FHSAA football's top games this week include Aquinas at Cardinal Mooney

The Kickoff Classics don't count in the standings, but this year's preseason high school football schedule could be a preview of the Open Division.

Several heavyweight programs face off this weekend, including a pair of games featuring teams ranked in the top 10 of the USA TODAY Florida Network Super 25.

The Kickoff Classics are highlighted by defending state champions St. Thomas Aquinas and Cardinal Mooney playing in Sarasota on Aug. 14. Both teams rank in the top eight in the preseason MaxPreps rankings, which will determine which eight teams advance to the inaugural Open Division.

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Carol City and West Boca, the back-to-back state champions, also are both ranked in the top eight in the MaxPreps rankings. Those two teams, which met multiple times in 7-on-7 tournaments this offseason, face off in Boca Raton.

Jones travels to Miami Central in a matchup of teams with outstanding defensive talent. Vero Beach hosts Cardinal Newman, which won its first state title in 2025. Lake Mary, which stunned Vero Beach in the Class 7A state championship game last season, hosts Buchholz.

Here's a closer look at this week's top games:

St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 1 Class 5A) at Cardinal Mooney (No. 1 Class 3A)

Aquinas is the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Florida Super 25; Cardinal Mooney is No. 6. Both of these teams won state championships in dominant fashion in 2025 — Aquinas in 5A, Mooney in 2A. Elite talent on both sides of the ball. Aquinas beat Cardinal Mooney 22-14 in the Kickoff Classic in Fort Lauderdale last season.

Carol City (No. 2 Class 2A) at West Boca (No. 2 Class 5A)

Once again, West Boca plays a South Florida powerhouse in the Kickoff Classic. Last season, it was Chaminade-Madonna; this year, it's Carol City (No. 5 Super 25). West Boca has won back-to-back state titles and returns an elite defense. Carol City has high expectations after adding several impact transfers, led by Miami five-star wide receiver commit Nick Lennear.

Jones (No. 2 Class 4A) at Miami Central (No. 2 Class 3A)

Central is No. 7 on the Super 25; Jones is 15. Central went 10-2 in 2025, with both losses coming against nationally ranked rival Miami Northwestern. Jones has been the Class 4A state runner-up the past two seasons. Both of these teams have elite defensive players, so it could be a long night for the offenses.

Cardinal Newman (No. 3 Class 2A) at Vero Beach (No. 3 Class 7A)

Both of these teams are ranked in the Super 25: Vero Beach is No. 17, and Cardinal Newman is No. 19. Cardinal Newman won the Class 1A state title in 2025 but is breaking in several new offensive starters this fall. Vero Beach was the Class 7A state runner-up in 2025 and returns senior four-star quarterback Champ Monds, a Notre Dame commit.

Buchholz (No. 5 Class 5A) at Lake Mary (No. 6 Class 6A)

Lake Mary won the Class 7A state title in 2025 and begins a new era with quarterback Remy Jarman. The Rams host perennial state power Buchholz, which is led by junior quarterback Andrew Whittemore. Buchholz was a Class 6A state semifinalist in 2025.

Other top Kickoff Classic games featuring Super 10 teams

Thursday, Aug. 13

Miami Palmetto (No. 5 Class 6A) at Archbishop McCarthy (No. 9 Class 5A)

McArthur (No. 3 Class 4A) at South Dade

Friday, Aug. 14

Armwood (No. 3 Class 5A) at Edgewater (No. 8. Class 6A)

St. Augustine (No. 7 Class 4A) at Ponte Vedra (ARV Class 5A)

Jesuit (No. 9 Class 4A) at St. Petersburg Catholic (No. 7 Class 1A)

Camden County (Georgia) at Bolles (No. 3 Class 2A)

Tampa Bay Tech at Carrollwood Day (No. 1 Class 1A)

Hawthorne (No. 3 Class 1A) at Vanguard (ARV Class 4A)

Trinity Christian (No. 5 Class 1A) at Manatee (No. 7 Class 5A)

Plant (ARV Class 4A) at Berkeley Prep (No. 9 Class 2A)

Cardinal Gibbons (No. 7 Class 3A at Titusville (No. 9 Class 3A)

Port Charlotte (No. 4 Class 4A) at Sarasota Riverview

Florida High (No. 8 Class 2A) at Godby

Saturday, Aug. 15

Chaminade-Madonna (No. 1 Class 2A) vs. Miami Norland (ARV Class 4A)

Recruiting matchups to watch

Carol City WR Nick Lennear vs. West Boca S Loia Valade

Lennear (5-foot-11½, 165 pounds) is ranked No. 3 on the USA TODAY Florida Network top 100 and is committed to Miami; Valade (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is ranked No. 62 top 100 and is committed to Texas A&M.

Cardinal Mooney QB Davin Davidson vs. St. Thomas Aquinas S Zayden Gamble

Davidson (6-foot-6½, 215 pounds) is ranked No. 12 on the top 100 and is committed to Florida; Gamble (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) is ranked No. 16 on the top 100 and is committed to Notre Dame.

Godby WR Jamarin Simmons vs. Florida High CB Izayah Vickers

Simmons (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) is ranked No. 4 on the top 100 and is committed to Clemson; Vickers (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) is ranked No. 14 in the state in the 2028 class on the 247Sports composite and has offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame and others.

Vero Beach QB Champ Monds vs. Cardinal Newman ATH Kahlil Gabaud

Monds (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) is ranked No. 19 on the top 100 and is committed to Notre Dame; Gabaud is ranked No. 33 in the state in the 2028 class on the 247Sports composite and has offers from Florida State, Illinois, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt and others.

Miami Palmetto WR Kaden Howard vs. Archbishop McCarthy CB Justin Antenor

Howard (5-foot-10, 155 pounds) is ranked No. 95 on the top 100 and is committed to Georgia Tech; Antenor (6-foot-1, 172 pounds) is ranked No. 29 in the state in the 2028 class on the 247Sports composite rankings and has offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FHSAA football's top games this week include Aquinas at Cardinal Mooney