High School Football Showcase Returns: Battle at the Beach in Ocean City

The high school winter sports season is coming to an end, but the 2025 fall football season is starting to take shape.

The annual Battle at the Beach High School football showcase event is back in Ocean City with Day 1 set for Thursday, August 28th. The opening day of the football classics' schedule has been announced on Monday. The West Jersey Football Coaches Association runs the event and has over 120 teams requesting to play in the event has narrowed down its first-day matchups.

The event will kick off with the Holy Spirit Spartans taking on Northern Highlands at 10 a.m. Game 2 will feature Ocean City taking on Oakcrest at 1 p.m., followed by a big one between Winslow Twp and IMG Academy, and at 7 p.m. it's Bergen Catholic facing East St. Louis.

Since the event has been created, many teams that open the season in Ocean City at the Battle at the Beach, end up playing for state titles. Some of the top programs in the county have played in Ocean City, ESPN has aired some of the games and even Bill Belichick has made appearances to watch the event.

This year's event will kick off on Thursday, Aug 28th at Carey Stadium in Ocean City.