The 2026 high school football season will open with a marquee contest as the St. John Bosco Braves travel to Las Vegas to face the Bishop Gorman Gaels on Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m. PT. Both programs enter the game ranked among the nation’s elite, with St. John Bosco holding the top spot in the West and Bishop Gorman positioned just behind at No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports Super 15 regional rankings.
A Clash of Early‑Season Powerhouses
St. John Bosco arrives in Nevada after a 9‑2 campaign that featured a nine‑game winning streak before a pair of playoff defeats to Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran. The Braves finished the season as the West’s No. 1 team in the preseason Super 25 poll, a placement that underscores their reputation as a perennial powerhouse.
Bishop Gorman, meanwhile, opened the season with a victory over Somerset Academy Losee and followed it with a 14‑0 shutout of defending state champion Santa Margarita. The Gaels finished the previous year at 11‑1, their only loss coming at the hands of Mater Dei, and they sit at No. 3 in the West rankings heading into the Las Vegas showdown.
Quarterback Koa Malau'ulu will anchor the Braves’ offense, tasked with navigating a defense that features cornerback Hayden Stepp, a recruit committed to Oregon. Stepp’s presence adds a high‑profile matchup at the secondary, promising a battle of arm strength against a strong arm.
The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network from Fertitta Field, giving fans across the country a chance to watch the early‑season clash that could set the tone for the year. With both teams poised to make deep playoff runs, the outcome may influence national rankings and seedings as the season progresses.