This week marks the start of the 2025 high school football season in Florida with the FHSAA Kickoff Classic games. These competitions are officially exhibitions, with the goal of acclimating participants to game-day conditions.
However, some see the Classic week as an opportunity to participate in high-profile games that have the potential to affect national rankings.
Consider The First Academy’s Kickoff Classic opener on Thursday. When the Royals host IMG Academy of Bradenton, a powerhouse that USA Today ranks No. 4 nationally, they will be trying to make headlines. Maxpreps has IMG at number six and TFA at number sixty-two.
Therefore, don’t assume that this IMG-TFA game is merely another preseason drill. Seven players on the Royals’ loaded roster have committed to Power Four universities in an attempt to make an impression.
The same will apply to Jones and Seminole’s game at Camping World Stadium on Saturday. At No. 47, Jones is the top-ranked Central Florida squad according to Maxpreps.
Edgewater will play Bishop Moore Catholic less than a mile away on Friday night in the College Park Clash, another rivalry game with significant bragging rights.
Kickoffs are at 7 p.m., unless otherwise specified.
The First Academy’s Thursday IMG AcademySatellite’s Oak RidgeAt Haines City, Evans 7:30 Friday at the Lyman Jamboree, Ocoee, Mount Dora 5:30Fit Special at West Oaks 6Sumter South at Tavares 6:30Bishop Moore’s EdgewaterOviedo’s Lake MaryAt Dr. Phillips, BooneLake Brantley’s Melbourne Central CatholicApopka’s Tampa Bay Tech
At the Mainland, OsceolaWinter Park #South Lake at Lake NonaHorizon at West Orange’s Olympia at Wekiva East River
Creek of Timber at TohopekaligaWindermere GatewayKissimmee Liberty at Orlando UniversityAt Lake Buena Vista, freedomAt Leesburg, DeLandInnovation’s St. CloudThe HarmonyOrlando villages Poinciana vs. Christian PrepAt Lake Howell, DeltonaColonial EustisNorth Miami at Orange City UniversityAtlantic Winter SpringsPasco’s East RidgeLand O Lakes’ Lake MinneolaFind out at CelebrationMelbourne’s Pine RidgeGolden Gate at Cypress Creek (Naples) 7:30Prep for Trinity at Seven Rivers Christian Umatilla at 6:30 at StantonWest Oaks Academy’s Specially Fit Academy, 6On SaturdayJones vs. Seminole, 5 p.m. #
SSAA season begins on FridayThe Master’s Classic’s Foundation Academy at 7:30Orangewood’s Geneva SchoolFaith’s Cornerstone Charter ChristianPrep for Trinity at Seven Rivers ChristianMount Dora’s Fernandina Beach Stanton’s Christian Umatilla
(# game locations: Poinciana at Austin-Tindall Sports Complex; Jones at Camping World Stadium; Winter Park at Showalter Field).
Windermere Prep, Lake Highland Prep, and CFCA are not participating.
You may reach Chris Hays at X.com@OS_ChrisHays.
