Moses.
2015: Spanish Fort vs Colquitt County
The choice here, one could argue, is an easy one. Yes, Spanish Fort vs Colquitt County, or as it would’ve been called back in 2015, undefeated Alabama 6A state champion vs undefeated Georgia 6A state champion.
Talent would be everywhere in this matchup of high-powered offenses, with quarterbacks Tyler Johnston and Chase Parrish, and Javon Brown and Kiel Pollard among the stars. As for the defense, look no further than names such as Tre Threat, Ja’Quain Blakely and Akivie Bailey.
2014: Colquitt County vs St. Thomas Aquinas
While undefeated 4A champion Buford is a strong choice, it’s hard not to put Colquitt County here again, as this Packers team also went undefeated to win the 6A state title. As for the opponent, why not a St. Thomas Aquinas team that won the Florida 7A state title by outscoring opponents a combined 680-96 on the year?
Colquitt County had then-junior Chase Parrish at quarterback back in 2014, along with senior running back Sihiem King, who rushed for 2,090 yards and 37 touchdowns that year. At St. Thomas Aquinas, the Raiders defense that season was as dominant as Florida has seen over the last decade, and the offense featured notable running back Jordan Scarlett.
2013: Spanish Fort vs Booker T. Washington
The undefeated Class 5A Alabama state champions in 2013, Spanish Fort was arguably the state’s top team from start to finish. Their opponent in this potential matchup, Booker T. Washington, was Florida’s top team in 2013.
Spanish Fort was led offensively by the running back duo of Michael Howard and Trey Shabel, as well as wide receiver Samuel Harris. As for Booker T. Washington, the Tornadoes had a deep team on both sides of the ball, led by senior quarterback Treon Harris and five-star defensive end Chad Thomas.
2012: Hoover vs Norcross
The final dream matchup on this list pits Hoover taking on Norcross in a can’t-miss pairing. Yes, once again, it’s an undefeated Alabama 6A champion taking on an undefeated Georgia 6A champion.
Hoover that season was led offensively by the senior trio of Connor Short, Calen Campbell and Michael Powers, as well as one of the state’s top linebackers in Landry Tullo. Norcross, meanwhile, was not lacking in elite talent either, with no name bigger than star senior running back Alvin Kamara who rushed for 2,264 yards and 26 touchdowns that season.
