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

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. 

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 

Brayden Jacobs | 4 Star OT | Buford

Mantrez Walker | 4 Star LB | Buford

Carlton Smith |4 Star RB | St. Frances

Trent Wilson | 4 Star DL | St. Frances

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

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! 

Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo

Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.

About The Author

Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo

Lee Ann is the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She is a veteran SEC sports journalist and NFL content writer. She is also the Sr. Editor for MESPORTS digital. Herring-Olvedo is a Brown University graduate who loves good cigars, good games, and a smooth glass of bourbon — not necessarily in that order.

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