2016 ESPN GEICO High School Football Kickoff Schedule Notes: All times are ET. Player rankings from ESPN 300 (Seniors in the Class of 2017)
Friday, August 26
Hillsboro (TN) vs. Oakland (TN) 8 p.m. on ESPNU from Ray Hughes Stadium, Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Oakland was a semifinalist (6A D1) and Hillsboro was a quarterfinalist (5A D1) in 2015 TSSAA playoffs
- Oakland ATH JaCoby Stevens is the No. 24 ranked player in the country
- This game is a rematch of a 2015 regular season game after Oakland defeated Hillsboro 36-28
Basha (AZ) vs. Pinnacle (AZ)11 p.m. on ESPNU from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Basha quarterback Ryan Kelly is the No. 94 ranked player in the country and the No. 5 DT QB
- Pinnacle boasts at least 8 D1 prospects in their 2017 class, and are led by Sophomore QB Spencer Rattler who has offers from UCLA, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and others
Saturday, August 27
Pine-Richland (PA) vs. St. Edward (OH)Noon on ESPN from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Ohio
- Edward finished #6 in the USA Today 2015 rankings after finishing 14-1 and winning the OHSAA D1 title
- Pine-Richland was a PIAA 4A state semifinalist who features junior QB Phil Jurkovec, a Notre Dame commit
Heritage (TX) vs. Lone Star (TX)1:30 p.m. on ESPNU from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas
- Lone Star was 14-2 in 2015 and was the UIL 5A D2 state runner-up
- This game will be played at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, which is a first-of-its-kind venue shared by the Dallas Cowboys (practice facility and world headquarters) and Frisco Independent School District
Saguaro (AZ) vs. Valor Christian (CO)3:30 p.m. on ESPN from Valor Stadium, Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
- Matchup between defending state champions from Arizona and Colorado
- Valor Christian has won the CHSAA 5A state title five of the past six years and is led by the No. 19 ranked player, QB Dylan McCaffrey, who is committed to Michigan and is the younger brother to Stanford RB and 2015 Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey
- Last year Saguaro won its third straight AIA D2 state title
St. John Bosco (CA) vs. St. Xavier (OH)5 p.m. on ESPNU from Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio
- John Bosco is the CIF Southern Section Pac 5 runner-up and were ranked No. 11 in the country last year
- John Bosco returns the No. 35 and 184 ranked players, OG Wyatt Davis (Ohio St.) and WR Terrell Bynum (Washington)
- Xavier is led by QB Sean Clifford, ranked No. 79 (Penn St.) and No. 102 OG Matt Bockhort (Clemson)
IMG Academy (FL) vs. Grayson (GA)6 p.m. on ESPN2 from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga.
- IMG Academy currently has twelve ranked ESPN 300 ranked players, including No. 5 Robert Beal, the No. 1 ranked DE in the country
- Grayson was a GHSA 6A semifinalist last year and currently has five ESPN 300 ranked players including No. 10 DeAngelo Gibbs, the No. 2 ranked ATH in the country
American Heritage (FL) vs. Colquitt County (GA)8 p.m. on ESPNU from Mack Tharpe Stadium in Moultrie, Ga.
- American Heritage is led up front by two OT’s, No. 43 Tedarrell Slaton and No. 106 Kai-Leon Herbert, as well as No. 249 CB Marco Wilson
- Colquitt County has won back-to-back GHSAA 6A state titles, finishing ranked #2 in the country according to USA Today at 15-0; they enter the season with a 30 game win streak
Bishop Gorman (NV) vs. Cedar Hill (TX)9 p.m. on ESPN2 from Longhorn Stadium at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas
- Gorman is the two-time repeating “National Champion,” ranked No. 1 by USA Today; they enter the season with a 39-game win streak
- No. 72 QB Tate Martell returns for Bishop Gorman, along with No. 112 DE Haskell Garrett, No. 151 CB Alex Perry and No. 208 S Bubba Bolden (USC)
- For Cedar Hill, No. 140 QB Avery Davis (Notre Dame) leads a talented team that looks to make another state finals appearance after missing out last year for the first time in the last four years
Sunday, August 28
Trinity Christian (FL) vs. Cocoa (FL)2 p.m. on ESPN2 from Tiger Stadium at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla.
