National High School Football Games of the Week: September 5-7

The 2024 high school football season is just getting started, yet there’s already been plenty of intriguing results and dramatic finishes across the country.

Finally, the entire country will be underway this week, and as a result, there’s an eye-popping number of big games on the horizon.

A total of 15 games between teams ranked in the On3 Massey Ratings national top 100 are set to kick off in the coming days. Headlined by week two in Texas and a top-10 clash between two of the biggest programs in the sport, nine states will be featured in the top matchups on deck.

Below are the key matchups to watch across the nation this weekend:

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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Top High School Football Games This Week

#7 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) vs. #1 Mater Dei (Calif.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: Mater Dei 24, Bishop Gorman 21 (2022)
Santa Ana Stadium is set to host perhaps the nation’s biggest regular season game of 2024 on Friday night when Bishop Gorman heads to Mater Dei in a clash of two juggernauts out West. The game will feature 29 prospects ranked three stars or higher. Gorman (2-0) already has wins over the No. 2 team in Hawaii and the No. 3 team in Florida. Mater Dei (1-0) looked the part in its season-opening win and has won all three previous meetings against the Gaels. The On3 Massey Ratings heavily favors the home team, but Gorman possesses the roster to hang with the Monarchs. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET.

#11 Owasso (Okla.) vs. #17 Jenks (Okla.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: Owasso 34, Jenks 28 (2023)
Some major respect was placed on Oklahoma high school football by the On3 Massey Ratings this week, as four programs are now featured in the national top 25. Owasso (1-0) made the jump from nearly outside the top 300 to No. 11 after a stunning season-opening win over preseason favorite Bixby. Jenks (1-0) made a similar move after a 45-point win last week. Led by junior four-star running back Kaydin Jones, Jenks will look to lean on its home-field advantage, while Owasso will look to avoid a hangover from its upset win to open the 2024 campaign. The On3 Massey Ratings gives Jenks a 65% win probability.

#20 North Crowley (Texas) vs. #3 DeSoto (Texas) — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: DeSoto 53, North Crowley 28 (2021)
If there was any doubts about Texas and its place high atop the high school football mantle, DeSoto (1-0) put those to rest last week, demolishing defending Georgia 5A state champion Creekside 70-0. Behind Virginia Tech QB commit Kelden Ryan and SMU WR commit Daylon Singleton, the Eagles will be a tough out this fall. North Crowley brings a firm offensive line to the table, led by 2026 No. 11 overall prospect John Turntine and Missouri IOL commit Henry Fenuku. The Panthers (1-0) already have a road win under their belt and will look for a big upset this weekend.

#10 Atascocita (Texas) vs. #24 Katy — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: Atascocita 42, Katy 34 (2023)
One of six showdowns between top-100 national programs in Texas this week, Atascocita and Katy each won their season-openers, though the results varied significantly. It was a cakewalk for the No. 10 Eagles and Oklahoma four-star RB commit Tory Blaylock, as they defeated Lamar 35-7 at home. The No. 24 Tigers, however, survived a high-scoring affair on the road, besting Dickinson 41-37. Keeping Blaylock in check will be a tall task for the Katy defense. Atascocita is predicted to win 41-28 by the On3 Massey Ratings.

#14 St. Frances Academy (Md.) vs. Orange Lutheran (Calif.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: N/A
St. Frances Academy is keen on playing a tough schedule, and a particularly challenging stretch of games begins this week with a trip across the country from Baltimore to California to take on Orange Lutheran, the No. 5 team in the Golden State. The No. 14 Panthers (2-0) have taken care of business thus far behind an impressive defense, led by junior five-star EDGE Zion Elee. Lutheran (2-0) is led by Nebraska four-star QB commit TJ Lateef and is coming off a 31-point win on the road last week. A classic East vs. West showdown is on the cards in Orange County.

Cocoa (Fla.) vs. #16 IMG Academy (Fla.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Previous Meeting: IMG Academy 49, Cocoa 7 (2015)
In a battle between top-five programs in the Sunshine State, Cocoa will look to dethrone IMG Academy in Bradenton on Friday night. The Tigers (2-0) have possessed one of the top offenses in the state through two games, scoring 93 total points. Junior Michigan four-star QB commit Brady Hart threw for over 330 yards last week and connected with UCF four-star WR commit Jayvan Boggs for four touchdowns. IMG bounced back from its season-opening loss by going back on the road last week and defeating Bergen Catholic, the No. 1 team in New Jersey, 27-14. SMU four-star QB commit Ty Hawkins has eight touchdowns two games into his senior season for the Ascenders.

Other National Top-100 Games

Lewisville (Texas) vs. Byron Nelson (Texas) — Thursday, Sept. 5
Cedar Hill (Texas) vs. #15 Allen (Texas) — Friday, Sept. 6
Rockwall (Texas) vs. Lake Travis (Texas) — Friday, Sept. 6
Coppell (Texas) vs. Waxahatchie (Texas) — Friday, Sept. 6
Bergen Catholic (N.J.) vs. Washington (Ohio) — Friday, Sept. 6
North Gwinnett (Ga.) vs. Mill Creek (Ga.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Langston Hughes (Ga.) vs. Douglas County (Ga.) — Friday, Sept. 6
Buford (Ga.) vs. Roswell (Ga.) — Friday, Sept. 6
#4 St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. Sierra Canyon (Calif.) — Saturday, Sept. 7