Today at 3:30 p.m., the St. Thomas Aquinas varsity football team of Fort Lauderdale, FL, will host Mater Dei from Santa Ana, CA, in a non-conference home game.

St. Thomas Aquinas vs Mater Dei Football Game Info:

What: California High School Football
Who: St. Thomas Aquinas vs Mater Dei
When: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM
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Game preview: St. Thomas Aquinas vs Mater Dei

Mater Dei vs. St. Thomas Aquinas: High Stakes Clash to Open Season

The 2025–26 high school football season kicks off with a marquee matchup as Mater Dei High School from Santa Ana, California, hosts St. Thomas Aquinas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in a highly anticipated non-conference showdown. Both programs enter the season with impressive national reputations and zero games played, setting the stage for a true opening statement.

Team Rankings and Records

Mater Dei enters the season ranked No. 1 nationally, in California, and in its section and division. Though the Monarchs have yet to start their schedule, expectations are sky-high for the reigning powerhouses of California high school football.

Meanwhile, St. Thomas Aquinas comes in ranked No. 10 nationally, No. 4 in Florida, and No. 1 in its class, making the matchup a true test of talent and depth for both squads.

Both teams are at 0-0 overall, with no games played at home, on the road, or at neutral sites. Points for (PF) and points against (PA) remain at zero as the season officially begins.

Matchup Notes

• Overall Record: 0-0 each

• League/Non-League Record: 0-0 each

• Home/Away/Neutral: 0-0 each

• Playoff and State Records: 0-0 each

• Head-to-Head: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs

While neither team has played yet this season, the historical prestige of both programs promises a highly competitive game. Mater Dei, traditionally dominant in California, faces one of Florida’s perennial powerhouses in St. Thomas Aquinas, offering fans a rare cross-country showdown.

What to Watch For

Key storylines will include how each team’s offensive and defensive units perform against top-tier competition from outside their state, and which program can assert itself early in the national rankings. With both teams carrying top-tier reputations, every play is likely to be scrutinized by scouts, media, and fans eager for a glimpse at the season’s potential title contenders.

The game promises high stakes, high drama, and a true test of two of the nation’s elite high school football programs.