Don't miss these Bucks County high school football games this season: Week-by-week guide

Football season is almost here, but with so many games, and so little time, how will you decide which ones to watch? Here are our picks for 10 can't-miss, must-see, required watching, for high school football fans.

Mark these dates on your calendar right now, and be sure to check out our week-by-week schedule so you don't miss a thing. Then, let us know which game you're most looking forward to seeing by voting in our poll.

PA football 2024:Bucks County high school football is back! Here's your guide to the 2024 season

Week 1: Emmaus at Neshaminy, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.

Where should you go to kick off a new season of Friday Night Football? After months without football, you really can’t go wrong no matter which game you choose. But why not head to the place that was voted the Best Stadium to Watch Football in the Bucks County area? Harry E. Franks Stadium should be rocking as Neshaminy, looking to build upon last year’s 4-6 record, starts the season at home against Emmaus, who went 6-6 last season.

Week 2: Central Bucks South at Souderton, Aug. 30, 7 p.m.

Just two weeks into the season, we are treated to a premiere matchup between teams that went a combined 24-3 last year. CB South had a historic run, winning the District One championship and reaching the PIAA Class 6A state semifinal playoffs, both for the first time in school history. Souderton won a record 11 games last season, and reached the quarterfinals of the district playoffs.

Bonus: Catch local teams playing at Ocean City High School

Spending the weekend by the sea? Head over to Ocean City’s famed Carey Stadium and catch a game or two while soaking up the sun and taking in views of the beach and Ferris wheel. Germantown Academy plays at noon on Friday (Aug. 30), followed by La Salle and Malven Prep at 7 p.m., and Lansdale Catholic plays Father Judge the next day at 11 a.m.

Vote for game to watch:Which can't-miss football game are you looking forward to the most this season? Vote here

Week 3: Souderton at Central Bucks West, Sept. 6, 7 p.m.

How often do we get a matchup featuring teams that both went undefeated during the previous regular season? It was an unprecedented season for our Suburban One League teams, as Souderton and CB West both ran the table during the regular season, with neither team experiencing defeat until the playoffs. These two juggernauts haven’t matched up up since 2019, but that game was an OT thriller that Souderton won 28-27.

Bonus: Abington at Bensalem, Sept. 6, 7 p.m.

If you’re in Lower Bucks, check out this matchup between young teams who are looking to build upon some promising moments last season. The Owls showcased several sophomores last season, including quarterback Hollis Sanders, running back Aidan Mayfield. and wide receiver Thomas Bailey, and those players are back with a season of experience under their belts. The Ghosts have a new coach, Bruce Fleming, and a promising junior QB of their own in former receiver Antonio Ford. This could be a fun, high-scoring game.

Beginning Week 4: Central Bucks rivalry games, Sept. 13, Sept. 20 & Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

The three-way rivalry kicks off in Week 4, and concludes in the final week of the season. In addition to bragging rights — and there are a lot of bragging rights involved here — the winning team receives the coveted Central Bucks Cup. Last season, the Bucks were the victors, defeating CB East 24-7 and giving CB South its only loss of the regular season. The Titans got revenge on CB West in the playoffs. That just means even more drama and competitiveness added to the already compelling series.

The Patriots, coming off a down year, will look to make a statement as they host CB South on Sept. 13. On Sep. 20, CB West hosts CB South, and East and West conclude the series on Oct. 25. All three games are must-see events.

Week 5: Souderton at Quakertown, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.

Love tradition with historical significance? Head to Quakertown when the Panthers host Souderton in a long-running rivalry that dates back to the 1930s. Yep, you read that right — the 1930s, which is nearly 100 years ago. Back then, the Suburban One League was yet to exist, and both teams played in the Bux-Mont League. Souderton has won the last two matchups, and you know the Panthers don’t want a third straight loss on their home turf.

Bonus: Council Rock North at Harry S. Truman, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.

Check out two teams on the rise, as the conference rivals meet for a midseason matchup. The Tigers, working under second-year head coach Cordero Newkirk, and CR North, under first-year head coach Brandon Garrett, both have promising young players who will take on bigger roles, with more experience, this season. The Tigers’ sophomore tackle Ben Sakyiama and sophomore tight end Zymir Moore, and Indians’ junior QB Gio Cozza, are impact players to watch. CR North has won their last two matchups.

