High school football: Four MaxPreps Top 25 teams in action on ESPN kickoff weekend television schedule

Thursday's opening game features a Texas showdown between Lake Travis and Martin and from Choctaw Stadium in Arlington at 8 p.m. on ESPNU. Lake Travis, which won five straight UIL titles from 2007-11, fell in last year's 6A semifinals. The Cavaliers return Michigan State commit quarterback Bo Edmundson looking for a seventh state title in the past 15 years. Martin went 9-3 last season and is led by cornerback Javien Toviano and running back Sergio Snider.

On Friday, Mill Creek travels to Norcross at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. The Hawks feature Caleb Downs, the No. 1-rated player in Georgia and look to get over the hump after going 11-2, with those two losses to eventual state champion Collins Hill and state runner-up Milton. Norcross was 8-4 last season and returns Georgia commit tight end Lawson Luckie and wide receivers Nakai Poole (Mississippi) and Zion Taylor (Georgia Tech).

Saturday features four games — two from Florida, one from Texas and battle of defending champions from two different states. In the opener at noon on ESPN from Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia power St. Joseph's Prep travels to take on No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas. The Hawks, who won state titles from 2019-21, are led by West Virginia commit Josiah Trotter, son of former NFL player Jeremiah Trotter. The Raiders have won three straight Florida 7A titles and have a roster chock full of talent, including Penn State commit safety King Mack and junior wide receiver James Madison.
The day's second game features Los Alamitos taking on American Heritage at 4 p.m. on ESPN2. Malachi Nelson, a five-star quarterback and No. 2-ranked player overall by 247Sports, looks to lead the Griffins to the East Coast and an opening-weekend victory. The Patriots are led by Brandon Inniss (Ohio State), Mark Fletcher (Ohio State), Damari Brown and Daemon Fagan and give Mike Smith one of the most talented teams in Florida as he enters his first season after replacing Pat Surtain.

The action then heads to Texas as No. 16 Duncanville takes on South Oak Cliff at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 from Dallas. Reginald Samples will have a young team in 2022 but the Panthers are led by five-star defensive end Colin Simmons, four-star defensive back Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker and Class of 2025 standout Dakorien Moore. The Bears became the first school from Dallas ISD to win a state title since 1958 and have eight players rated as a three-star or higher returning this season, including Malik Muhammad and Jayvon Thomas.

The nightcap, at 9 p.m. on ESPNU, features Lipscomb Academy traveling to Alabama to take on 7A state champion and 14th-ranked Thompson. Trent Dilfer led the Mustangs to their first state title since 2007 and are favorites to repeat in 2022. The Warriors seek a four-peat in 2022 and are led by Clemson commit Peter Woods, the No. 3 defensive lineman by 247Sports, and cornerback Tony Mitchell, an Alabama commit.