High school football: Mater Dei vs. Duncanville headlines list of 10 biggest games of 2021 season

By Zack Poff Jul 6, 2021, 12:45pm

Top-ranked Monarchs involved in several matchups expected to be pivotal in national rankings.

The pandemic hampered travel last season, scuttling many of the most anticipated out-of-state high school football games of 2020. As things begin to return to normal, the 2021 schedule is already full of marquee matchups pitting teams from throughout the MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings, released last month

And while we'll continue releasing preseason content until the first kickoff in August, here's a look at 10 games that we've circled on the calendar as "must-see." Many of these games feature gridiron hotbeds squaring off with contests pitting California vs. Texas, Florida vs. California and Georgia vs. Pennsylvania.

Eight games below feature matchups of teams in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25, headlined by No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) traveling to Texas to tangle with No. 15 Duncanville. It's the first time since 2015 a ranked team from the Golden State has ventured to Texas.

Other highlights include a homecoming for Patrick Surtain. The American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) head coach brings his reigning 5A Florida champions to Louisiana in September where his Patriots face Edna Karr, Surtain's alma mater. He led the Cougars to a 1993 state title as a player.
American Heritage head coach Patrick Surtain takes his Patriots to play Edna Karr in September. Surtain played his high school ball at Edna Karr, winning a Louisiana state title in 1993.
American Heritage head coach Patrick Surtain takes his Patriots to play Edna Karr in September. Surtain played his high school ball at Edna Karr, winning a Louisiana state title in 1993.
File photo by Richard Ta
Top 10 games of the year

When: Sept. 11
Where: Brady Field (Philadelphia) 



When: Oct. 22
Where: Santa Ana Stadium (Santa Ana, Calif.)

When: Sept. 17
Where: TBD

When: Sept. 4
Where: Paradise Coast Sports Complex (Naples, Fla.)

When: Oct. 1
Where: Owen Owens Field (Concord, Calif.)

5 — No. 10 St. Frances Academy at No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
When: Aug. 28
Where: Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

4 — No. 16 Miami Central vs. No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
When: Aug. 20
Where: TBD

3 — No. 10 St. Frances Academy at No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
When: Nov. 19
Where: IMG Academy Field (Bradenton, Fla.)

2 — No. 1 Mater Dei at No. 3 St. John Bosco
When: Oct. 1
Where: Panish Family Stadium (Bellflower, Calif.)

1 — No. 1 Mater Dei at No. 15 Duncanville (Texas)
When: Aug. 27
Where: Panther Stadium (Duncanville, Texas)
St. Joseph's Prep is featured in one of the season's top 10 biggest games when the Hawks take on Milton on Sept. 11.
St. Joseph's Prep is featured in one of the season's top 10 biggest games when the Hawks take on Milton on Sept. 11.
File photo by Robert Barnes