Six high school football teams to open seasons in Ireland

Video: St. Peter's Prep dual threat quarterback Johnathan Lewis
St. Peter's Prep is one of six U.S. teams traveling to Ireland for the American Football Showcase

Three high school football teams from Georgia, two from Florida and another from New Jersey will travel to Ireland on Labor Day weekend to partake in the American Football Showcase, it was announced today.

The three games, to be played at Trinity College Dublin, are:

Westminster (Atlanta) vs. Community School of Naples (Fla.)

Marist (Atlanta) vs. Belen Jesuit (Miami)

St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) vs. Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.)

Belen Jesuit coach Richard Stuart said playing at historic Trinity College Dublin "Is going to be an unbelievable experience and a beautiful setting for the players and fans."

St. Peter's Prep coach Rich Hansen, who boasts the top recruit among the six teams, 6-foot-6, 295-pound guard Benjamin Petrula, said his team plans to embrace the Irish culture. But the Marauders are there to compete against a very good Blessed Trinity squad that has gone a combined 52-14 in five seasons under Tim McFarlin. The Titans have gone a combined 26-2 the last two seasons.

St. Peter's Prep should also be helped by highly touted 3-star recruit and dual-threat quarterback Johnathan Lewis (6-3, 205).

"We are acutely aware of the success of their program," Hansen said of Blessed Trinity. "They are talented, well coached and present a huge challenge for us on all fronts. It's really an honor to be able to compete against a great program in a beautiful country at a majestic site."

The games will be played in conjunction with the college game between Boston College and Georgia Tech, scheduled for Sept. 2.