St. Frances's football game Sept. 2 at Michigan vs. Paramus Catholic, N.J., will be aired on ESPNU as part of the 2016 GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase.
Paramus Catholic, which finished last season No. 14 in USA Today's Super 25, has been in the national spotlight before, but this is a first for St. Frances. Although they have played nationally-competitive teams -- including falling to Paramus two years ago, 38-6 -- the Panthers have never played on national television.
The game will be broadcast live at 6 p.m.
"It's an incredible opportunity for the kids, for the school and kind of for the city to be noticed for hard work and dedication and something positive," St. Frances coach Henry Russell said. "I'm so excited for the kids to be noticed and college coaches, I'm sure, will be looking at it across the county. It's great for us to be on ESPN showcasing the kids' talents."
Russell and much of his coaching staff moved to St. Frances from Gilman after Biff Poggi departed last winter and eventually headed to Michigan to be part of Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff. The coaches have experienced preparing a team to play on national television. Gilman played Good Counsel and two Ohio teams, St. Edward's and Archbishop Moeller, in televised games the past few years.
The Panthers played Paramus two years ago and lost, 38-6, but few players are back from that St. Frances team.
For many of the St. Frances players, the experience of playing at Michgan's famed stadium, "The Big House," could alone be a bit overwhelming.
"Most of the kids have never been on an airplane and most have never played in a real big-time college conference football stadium, and I don't think any of them have ever played on national television," Russell said. "There will be a lot of nerves to deal with -- including for the head coach -- but it will be fun."
Two other Maryland teams will square off in the final week of ESPN's 12-game showcase series -- DeMatha vs. Good Counsel at 8 p.m., on Nov. 4.