High School Football in Ireland

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

For those of you that can't wait until the switch is flipped on the Friday Night Lights, don't worry, there's some Friday morning and afternoon football in Dublin, Ireland that will help you scratch that itch until your favorite team hits the field tonight.

The 2012 Global Ireland Football Tournament is just about underway in Dublin with the Kent School from Connecticut getting ready to play the National School of American Football team from the United Kingdom.  This will be the second time that Kent has played overseas.  Three years ago, Kent defeated Fiton College 27-6 in the Global Bowl in Bristol, England.

There are three all-U.S. match-ups starting with Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, California and Arizona-power Hamilton.  The other two match-ups are: Loyola Academy from Illinois against Dallas Jesuit from Texas and Father Judge from Philadelphia playing Notre Dame Prep from Arizona.

All three of these games represent that first time an all-American high school football game has been played outside of the 50 states.

Earlier this year, GIFT founder and former University of Notre Dame quarterback Patrick Steenberge joined me on High School Football America to talk about the event.  You can listen to that interview by clicking here.

All games, except for the Loyola/Jesuit game will be streamed live.  Click here to watch.

Two New Teams Enter MaxPreps' Xcellent 25

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

After  a couple of tough close battles had some thinking that Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) may not have been worthy of its #1 ranking.  That all changed Saturday when the top-ranked Ironmen dismantled St. Edward 38-7 in a battle of unbeatens at Fordham University in the Bronx in New York City.

As a result of the solid win over the defending Ohio Division I champs, DBP sits solidly atop the latest MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 this week.  St. Ed fell-out of the Top 25 as a result of the loss that snapped its 21-game win streak.  Bosco's win streak is now at 40.

For the first time in a long time, there are changes in the Top 5.  Miramar's 27-20 overtime win over former #5 St. Thomas Aquinas shuffles the Florida powers.  Miramar moves into the #5 slot, while the Raiders fall to #11 this week.

Former #4 Allen (Texas) falls five spots to #9 after a hard fought 42-38 win over Plano East.

Entering the poll this week at #24 and #25 respectively: #24 Daphne (Alabama) and #25 Hamilton (Chandler, AZ).

Hamilton owns the nation's second longest active win streak at 47 straight.  Not bad for a team that many felt was rebuilding in 2011.

Earlier this year on the NHSCA Sports Hour, I spoke to Husky head coach Steve Belles.  You can listen to that interview by clicking here.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25
1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 5-0, LW: #1
2. Armwood (FL) 6-0, LW: #2
3. Trinity (KY) 7-0, LW: #3
4. DeSoto (TX) 6-0, LW: #6
5. Miramar (FL) 5-0, LW: #24
6. Katy (TX) 6-0, LW: #7
7. Gaffney (SC) 7-0, LW: #8
8. Good Counsel (MD) 6-0, LW: #10
9. Allen (TX) 6-0, LW: #4
10. Bishop Gorman (NV) 7-1, LW: #11
11. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) 4-1, LW: #5
12. Mallard Creek (NC) 7-0, LW: #12
13. Buford (GA) 8-0, LW: #13
14. Grayson (GA) 6-0, LW: #14
15. Archbishop Moeller (OH) 7-0, LW: #15
16. Trinity (TX) 7-0, LW: #16
17. Warren Central (IN), LW: #19
18. Bellevue (WA) 6-0, LW: 17
19. Harrison Hills Harrison (MI) 7-0, LW: #18
20. Central Miami (FL) 5-0, LW: #20
21. Lake Travis (TX) 6-0, LW: #21
22. Camden County (GA) 6-0, LW: #23
23. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (PA) 6-0, LW: #25
24. Daphne (AL) 7-0, LW: NR
25. Hamilton (AZ) 7-0, LW: NR

Two American High School Football Teams to Play in Ireland

by Jeff Fisher

High School Football America

The long rumored...at least since December...American high school football game in Ireland appears now to be a reality.

Texas-based Global Football is putting together a series of games in 2012 will include Arizona-power Hamilton (Chandler, AZ) taking-on Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, California on August 31, 2012 in Dublin, Ireland.

Reports indicated that four more high school games could be added to the weekend, which will conclude with the Army-Notre Dame college football game at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Hamilton has won three straight state championships, while Notre Dame has been one of the top programs in California for years.