Week 6: Lansdale Catholic at Archbishop Wood, Sept. 28, 1 p.m. at William Tennent

There are big changes in the Catholic League this season, with Wood moving from the Red Division to the Blue Division, while Cardinal O'Hara and Bonner-Prendergast move up from Blue to Red. That means Wood and Lansdale Catholic will play each other for just the ninth time since 1965, with the last matchup occurring in 2013.

The schools are major rivals in several other sports, most notably girls basketball, and even their student sections have a fun rivalry going. With Wood looking to be more competitive in the less rigorous Blue Division, could this be the start of a brand-new rivalry? We hope so.

Week 7: St. Joseph's Prep at La Salle, Oct. 5, 3 p.m. at Norristown

Over the past few years, few teams have defeated St. Joe’s Prep, as the Hawks went 36-5 with two state championships the last three years .One of those five teams is La Salle. The Explorers downed their rival 28-21 in October 2021. Since then, St. Joe’s has dominated the matchup, but the Explorers look to be formidable with junior quarterback Gavin Sidwar, a Rutgers’ commit, junior defensive back and Division 1 recruit Joey O'Brien and linebacker Chris Fileppo, a West Virginia commit.

Week 8: Neumann-Goretti at Conwell-Egan, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m.

Neumann-Goretti won the PCL Blue Division last year, going 7-0, while two of Conwell-Egan’s four division losses came at the hands of the Saints. The Eagles had a big win over the Saints in 2022, before the foes met in the playoffs. The Eagles, led by senior standout Sincer Fairey, a first-team All-Catholic selection at both running back and defensive end last year, will be looking to make a statement in a game that will likely have PCL playoff implications.

Week 9: Quakertown at Council Rock South, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.

Last year’s matchup was a thriller, with CR South coming from behind to score the game-winning touchdown with three minutes to go for the 20-17 win. Both teams had seven wins last year, so expect another exciting contest.

Week 10: Pennsbury at Neshaminy, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

The tradition continues, as Neshaminy hosts ultra-rival Pennsbury to close out the regular season. This rivalry is considered by many to be the biggest and best in Lower Bucks County, and it often has playoff implications. Last year, Pennsbury edged Neshaminy 28-24 at Falcon Field. This year, Neshaminy will be looking to do the same on its turf at Harry E. Franks Stadium.

Bonus: Rivalry games conclude the regular season

The regular season closes with a score of annual rivalry games, including CB East at CB West, CR South at CR North, Bristol at Morrisville, Bensalem at Harry S. Truman and Upper Moreland at Hatboro-Horsham on Oct. 25.

Saturday, November 8: Penn Charter at Germantown Academy, 1 p.m.

The longest running continuous high school football rivalry in the country is right in our backyard. On Nov. 8, Germantown Academy will play Penn Charter for the 138th year in a row. If you love tradition, this is a can’t-miss game that draws alumni from around the country back to the area. The Patriots lost last season’s matchup, but will look to get the win this year at Carey Stadium, as they did two years ago with a 28-27 thriller. Readers voted this as the No. 1 rivalry in the Bucks County area in a Phillyburbs.com poll.

Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving Day Games

It’s as American as apple pie. But unlike apple pie, the number of Thanksgiving Day rivalry games are in short supply. While many parts of PA have seen their Turkey Day tradition come to an end, we are lucky enough to have two long running games: Bristol/Morrisville in Lower Bucks, and Pennridge/Quakertown in Upper Bucks.

What better way to start your holiday than with live football, fresh air and community. Quakertown hosts Pennridge at 10:15 a.m. for their 95th holiday matchup, with the Panthers winning 22-7 last year. Bristol hosts Morrisville at 10:30, and while the Warriors have dominated this matchup for years, the Bulldogs are a team on the rise with second-year coach Mitch Cohen, and record-breaking running back Raymond Holman.

Melissa Hanejko is a sportswriter for the Bucks County Courier Times and phillyburbs.com