MaxPreps lists the teams that face the hardest list of opponents this season.
Big matchups are great for fans. For football teams, they can be great or dreadful.
On one hand, marquee games net huge crowds, produce amazing intensity and gather media attention galore. It's a lot of fun to play against a good opponent, after all. On the other hand, though, a big matchup means facing great teams. And that means a bigger chance for a loss.
MaxPreps takes a look at which teams have the most big matchups this season. In other words, which teams have the toughest schedules.
MAXPREPS' TOP 10 TOUGHEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
1. Greater Catholic South League (Ohio)Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) - Toughest opponents: Trinity (Ky.), St. Edward, St. Xavier (Ohio)
St. Xavier (Cincinnati) - Toughest opponents: Trinity (Ky.), St. Edward, Archbishop Moeller
Elder (Cincinnati) - Toughest opponents: Trinity (Ky.), St. Edward, St. Xavier
Crowds go crazy at Elder vs. St. Xavier games.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
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2. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)Toughest opponents:
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), St. Xavier, Archbishop Moeller
It's always a battle between St. Edward and Moeller.
Photo by Christopher Zaphiris
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3. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)Toughest Opponents: St. Xavier, Archbishop Moeller, Elder
The Trinity Shamrocks are ready to rock.
Photo by Wayne Litmer
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4.Trinity League (Calif.)Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) - Toughest opponents:
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas),
Oceanside (Calif.), St. John Bosco
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) - Toughest opponents: Servite,
San Clemente (Calif.), St. John Bosco
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) - Toughest opponents: Servite, Santa Margarita, Lutheran
Orange Lutheran (Calif.) - Toughest opponents: Servite, St. John Bosco, Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) - Toughest opponents: Servite, St. John Bosco, Lutheran
Servite and Mater Dei always provide hits.
Photo by David Hood
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5. Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)Toughest opponents: Don Bosco Prep,
Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.),
Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.)
Manatee never shys away from competition, like last year vs. St. Thomas Aquinas.
Photo by Stuart Browning
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6. Loyola (Los Angeles)Toughest opponents:
Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.), St. John Bosco,
Crespi (Encino, Calif.)
Loyola and Alemany always come to play when facing each other.
Photo by Vince Pugliese
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7. Mission Viejo (Calif.)Toughest opponents: Don Bosco Prep,
San Clemente (Calif.),
Long Beach Poly (Calif.)
Expect some fireworks when Mission Viejo and Long Beach Poly collide.
Photo by Jose L. Marin
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8. Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.)Toughest opponents: Our Lady of Good Counsel,
University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.),
Ursuline (Youngstown, Ohio)
Quarterback David Sills is back under center.
Photo by Bill Berg
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9. Brentwood (Tenn.)Toughest opponents: Trinity (Ky.),
Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.),
McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Brentwood Academy faces another brutal schedule.
Photo by Chris Evans
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10. Hebron (Carrollton, Texas)Toughest opponents:
Allen (Texas),
Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas),
Horn (Mesquite, Texas)
Hebron and Allen will clash again this season.
Photo by Keith Owens
