De La Salle, St. Frances Academy slated for powerhouse matchup

California high school football powerhouse De La Salle released its 2021 schedule on Monday and one out-of-state opponent is standing out because of the headliner of the slate.

St. Frances Academy of Baltimore, Maryland will visit California to require on De La Salle during a nationally televised affair on Oct. 1. St. Frances Academy has established itself together of the premier high school football programs within the nation recently, going 44-3 since 2016 with multiple Top 10 finishes within the USA Today Super 25 along the way.

“It’s an excellent challenge with St. Frances,” De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “They are of the caliber of the teams that play for our state title, so we are looking forward to testing ourselves.”

St. Frances boasts seven of the highest 16 class of 2022 recruits within the state of Maryland, consistent with 247Sports, in four-star linebacker Jaishawn Barham, four-star defensive lineman Derrick Moore, four-star defensive lineman Nasir Pearce, four-star cornerback Cam Johnson, three-star cornerback, and Boston College commit Jamal Hood, three-star offensive tackle Jacob Sacra and three-star wide receiver and Minnesota commit Ike White. The Panthers also feature an abundance of elite 2023 and 2024 talent.

De La Salle’s other notable 2021 opponent is San Diego Catholic school power Cathedral Catholic. De La Salle will need to affect its usual gauntlet of an East Bay Athletic League schedule, but matchups with St. Frances and Cathedral Catholic will function as a litmus test for the Spartans this upcoming season.

“Cathedral Catholic is disciplined, physical, athletic, and well-coached,” Alumbaugh said. “We’re looking forward thereto new matchup with an excellent program.”