Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 3 features No. 14 Thompson [AL] at No. 7 Grayson [GA]

The states of California, Florida, and Georgia have already made their 2025 high school football debuts in the previous two weeks.

Now, Texas joins the fray, meaning all of the Big 4 states in national high school football are officially off and running.

There was action in Texas last night, and our No. 12 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX] Panthers got a good scare from the unranked Lancaster [TX] Tigers before escaping with a 22-18 win. And, one of our other ranked Texas teams will venture to Georgia this weekend as the No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles pay a visit to the Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles.

But the game of the week is also in the Peach State Friday night, and it features the No. 14 defending Alabama AHSAA Class 7A champion Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors at Georgia's No. 7 reigning GHSA Class 6A champion Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams.

One of those teams will see its national title hopes all but disappear tonight. And we've got all the other top matchups here in the Sporting News Roadmap to the National Championship as well.

THE SPORTING NEWS PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

• The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense

• The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense

The Sporting News Roadmap to the National Championship

Our weekly roadmap is a list of all the upcoming head-to-head games between The Sporting News High School Football Top 25 teams throughout the 2025 season. That will, of course, change as new teams enter and other teams exit after falling out. It will be updated every week with the hope of providing a clearer idea of where things stand heading into each weekend. And we will highlight the games on that week's schedule that could affect the national championship picture.

Of course, some of those games involve Top 25 teams against highly-regarded but unranked teams that could affect the national championship picture. And we'll also try to identify those teams playing spoiler in our weekly list of "trap" games that provide the best potential for upsets.

A look back to last week

Teams from California and Florida got in on the action starting last week, and the game of the week actually pitted one team from each of those states against each other.

The No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs flew across the country to take on the No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders in a game that lived up to its billing as The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week.

And, somehow, it still wasn't the real game of the week thanks to No. 9 American Heritage's epic rally from a 28-0 deficit to beat St. Joseph's Prep, 31-28. You can check out all of last week's action in our Top 25 Roundup.

Roadmap to the National Championship: National Week 3

That brings us to the roadmap for National Week 3, and these are the games this weekend that will have an impact on the 2025 road to the high school football national championship.

NATIONAL WEEK 3

The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week

• TSN No. 14 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors (1-0) at TSN No. 7 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams (2-0) — 6 p.m. EST local Friday

Other National Championship Roadmap Games

• TSN No. 18 Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders 22, TSN No. 17 East St. Louis [IL] Flyers 21 (game was played Thursday, August 28, at Ocean City, NJ)

All of these games are season openers for both teams.

"Trap" Games

These games present a higher potential for upsets with Top 25 teams facing off against highly-regarded unranked teams. As such, these are games where those unranked teams may also have an opportunity to play their way into the Top 25.

• TSN No. 5 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders 35, Winslow Township [Atco, NJ] Eagles 14 (game was played Thursday, August 28, at Ocean City, NJ)
• Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 33, TSN No. 9 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 27 (Thursday, August 28)
• TSN No. 12 North Crowley [TX] Panthers 22, Lancaster [TX] Tigers 18 (Thursday, August 28)
• TSN No. 24 Liberty [Peoria, AZ] Lions 37, Mountain View [Mesa, AZ] Toros 0 (Thursday, August 28)

Friday, August 29

• TSN No. 21 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers (2-0) at NR Fremont [Plain City, UT] Silverwolves (2-0) — 9 p.m. EST (7 p.m. MST local)

Saturday, August 30

• TSN No. 15 DeSoto [TX] Eagles (0-0) at NR Creekside [Fairburn, GA] Seminoles — 4 p.m. EST local

The Easy Road

These games involve Top 25 teams in matchups that would be major upsets if the unranked team prevailed.

Friday, August 29

• NR Boyd Anderson [Lauderdale Lakes, FL] Cobras (1-0) at TSN No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders (0-1) — 7 p.m. EST local
• TSN No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions (0-1) at NR McArthur [Hollywood, FL] Mustangs (0-0) — 7 p.m. EST local
• TSN No. 23 Milton [GA] Eagles (1-1) at NR Alpharetta [GA] Raiders (0-1) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
• TSN No. 25 Grimsley [Greensboro, NC] Whirlies (1-0) at NR West Forsyth [Clemmons, NC] Titans  (0-1) — 7:30 p.m. EST local
• TSN No. 22 Southlake [TX] Carroll Dragons (0-0) at NR Midland [TX] Bulldogs (0-0) — 8 p.m. EST local (7 p.m. CST local)
• NR Eastwood [El Paso, TX] Troopers (0-0) at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (1-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
• NR Rancho Cucamonga [CA] Cougars (0-1) at TSN No. 13 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers (1-0) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)
• TSN No. 19 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos (1-0) at NR St. Paul [Santa Fe Springs, CA] Swordsmen (0-1) — 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local)

Sunday, August 31

• TSN No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels (1-0) at NR Kahuku [HI] Red Raiders (2-1) — 1 a.m. EST (7 p.m. HST local)

Idle

The following teams are idle this week.

No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (1-0) No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers (1-0), No. 6 Duncanville [TX] Panthers (0-0), No. 8 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots (1-0), No. 11 Buford [GA] Wolves (2-0), No. 20 Edna Karr [New Orleans, LA] Cougars (0-0)

The Future Roadmap to the National Championship

This future roadmap is updated weekly, depending on results in previous games. As teams fall out of the Top 25, their games here will be deleted (although they may resurface in our weekly trap games). As new teams enter the Top 25, any matchups against other Top 25 teams will be added.

