JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is back and so are our weekly predictions for local games. Each Thursday during the season, News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will offer his picks on the games.
Last week: 31-4. Season: 271-58 (.824).
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Week 10 predictions
Thursday, Oct. 23
Bartram Trail (2-6) at Gainesville Buchholz (7-1): Tough season continues for the Bears. N4J pick: Buchholz 38, Bartram Trail 20.
Friday, Oct. 24
Atlantic Coast (3-5) at Suwannee (1-7), 7:30 p.m.: Stingrays will try and keep Bulldogs in a slump. N4J pick: Suwannee 31, Atlantic Coast 21.
Baker County (4-4) at Wakulla (5-3): District championship feel in this one. N4J pick: Wakulla 28, Baker County 21.
Beachside (5-2) at Orange Park (3-5): Barracudas likely let a district championship slip away last week. N4J pick: Beachside 35, Orange Park 13.
Bishop Snyder (4-5) at Bell (4-4): Bulldogs edge the Cardinals. N4J pick: Bell 21, Bishop Snyder 20.
Bronson (0-9) at Christ’s Church (6-3): Eagles in good position for an SSAA playoff run. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 34, Bronson 14.
Cedar Creek Christian (0-8) at Old Plank Christian (7-2): Defenders finish regular season on a tear. N4J pick: Old Plank Christian 42, Cedar Creek 6.
Clay (2-6) at (8) Columbia (7-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers cool off Blue Devils after big win last week. N4J pick: (8) Columbia 42, Clay 7.
Flagler Palm Coast (3-5) at Spruce Creek (6-1): Big win for the Bulldogs last week, but Hawks are tough. N4J pick: Spruce Creek 35, Flagler Palm Coast 20.
Fletcher (5-3) at First Coast (4-4), 6:30 p.m.: Senators are in the playoff danger zone if they don’t win out. N4J pick: Fletcher 28, First Coast 14.
Fort White (4-4) at Hamilton County (5-3), 7:30 p.m.: Indians have been up and down but they win here. N4J pick: Fort White 28, Hamilton County 21.
Hollis Christian (0-1) at Young Kids in Motion (1-6): Ravens shouldn’t be challenged in this one. N4J pick: Young Kids in Motion 42, Hollis Christian 0.
Hudson (2-6) at Union County (2-5), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers have been all over the place this season. N4J pick: Union County 21, Hudson 20.
IMG Academy White (5-3) at Ponte Vedra (6-2): Sharks are in a battle for the No. 1 seed in Region 1-5A. N4J pick: (9) Ponte Vedra 31, IMG Academy White 21.
Impact Christian (5-3) at Fernandina Beach (5-4): Lions keep Pirates reeling. N4J pick: Impact Christian 31, Fernandina Beach 27.
Interlachen (2-7) at St. Joseph (8-0): Flashes got routed in this one last year. Can they stay perfect: N4J pick: St. Joseph 30, Interlachen 21.
Jackson (4-4) at Baldwin (6-2), 6:30 p.m.: Indians stay on track for a solid playoff seed. N4J pick: Baldwin 31, Jackson 20.
Keystone Heights (0-8) at Palatka (2-6): Panthers keep Indians winless. N4J pick: Palatka 23, Keystone Heights 7.
Liberty County (6-2) at Hilliard (3-5): Red Flashes need another big game from DJ Alderman. N4J pick: Liberty County 28, Hilliard 20.
Matanzas (5-3) at Menendez (3-5): Tossup here but going with the home team. N4J pick: Menendez 27, Matanzas 24.
Middleburg (7-1) at Fleming Island (4-3): After last week, I can’t pick against the Broncos. N4J pick: Middleburg 28, Fleming Island 21.
Mount Dora Christian (8-1) at Eagle’s View (6-3): Excellent matchup, but Bulldogs are too much for the Warriors. N4J pick: Mount Dora Christian 36, Eagle’s View 21.
NFEI (4-4) at Oak Hall (5-3): Eagles are building something under head coach Jamaal Fudge. N4J pick: NFEI 35, Oak Hall 13.
(5) Oakleaf (7-1) at (4) Mandarin (7-1), 6:30 p.m.: Game of the week is a district title game. N4J pick: (5) Oakleaf 32, (4) Mandarin 28.
Parker (1-6) at Englewood (0-8), 6:30 p.m.: Braves look to finish strong. N4J pick: Parker 33, Englewood 6.
Pierson Taylor (2-5) at Crescent City (2-6): Raiders in a close one. N4J pick: Crescent City 20, Pierson Taylor 14.
Providence (4-4) at University Christian (5-3): Christians end two-game slide and wrap up district title. N4J pick: UC 31, Providence 21.
Ribault (1-7) at Paxon (5-4), 6:30 p.m.: Golden Eagles wrap up six-win regular season and prep for playoffs. N4J pick: Paxon 21, Ribault 20.
(1) St. Augustine (8-0) at Ridgeview (2-6): Jackets one win closer to perfect regular season. N4J pick: (1) St. Augustine 45, Ridgeview 6.
Santa Fe (6-2) at (8) Bradford (8-1): District title for the Tornadoes. N4J pick: (7) Bradford 31, Santa Fe 13.
Savannah Country Day (2-6) at Episcopal (6-2): Eagles could hit eight wins in the regular season. N4J pick: Episcopal 34, Savannah Country Day 12.
Space Coast (7-1) at Stanton (5-4): Close loss for Blue Devils. N4J pick: Space Coast 21, Stanton 20.
Tocoi Creek (4-4) at (6) Nease (6-2): Panthers look to go into playoffs strong. N4J pick: (6) Nease 35, Tocoi Creek 13.
Trinity Christian (4-4) at KIPP Bold City (0-8): Conquerors are hitting late season stride. N4J pick: Trinity Christian 38, KIPP Bold City 6.
West Nassau (8-1) at Dixie County (1-8): Warriors cap nine-win regular season. N4J pick: West Nassau 45, Dixie County 6.
Westside (0-8) at Bishop Kenny (5-2): Crusaders coast in this one. N4J pick: Bishop Kenny 42, Westside 0.
(10) White (6-2) at Riverside (2-7), 6:30 p.m.: Commanders sew up district title. N4J pick: (10) White 42, Riverside 14.
Windermere Prep (5-2) at Duval Charter (2-7), 6 p.m.: Panthers looking for consecutive wins. N4J pick: Windermere Prep 38, Duval Charter 14.
Wolfson (3-5) at (3) Bolles (7-1): Bulldogs cruise in district finale. N4J pick: (3) Bolles 42, Wolfson 7.
Yulee (7-1) at (2) Raines (7-0), 6:30 p.m.: Vikings romp to district title. N4J pick: (2) Raines 43, Yulee 6.
Specially Fit Academy (6-3) at Zarephath Academy (3-5): Rams top the Eagles here. N4J pick: Specially Fit 35, Zarephath 25.
Saturday, Oct. 25
FAMU DRS (1-7) at Harvest Community (1-7), 1 p.m.: Rattlers top the Warriors. N4J pick: FAMU DRS 30, Harvest 23.
OFF: Creekside, Sandalwood.