Two of Broward County’s top football teams will begin their seasons on national television.
St. Thomas Aquinas and Deerfield Beach will both be featured as part of the GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff next month, with their respective Week 1 games to be aired live on ESPNU.
St. Thomas will travel across the country for its opening game against De La Salle in Concord, California. The game will start at 9:30 p.m on Aug. 23.
De La Salle went 12-1 last year and reached the state finals. St. Thomas went 13-2, falling in the Class 7A state championship game against Lakeland.
St. Thomas has several top-rated players, including Georgia commit WR Marcus Rosemy (No. 39 nationally in the 2020 class), OL Marcus Dumervil (No. 128) and Florida commit LB Derek Wingo (No. 164).
De La Salle does not have a 2020 or 2021 player ranked nationally in the top 200 and also don’t have any players rated in the top 100 in California, according to 247Sports’ composite ranking.
Deerfield Beach will stay closer to home in its opener, taking on Miami Carol City at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami at 4 p.m. on Aug. 24.
Deerfield’s 12-2 season ended with a loss to Miami Columbus in the Class 8A state semifinals last year, while Carol City’s season came to a close with a playoff loss to Miami Central in the Class 6A regional semifinals.
Both teams are loaded with talent. Deerfield features star running back Jaylan Knighton (No. 108 in the 2020 class) and a group of standout receivers that includes Bryce Gowdy (No. 307), Deajaun McDougle (No. 383), Pittsburgh commit Aydin Henningham (No. 540) and Miami commit Xavier Restrepo (No. 946).
Carol City also has no shortage of talented players, including wide receiver and Alabama commit Thaiu Jones-Bell (No. 68) and defensive end and Kentucky commit Samuel Anaele (No. 160).
