Eight Top 25 high school football teams featured on ESPN this weekend

By Zack Poff Aug 22, 2019, 2:00pm

Prep football fans get an overload of contests for opening weekend.

Video: Top 10 Games of the Week
Five of the 10 games selected this week open the season on the GEICO ESPN High School Kickoff Showcase.

ESPN has seen some huge opening weekends to kickoff the high school football season but this one is the best yet. It features eight teams ranked in the Top 25 and some of the best talent in the country.

California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina all are represented and the first game starts on Friday night and the last one is on Sunday afternoon.

FRIDAY



When: Aug. 23, 6 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Where: Dutch Fork High School

This one gets the action started and both schools were featured in our top team from each state article heading into the 2019 season. Mallard Creek is loaded with talent led by 2020 Auburn commit Trenton Simpson, and Dutch Fork has won 41 of its last 42 games with three consecutive 5A state titles. Tyler Olenchuk and 2020 Tennessee commit Jalin Hyatt are one of the best quarterback/wide receiver duos in the country.

When: Aug. 23, 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPNU
Where: De La Salle High School

The MaxPreps Game of the Week was this marquee matchup because it features two of the most prestigious programs in high school football. Everyone always argues about who is better? California or Florida? On Friday night, we will find out. A couple of big-time players to watch are 2020 Georgia commit Marcus Rosemy for Aquinas and Shamar Garrett for the Spartans. This will be the second meeting between the two powers. Joey Bosa led the Raiders to a 30-6 win back in 2011.

SATURDAY
No. 2 St. Frances Academy opens the season Saturday against No. 9 Miami Central on ESPN.
No. 2 St. Frances Academy opens the season Saturday against No. 9 Miami Central on ESPN.
Photo by Catalina Fragoso
No. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) @ No. 9 Central (Miami)
When: Aug. 24, noon EST on ESPN
Where: Traz Powell Stadium (Miami)

The only Top 10 matchup of the week is about the fireworks. Both teams are loaded with talent and this could very well be one of the best games of the year. St. Frances Academy has won 23 consecutive games and Miami Central is always tough against out-of-state opponents in its own backyard.



When: Aug. 24, 4 p.m. EST on ESPNU
Where: Traz Powell Stadium (Miami)

Florida is known for having some of the best talent in the country and both these teams are loaded with future FBS players. 2020 Florida State commit Jaylan Knighton for Deerfield Beach is one of the top running backs in the nation and 2020 Alabama commit Thaiu Jones-Bell is on track to be the next big-time receiver from the Sunshine State.

When: Aug. 24, 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Where: Panish Family Stadium (Bellflower)

There will be three huge showdowns between the DMV area and Southern California with this one being up first. The Trinity League vs. The USA Showcase features the other two when Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) plays St. John Bosco on Sept. 13 and St. Frances Academy takes on No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) the following night. Get your popcorn ready for the Braves offense because the No. 1 rated quarterback in the country DJ Uiagalelei has a bunch of ballers to get the ball to led by 2020 Oregon commit Kris Hutson and 2021 standout Beaux Collins. If the Stags pull off the upset it will be because they get a monster night from 2020 South Carolina commit MarShawn Lloyd.

When: Aug. 24, 11 p.m. EST on ESPNU
Where: Buchanan High School

Narbonne is as talented as any other team in Southern California. They have one of the top quarterbacks in the country with 5-star Jake Garcia under center and they are loaded at wide receiver led by 2020 Alabama commit Traeshon Holden and 2020 USC commit Joshua Jackson Jr.. The Gauchos could very well have the best secondary in the nation, too, especially after it was announced earlier today Darion Green-Warren, Macen Williams and Anthony Beavers Jr. were all cleared to play. Jordan Banks is another big-time prospect to watch, he had 20 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2018. Buchanan is led by 2020 Georgia commit Kendall Milton. The 5-star running back is one of the top players in high school football.

SUNDAY



When: Aug. 25, 2 p.m. EST on ESPN2
Where: Hammond high school

Pennsylvania vs. South Carolina finishes off the three-day, seven-game event and features two of the best players in the country. 2020 Ohio State commit Julian Fleming is the No. 1 rated wide receiver in 2020 and No. 3 player overall. Hammond's Jordan Burch ranks a spot above Fleming at No. 2 for the Class of 2020. Both teams ran the table in 2018 and won state titles.