High school football: Here are the top 5 Kickoff Classic games to watch this week

Kickoff Classic games don’t count in the standings, but that doesn’t mean they don’t matter.

The exhibition weekend for the high school football season gives teams the chance to see exactly how they measure up against an opponent while also providing the extra bonus for some teams to make a statement.

The Miami Super Showdown High School Football Classic on Saturday features a handful of the top teams in the state. The slate includes Armwood vs. Miami Norland, Cardinal Newman vs. Homestead and Miami Northwestern vs. Miami Palmetto.

Bishop Verot is looking to take the next step as a program and takes on perennial national power St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday.

Here’s a look at the top five games of the opening weekend.

Atlantic at Palm Beach Central (6:30 p.m., Thursday)

A matchup of two Palm Beach County teams coming off successful seasons and looking to take the next step this fall. Atlantic went 9-2 last year, reached the regional playoffs and added some big senior playmakers in running back Deandre Desinor (West Virginia) and athlete Teddy Hoffman (Appalachian State). Central has been a regional finalist for three consecutive years – the Broncos reached the Class 4A state semifinal in 2022 – and boast a dynamic passing attack with senior wide receivers Waden Charles (UCF) and Kamare Williams (Arkansas).

St. Thomas Aquinas at Bishop Verot (7 p.m., Thursday)

Aquinas’ quest for an unprecedented sixth consecutive state title begins with a lengthy road trip to take on a talented Verot squad that was a regional finalist in 2023. Aquinas graduated several of its top offensive playmakers from 2023 but returns senior quarterback Andrew Indorf and a talented group of underclassmen receivers. Verot returns several key players, including senior quarterback Carter Smith (Michigan commit) and junior running back Deshon Jenkins, from a team that had a running clock in all 10 of its on-field wins in 2023.

Cardinal Newman at Homestead (10:30 a.m., Saturday)

Newman, a Class 1M regional finalist in 2023, traveling to Homestead, the Class 3M state runner-up, on Saturday is one of the premier matchups in the Miami Super Showdown High School Football Classic. Newman once again has a talented roster led by senior Power 4 commits Max Redmon (Florida State), Jaylin Brown (Louisville) and Xanai Scott (Illinois). Homestead comes into the year as one of the favorites in Class 6A and features senior wide receiver Cortez Mills (Oklahoma), senior quarterback Malachi Lewis and junior edge rusher Michael Harris.     

Armwood at Norland (1 p.m., Saturday)

Another one of the standout games from the Miami Super Showdown High School Football Classic. Armwood was one of the top teams in Class 3M in 2023 and reached the regional semifinals behind the play of senior running back Girard Pringle (Miami) as well as junior defensive back Jaelen Waters (Florida) and senior athlete O’Lontae Dean. Norland was nationally ranked for most of 2023 and returns senior quarterback Ennio Yapoor and a loaded defensive line with twin edge rushers Darryll and Mandrell Desir (both UCF).    

Seminole at Jones (6 p.m., Saturday)

Two of Central Florida’s premier programs face off on Saturday night. Seminole is coming off a regional championship appearance in Class 4M and has a talented squad with senior offensive lineman Max Buchanan (Miami), senior linebacker Ethan Prichard (Florida State) and junior quarterback Michael Clayton. Jones, a state semifinalist in Class 3M the past two seasons, features one of the state’s top passing combinations in junior quarterback Dereon Coleman (Miami) and senior wide receiver Vernell Brown III (Florida).

Other top games to watch:Buchholz at Spruce Creek (7 p.m., Thursday), Apopka at Tampa Bay Tech (7 p.m., Friday), Rockledge at Heritage (7 p.m., Friday), Mainland at Eau Gallie (7 p.m., Friday), Monarch at Coconut Creek (7 p.m., Friday), Lake Wales at Treasure Coast (7 p.m., Friday), Wakulla at Madison County (7:30 p.m., Friday), Robinson at Clearwater Central Catholic (7:30 p.m., Friday), Miami Central vs. Vanguard (7:30 p.m., Friday),  Miami Northwestern vs. Miami Palmetto (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.)

Jon Santucci is the statewide high school football recruiting reporter for the USA Today Florida Network. He can be reached at jsantucci@gannett.com.

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