Top 10 high school football games that will help determine the 2025 MaxPreps National Champion

Mater Dei, St. Frances Academy figure prominently into the list thanks to several high-profile matchups.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
By
Aug 19, 2025, 9:30am
The 2025 high school football season has plenty of great games in store but none bigger than No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at No. 2 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) on Oct. 31. This has been the marquee game and rivalry at the prep level over the last decade. 

Mater Dei is 109-5 since 2016 and all five losses have come against St. John Bosco. The Monarchs hold an 11-5 edge in the head-to-head series during that span. 

The Trinity League powers have combined for five MaxPreps National Championships since 2017 and figure to be influential once again in deciding who is No. 1 when the dust settles in December.

Our preview of the 2025 season continues by looking at 10 games that will decide the national title this season. Mater Dei is featured on this list three times. 

The Monarchs make a trip to Las Vegas on Sept. 19 to face No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). This will be the fifth meeting between the two since 2017 with Mater Dei winning the previous four by an average margin of 18.7 points per game. 

Mater Dei-Gorman will be the MaxPreps Game of the Week and streamed live and free on MaxPreps. The other is our third-rated game between St. John Bosco and No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) on Sept. 5. 

But before all of that, Mater Dei begins its season with to Florida to face No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) on  Saturday. This will be the first meeting between programs that have combined for 13 state titles over the last decade.
St. John Bosco and Mater Dei will renew acquaintances in later October and if recent history is any indication, again at some point in the postseason. (PHOTO: Louis Lopez)
St. John Bosco and Mater Dei will renew acquaintances in later October and if recent history is any indication, again at some point in the postseason. (PHOTO: Louis Lopez)
Road to the national title

When: Oct. 31
Where: Panish Family Stadium

2. No. 1 Mater Dei at No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
When: Sept. 19
Where: Fertitta Field

3. No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at No. 2 St. John Bosco
When: Sept. 5
Where: Panish Family Stadium

4. No. 1 Mater Dei at No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
When: Aug. 23
Where: Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium

5. No. 5 St. Frances Academy at No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
When: Nov. 7
Where: IMG Academy Stadium

6. No. 5 St. Frances Academy at No. 7 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
When: Aug. 23
Where: Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium

When: Sept. 12
Where: Behrman Stadium

8. No. 8 American Heritage at No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas
When: Oct. 24
Where: Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium

When: Oct. 10
Where: Panther Stadium

When: Aug. 29
Where: Grayson Community Stadium

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