Saint Frances Academy head football coach Messay Hailemariam wants the nation to know that the Panthers won't be ducking competition any time soon.
Since his return to the program in 2021, Hailemariam's built the Panthers into not only the top program in Maryland, but one of the nation's best high school football programs year-in and year-out.
On Monday, Aug. 17, he put an open challenge out to other national powers with a post on Instagram.
With the caption, "We want all the smoke , Ain’t no duckin💨. Call me", Hailemariam's post was a graphic stating that Saint Frances Academy would welcome any open challenge from multiple nationally ranked programs from eight different states.
The No. 4 program in the final preseason USA TODAY Sports Super 25 rankings, the list included multiple programs who also enter the season ranked.
It includes No. 2 St. John Bosco (CA), No. 3 Bishop Gorman (NV), No. 6 Mater Dei (CA), No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), No. 11 Buford (GA), No. 14 Carrollton (GA), No. 15 DeMatha (MD) and No. 16 Duncanville (TX).
While the other programs on the graphic may not be ranked in the Super 25, most are ranked in other national outlets as top 100 programs and several won state championships last year.
Saint Frances Academy opens its season on August 28 as the Panthers travel to DeLand (FL) and take on a Bulldogs squad that finished 2025 with a 12-1 record.
Other notable matchups on their schedule include road trips to Vero Beach (FL) on September 4, Bryant (AK) on September 11, St. James Academy (VA) on October 9 and The Hun School (NJ) on October 17.
Their biggest game of the year comes on November 13 as they host No. 1 ranked IMG Academy (FL). The two teams were supposed to play last season on November 7, but the game was cancelled by IMG Academy, citing an extended layoff.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Any takers? Saint Frances Academy football coach issues open challenge to nation's best