Bryant (AR) finalizing deal to play St. Frances Academy in 2026

It has been a tough time for Bryant (AR) Hornets’ head coach Quad Sanders when it has come to scheduling high school football games. So much so that now the Hornets will face one of the best teams in the country. [ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ] Sanders said on Thursday at the Big Miller Football Media Days that the Hornets are finalizing a contest against defending Overtime Nationals champion Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy. The game would be played in Arkansas sometime around Sep. 11. Panthers head coach Messay Hailemariam told Rivals at the Under Armour Next S7VNS that a game with Bryant was being planned. “We’ve got one in the works. Right now, I can’t believe I’m saying it. We’ve got St. Frances out of Maryland. I think they were the high school national champs last year,” Sanders said at the press conference. “Before that, we had Bishop Gorman and that just didn’t work out scheduling wise. We couldn’t go all the way out to Vegas on our dime. So, it didn’t workout because (Gorman) found a closer game. Right now, we have St. Frances somewhere in there. I don’t know if its at Bryant or War Memorial. I don’t know where its going to be. Still working out the logistics. Hopefully it goes through. It’ll be a great test. I like to play out of state games. But I wish you could get more competitive games within your own state so you can get the state the attention it needs. This will help if we can go in and compete and possibly win the game. It’ll be a fun one.” Bryant head coach Quad Sanders said at Big Miller Football Media Days that Bryant is finalizing a game against defending high school national champion Saint Frances (Md.) Academy to be played in Arkansas.#arpreps pic.twitter.com/uhes0ZYjhR— Kyle Sutherland (@k_sutherlandAR) July 16, 2026 The Hornets are ranked as the No. 1 team out of the Mineral State, according to the Arkansas 2026High School Football Massey Preseason Rankings. St. Frances Academy last year in December played Corner Canyon (UT) for the Overtime Nationals Championship Game, beating the Chargers 37-20 in Baltimore. The Panthers in recent years have traveled down to Florida and defeated some of the state’s best, including Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Clearwater Central Catholic and Venice, respectively. Recently St. Frances Academy was named the No. 1 team in the country, according to the Andy’s Take’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 High School Football Rankings. The defense will remain one of the top units in the nation as it will be anchored by EDGE rushers like five-star Anthony Sweeney (Texas Tech commit), Jermaine Smith and Jayden Travers (Nebraska commit). The Panthers ended up finishing this past season with a 9-1 record and as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, according to the final Rivals National 2025 High School Football Composite Rankings. More about Bryant High School “Red Bank Catholic High School, located in Red Bank, New Jersey, offers a comprehensive athletic program with sports like football, basketball, and swimming. The school is dedicated to fostering excellence in athletics, encouraging students to develop their skills, teamwork, and leadership qualities. With a focus on both competitive success and personal growth, Red Bank Catholic provides state-of-the-art facilities and experienced coaching staff to support its student-athletes.” More about St. Frances Academy “St. Frances Academy, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is a distinguished Catholic high school known for its rigorous academics, strong athletics, and commitment to spiritual growth. Offering a range of AP and honors courses, the school prepares students for higher education and future careers. Its athletic teams are competitive and well-regarded. Emphasizing leadership, community service, and personal development, St. Frances Academy cultivates well-rounded, future-ready students.”