Future Stars Take the Field: High School Football’s Elite Hit National Spotlight this Weekend

Five high school football games will be featured on national TV this Friday and Saturday, and there are a few crossover NFL storylines of note.

Carson Palmer once dominated the high school ranks at Santa Margarita, en route to USC and then on to the Bengals, Raiders and Cardinals.

Friday night (only non-ESPN game below), Palmer will make his coaching debut with his alma mater. Despite being in front of the home crown, Santa Margarita is listed as a 4-point underdog.

Marvin Harrison’s son, Jett, will play on a national stage Friday night for St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia). Jett is one of the top-ranked players in the country and has been offered by Ohio State, among other programs.

Chris Henry Jr. is a nationally-rated wideout for Mater Dei. The Monarchs are the consensus No. 1 team in the nation, and they are massive favorites against St. Thomas Aquinas. This is a high school matchup years in the making.

Finally, Jameis Winston’s much younger brother, Jonah, plays wide receiver for Hoover (Birmingham), and they are three-TD underdogs against IMG Academy on ESPN2 Friday night. Jonah has offers from Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Colorado.

Below are the opening spreads and totals for six high school football games this weekend via BetOnline.ag. 

Lines are extremely volatile and many have already moved a ton. You can find current lines here.

Friday, August 22

ESPN2, 6 p.m. ET

St. Joseph’s Prep (PA)                +3.5

American Heritage (FL)              -3.5

Over/Under                              45.5

ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET

IMG Academy (FL)                     -21.5

Hoover (AL)                              +21.5

Over/Under                              48.5

10 p.m. ET

Mission Viejo (CA)                     -4

Santa Margarita (CA)                 +4

Over/Under                              49.5

Saturday, August 23

ESPN, 4 p.m. ET

Mater Dei (CA)                          -19.5

St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)             +19.5

Over/Under                              45.5

ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET

St. Frances Academy (MD)         -4.5 

Chaminade-Madonna (FL)          +4.5

Over/Under                              50.5

ESPN, 10:30 p.m. ET

Folsom (CA)                              -8.5

Grant Union (CA)                       +8.5

Over/Under                              55.5