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. (Indicates Super 6 and Super 10 rankings).
Last week: 27-8. Season: 159-22-1 (.866).
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Week 6 predictions
State series games
Thursday, Sept. 24
Beachside (3-1) at Nease (1-3): Panthers back to work after an off week. N4J pick: Nease 33, Beachside 20.
Clay (4-1) at (3) St. Augustine (5-0): Blue Devils have been solid, but Yellow Jackets haven’t lost in this series since 2014. N4J pick: (3) St. Augustine 29, Clay 17.
Flagler Palm Coast (4-0) at Tocoi Creek (0-5): Bulldogs keep Toros winless in a big district game. FPC allows teams just 9 points per game. N4J pick: Flagler PC 31, Tocoi Creek 10.
Friday, Sept. 25
Atlantic (3-1) at Keystone Heights (2-3): Worst pick of last week was predicting Indians to lose to Bell by 34. They won 16-13. N4J pick: Keystone Heights 21, Atlantic 20.
(9) Baker County (4-1) at Godby (3-2): Tough district game but the Wildcats win in a slugfest. N4J pick: (9) Baker County 24, Godby 20.
Baldwin (1-3) at (5) Bolles (3-1): Xander Edwards ran for more than a quarter of a mile in this game last year. N4J pick: (5) Bolles 42, Baldwin 7.
(8) Bradford (5-0) at Madison County (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: Always a difficult game at Boot Hill. N4J pick: (8) Bradford 28, Madison County 14.
Creekside (3-2) at Sandalwood (4-1), 6:30 p.m.: Saints are surging, but I think the schedule has prepared the Knights more for this one. N4J pick: Creekside 31, Sandalwood 20.
Englewood (1-3) at Ribault (3-1), 6:30 p.m.: Trojans continue rebound after loss to Columbia a couple weeks ago. N4J pick: Ribault 34, Englewood 6.
First Coast (0-5) at Atlantic Coast (0-4), 6:30 p.m.: Buccaneers have been in contention for three wins. Stingrays have lost big every game. N4J pick: First Coast 20, Atlantic Coast 14.
Fleming Island (2-3) at Orange Park (2-3): Golden Eagles get back to .500. N4J pick: Fleming Island 31, Orange Park 13.
(7) Fletcher (3-1) at (6) Mandarin (3-1), 6:30 p.m.: Mustangs face another tough defensive front in this one. N4J pick: (6) Mandarin 28, (7) Fletcher 24.
Impact Christian (1-4) at University Christian (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: Christians rounding into midseason form. N4J pick: UC 45, Impact 7.
KIPP Bold City (0-4) at Jackson (3-1), 6:30 p.m.: Greyhounds have been outscored 194-6. Tigers get fourth shutout of the season. N4J pick: Jackson 38, KIPP Bold City 0.
Menendez (2-2) at Wolfson (3-2), 6:30 p.m.: Falcons cool off the Wolfpack. N4J pick: Menendez 33, Wolfson 20.
Middleburg (3-2) at Ridgeview (1-3): Broncos building some momentum as they try and pick up steam for playoff run. N4J pick: Middleburg 31, Ridgeview 13.
Pine Ridge (0-4) at Matanzas (0-4): Pirates get in the win column. N4J pick: Matanzas 28, Pine Ridge 0.
Ponte Vedra (2-3) at Bartram Trail (4-1): Sharks get back to .500 in a close one. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 30, Bartram Trail 24.
Riverside (2-2) at (2) Columbia (5-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers have been playing on another level in first half of season. N4J pick: (2) Columbia 35, Riverside 6.
Scintilla Charter (0-2) at Hilliard (4-0): No challenge for the Red Flashes. N4J pick: Hilliard 42, Scintilla 8.
Suwannee (5-0) at Wakulla (4-1): Can Bulldogs keep perfect start going? War Eagles are tough. N4J pick: Wakulla 21, Suwannee 17.
Taylor County (2-2) at Fort White (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tough game for the Indians. N4J pick: Taylor County 21, Fort White 13.
(10) Trinity Christian (2-3) at NFEI (3-1): Conquerors have been snake-bitten in all three losses this season. N4J pick: (10) Trinity Christian 38, NFEI 14.
West Port (2-3) at Oakleaf (2-2): Knights bounce back after loss to Bolles. N4J pick: Oakleaf 35, West Port 14.
Westside (0-5) at Palatka (1-4): Panthers end their slide here and keep Wolverines’ skid going. N4J pick: Palatka 34, Westside 6.
Yulee (3-2) at (4) Ed White (3-1), 6:30 p.m.: Commanders have most feared set of runners (QB/RB/RB) in the area. N4J pick: (4) Ed White 38, Yulee 14.
Independent games
Bell (4-1) at Eagle’s View (0-6): Bulldogs were unbeaten until last week’s loss to Keystone. N4J pick: Bell 28, Eagle’s View 0.
Bronson (2-4) at Joshua Christian (2-2): Battle of the Eagles goes to the local team. N4J pick: Joshua Christian 14, Bronson 12.
Cornerstone Classical (4-1) at Aucilla Christian (3-3), 7:30 p.m.: Strength of schedule makes the difference here. N4J pick: Aucilla Christian 28, Cornerstone 20.
Crescent City (0-4) at Branford (4-2), 7:30 p.m.: Buccaneers are too much for Raiders. N4J pick: Branford 33, Crescent City 7.
(2) Episcopal (5-0) at Duval Charter (1-3): Eagles continue push for unbeaten regular season. N4J pick: (2) Episcopal 35, Duval Charter 14.
Halifax Academy (1-4) at Harvest Community (1-5): Similar teams, so I’ll go with the Warriors. N4J pick: Harvest 21, Halifax Academy 12.
McKinney Christian, Texas (4-1) at Christ’s Church Academy (4-1): In Florida against Texas, I’ll take the Eagles. N4J pick: (4) Christ’s Church 35, McKinney Christian 27.
Parker (0-5) at Union County (2-3), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers have been sliding, but they should end that skid easily against the Braves. N4J pick: Union County 42, Parker 13.
Providence (2-3) at Seffner Christian (5-0): Stallions fall on the road. N4J pick: Seffner Christian 28, Providence 21.
Seven Rivers (1-4) at Old Plank Christian (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: Defenders start stacking Ws again. N4J pick: Old Plank 31, Seven Rivers 14.
St. Joseph (2-3) at Bishop Snyder (0-5): Flashes get it done easily here. N4J pick: St. Joseph 42, Bishop Snyder 7.
(1) West Nassau (4-0-1) at Fernandina Beach (1-4): Warriors have been the kings of Nassau County. N4J pick: (1) West Nassau 35, Fernandina Beach 13.
Zarephath Academy (0-4) at West Oaks (2-3), 6 p.m.: Eagles drop a tough one on the road. N4J pick: West Oaks 30, Zarephath 14.
OFF: Bishop Kenny, First Coast Christian, Interlachen, Paxon, Raines, Stanton.
