6 days ago
Here are the top games in Broward for the 2025 high school football season
Broward County high school football teams once again have a challenging slate of games on the road to possible state championships, which will once again include tough opposition both locally and nationally.
Here's a look at the best games involving Broward County teams:
NOTE: All games at 7 unless noted.
Chaminade vs. St. Frances Academy (Md.), 8, Aug. 23: As it has in recent years, the annual Broward Football Showcase is a perfect blastoff point for the season as three Broward teams are immediately tested against other nationally-ranked teams from around the country. The county did not fare well in last year's event, losing six of seven games so Chaminade, ranked No. 7 by MaxPreps, will be motivated heading into a matchup with fifth-ranked St. Frances Academy. The game wraps up what will be an eight-game slate over three days in this year's event, and will be one of three televised on ESPN networks.
Mater Dei at St. Thomas Aquinas, 4, Aug. 23: Many consider this the main event of the weekend as the top-ranked team in the country, Mater Dei, makes the trek to Fort Lauderdale to take on the six-time reigning state champion Raiders. Aquinas has been playing national opponents going on two decades and nearly knocked off Las Vegas Bishop Gorman in this event last year so don't expect them to be intimidated by this California juggernaut.
American Heritage vs. St. Joseph's Prep (PA), Aug. 22: Heritage kicks off the ESPN-televised portion of the Broward Showcase on Friday with a matchup against MaxPreps No. 30-ranked St. Joseph's. This will be the first true test for the Patriots as they begin their bid to repeat as Class 4A state champions.
More games to watch - Aug. 21: Piper vs. Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) (Dillard), 4; Archbishop McCarthy at Cardinal Gibbons; Monarch vs. Jacksonville Bolles (Dillard), 8
Aug. 22: West Broward vs. Corner Canyon (UT), 4; Orlando Dr. Phillips at Dillard, 8
Chaminade at McArthur, Aug. 29: There's been plenty of buzz surrounding McArthur this offseason after the arrival of several transfer starters figures to make the Mustangs a postseason threat. Their schedule is no joke as at this point McArthur will have played American Heritage in the preseason and now another nationally-ranked powerhouse.
More games to watch - Aug. 28: Cypress Bay at Flanagan; Aug. 29: West Broward at Camden County (Ga.), 7:30; Piper at Coconut Creek.
St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Columbus (Tropical Park), 7:30, Sept. 5: This matchup should once again attract a big crowd with both schools home to two of the most passionate fanbases in South Florida. Aquinas quickly turned last year's matchup into a 42-6 rout. Columbus is eager to prove it is still among the state's best overall and a legit state title contender in Class 7A. This is a good early test to prove that.
Chaminade at American Heritage, 7:30, Sept. 5: If both survive their early tests, this matchup could have major national championship implications. Regardless, when Heritage and Chaminade have played each of the past four seasons, they've provided some of the most thrilling games in South Florida.
More games to watch - Sept. 5: McArthur at Miramar; Monarch at Don Bosco Prep (NJ).
West Broward at Cardinal Gibbons, Sept. 11: West Broward took a big step forward last season, and figures to be geared up for another playoff run in 2025. The Bobcats' roster might be their deepest ever and this was the game where they made their mark last season. Gibbons would love payback and a chance to remind people it is a state title contender in Class 2A.
More games to watch - Sept. 12: True North at Archbishop McCarthy; American Heritage at New Orleans Edna Karr; Piper vs. Plantation (PAL).
Central at American Heritage, 7:30, Sept. 19: Echoes of the 2022 state title game continue to come up when these two meet. Heritage will be battle-tested by this point after a brutal early schedule. For a younger, but not any less talented Central squad now coached by Derrick Gibson, this is a good measuring stick game.
More games to watch - Sept. 19: St. Thomas Aquinas at McArthur; West Broward at Flanagan; Miramar at Dillard.
Western at Chaminade, Sept. 26: Western wants to prove it is still among the best teams in the state despite heavy roster turnover this offseason. The Wildcats face a daunting obstacle in the Lions, who should be rounding into form by this point in the season as they vie for a fifth consecutive state title and maybe more.
More games to watch - Sept. 26: Goleman at Cypress Bay; Deerfield Beach at Blanche Ely.
Dillard at Blanche Ely, Oct. 4: The Soul Bowl has been competitive in recent years and should be again as both traditional county powers vie to make deep playoff runs this season. Count on this one to be heated again with bragging rights on the line as usual.
More games to watch - Oct. 3: Monarch at Chaminade; Western at West Boca Raton, 6:30.
Blanche Ely at Chaminade, 7, Oct. 10: Coming off the Soul Bowl, Ely must brace for a motivated Chaminade squad likely looking for some payback for a stinging loss at the start of last season. Ironically, that loss dropped the Lions to 0-2 and kickstarted their run to a fourth consecutive state title.
More games to watch - Oct. 10: Norland at American Heritage, 7:30; Western vs. Goleman (Milander).
Miramar at West Broward, 4, Oct. 17: The playoffs won't be too far away at this point and this game should be an intriguing matchup as both Miramar and West Broward gear up for the postseason. A victory here is a momentum-builder for either side.
More games to watch - Oct. 16: Cardinal Gibbons at Boca Raton, 6:30; Oct. 17: St. Thomas Aquinas at Monarch (Coconut Creek); Western at Cypress Bay; Coral Springs at Douglas.
St. Thomas Aquinas at American Heritage, Oct. 24: Heritage beat Aquinas for the first time ever in last season's matchup. It marked a milestone victory for the Patriots and the last loss for Aquinas before recovering and surging to another state title. The Raiders will be looking for payback.
More games to watch - Oct. 24: Chaminade at Cardinal Gibbons; Monarch at Piper.
Chaminade at St. Thomas Aquinas, Oct. 31: Could this be part 2 of an Aquinas revenge tour? The Raiders also suffered their first loss to Chaminade in decades last year so just like their matchup with Heritage the week before, expect them to be motivated in what could be another game pitting nationally-ranked foes.
More games to watch - Oct. 30: Blanche Ely vs. Monarch (Coconut Creek); Oct. 31: Plantation at South Plantation; Miramar at Cardinal Gibbons; Flanagan at Cooper City.
Nov. 14: Regional quarterfinals; Nov. 21: Regional semifinals; Nov. 28: Regional finals; Dec. 5: State semifinals; Dec. 10-13: State championships at Pitbull Stadium (FIU).
