WEST HAVEN, CT – Under the bright lights of Veterans Memorial Park, a seismic early-season matchup is set to unfold. Tonight at 6:00 PM, the Notre Dame High School Green Knights of West Haven will host the St. Joseph High School Cadets of Trumbull in a non-conference football game that carries the weight and intensity of a late-November playoff clash.
-
Who: St. Joseph Cadets (Trumbull, CT) vs. Notre Dame Green Knights (West Haven, CT)
-
What: Non-Conference Varsity Football Game
-
When: Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 6:00 PM Kickoff
-
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, West Haven, CT
- Live Stream: Watch Here NOW!!
This isn’t just another game on the schedule; it’s a statement opportunity for both programs. For fans of Connecticut high school football, it’s a must-see event that pits tradition against tradition, talent against talent.
The atmosphere at Veterans Memorial Park is expected to be electric. As the first full week of the 2025 season gets underway, both teams are looking to establish momentum and set a dominant tone for the year ahead.
A Look at the Contenders
St. Joseph Cadets: The Cadets are a perennial powerhouse in the CIAC. Known for a high-octane, disciplined offense and a stout defense, St. Joe’s consistently ranks among the state’s elite. They enter this game with a target on their backs, a position they are accustomed to. A victory on the road against a formidable opponent like Notre Dame would send a clear message to the entire state that the Cadets are once again a force to be reckoned with.
Notre Dame Green Knights: Hailing from West Haven, a city with deep-rooted football passion, the Green Knights are a physical, hard-nosed team that thrives on home-field advantage. Notre Dame’s program is built on a foundation of toughness and resilience. For the Knights, a win against a benchmark program like St. Joseph would be a program-defining moment early in the season, providing immense confidence and proving they can compete with—and defeat—the very best.
What’s at Stake
While the game is officially listed as a non-conference matchup, its implications are significant.
-
Early-Season Momentum: A win here provides an invaluable boost. It’s a quality victory that will resonate throughout the season and be a key point of reference when CIAC playoff rankings are determined.
-
Measuring Stick: For both coaching staffs, this game is the ultimate measuring stick. It will reveal strengths to build upon and weaknesses to address against top-tier competition.
-
Bragging Rights: Games between two prestigious programs always come with bragging rights that extend beyond the players on the field to the alumni and communities they represent.
Keys to the Game
-
For St. Joseph: Execute with precision. Overcoming a charged-up road environment requires minimizing mental mistakes, penalties, and turnovers. Their ability to establish their offensive rhythm early will be critical.
-
For Notre Dame: Leverage the home crowd. The Green Knights will need to channel the energy of their fans into a fast start, controlling the line of scrimmage and managing the game’s tempo to keep the potent Cadets’ offense on the sideline.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s showdown between St. Joseph and Notre Dame is everything that makes high school football great. It features elite athletes, passionate communities, and a high-stakes environment under the Friday night lights—even on a Thursday.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure a seat for what promises to be a thrilling, hard-fought battle from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
