The Junipero Serra High School Varsity Football Padres will step foot on the national stage, as one of the teams featured in the 2022 GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase, which highlights some of the best high school football talent and teams in the country.

On September 2, the Padres and the De La Salle Spartans will play at 8 p.m. in a game that ESPN will televised nationally. The game will be played at De La Salle in Concord.

The Padres had a great 2021 season, advancing to the finals of the CIF Open Division State Championship, where they lost to the Mater Dei Monarchs, finishing the season at 11-2. De La Salle went 10-3 last season.

Under the direction of Head Coach Patrick Walsh, coincidentally a graduate of De La Salle, the Padres are excited to have a national opportunity to showcase its sophisticated football program.

"It is very exciting for us to have this opportunity to highlight everything great about Serra football. We are honored and humbled to be selected for this national opportunity. This is a testament to not only the progress of our program but the consistent success of my alma mater," Walsh said. "It will be an exciting night to showcase the very best of high school football in Northern California!"

The GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase will televise 11 games with the Serra-De La Salle match-up kicking off the showcase.

Serra Athletics Director Justin Ferdinand said his student-athletes are beyond excited to participate in this potentially once-and-a-lifetime opportunity to play in front of a national audience.

"It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our coaches, players, and support staff and we are looking forward to a very competitive game against De La Salle," Ferdinand said.

The Padres begin the pre-season with a game against Folsom High School on Aug. 26, followed by the De La Salle game.