- Trinity Christian Academy finished the 2015 season ranked No. 24 by USA Today with a 14-0 record and the FHSAA 3A State Title. They return with a talented senior class including No. 13 CB Shaun Wade (Ohio State) and No. 68 WR DJ Matthews (Florida State)
- Cocoa was an FHSAA 4A semifinalist and they return No. 286 ATH (QB) Bruce Judson
Friday, August 26
Hillsboro (TN) vs. Oakland (TN) 8 p.m. on ESPNU from Ray Hughes Stadium, Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Oakland was a semifinalist (6A D1) and Hillsboro was a quarterfinalist (5A D1) in 2015 TSSAA playoffs
- Oakland ATH JaCoby Stevens is the No. 24 ranked player in the country
- This game is a rematch of a 2015 regular season game after Oakland defeated Hillsboro 36-28
Basha (AZ) vs. Pinnacle (AZ)11 p.m. on ESPNU from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Basha quarterback Ryan Kelly is the No. 94 ranked player in the country and the No. 5 DT QB
- Pinnacle boasts at least 8 D1 prospects in their 2017 class, and are led by Sophomore QB Spencer Rattler who has offers from UCLA, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and others
Saturday, August 27
Pine-Richland (PA) vs. St. Edward (OH)Noon on ESPN from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Ohio
- Edward finished #6 in the USA Today 2015 rankings after finishing 14-1 and winning the OHSAA D1 title
- Pine-Richland was a PIAA 4A state semifinalist who features junior QB Phil Jurkovec, a Notre Dame commit
Heritage (TX) vs. Lone Star (TX)1:30 p.m. on ESPNU from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas
- Lone Star was 14-2 in 2015 and was the UIL 5A D2 state runner-up
- This game will be played at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, which is a first-of-its-kind venue shared by the Dallas Cowboys (practice facility and world headquarters) and Frisco Independent School District
Saguaro (AZ) vs. Valor Christian (CO)3:30 p.m. on ESPN from Valor Stadium, Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
- Matchup between defending state champions from Arizona and Colorado
- Valor Christian has won the CHSAA 5A state title five of the past six years and is led by the No. 19 ranked player, QB Dylan McCaffrey, who is committed to Michigan and is the younger brother to Stanford RB and 2015 Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey
- Last year Saguaro won its third straight AIA D2 state title
St. John Bosco (CA) vs. St. Xavier (OH)5 p.m. on ESPNU from Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio
- John Bosco is the CIF Southern Section Pac 5 runner-up and were ranked No. 11 in the country last year
- John Bosco returns the No. 35 and 184 ranked players, OG Wyatt Davis (Ohio St.) and WR Terrell Bynum (Washington)
- Xavier is led by QB Sean Clifford, ranked No. 79 (Penn St.) and No. 102 OG Matt Bockhort (Clemson)
IMG Academy (FL) vs. Grayson (GA)6 p.m. on ESPN2 from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga.
- IMG Academy currently has twelve ranked ESPN 300 ranked players, including No. 5 Robert Beal, the No. 1 ranked DE in the country
- Grayson was a GHSA 6A semifinalist last year and currently has five ESPN 300 ranked players including No. 10 DeAngelo Gibbs, the No. 2 ranked ATH in the country
American Heritage (FL) vs. Colquitt County (GA)8 p.m. on ESPNU from Mack Tharpe Stadium in Moultrie, Ga.
- American Heritage is led up front by two OT’s, No. 43 Tedarrell Slaton and No. 106 Kai-Leon Herbert, as well as No. 249 CB Marco Wilson
- Colquitt County has won back-to-back GHSAA 6A state titles, finishing ranked #2 in the country according to USA Today at 15-0; they enter the season with a 30 game win streak
Bishop Gorman (NV) vs. Cedar Hill (TX)9 p.m. on ESPN2 from Longhorn Stadium at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas
- Gorman is the two-time repeating “National Champion,” ranked No. 1 by USA Today; they enter the season with a 39-game win streak
- No. 72 QB Tate Martell returns for Bishop Gorman, along with No. 112 DE Haskell Garrett, No. 151 CB Alex Perry and No. 208 S Bubba Bolden (USC)
- For Cedar Hill, No. 140 QB Avery Davis (Notre Dame) leads a talented team that looks to make another state finals appearance after missing out last year for the first time in the last four years
Sunday, August 28
Trinity Christian (FL) vs. Cocoa (FL)2 p.m. on ESPN2 from Tiger Stadium at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla.
- Trinity Christian Academy finished the 2015 season ranked No. 24 by USA Today with a 14-0 record and the FHSAA 3A State Title. They return with a talented senior class including No. 13 CB Shaun Wade (Ohio State) and No. 68 WR DJ Matthews (Florida State)
- Cocoa was an FHSAA 4A semifinalist and they return No. 286 ATH (QB) Bruce Judson
