St. John Bosco (California) to open up 2025 high school football season in Florida's South Suncoast

The Braves will head to Bradenton, Florida to take on former University of Florida Jacquez Green's Manatee Hurricanes

Mater Dei and St. John Bosco look on during the coin flip ahed of their September matchup. / Heston Quan

When the St. John Bosco (California), one of the country's elite high school football programs, opens up the 2025 season, they will be going up against one of the top teams out of the Sunshine State.

The Manatee Hurricanes released their 2025 schedule on Monday afternoon, with the most noticeable game being the home opener on August 22nd going up against the Braves at Hawkins Stadium on Joe Kinnan Field in Bradenton. 

St. Thomas Aquinas defeated the Manatee Hurricanes 16-13 on Friday night, in Bradenton to advance to state championship. / Thomas Bender / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lawsuit against St. John Bosco furthers concern over high school football coaches' pressure to recruit, win

Andy Rants: From high school to college to pro, football coaches must win or else

The Braves are one of California’s best teams annually and are coming off an 11-2 campaign, with both of their losses coming to Mater Dei, the country’s top team of 2024. 

Also on the schedule is Lowndes (Georgia, who Manatee also faced in the 2024 season. 

Manatee is coming off a 10-2 season playing in Florida’s Class 5A, reaching the state semifinals and narrowly losing to eventual state champion, St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Lowndes defeated Manatee, 30-15, back on Sep. 6th in Valdosta. 

---

More From High School On SI 

• Florida high school girls flag football: No. 2 Alonso shuts down No. 1 Robinson

• Connor Stalions gives hot take on the current landscape of high school 7-on-7

• Nick Bigica returning for second stint as Golden Gate (Florida) football head coach

• IMG Academy Has Begun Its Search for Billy Miller’s Replacement as Head Football Coach

---

Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.

High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi