Herbstreit Challenge brings top competition to Ohio

St. Xavier tailback Darius Ashley will be expected to put on a show Sunday afternoon if his ankle is healthy. Courtesy of St. Xavier

To listen to St. Xavier of Cincinnati coach Steve Specht tell it, he would like to play all of his games under the Friday night lights against local teams, charge a gate admission tantamount to a movie ticket and have the players' mothers and fathers tend to the refreshment stand.

As Americana as that Ohio utopia may sound, Specht and his No. 3-ranked Bombers will not enjoy such a folksy setting this weekend. Instead they will play under the national spotlight in the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium on Sunday at noon against No. 4 DeMatha, a team representing a high school 514 miles away in Hyattsville, Md. "As ironic as it sounds, I'm an old school guy who likes the traditional setting," says Specht, whose team beat Winton Woods (Ohio) 35-7 in last week's opener. "These opportunities to play on the big stage are sometimes things that kids will never again get the chance to do once they move on."

DeMatha is just one of the 11 schools from all over the country invading Ohio's borders this weekend for the third annual Kirk Herbstreit Ohio versus the USA Challenge. Over two days, 11 games will pit perennial powers against Ohio's finest, in Cincinnati and in Canton, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Fawcett Stadium. Boasting six of the nation's top 25 teams in the lineup, the event promises to be the single best gathering of high school talent in one state this regular season.

Here's a look at players and games to watch:

St. Xavier vs. DeMatha

Sept. 2 -- Noon -- Top recruit Kenny Tate will line up at receiver, in the defensive backfield and as a tailback for DeMatha. At receiver, Virginia recruit Rashon McLeod will complement Tate. St. Xavier features tailback Darius Ashley, who is day-to-day with an ankle injury from last week's season opener.

Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) vs. Glenville (Cleveland)

Sept. 1 -- 2:15 p.m. -- Fans of track and field will enjoy this pairing of speed-dominated teams. Can the Jackrabbits vaunted secondary keep up with Glenville's receiving corps? Poly safety Vaughn Telemaque will be the best player on the field.

Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown, Ohio) vs. Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.)

Sept. 1 -- 5 p.m. -- Gateway boasts one of the nation's best linebacker corps with senior Shayne Hale and junior Dorian Bell. Mooney features tight end Brandon Beachum.

Independence (Charlotte, N.C.) vs. Elder (Cincinnati)

Sept. 1 -- 7:45 p.m. -- Independence enters this game with a 108-game win streak. The question is: Will the Patriots leave their hopes of another undefeated run in Ohio?

Colerain (Ohio) vs. Hoover (Ala.)

Sept. 1 -- 2:25 p.m. -- Back to reality after being followed by MTV cameras for two years, Hoover will have to contend with the play of Doug Reynolds and Colerain's triple option.