The 2025 high school football season is now underway. After playing kickoff classic games as a pre-season tune-up for the regular season on Aug. 14 and Aug. 15, the regular season officially started with varsity games on Thursday, Aug. 21 and Friday, Aug. 22.
This season, there are five varsity programs that the Town-Crier will track — Wellington High School, Palm Beach Central High School, Royal Palm Beach High School, Seminole Ridge High School and the King’s Academy.
Two of those programs, Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, have new head coaches this season. Pete Walker is now the head coach at WHS, while Samuel Curry is now in charge of the football program at RPBHS.
Wellington High School — Walker, now entering his 23rd year as a high school head football coach, was pleased with his team’s 34-0 kickoff classic shutout victory against Suncoast High School on Friday, Aug. 15.
“Our defense played very well and held our opponent scoreless. We were able to play a lot of players, and we ran the ball better than I thought we would,” Walker explained.
Wellington opens its season with a pair of Thursday night away games. Its season opener was on Aug. 21 at Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie. The result was not available at press time. Wellington’s second game will be at Lake Worth High School on Thursday, Aug. 28. Wellington’s home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 5 against the Cobras from Park Vista High School.
Walker likes the mindset of the players on his roster.
“I have a group of players who are working hard in practice,” he said. “I really like their character.”
Walker has 40 players on his varsity squad this fall. The starting quarterback this season will be senior Jonathan Paul, who was Wellington’s starting quarterback last year as well.
Palm Beach Central High School — At Palm Beach Central, head coach Kevin Thompson is expecting another strong season from his squad of teenage Broncos.
According to Thompson, the team’s pre-season classic game against Atlantic High School was very beneficial, despite losing the contest by one point in overtime.
“Our players learned from the Atlantic game. Our practices this week have been spirited. In practice, our players have been locked-in and focused,” Thompson said.
He is expecting big seasons from his three starting linebackers — Cameron Dwyer, Antoine Sharp and David Harmon.
“Our linebackers are the strength of the defense,” Thompson said.
The Broncos open their season at home on Friday, Aug. 22 against Pahokee. The Bronco fans are expected to wear neon shirts, as it’s “Neon Night” at Palm Beach Central. The following week, the Broncos travel south to play West Boca Raton High School, which won the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 6A state title last year. That game will be played on Thursday, Aug. 28. In week three, Palm Beach Central returns home to face the Sharks from Spanish River High School on Friday, Sept. 5.
Palm Beach Central’s starting quarterback is a returner from last year’s team, senior Chance Routson.
Royal Palm Beach High School — After earning a spot in the FHSAA’s Class 5A playoffs last year, RPBHS is expected to continue its winning ways, despite the fact that former head coach Chuck Kenyon has moved on to continue his football coaching career in Georgia.
Under the guidance of new head coach Samuel Curry, the Wildcats played very well in their 35-2 kickoff classic win against South Fork High School.
“Our defense played well and created five turnovers,” Curry said.
The Wildcats play two out of their first three games at home. The season and home opener will be Friday, Aug. 22 against Port St. Lucie High School. In week two, the Wildcats will travel to Greenacres to play John I. Leonard High School on Thursday, Aug. 28. In week three, Royal Palm Beach will host the Chargers from Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach.
For Royal Palm Beach, the offense will be led by junior quarterback Max Griner, who was also last year’s starting signal caller.
Curry said his squad is physically fit and focused on starting the season in a victorious fashion.
“We are in great shape, and we are ready to start the season,” said Curry, who noted that he will dress 58 players on the varsity squad in the season opener. “We had a strong off-season conditioning program this past summer.”
Seminole Ridge High School — The Hawks football team opens the season on the road in Belle Glade against Glades Central High School on Friday, Aug. 22. The following Friday, Aug. 29, Seminole Ridge has its home opener against the Sharks from visiting Spanish River High School.
Next up, in week three, the Hawks will host the Blue Devils from Pahokee High School. Looming large on Seminole Ridge’s schedule is its week four game at home against West Boca Raton High School, the current Class 6A state champions.
The King’s Academy — At TKA, the Lions, under the direction of head coach Dan Burack, are ready for the upcoming season.
“Our players are gritty, and they don’t shy away from contact,” Burack said. “I feel good about our team.”
On Friday, Aug. 15, TKA won its kickoff classic game against Park Vista High School, 14-7. That victory was hard-earned. The points for TKA came from a pick-six by Ben McPherson and a touchdown by the offense.
“Against Park Vista, we generated six turnovers,” Burack noted. “The defense played well. Linebacker Levi Champion led the way with 18 tackles.”
TKA opens its regular season on Friday, Aug. 22 on the road against longtime rival Saint Andrew’s School from Boca Raton. In week two, the Lions will play their home opener on Friday, Aug. 29 against Fort Pierce Westwood Academy. In week three, TKA will host longtime rival Gulliver Prep on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Burack likes the competitive attitude of this year’s team, which had a productive summer of off-season conditioning.
“We are young on offense and really good on defense,” Burack said.
This year’s team is hoping to go deeper into the FHSAA’s Class 2A playoffs than last year’s very successful unit, which reached the Class 2A regional semifinals.
