The Honor Bowl, a 501c3 non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for our military veterans, has released its 2016 schedule of games that will feature three games pitting East coast high school football powers against Southern California powers during the Labor Day Weekend at Mission Viejo High School in SoCal. In addition, the six-game, three-day high school football showcase will also feature three games between top teams from Northern California and Southern California.
The first East/West match-up will take place on Friday, September 2nd when Oaks Christian (Westlake, CA) faces St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, PA). On Saturday, September 3rd, The Honor Bowl tripleheader kicks-off with Serra (Gardena, CA) taking-on St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, NJ). The sixth-and-final game of the weekend will feature the previously announced match-up between Corona Centennial (Corona, CA) and IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL).
“We are very excited with our 2016 match-ups and our venue move from Oceanside High to Mission Viejo High School,” said Mark Soto, founder of The Honor Group. “All of the teams involved this year are a perfect fit for the Honor Bowl’s mission of educating students, coaches and communities about the needs of our military veterans.”
“With IMG, St. Joseph’s Prep and St. Joseph Regional traveling from the east coast, the event is well on its way achieving its next goal of becoming the country’s premier national high school football showcase that helps our nation’s military veterans while educating our outstanding student-athletes about the sacrifices made every day by those that serve America,” said Soto. “I’d like to thank Jeff Fisher of High School Football America who used his relationships to introduce great coaches like Augie Hoffmann (St. Joseph Regional), Gabe Infante (St. Joseph’s Prep) and Kevin Wright (IMG Academy) to our event.”
The Honor Bowl 2016 card also features two defending California state champs in host Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, CA) and Central Catholic (Modesto, CA).
Four-time CIF champ Central Catholic kicks-off the weekend showcase on Thursday, September 1st with a match-up against Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, CA). 2015 CIF Division I-AA champ Mission Viejo will square-off with defending CIF-Southern Section Eastern Division champ Oak Hills on Friday, September 2nd. 2015 Division I-A runner-up Clayton Valley will face CIF Southern Region finalist Helix (La Mesa, CA) on Saturday, September 3rd.
“Our school and community is excited about hosting this event,” said Mission Viejo head coach Bob Johnson. “We participated in The Honor Bowl several years ago and our school and community loved it. The quality of athleticism, coaching and school spirit will be astounding.”
2016 Honor Bowl Schedule
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Opening Ceremony
7:30 P.M. – Cathedral Catholic Dons (San Diego, CA) vs. Central Catholic Raiders (Modesto, CA)
Friday, September 2, 2016
Armed Forces Night
5:00 P.M. – Oaks Christian Lions (Westlake, CA) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks (Philadelphia, PA)
8:00 P.M. – Mission Viejo Diablos (Mission Viejo, CA) vs. Oak Hills Bulldogs (Oak Hills, CA)
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Tribute and Memorial Finale
Noon – Serra Cavaliers (Gardena, CA) vs. St. Joseph Regional Green Knights (Montvale, NJ)
4:00 P.M. – Clayton Valley Ugly Eagles (Concord, CA) vs. Helix Highlanders (La Mesa, CA)
7:30 P.M. – Corona Centennial Huskies (Corona, CA) vs. IMG Academy Ascenders (Bradenton, FL)
