The St. Francis Spartans (Wheaton, IL) face the Mt. Zion Prep Academy Warriors (Lanham, MD) in a neutral-site non-conference showdown on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 1:30 PM. The matchup is part of the Gateway Scholars Classic hosted in East St. Louis, IL, where St. Francis looks to continue their winning ways while Mt. Zion searches for its first victory.
Game Details
○ Matchup: St. Francis (IL) vs. Mt. Zion Prep Academy (MD)
○ Date & Time: 9/6/2025 – 1:30 PM
○ Location: Gateway Scholars Classic @ East St. Louis, IL
○ Live Coverage: Follow live scores on MaxPreps
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St. Francis Spartans
The Spartans opened their season with a 38-34 victory, displaying offensive firepower and late-game resilience. Ranked inside Illinois’ top 25, they will aim to make a strong statement against an out-of-state opponent.
○ 2025 Record: 1-0
○ National Rank: #1,045
○ State Rank (IL): #23
○ Class Rank: #3
○ Key to Win: Keep the offense balanced and tighten up the defense in the second half to avoid a late collapse.
Main Squad:
○ Jack Donovan – QB
○ Ryan Kowalski – RB
○ Michael O’Connor – WR
○ Tyler Hansen – WR
○ Anthony Marino – LB
○ Joseph Romano – DB
○ Matthew Caruso – OL
○ Dominic Esposito – DL
○ Brian Delaney – LB
○ Sean Gallagher – RB
Mt. Zion Prep Academy Warriors
The Warriors enter at 0-2 after a difficult start, being outscored 48-7 in their first two contests. Despite their struggles, they bring athleticism and speed, hoping to turn momentum around on a neutral field.
○ 2025 Record: 0-2
○ National Rank: #3,196
○ State Rank (MD): #41
○ Class Rank: —
○ Key to Win: Control time of possession with a strong run game and force turnovers to slow down St. Francis’ explosive offense.
Main Squad:
○ Malik Johnson – QB
○ Andre Williams – RB
○ Chris Thompson – WR
○ Elijah Grant – WR
○ Isaiah Scott – LB
○ Marcus Allen – DB
○ Jordan Taylor – OL
○ Terrence Brown – DL
○ Caleb Harris – LB
○ David Young – RB
Rankings & Records
| Team | National Rank | State Rank | Class Rank | Overall | Home | Away | Neutral | Win % | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis (IL) | #1,045 | #23 (IL) | #3 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 1-0 | — | 100% | 38 | 34 |
| Mt. Zion Prep Academy | #3,196 | #41 (MD) | — | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0% | 7 | 48 |
