Top 5 out-of-state high school football games featuring Utah teams

Video: Schyler Shoemaker's highlight vs. Bishop Gorman
See the Bingham High senior in action as a junior last season against Bishop Gorman.

Some of Utah's top high school football teams will get a chance to test themselves against top regional and national competition during the 2015 season. Utah teams have a good track record playing under a national spotlight in recent years and the story should be no different this time around.

Circle your calendar for these five can't-miss out-of-state showdowns involving Utah teams.


Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at Bingham (South Jordan), Sept. 4

If this rematch between the Miners and Gaels lives up to its potential, it could rank among the best games nationally this fall. That certainly proved true last season when Bingham forced overtime against Bishop Gorman before falling 23-20 in Las Vegas. Both teams won their respective state championships in 2014 and the Gaels finished the season atop the MaxPreps Top 25 Composite Rankings. The quarterback duel between Bingham's Keaton Torre and Bishop Gorman's Tate Martell should only enhance the excitement. Torre threw for 1,527 yards and 10 touchdowns playing in Oklahoma last season. Martell tallied 2,537 yards and 40 touchdowns for Gorman in 2014.

East (Salt Lake City) at Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Aug. 28 

How will East's triple-option attack fare against one of California's top high school teams? The Huskies have won three straight CIF Southern Section titles and East is two years removed from a Class 4A runner-up finish. Centennial returns top receiver Javon McKinley, who had 2,062 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2014. Top quarterback Anthony Catalano (2,009 yards and 21 touchdowns) and rushing threat J.J. Taylor (1,921 yards and 27 touchdowns) also return. The Leopards will be breaking in young talent at several key positions but have a promising playmaker in senior quarterback Gavin Herd.

Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village, Colo.) at Jordan (Sandy), Sept. 19

Jordan is no stranger to playing tough out-of-state teams and this figures to be one of the toughest tests yet. The Bruins are the defending Class 5A champions in Colorado after edging Valor Christian for the title a year ago. Both teams will have to find a way to replace dominant offensive players. Malik Hall is now at Wyoming after a 2,000-yard rushing season for Cherry Creek last fall. Austin Kafentzis left Jordan for Nevada after setting 20 career and single-game state records for passing and total offense during his four-year career in Utah.

American Fork at Highland (Pocatello, Idaho), Aug. 29

The Cavemen ended last season with a loss to a defending state champion. They will get a crack at taking down another in week two of the 2015 season. The Rams claimed Idaho's Class 5A crown last fall – their first state title since 2008. They will face some transition, with just one offensive starter – senior receiver turned quarterback Connor Harding – returning this fall. American Fork will have its top threats on both sides of the ball back. Tanner Smith returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,188 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. Top tackler Nathan Honey is back after tallying 121 tackles in 2014. This game will be played at Idaho State University.

Pleasant Grove at Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.), Aug. 28

The Vikings endured a frustrating season a year ago, missing the playoffs after capturing a share of the Region 4 title in 2013. Pleasant Grove is expected to be back in playoff form in 2015 and should offer a stiff challenge to the Golden Eagles. Both teams will be breaking in a new quarterback, but the Vikings have talented returning senior receivers like Coleman Edwards and Malik Overstreet Jr., who can smooth the transition. The duo combined for more than 1,500 receiving yards in 2014.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports