No. 10 Raiders will play NFL Academy at Premier League soccer palace Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 8.
The Raiders won their 16th state championship in 2024 after going 12-3. St. Thomas Aquinas enters this season ranked No. 10 in the nation and returns top wide receivers
Julius Jones Jr. and
Ah'Mari Stevens, who hauled in a combined 1,300 receiving yards in 2024.
The Raiders also return
Christien Moreau, who led the team in sacks and
Zayden Gamble and
Jaden Carey, the team's interception leaders.
The NFL Academy seeks kids aged 16-18 who are eligible to study in the United Kingdom that are interested in developing their education, athletic and character potential using American football.
In 2024 the NFL Academy played
Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.),
Washington (Massillon, Ohio),
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) and
IMG Academy White (Bradenton, Fla.). The London school lost all four games, but put up good showings in each of them.
St. Thomas Aquinas will take on the NFL Academy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a 62,850-seat palace that hosts Premier League soccer club Tottenham Hotspur. The stadium opened in 2019 and has hosted 10 NFL games, including a 400-yard passing performance from Jameis Winston.
