High School Football Countdown: Teams piling up frequent flyer miles in 2016

Out-of-state games look quaint in comparison to this season's high school football event in Ireland.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Mitch Stephens
By
Aug 12, 2016, 11:00pm
Video: Bishop Gorman vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Get a taste of what to expect Sept. 30 in Las Vegas.

MaxPreps High School Football Countdown
Today — Teams logging frequent flyer miles this season
Aug. 14 — Players to follow on Twitter
Aug. 15 — Coaches nearing landmark wins
Aug. 16 — Best highlight tapes
Aug. 17 — Big time players flying under the recruiting radar
Aug. 18 — High-octane offenses

Hop on a plane. Close your eyes. Land at an exotic destination.

It's the American dream.

Here are the movers and shakers of the high school football world, who will travel to far away destinations in 2016 to meet dreamy competition.
5. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) at Cedar Hill (Texas)

The third-ranked Gaels have traveled further (to New Jersey) and to more inviting settings (to Hawaii), but the 1,222-mile trip to fifth-ranked Cedar Hill on Aug. 27 is sheer football paradise. Any trip to play football in the Lone Star State is.

4. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Jason Negro loves taking his team out of Southern California. "It's a great education," he said. "You learn so much about your guys. They have to grow up quick. They have to get along. It's a great learning tool."

Negro isn't waiting around. His ninth-ranked Braves will travel 2,173 miles to the University of Cincinnati to take on Ohio power St. Xaver on Aug. 27. "We better get along because it will take everything we got to compete against those guys," Negro said.

3. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Bishop Gorman

There's lots of good competition in Florida. Endless. But the nation's top-ranked team wanted the ultimate challenge — going against two-time defending national champion Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. Aquinas takes the 2,503-mile flight to Sin City the week of Sept. 30 for a showdown which could be No. 1 versus No. 2.

"Bishop Gorman is an extraordinary program," Aquinas coach Roger Harriott said. "We're grateful."

2. Westminster (Atlanta, Ga.), Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), Marist (Atlanta, Ga.), St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.), Community School of Naples (Fla.) and Belen Jesuit (Miami, Fla.) in Dublin (Ireland)

These six teams each make the approximate 5,200-mile one-way trip to Dublin (Ireland) Sept. 2 as part of the tremendous annual tripleheader at Donnybrook Stadium.

The exchange is part of the American Football games and proceeds from the day's events are donated to Special Olympics Ireland. It's also marks the start the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which features a game between Boston College and Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.

It's an experience to be shared as bands and cheerleaders, along with players and coaches, will take part in a parade that ends with a pep rally at Trinity College. More than 3,000 Americans will be a part of the festivities.

1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) in Southern California

The fourth-ranked Ascenders will take the 2,732-mile flight to Los Angels twice to face two perennial Southern California powers.

On Sept. 3, IMG will face 19th-ranked Centennial (Corona) as part of the Honor Bowl at Mission Viejo. On Oct. 28, it makes a return visit to play at Long Beach Poly.

All told that's 10,928 frequent-flier miles. And we're not even counting IMG's 500-mile one-way trip to Loganville, Ga., to face second-ranked Grayson on Aug. 27.

Related Content