JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The ninth week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.
Four to watch
(9) Beachside (5-1) at Middleburg (6-1)
The Barracudas currently rank No. 3 in the Region 1-5A standings and have the inside track on the District 3-5A title. The Broncos dropped to seventh in the region standings after getting drilled by Ponte Vedra last week. Can Middleburg avoid the second-half slide that it has endured in recent years when the schedule toughens up? Beachside has a high-flying passing attack led by QB Eddie Jordan (1,265 passing yards, 12 TDs in 4 games) and an strong WR corps. Drew Watson, Maddox Hunstad, Brennan Monaco and Drew Aldrich are all very good and tough to defend. RB Vinny Galella has become a back who teams have to account for. LB Marco Lanza has 73 tackles, 15 for loss, and 11.5 sacks to lead a strong defense. Can Middleburg find more success against Beachside than it did against Ponte Vedra in Week 8? RBs Gino Addison (476 rushing yards, 7 TDs), Travis Pinkard (368 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Braydon Ventura (359 rushing yards, 5 TDs) can move the ball in waves on the ground. WR Jordan Willliams is a big play waiting to happen (7 of his 19 catches have been TDs) and he’s averaging 25.5 yards per catch. On the defensive line, Darius and Dominic Swilley have combined for 93 tackles, 16 for loss and nine sacks.
First Coast (4-3) at Bishop Kenny (5-2)
The Crusaders have a very strong chance at an eight-win regular season. If that happens, there’s a good chance they climb to a No. 2 or 3 seed in the Region 1-3A playoff rankings, which would keep them from having to face Raines until a potential regional final. QB Gavin Hawkins (941 passing yards, 16 TDs) has been excellent for the Crusaders. RB Caleb Mattison (781 rushing yards, 12 TDs) is closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing season. WRs James Davis III, Andrew McCoy Jr. and Carter Harris have combined for 11 TD catches. The Buccaneers are ranked 13th in Region 1-6A and have little chance of reaching the playoffs at this point. But a seven-win regular season is still in the cards. ATH Tony Kennedy is First Coast’s top weapon (642 rushing yards, 9 TDs). DBs Mahrle Moe and Miguel Jimenez have combined for six interceptions. LB Zach Sandell leads the team in tackles (55) and TFL (7).
(5) Oakleaf (6-1) at (10) White (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
A contender for the game of the week. The Knights will face Mandarin next week for the District 2-6A title, but a win this week would really bolster their credentials in the region. Commanders QB King Boylston (1,135 passing yards, 16 TDs) has been a very good dual-threat player. He’s added 389 rushing yards and six TDs on the ground. Combined with RBs Joseph Williams (465 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Rontrez Loyd (457 rushing yards, 8 TDs), the Commanders can move it on the ground. At WR, King Mercer (406 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and Nick Roberson (371 receiving yards, 6 TDs) are playmakers. On defense, S Julian Holt (3 INTs, 57 tackles, 10 TFL) is a beast. The Knights have been strong on defense this season. DL Mason Thomas (62 tackles, 13 sacks, 9 sacks) has controlled the line of scrimmage. LB Jermaine Robinson leads the team in tackles with 75. In the secondary, Rodney Townsend Jr., Jordin Price and TJ Early have combined for seven interceptions. Oakleaf is talented at all three levels on defense. Offensively, QB Jack McKissock (1,497 passing yards, 12 TDs), RB Fareed Coleman (696 rushing yards, 6 TDs), WRs Trace Burney (549 receiving yards, 4 TDs) and Price (298 receiving yards, 4 TDs) all have big play potential.
Bartram Trail (2-5) at (1) St. Augustine (7-0)
One of the best rivalries in St. Johns County, and one that has been highly cyclical. The Yellow Jackets won the first 19 games in this series. Bartram won the next five and St. Augustine has won the last two. The Yellow Jackets are headed to an unbeaten regular season for the first time since 2023. Their most challenging game left comes in Week 11 against Mandarin. But could the Bears provide a surprise? Bartram held out head coach Cory Johns of last week’s 10-0 loss to Nease after self-reporting a potential FHSAA violation. Tyler Thomas replaced Johns on the sidelines. Can Bartram keep up with St. Augustine enough on offense to make this a game? It held Nease in check last week in nasty weather conditions, but the Yellow Jackets present a different challenge. QB Brenton James has been elite this year (1,641 passing yards, 21 TDs; 225 rushing yards, 4 TDs). RBs Durell Preston and Trendell Anderson have combined for 15 rushing TDs. WRs Somourian Wingo and Julio Santiago may be the area’s top pass catching duo. Offense has been an issue for the Bears. RB Arthur Lewis IV (685 rushing yards, 8 TDs) remains Bartram’s best offensive weapon, but the passing game has struggled to gain traction. DE Major Grandos (47 tackles, 9 TFL, 4 sacks), LB Connor DeMarco (38 tackles, 2 INT) and DL Izzy Garza-Tonge (16 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks) lead Bartram on defense.
