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: 26-3. This week: 1-0. Season: 334-68 (.831).
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Week 12 high school football predictions
Atlantic League state championship division, (4) Umatilla (11-0 at (1) West Nassau (10-1): An excellent collision between the unbeaten Bulldogs and laser-focused Warriors. Umatilla has a rock solid defense but the strength of schedule has been lean. Two common opponents between these teams. West Nassau beat Stanton (48-12) and Lake Weir (48-12). The Bulldogs beat Stanton 53-6 and Lake Weir 48-12. Going with the home team here. N4J pick: West Nassau 23, Umatilla 21.
(3) Paxon (7-4) at (2) Fernandina Beach (6-5): It’s been an unusual week for the Pirates, who saw a Bell player hit a Fernandina Beach player in the face with a helmet torn from his head. That Bell player was later arrested. The Pirates would like nothing more than to get the focus back on football. This would have been a second-round game last year but Paxon was booted from the playoffs after a fight in a game that it was winning. Really torn on this game. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 28, Paxon 21.
11-man division, Class 3A, (3) Christ’s Church (8-3) at (2) Gainesville Oak Hall (6-4): Eagles have a road trip in this one but I’m rolling with the local team. A win by Christ’s Church would send them to a semifinal against Master’s Academy or Orangewood Christian. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 24, Oak Hall 20.