Week 3 of the regular season in Florida is shaping up to be one of the best in the season.
After two weeks of Florida teams taking on some of the nation’s best, Week 3 features some of the premier matchups of the 2025 season.
Defending state champions Chaminade-Madonna (No. 1 Class 1A) and American Heritage (No. 2 Class 4A) face off in Plantation.
St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 1 Class 5A) travels to Columbus (No. 2 Class 7A). Vero Beach (No. 1 Class 7A) hosts three-time defending state champion Cocoa (No. 4 Class 2A).
Armwood (No. 3 Class 6A) travels Tampa Bay Tech (No. 2 Class 5A) and Lake Mary (No. 5 Class 7A) takes on Lakeland (No. 4 Class 5A) in a rematch of one of the most exciting games in 2024.
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Here’s a closer look at Week 3’s best games:
Chaminade-Madonna (No. 6 Super 25) at American Heritage (No. 5 Super 25)
An early September staple on the schedule, American Heritage is looking to snap a three-game losing skid in the series. Chaminade wide receiver Jasen Lopez caught 11 passes for 256 yards in the Lions’ 48-39 win in 2024.
Recruiting matchup to watch: Chaminade-Madonna 2026 WR Jasen Lopez (No. 39 USA TODAY Florida top 100, Florida State commit) vs. American Heritage 2027 CB Amare Nugent.
St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 2 Super 25) at Columbus (No. 19 Super 25)
Aquinas routed Columbus 42-6 in Fort Lauderdale in 2024. The Raiders are coming off a 72-6 drubbing of Boyd Anderson, a game in which they scored three special teams touchdowns.
Recruiting matchup to watch: Aquinas 2027 WR Julius Jones vs. Columbus 2027 S Christian Rust.
St. Augustine (No. 22 Super 25) at Bolles (No. 7 Super 25)
A rematch of the 2023 thriller that ended with St. Augustine’s last-minute touchdown to beat Bolles 43-36. Bolles senior wide receiver Naeem Burroughs (Clemson commit) scored two touchdowns in that game.
Recruiting matchup to watch: St. Augustine 2026 WR Somourian Wingo (No. 27 top 100, Miami commit) vs. Bolles 2026 LB/S Simeon Caldwell (No. 21 top 100, Ohio State commit).
Armwood (No. 17 Super 25) at Tampa Bay Tech (No. 9 Super 25)
Two of the premier programs on the West Coast face off on Friday. Armwood has won two in a row, including a 31-27 road win in 2024. Tampa Bay Tech running back Javari Barnett rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown in last year’s game before suffering a season-ending injury.
Recruiting matchup to watch: Armwood 2027 LB Theo Wilson vs. Tampa Bay Tech 2026 RB Javari Barnett (No. 53 top 100, Alabama commit).
Cocoa at Vero Beach (No. 18 Super 25)
Cocoa and Vero Beach are meeting for the first time since the 2021 season opener, a game which the Tigers won 42-41 on the road. Vero Beach is looking for its third consecutive win against a ranked opponent after beating Eau Gallie and Buchholz to start the season.
Recruiting matchup to watch: Cocoa 2026 DB CJ Hester (No. 33 top 100, Florida commit) vs. Vero Beach 2026 WR Xavier Stinson (No. 89 top 100, UCLA commit).
Lake Mary at Lakeland (No. 13 Super 25)
Two 2024 state runners-up face off in a rematch of a last year’s thriller. Lakeland stunned Lake Mary with a last-minute touchdown, then held on to win 35-34 in overtime. Lake Mary has come from behind wins against Miami Norland and Osceola this year; Lakeland is coming off a tough 10-6 loss at De La Salle (California).
Recruiting matchup to watch: Lake Mary 2026 QB Noah Grubbs (No. 32 top 100, Notre Dame commit) vs. Lakeland 2027 EDGE Santana Harvey.
Other top games to watch in Week 3
Sept. 4
Miami Southridge (1-0, No. 2 Class 6A) at Miami Palmetto (1-0, No. 6 Class 7A)
Plantation (1-1) at West Broward (0-2)
Sept. 5
Bergen Catholic-New Jersey (1-0) at West Boca (1-0, No. 1 Class 6A)
Ocoee (2-0, No. 8 Class 7A) at Lake Nona (2-0)
Booker (1-1, No. 6 Class 3A) at Calvary Christian-Clearwater (2-0, No. 5 Class 2A)
Merritt Island (1-1) at DeLand (2-0, No. 4 Class 7A)
Berkeley Prep (0-2) at Carrollwood Day (2-0, No. 4 Class 1A)
Lincoln (2-0, No. 5 Class 5A) at Nease (2-0, No. 8 Class 6A)
Benjamin (1-1) at Cardinal Newman (1-1, No. 3 Class 1A)
Titusville (1-1) at West Orange (2-0, No. 8 Class 7A)
Ponte Vedra (1-1) at Baker County (1-1)
Fleming Island (2-0) at Oakleaf (2-0, No. 5 Class 6A)
Florida High (2-1, No. 6 Class 2A) at Hawthorne (2-0, No. 1 Rural Class)
Raines (1-0, No. 3 Class 3A) at Trinity Christian (0-2)
Cardinal Gibbons (0-1, No. 8 Class 2A) at Calvary Christian-Fort Lauderdale (2-0)
Heritage (1-1) at Eau Gallie (1-1, No. 5 Class 3A)
Niceville (1-1, No. 7 Class 5A) at Pine Forest (1-1)
Monarch (1-1) at Don Bosco Prep-New Jersey (1-0)
Palmetto (1-0) at Sarasota Riverview (1-0-1, No. 10 Class 7A)
Eastside (2-0, No. 9 Class 3A) at Buchholz (1-1, No. 4 Class 6A)
Clearwater (2-0) at Lakewood (2-0, No. 9 Class 2A)
Durant (1-1) at Gaither (1-1, No. 10 Class 5A)
Bradford (2-0, No. 3 Class 2A) at South Sumter (2-0, No. 7 Class 3A)
Bishop Verot (1-1, No. 7 Class 2A) at Venice (0-1, No. 3 Class 7A)
Vanguard (1-1) at Newberry (0-2)
Godby (0-2) at Pensacola Catholic (1-1)
Miami Norland (1-1, No. 5 Class 4A) at South Dade (2-0)
Lake Wales (2-0, No. 4 Class 4A) at Auburndale (0-1)
Jesuit (2-0, No. 6 Class 4A) at Valdosta-Georgia (3-0)
Manatee (1-1) at Lowndes-Georgia (3-0)
Sept. 6
Evans (1-1) at Jones (2-0, No. 1 Class 4A)
Monsignor Pace (1-0, No. 10 Class 2A) at True North Classical (0-2)
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida high school football: Chaminade-American Heritage, Aquinas-Columbus headline Week 3
Reporting by Jon Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
