Cross-state battles has its fire
National rankings has become the new bar to reach when it comes to high school football. However, winning a state championship is still the most important part of the season, but many perennial powers get fired-up when entering other states for friendly competition.
For the third year straight ESPN Networks will help kick-off the high school football season, by featuring 13 game this up coming weekend. The games will begin August 24th through the 26th. Though, no Texas teams will have any part in it and possibly because its season doesn’t start until the weekend of August 30th. Never the less, there will be some great national matchups.
Key matchups to keep an eye on, beginning Friday, Good Counsel (Olney, MD) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada). Saturday, American Heritage (Fla) vs. Cocoa (Fla), Byrnes (SC) vs. Oscar Smith (VA) and Santa Margarita (Calif.) vs. Brophy College Prep (Ariz).
2012 ESPN High School Football Kickoff Schedule
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Games |
Location |
Network |
| Friday, Aug. 24 |
8 p.m. | Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.) vs. Providence Catholic (Ill.) | Providence Catholic High School | ESPNU |
| 8 p.m. | Minnetonka (Minn.) vs. Arrowhead (Wis.) | Arrowhead High School | ESPN3 | |
| 9 p.m. | No. 7 Good Counsel (Md.) vs. Bishop Gorman (Nev.) | Bishop Gorman High School | ESPN2 | |
| 10 p.m. | Mullen (Colo.) vs. Valor Christian (Colo.) | Valor Christian High School | ESPN3 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 25 | 12 p.m. | American Heritage (Fla.) vs. Cocoa (Fla.) | Cocoa High School | ESPN |
| 3 p.m. | Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) vs. Hermitage (Va.) | Oscar Smith High School | ESPNU | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Staley (Mo.) vs. Lee’s Summit West | Lee’s Summit West High School | ESPN | |
| 7 p.m. | No. 13 Byrnes (S.C.) vs. No. 23 Oscar Smith (Va.) | Oscar Smith High School | ESPN | |
| 9 p.m. | Ensworth (Tenn.) vs. Lexington Catholic (Ky.) | Lexington Catholic High School | ESPNU | |
| 10 p.m. | No. 2 Santa Margarita (Calif.) vs. Brophy College Prep (Ariz.) | Phoenix College | ESPN2 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 26 |
12 p.m. | Alcoa (Tenn.) vs. Maryville (Tenn.) | Maryville High School | ESPN2 |
| 3 p.m. | University School (Fla.) vs. Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) | Kings High School | ESPN | |
| 7 p.m. | Gilman (Md.) vs. No. 16 Moeller (Ohio) | Kings High School | ESP |