Next four to watch
Creekside (4-4) at (2) Raines (6-0), 6:30 p.m.: The Knights are district champs and locked into the playoffs. The Vikings will have an opportunity to nail down a district crown next week. Jaxon Earle is an excellent two-way player for Creekside. Can he find success against a wicked tough Raines defense? And do the Knights have the personnel to slow down TJ Cole and a deep receiving corps of the Vikings?
Menendez (3-4) at Tocoi Creek (3-4): The Falcons are in eighth place in the Region 1-3A standings and need to keep winning to firm up that spot. The Toros are out of the playoff race now (14th in 1-6A) but could finish with six wins.
Parker (1-5) at Fleming Island (3-3): The Golden Eagles still have hopes for a district title, but they need to win out. They’re No. 10 in Region 1-5A and are still alive for a district championship, although they’ll need some help. The Braves ended last season on a two-game winning streak and could finish this one with a three-game winning streak with a strong close.
Yulee (7-0) at Flagler Palm Coast (2-5): The Hornets are currently No. 2 in Region 1-3A and have a colossal district title showdown next week against Raines. FPC is down but it still has enough to hang with the Hornets in this one.
Week 9 schedule, Florida
Thursday, Oct. 16
Riverside (2-6) at Bolles (6-1)
Trinity Prep (4-4) at Cedar Creek Christian (0-7)
Friday, Oct. 17
Baldwin (5-3) at Ribault (1-6), 6:30 p.m.
Bartram Trail (2-5) at St. Augustine (7-0)
Beachside (5-1) at Middleburg (6-1)
Bishop Snyder (4-4) at Old Plank Christian (6-2)
Christ’s Church (5-3) at Cornerstone Charter (5-3)
Creekside (4-4) at Raines (6-0), 6:30 p.m.
Crescent City (2-5) at Palatka (1-6)
Duval Charter (1-7) at Joshua Christian (5-2)
Eagle’s View (5-3) at Port Orange Atlantic (0-7)
Fernandina Beach (5-3) at Clay (1-6)
First Coast (4-3) at Bishop Kenny (5-2)
Gainesville Eastside (5-2) at Sandalwood (0-8), 6:30 p.m.
Gainesville Oak Hall (5-2) at St. Joseph (7-0)
Interlachen (2-6) at Hilliard (2-5)
Jackson (3-4) at Englewood (0-7), 6:30 p.m.
Gadsden County (1-5) at Young Kids in Motion (1-5)
Keystone Heights (0-7) at Chiefland (7-1)
Lincoln (4-2) at Trinity Christian (3-4)
Menendez (3-4) at Tocoi Creek (3-4)
Nease (5-2) at Atlantic Coast (3-4), 6:30 p.m.
NFEI (3-4) at Gainesville P.K. Yonge (0-7)
Newberry (3-4) at Fort White (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
Oakleaf (6-1) at White (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
Orange Park (3-4) at Ponte Vedra (5-2)
Parker (1-5) at Fleming Island (3-3)
Paxon (4-4) at Wildwood (1-6)
Providence (3-4) at KIPP Bold City (0-7), 6:30 p.m.
Ridgeview (2-5) at Impact Christian (4-3)
Suwannee (1-5) at Taylor County (6-0), 7:30 p.m.
Tallahassee Leon (2-4) at Bradford (7-1)
Union County (2-4) at Trinity Catholic (2-4), 7:30 p.m.
Westside (0-7) at Stanton (4-4), 6:30 p.m.
Yulee (7-0) at Flagler Palm Coast (2-5)
Zephyrhills Christian (2-5) at Cornerstone Classical Academy (0-5)
OFF: Baker County, Columbia, Episcopal, Fletcher, Mandarin, Matanzas, University Christian, West Nassau, Wolfson, Zarephath Academy.
Week 10 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Oct. 17
Brunswick (6-2) at Lakeside (0-8), 7:30 p.m.
Crisp County (2-6) at Pierce County (7-0), 7:30 p.m.
Perry (4-3) at Ware County (6-1), 7:30 p.m.
Off: Camden County, Charlton County, Glynn Academy