Friday Night Lights

BUCKEYE BONANZA The Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge this weekend pits the state's best teams against national powers in nine games over two days. The event was the brainchild of Herbstreit- ESPN analyst, former Ohio State quarterback and 1988 Ohio Player of the Year at Centerville High-and includes five teams ranked in SI's preseason top 20. On Saturday, in the marquee matchup, second-ranked Lakeland ( Fla. ) takes on No. 10 St. Xavier of Cincinnati .

INDEPENDENCE STREAK Not every top team will be in Ohio : Sixth-ranked Independence of Charlotte will travel crosstown to face Class 4A rival Vance this Friday. Independence (3-0) has a 95-game winning streak and is led by senior quarterback Darryl McFadden (below), who threw for 295 yards in a 55-14 win over Olympic on Sept. 1. But the Patriots will be tested by Vance (3-1), which two weeks ago upset Butler, then ranked No. 2 in the state by The Charlotte Observer , 21-20.