High school football: La Salle's schedule release includes games against national power IMG Academy

Lancers host defending nationals champs on Sept. 3 with regional foes Trinity, Cathedral also on slate.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
By
May 12, 2021, 10:15am
The National Football League is set to release its 2021 schedule Wednesday and were about 100 days from the start of the high school football fall season. Some teams, like La Salle (Cincinnati), are taking a cue from the NFL and releasing their schedule.

The Lancers play in the Greater Catholic League-South, one of the toughest in Ohio, and also face a difficult non-league schedule headlined by a showdown against 2020 MaxPreps National Champion, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

"We want our kids to play the best teams. So, here we go," La Salle head coach Pat McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin and the Lancers face three teams ranked in the final MaxPreps Top 25. La Salle hosts the Ascenders on Sept. 3 at Lancer Stadium. IMG went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country last fall.

The Lancers travel to Kentucky to face Trinity (Louisville) on Sept. 10. The Shamrocks won their eighth state title since 2010 and finished 10th nationally last fall, going 10-0 while outscoring the opposition 429-48.

Three weeks later, on Oct. 1, La Salle hosts Indiana 5A champion Cathedral (Indianapolis). The Fighting Irish finished at No. 19 in the MaxPreps Top 25 after going 13-1.

La Salle was 8-3 last season, falling 14-10 to Washington (Massillon) in the Ohio Division II semifinals. The Lancers won a state title in 2019, their fourth since 2014. The 2021 schedule they've compiled should prepare the Lancers for all-comers in the postseason.

MaxPreps starts releasing its preseason high school football content with the preseason MaxPreps Top 25 on June 23. Expect to see the Lancers featured in our Top 10 toughest schedules dropping later in July.
La Salle coach Pat McLaughlin, seen in 2019, has a tough schedule prepared for the Lancers this season, facing reigning MaxPreps National Champion IMG Academy as well as Trinity and Cathedral.
La Salle coach Pat McLaughlin, seen in 2019, has a tough schedule prepared for the Lancers this season, facing reigning MaxPreps National Champion IMG Academy as well as Trinity and Cathedral.
File photo by Jeff Harwell
2021 La Salle football schedule

Aug. 20 — vs. Colerain (Cincinnati)

Aug. 27 — vs. Winton Woods (Cincinnati)

Sept. 3 — vs. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Sept. 10 — at Trinity (Louisville)

Sept. 17 — vs. DuPont Manual (Louisville)

*Sept. 24 — at Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)

Oct. 1 — vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis)

*Oct. 8 — at St. Xavier (Cincinnati)

Oct. 15 — at Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood)

*Oct. 22 — vs. Elder (Cincinnati)

*Indicates league game

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