JCA vs. Providence Opener One of the Highlights on Local Football Schedule

When two traditional powerhouses kick off the high school football season in a head-to-head battle sure to draw a huge crowd, they’ll be playing for more than the usual bragging rights.

Providence Catholic and Joliet Catholic Academy also will be playing for a position in the top half of USA Today’s state football power rankings.

Providence, 8-3 year ago, was listed No. 15 in the preseason ratings announced earlier this week. JCA, 8-5 in 2012 and a semifinalist in the Class 5A playoffs, checked in at No. 23.

The two play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, on ATI Field at Memorial Stadium in Joliet.

Defending Class 8A state champion Mt. Carmel is USA’s Today’s preseason choice as the No. 1 football team in Illinois.

Joliet Catholic Academy

• Aug. 30: Providence Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 7: at St. Thomas Academy (Minn.), 1 p.m.
• Sept. 13: St. Viator, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: at Nazareth Academy, 1:30 p.m.
• Sept. 27: Marist, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 4: St. Patrick, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 11: at Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 18: Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 25: at Benet Academy, 7:30 p.m.

Joliet Central

• Aug. 30: at Rich Central, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 7: Reavis, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 13: at Bolingbrook, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: Homewood-Flossmoor, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 27: at Sandburg, 7:15 p.m.
• Oct. 5: Stagg, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 12: Lockport, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 19: at Joliet West, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 26: Lincoln-Way East, 1 p.m.

Joliet West

• Aug. 30: at Thornridge, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 7: King, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 13: at Homewood-Flossmoor, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: Sandburg, noon.
• Sept. 27: at Bolingbrook, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 5: Lincoln-Way East, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 11: at Stagg, 7:15 p.m.
• Oct. 19: Joliet Central, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 26: Lockport, 1 p.m.

Minooka

• Aug. 30: at Morris, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 6: Providence Catholic, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 13: at Oswego, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 20: at Plainfield Central, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 27: Plainfield East, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 4: Plainfield South, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 11: at Oswego East, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 18: Plainfield North, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 25: Romeoville, 7 p.m.

Providence Catholic

• Aug. 30: at Joliet Catholic Academy, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 6: at Minooka, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 13: DeLaSalle, 7:30 p.m.
• Sept. 21: at Loyola Academy, 1:30 p.m.
• Sept. 27: Gordon Tech, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 4: St. Rita, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 12: at Fenwick, 1:30 p.m.
• Oct. 18: at Mt. Carmel, 7:30 p.m.
• Oct. 25: Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m.