Six metro-area high school football teams, including three from the Lake Conference, will open their seasons a week ahead of most as part of Zero Week, a scheduling feature begun in the 2011 season.

Eight games will be played on Aug. 24, including Holy Angels at Edina and Minnetonka traveling to Hartland, Wis., to play Arrowhead. The next day Hopkins will host Houston (Texas) Episcopal.

In another game between Twin Cities-area schools, St. Paul Humboldt will play at Columbia Heights on Friday evening.

The Minnesota State High School League approved Zero Week in 2010 to ease football scheduling woes for teams. Last season 12 Minnesota teams from outside the metro area and two from Wisconsin played in seven games.

This year’s Zero Week games include 17 Minnesota schools, two from Wisconsin and the Texas school. Most schools will begin their 2012 seasons on Friday, Aug. 31.

Other Zero Week games include:

Mesabi East at Eveleth-Gilbert
Lewiston-Altura at Cochrane-Fountain City (Wis.)
Bertha-Hewitt at Hancock
Minnesota Valley Lutheran at United South Central
Wheaton at Underwood
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Pipestone (Saturday)