The North Harford Hawks (MD) varsity football team is set to play a home conference game against Bel Air Bobcats (MD) on Saturday, August 23, at 10:00 AM.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: Maryland High School Football
Who: North Harford Hawks (MD) vs Bel Air Bobcats (MD)
When: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Where: Bel Air High School
Live stream: Watch on NFHS Network
The 2025-2026 high school football season is on the horizon, with both the North Harford Hawks and the Bel Air Bobcats gearing up for a fresh start. As of now, both teams hold identical 0-0 records, but their preseason rankings and schedules hint at different trajectories for the season.
Preseason Rankings and Outlook
Bel Air enters the season with a clear advantage in the rankings. The Bobcats are positioned significantly higher than the Hawks in both state and national rankings, sitting at #66 in Maryland and #4,961 nationally. This suggests a strong returning roster or a favorable outlook from analysts. In contrast, North Harford starts the season at #148 in Maryland and #9,885 nationally. The rankings indicate that Bel Air is expected to be a more competitive team this year, a factor that could weigh heavily when the two teams meet on the field.
Common Opponents
The schedules for both teams feature five common opponents: Joppatowne, Fallston, Aberdeen, Harford Tech, and C. Milton Wright. This shared slate of games will provide a great way to measure each team’s performance against similar competition.
North Harford’s Schedule: The Hawks’ schedule is front-loaded with these common opponents, with four of the five matchups occurring in September. They’ll face Joppatowne on September 5, Fallston on September 12, Aberdeen on September 19, and Harford Tech on September 26, before wrapping up the common games against C. Milton Wright on October 3.
Bel Air’s Schedule: The Bobcats will have their common opponent matchups spread throughout the season. They will face Joppatowne on September 26, Fallston on October 10, Aberdeen on October 3, Harford Tech on October 31, and C. Milton Wright on October 24.
Observing how each team fares against these opponents will be key to understanding their progress and will set the stage for a compelling showdown if they face each other in the playoffs.
Head-to-Head & Playoff Implications
While the current data shows no head-to-head matchup scheduled, the possibility of a playoff game looms large, especially given their rivalry and shared county. The outcome of their common opponent games could significantly influence playoff seeding and potential matchups.
The preseason rankings suggest that Bel Air has a better chance of a deep playoff run. However, North Harford’s schedule, with a heavy concentration of common opponents early on, could give them an opportunity to build momentum and prove the rankings wrong. The Hawks have a chance to make a statement, while the Bobcats will be looking to live up to their preseason hype. Both teams have a lot to prove, and their performance in the upcoming season will be closely watched by fans across Harford County.
