New Jersey High School Football Games of the Week: August 29-31

High school football season has arrived in New Jersey, with teams from across the Garden State taking the field this week for their first games.

That includes four of the top five ranked teams in state, all of whom will be welcoming out-of-state powerhouses for big early-season games. Below are the top six tilts to watch in New Jersey 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.

CLICK HERE to watch your high school’s games on NFHS Network now!

Top high school football games in New Jersey

#1 Bergen Catholic vs. IMG Academy (Fla.) — Thursday, Aug. 29
Bergen Catholic comes into 2024 as the New Jersey Non-Public A defending state champions after the Crusaders downed Delbarton 24-14 in the title game last season. Their lone loss of the year came against Florida powerhouse Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. And this year they will play one of the nation’s toughest schedules opening on Aug. 29, starting with Florida’s IMG Academy. Four-star wide receiver Quincy Porter is a top-50 recruit nationally and committed to Ohio State, and he’s flanked by fellow Big Ten commits Naiim Parrish and Chris Vigna and four-star juniors Jermaine Kinsler and Jordan Thomas. They’ll face a stiff test against the Ascenders, a program that recruits nationally and features more than 30 Division I prospects across multiple classes.

#2 Don Bosco Prep vs. Archbishop Hoban (Ohio) — Friday, Aug. 30
Don Bosco was knocked out of the playoffs by Delbarton last season in the quarterfinals. The Ironmen will look to improve upon their 5-6 season this year starting with Archbishop Hoban, who will be looking to rebound after a season-opening loss. Bosco’s roster is headlined by Northwestern commit Marquet Dorsey Jr., while Hoban will counter with blue-chip 2026 prospects Elbert Hill, Sam Greer, Payton Cook and Ohio State 2025 commit Eli Lee.

#7 DePaul Catholic vs. #19 Pope John XXIII — Friday, Aug. 30
DePaul Catholic lost the Non-Public B state championship game in 2023, and this year, the Spartans hope to get past that final obstacle. They open against Pope John XXIII, a top-20 team in the state. The senior class is loaded for the Spartans, who boast Ohio State commits De’zie Jones and DeShawn Stewart, Notre Dame WR commit Elijah Burress, Penn State IOL commit Michael Troutman and Boston College ATH pledge Nolan James. DePaul is quarterbacked by junior four-star QB Derek Zammit.

The Lions, meanwhile, will counter with a group led by Wake Forest commit Tyler Houser.

#9 St. Augustine Prep vs. #12 Donovan Catholic — Friday, Aug. 30
Donovan Catholic knocked St. Augustine Prep out of the Non-Public A quarterfinals a year ago, and the Hermits will get a shot at avenging that loss in week one of 2024. Fast-rising 2026 defensive lineman Damari Simeon headlines their roster, while Donovan boasts Rutgers four-star wideout commit Michael Thomas as well as coveted 2026 prospect Kai Pritchard and Najee Calhoun.

#3 St. Joseph Regional vs. St. Frances Academy (Md.) — Saturday, Aug. 31
A 6-4 season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Seton Hall Prep last season, but the Green Knights are poised to be one of the best programs in the Garden State in 2024. They open with Baltimore St. Frances with a chance for revenge against Seton Hall Prep in week two. Four-star Penn State CB commit Jahmir Joseph, Rutgers RB commit John Forster and Duke safety pledge Ma’khi Jones headline a talented senior class for the Knights. St. Frances will come to town with one of the nation’s most talented teams, led by 2026 top-50 recruits Zion Elee and Jireh Edwards, as well as Auburn commit Bryce Deas, Tennessee pledge Darrion Smith and Maryland verbal Damon Hall.

#4 Delbarton School vs. Iona Prep (N.Y.) — Saturday, Aug. 31
Delbarton made it all the way to the Non-Public A state title game last year before falling to Bergen Catholic to cap an impressive 10-2 season. The Green Wave will face a brutally tough in-state schedule that includes games against St. Peter’s, Seton Hall, Pope John XXIII and DePaul Catholic. But before that, they’ll take on New York’s top-ranked team in Iona Prep.