POWERADE FAB 50 | SCOREBOARD | Inside the FAB 50 | FAB 50 regional rankings

The ESPN High School Football Kickoff will feature 16 teams from seven states in eight exciting high school football match-ups. The weekend-long event will precede all high school, college and pro-football regular-season fall football programming. The games will feature eight teams from the ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50 2010 preseason ranking and several ESPNU 150 ranked players. The games will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPNU, Aug. 27-29.

GAME 1

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
Friday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

* Plant is No. 2 in the POWERADE FAB 50 ESPNHS Team Rankings and is No. 1 in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Panthers were 13-1 last season and won the Class 5A state title by defeating Manatee, 21-14.

* Manatee is No. 19 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and is No. 8 in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Hurricanes were 13-2 after losing to Plant in the state final.

What to watch for

* Plant’s James Wilder Jr. (6-2, 225, Sr.) can take over games whether he’s pounding it up the middle at running back or breaking up plays at linebacker. If the Florida State commit does damage, Plant should win. If he’s held in check, look for Manatee to prevail.

* A real strength of Manatee is its defensive line, which returns all four of its starters. The group combined for 21 sacks and more than 120 tackles last year. The Plant offensive line will have to hold up for Wilder or quarterback Phillip Ely (6-1, 185, Sr.) to have any success.

James Wilder stars in 'The Wild Side' | Manatee fans hear different voice | GAME REPORT

GAME 2

Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) at Folsom (Folsom, Calif.)
Friday, Aug. 27 at 10 p.m. on ESPN2

* Grant is No. 4 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and No. 1 in the West Region Top 20. The Pacers went 12-1 last year, losing their perfect record in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinals when they fell to Rocklin, 21-19, after a 17-yard field was missed.

* Folsom is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 but is No. 15 in the West Region Top 20. The Bulldogs posted an 11-2 record a year ago with both losses by one point. They lost in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II semifinals.

What to watch for

* When Folsom is on offense, it will be unleashing a seemingly unstoppable spread attack led by diminutive but prolific quarterback Dano Graves (5-9, 170, Sr.). He passed for 52 touchdowns last year and ran for 14 more. All of his receivers and running backs are also back.

* Grant’s defense racked up a state record 78 sacks last year and posted eight shutouts. Viliami Moala (6-3, 340, Sr.) is one of the most dominant linemen some longtime observers in the state have ever seen. If Moala forces too many double- and triple-teams, the rest of the Grant defense is too strong, too fast and too experienced for even Folsom’s explosive offense to have much success.

Viliami Moala: Audible at the line | GAME REPORT

GAME 3

Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) vs. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) at District 3 Stadium, Rock Hill, S.C.
Saturday, Aug. 28 at 12 p.m. on ESPN

* Hoover is No. 9 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and is No. 4 in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Bucs were 14-1 last season and won the Alabama Class 6A state title.

* Byrnes is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 but is No. 17 in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Rebels were No. 34 in last year’s final rankings after finishing 13-2 and losing in the South Carolina Class 4A, Division I state final.

What to watch for

* Hoover, seeking its seventh state title since 2000, has a potent offense led by quarterback Ryan Carter, who passed for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. All-State placekicker Larsen Real could be a difference-maker in a close contest.

* Byrnes, which has won six state titles since 2002, returns only four offensive and three defensive starters. However, the Rebels' skill position players and a home-state crowd could be a difference. Quarterback Zach Blair, running back Shakeem Wharton and cornerback Devin Lindsey are all playmakers.

Hoover players no stranger to national TV | GAME REPORT

GAME 4

South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) vs. Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) at District 3 Stadium, Rock Hill, S.C.
Saturday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. on ESPNU

* South Pointe is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 and in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Stallions were 10-4 last season and advanced to the Class 4A, Division II state semifinals, where they lost to Northwestern, 24-6.

* Northwestern is No. 42 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and No. 13 in the Southeast Region Top 20. The Trojans were 9-6 last season and were runner-up in the Class 4A, Division II state playoffs.

What to watch for

* In only its sixth season of varsity football this season, South Pointe has already made a splash with a 15-0 state title season in 2008. Opponents and major college recruiters know all about defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (6-6, 240, Sr.), the No. 1 recruit in the ESPNU 150. Junior quarterback Tay Hicklin runs the offense.

* Northwestern will field one of the nation's most productive passing attacks. Can Clowney’s pass rush slow it down? Senior quarterback Justin Worley threw for 4,366 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2009. His favorite target, senior wide receiver Robert Joseph, also is back after setting a state record with 150 catches — second best all-time nationally — for 1,834 yards and 20 scores.

