Friday Night Lights Game of the Week: Two of nation’s best programs face off; top recruits to watch

Friday Nights Lights is back, and the first week of high school football season matchups won’t disappoint!

Throughout the season, we will be bringing you all the latest on some of the top high school athletes to watch. Tonight we are kicking things off in Buford, Georgia as two powerhouses collide: No. 6 St. Frances Academy (Maryland) heads down to Georgia to face No. 10 Buford.

You can bet Tom Riden Stadium will be buzzing with plenty of blue chippers and rising talent you will want to get to know.  St. Frances closed its 2022 season with a record of 9-1 and finished No.1 in the state of Maryland and No. 8 in the nation. 

St Frances’ roster is stacked with Maryland’s top prospects, including future Oregon Ducks commits corner Ify Obidegwu and quarterback Michael Van Buren.

This matchup may be quite the duel of two of the top QBs in the 2024 class. Buford is coming back stronger and has its eyes set on getting back to the Georgia state championship. This time they will run the gauntlet with quarterback and UGA commit Dylan Raiola, the No. 1 recruit in 2024, who transferred in from Chandler (AZ) following his commitment to the Dawgs.  

While all the buzz may surround Raiola’s debut for the Wolves, you can’t talk about the Buford class of 2024 players with out mentioning the defense that is anchored by 5-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston and safety KJ Bolden. 

Tom Riden Stadium will be nothing short of play makers especially for the class of 2025. Here are @TheRebelWalk Under The Lights athletes to watch @jbaker1244 @BraydenJacobs77 @MantrezWalker @CarltonSmith25 @iamtrentwilson @34HARRIS_CORTEZ . #RWRecruiting #ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/VT10bL9uUU

— LeeAnn Herring (@MissKYUS2011) August 18, 2023

Underclassmen to Watch

While the veterans will have all eyes on them tonight, they are joined by some of the nation’s top underclassmen that Ole Miss fans might want to get to know. 

Here’s a look at the class of 2025 impact players to watch tonight in Buford in this marquee match up.

Justin Baker | 3 Star RB | Buford 

Check out my Sophomore Highlights!!https://t.co/uMT0x0z8ed

— Justin Nkosi Baker (@jbaker1244) November 22, 2022

Brayden Jacobs | 4 Star OT | Buford

2025 Rivals250 OL Brayden Jacobs working on his craft!@BraydenJacobs77 | @Rivals | @RivalsCamp | @AdamGorneyhttps://t.co/O3i8AP5p9X pic.twitter.com/dzKP0Qudx8

— Rivals (@Rivals) April 16, 2023

Mantrez Walker | 4 Star LB | Buford

Stay Consistent ! 😤 #BDA #Crash @adamgorney @JohnGarcia_Jr @RivalsJohnson @SWiltfong247 @BrianDohn247 @ChadSimmons_ @JeremyO_Johnson @lukewinstel @ErikRichardsUSA pic.twitter.com/4Wo918TBKu

— Mantrez Walker ✞ (@MantrezWalker) August 12, 2023

Carlton Smith |4 Star RB | St. Frances

Full Season Highlight Tape 🎥 https://t.co/vS6AWmAQlY pic.twitter.com/XAdJyY99Fv

— Carlton Smith (@CarltonSmith25) November 23, 2022

Trent Wilson | 4 Star DL | St. Frances

Moving! https://t.co/YrPgOrpNJU

— Trenton Wilson (@iamtrentwilson) May 13, 2023

Cortez Harris |4 Star DE | St. Frances (first season with SFA transferred in from Dematha Catholic HS)

Love going to events in regions I’m relatively unfamiliar with the younger prospects❕🔍

2025 Washington DC Edge CORTEZ HARRIS was Great Start to Finish Sunday at the UA Next Camp❕⬆️

On3 has him ranked among the Top 60 players ➡️ https://t.co/7rO5eFBE1q via @On3USC pic.twitter.com/pqXu4DS6CR

— Scott Schrader (@Scott_Schrader) May 16, 2023

You can bet the Ole Miss staff will keep an eye out on these young men this season. We will keep you posted on their recruitment journey all throughout the fall.

Hotty Toddy!