NATIONAL WEEK 4

Fri, 9/5/25 — TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) Panthers at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves
Fri, 9/5/25 — TSN No. 15 DeSoto (TX) Eagles at TSN No. 12 North Crowley (TX) Panthers
Fri, 9/5/25 — TSN No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) Lions at TSN No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, FL) Patriots

NATIONAL WEEK 5

Fri, 9/12/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 9 Centennial (Corona, CA) Huskies
Fri, 9/12/25 — TSN No. 17 East St. Louis (IL) at TSN No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV)
Fri, 9/12/25 — TSN No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, FL) Patriots at TSN No. 20 Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA) Cougars

NATIONAL WEEK 6

Fri, 9/19/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) Gaels

NATIONAL WEEK 7

There are currently no games involving Top 25 teams scheduled for National Week 7.

NATIONAL WEEK 8

Fri, 10/3/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 13 Orange (CA) Lutheran Lancers

NATIONAL WEEK 9

Fri, 10/10/25 — TSN No. 15 DeSoto (TX) Eagles at TSN No. 6 Duncanville (TX) Panthers
Fri, 10/10/25 — TSN No. 13 Orange (CA) Lutheran Lancers at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves

NATIONAL WEEK 10

There are currently no games involving Top 25 teams scheduled for National Week 10.

NATIONAL WEEK 11

Fri, 10/24/25 — TSN No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Raiders at TSN No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, FL) Patriots
Sat, 10/25/25 — TSN No. 17 East St. Louis (IL) Flyers at TSN No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) Ascenders

NATIONAL WEEK 12

Fri, 10/31/25 — TSN No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs at TSN No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) Braves
Fri, 10/31/25 — TSN No. 16 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) Lions at TSN No. 10 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) Raiders

NATIONAL WEEK 13

Fri, 11/7/25 — TSN No. 4 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) Panthers at TSN No. 5 IMG Academy (FL) Ascenders

Previous Roadmap to the National Championship Results

NATIONAL WEEK ZERO: Kahuku, Hawaii

Both of these teams were unranked, but as our national game of the week, it was still a stop on our 2025 Roadmap to the National Championship.

Kahuku also had an opportunity to get into the national title conversation with games later in the season against the No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) Monarchs and the No. 2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) Gaels. The loss to Saint Louis in shutout fashion ended those faint dreams of a national title.

The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week

Sat, 8/9/25 — UNR Saint Louis (Honolulu, HI) Crusaders 20, Kahuku (HI) Red Raiders 0

NATIONAL WEEK 1: Buford, Georgia

This week marked the beginning of the 2025 prep season in the Peach State, and all eyes were on Buford, Georgia, where the Wolves were hosting the first game in their new home.

On opening night at Phillip Beard Stadium at Dexter Wood Field, No. 12 Buford delivered the opening knockout of the season, ending the No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles' dreams of entering the national title picture for a second straight season in a 20-13 decision.

The Sporting News National High School Football Game of the Week

Thu, 8/14/25 — No. 12 Buford [GA] Wolves 20, No. 14 Milton [GA] Eagles 13

Other Games featuring Top 25 Teams

Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 8 Grayson (Loganville, GA) Rams 51, Collins Hill (Suwanee) Eagles 3
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 25 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers 45, Bingham [South Jordan, UT] Miners 0

NATIONAL WEEK 2: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

It was the week that California and Florida jumped into the 2025 fray, and the Broward County National Football Showcase gave us some moments to remember.

No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas rallied from a 26-3 deficit to take No. 1 Mater Dei to the wire in a 26-23 loss. That was one night after No. 9 American Heritage climbed out of 28-0 hole to come back and beat No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep, 31-28.

In the end, two Top 25 teams were eliminated from national title consideration with No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] and No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep falling out of the picture. Two Florida teams, meanwhile, saw their national title hopes put on life support with both No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas and No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna moving to the far fringe of the conversation.

The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week

Sat, 8/23/25 — No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs 26, No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas 3

Other National Roadmap Games featuring Top 25 teams in head-to-head matchups

Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 9 American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots 31, No. 20 St. Joseph's Prep [Philadelphia, PA] Hawks 28
Sat, 8/16/25 — No. 4 St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers 42, No. 10 Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] 13
Sat, 8/16/25 — No. 15 Orange [CA] Lutheran Lancers 17, No. 14 Northwestern [Miami, FL] Bulls 15

Other Games featuring Top 25 teams in action

Thu, 8/14/25 — No. 16 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors 37, Carver Montgomery [AL] Wolverines 6
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 2 Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels 52, Centennial [Las Vegas, NV] Bulldogs 0
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 3 St. John Bosco [Bellfloser, CA] Braves 31, Manatee [FL] Hurricanes 0
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 5 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders 34, Hoover [AL] Buccaneers 13
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 8 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams 24, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles 19
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 11 Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 42, Servite [Anaheim, CA] Friars 14
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 12 Buford [GA] Wolves 42, Benedictine [Savannah, GA] Cadets 14
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 22 Mission Viejo [CA] Diablos 7, Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 3
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 24 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers 38, West Broward [Pembroke Pines, FL] Bobcats 13
Fri, 8/15/25 — No. 25 Milton [GA] Eagles 24, The First Academy [Orlando, FL] Royals 17

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