Jadeveon Clowney has eyes on prize | GAME REPORT

GAME 5

Steele (Cibolo, Texas) vs. Madison (San Antonio, Texas) at Heroes Stadium, San Antonio
Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

* Steele is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 and in the Southwest Region Top 20. The Knights posted a 9-3 record last season, losing in the Class 4A, Division II Area round to eventual state champion Lake Travis (Austin, Texas).

* Madison is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 and in the Southwest Region Top 20. The Mavericks finished 6-4 last season, losing in the Class 5A, Division Bi-District round to state runner-up Westlake (Austin, Texas).

What to watch for

This clearly is a battle between two of the top running backs in the nation. Steele’s Malcolm Brown (6-0, 210, Sr.) is No. 7 in the ESPNU 150 and ran for 2,170 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. Madison’s Aaron Green (5-11, 180, Sr.) is No. 14 in the ESPNU 150 despite an injury-filled junior season. As a sophomore, Green ran for 2,025 yards and 27 scores, including nine in one game.

Steele has the defenders capable of stopping Madison’s rushing attack. Leading tackler Ryan Simmons (6-1, 220, Sr.) is back along with defensive linemen Marquise Anderson (6-3, 260, Sr.) and Andre Jenkins (5-10, 190, Sr.), who combined for 14.5 sacks.

Madison, on the other hand, may have the better overall offense. The Mavericks also return senior quarterback A.J. Myers, who passed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

Heroes Stadium makes list of best houses in America | GAME REPORT

GAME 6

Trinity (Euless, Texas) at Tyler Lee (Tyler, Texas)
Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 p.m. on ESPNU

* Trinity is No. 6 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and is No. 3 in the Southwest Region Top 20. The Trojans posted a 14-2 record last season and won their third state title in the last five years. In the Class 5A, Division I title game, Trinity topped Westlake (Austin, Texas), 41-38, thanks to a game-winning touchdown catch by Brandon Carter.

* Tyler Lee is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 and in the Southwest Region Top 20. The Raiders were 6-6 last year and lost in the Regional semifinals of the Class 5A, Division I state playoffs to Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas).

What to watch for

* The emergence of Lahi Kautai (5-9, 175, Jr.) will enable Trinity head coach Steve Lineweaver to keep Carter at wide receiver, where he’s more dangerous. Carter, who has committed to Oklahoma, also plays cornerback for the Trojans.

* Tyler Lee has some outstanding returnees in the skill positions, such as defensive back Courtland Browning (Missouri commit) and receiver Marquise Mosley (Illinois commit). But can the Red Raiders hold up against Trinity’s experience and more physical defensive and offensive lines?

Tyler Lee's bumper crop | GAME REPORT

GAME 7

Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) at St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Sunday, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. on ESPN

* Good Counsel is No. 15 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and is No. 1 in the East Region Top 20. The Falcons were 11-1 last season and won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title.
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* St. Xavier is No. 39 in the POWERADE FAB 50 and is No. 7 in the Midwest Region Top 20. The Bombers were 9-3 last season and advanced to the Ohio Division I regional semifinals.

What to watch for

* With nine offensive starters back, Good Counsel — led by Senior quarterback Zach Dancel and junior running back Wes Brown — is poised to have a big year. The Falcons can make a big opening statement with a win over St. Xavier.

* St. Xavier, with two state titles in the last five seasons, annually faces one of the nation's most challenging schedules, and the opener vs. Maryland's top team is another example. Graduation hit the Bombers hard on offense, but the defense is anchored by a pair of major college prospects in linebackers Steven Daniels and Sean Duggan.

* The Bombers could be emotional in the early going as this will be their first game since the death last spring of Notre Dame recruit Matt James, who was an All-American offensive lineman on last year’s team.

St. Xavier looks forward | GAME REPORT

GAME 8

Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) vs. Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) at St. Xavier, Cincinnati
Sunday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU

* Huber Heights Wayne is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 and in the Midwest Region Top 20. The Warriors were 7-4 last season and lost in the Division I regional quarterfinals.

* Moeller is unranked in the POWERADE FAB 50 but is No. 18 in the Midwest Region Top 20. The Crusaders were 9-2 last season and lost in the Division I regional quarterfinals.

What to watch for

* Look for Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller (6-2, 185, Sr.) as the focal point of the Warrior attack. Rated No. 51 in the ESPNU 150, the Ohio State recruit attended Buckeye summer camps since he was in the sixth grade and has an OSU tattoo on his upper left arm. To say he will be eyed by many in-state fans is an understatement.

* Moeller hopes to get off to a good start after dropping its final two games last season. The Crusader defense will be focused on Wayne's talented quarterback and is anchored by defensive end/linebacker Jesse Hayes (6-4, 230, Sr.), who has more than 20 college scholarship offers.

Braxton Miller bleeds scarlet and gray | GAME REPORT