The St. James Academy has already raced out to an impressive undefeated start to the 2025 high school football season in Year 1 of play, with some head-turning wins on their resume. Now, the Strivers are looking ahead to take things up a notch come next season.

According to St. James Academy's Director of Football Relations and head coach Darryl Overton told Rivals Wednesday morning that the Strivers will face Mater Dei (Calif.) to start their 2026 high school football season.

"We actually go to Mater Dei the first game next year," Overton said on Wednesday morning. "We do want to compete at the highest level. We will continue to take on the best teams. You mentioned teams like St. Frances Academy and IMG, some of those teams are the barometer for what that is."

The Strivers have certainly made a name for themselves not only in the state of Virginia, but on a national level as well. Among the victories this season that have really stood out for The St. James Academy are wins over Canada's Clarkson Football North (76-42 win), Good Counsel of Maryland (47-3 win) and defeating Hun School last week, 30-14.

This week, The St. James Academy takes their show on the road down to the Sunshine State when they face off against The First Academy (4-4) in Orlando. The Strivers face off against No. 3 St. Frances Academy on Nov. 1 in Baltimore in what is shaping up to be the game of the year on the DMV.

Among the college prospects on the team are wide receiver Josiah Teasley (Virginia commit), EDGE Tristan Lux, safety Matthew Holland (Richmond commit).

For Virginia high school football fans, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement in the Commonwealth State.