FOOTBALL FRIDAY

Nease quarterback Marcus Stokes, once a Florida commit, signs with West Florida.

The first day of the college football early signing period is off and running.

Ware County polished off its perfect season with a historic win.

Ware County is ready for its shot at history against a team that has already made plenty of it.

Christopher Foy helped rebuild the Jackson High football program and restored the pride long dormant on Main Street.

The Christians faced off with Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 1M state semifinals and treated fans to a classic in a 34-29 loss. Photographer Kevin Nguyen captured the game in photos. Click through the gallery above to check out those pictures.

A UC desperation pass was picked off at the goal line with no time left, sending the Marauders (12-1) into the state championship game with a 34-29 victory over the Christians (11-2). So, Central Catholic will meet Chaminade-Madonna for the title, while UC’s season is finished.

Ware County was the lone area state semifinal survivor on a miserable night of football for local programs. All five Florida-area programs bowed out one win shy of championship game appearances, some in blowout fashion and others in agonizing misses that will be talked about for some time.

Bartram Trail head coach Darrell Sutherland, who has been at the program since before it opened in 2000, announced his resignation on Friday afternoon.

For the fourth time in four years since taking over as the head coach at Bolles, Matt Toblin is preparing for a final four game. This time, the most successful program in the history of high school football all in Florida will play the role of the underdog.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too. News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday.

The final four of the high school football playoffs are here. Six area teams — five from Florida, one from Georgia — will play in the state semifinals on Friday night. Here’s a breakdown of those games.

University Christian must move past the upset of the two-time defending state champions Trinity Christian and focus on Friday's Final Four matchup with Clearwater Central Catholic.

Though his team is out of the playoffs, Grayson Howard will represent Jackson one more time. January 7 in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. On Saturday, Howard received his All-American Bowl jersey.

The night started with a dozen area teams in the state playoffs and only six of those remain.

A trip to the final four never gets old, even at Bolles, where heading to the state semifinals is an ingrained tradition.

For the first time since 2016, two of the most storied high school football programs in northeast Florida will meet when Raines faces Bolles in the regional finals.

It’s the second round of the high school football state playoffs. A glance at the matchups in the Metro and Rural divisions. All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Creekside held its own with vaunted rival Bartram Trail for the opening 22 minutes of Friday night’s playoff game.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.

It’s the second round of the high school football state playoffs. A glance at the matchups in the Metro division.

It’s the second round of the high school football state playoffs. A glance at the matchups in the Suburban and Rural divisions. All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Among the playoff games on Friday, Baldwin hosts Baker County in the 2S regional semi-final. The meeting is a rematch of a game won by the Indians 30-7 earlier in the season. That game was part of a historic season for Baldwin, who had not beaten Baker County since 1968 and had never won a district championship in football. They accomplished both feats this season.

The second night of the state playoffs proved a forgettable one for area teams.

Baker County’s offense entered the playoffs on a tear, but with the defense the Wildcats flashed Friday night, high-point games won’t always be a necessity.

The opening night of the state playoffs in the area are done and what a night it was.

The high school football playoffs begin on Friday night, with games on Saturday and Monday night, too, due to Hurricane Nicole. A glance at the matchups in the Metro division.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday. All game times are 7 p.m. unless indicated.

This is the News4JAX Super 10 rankings of the season. It is being published a day earlier this week due to the election on Tuesday.

The high school football regular season is in the books and the playoffs are on tap. Who’s in, who’s out and who’s going where? That will be finalized on Sunday morning when the FHSAA releases its first brackets for its new Suburban and Metro state playoffs.

It was a double Senior Night for the second-oldest rivalry in the state, with seniors from both St. Augustine and Palatka being introduced and honored prior to the game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Two teams go head-to-head in Putnam County for their last game of the regular season for this week’s Football Friday on 4 when Palatka High School takes on St. Augustine in one of the area’s oldest rivalries.

It’s the final week of the high school football regular season in both Florida and Georgia. We take a look at the top four games of the week, followed by the next four and then the full schedule. All games are Friday night at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday. All game times are 7 p.m. unless indicated.

The News4JAX high school football Super 10 will be published on Tuesdays throughout the high school football regular season.

The biggest week of the high school football regular season is in the books, headlined by an upset decades in the making.

If Collin Drafts had to do it again, the Nease coach still would go for the fake extra-point attempt his team tried Friday night. But maybe, in hindsight, he would try it a little earlier and on a field goal instead.

Four Gateway Conference programs wrapped up district championships on Thursday night and stamped their tickets for the state playoffs on the first of two nights of football this week.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.

It’s Week 10 of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia. This is the final week of district games and automatic playoff qualifiers will be locked in after this week’s games.

So, where do the district races stand entering Week 10? Here are the district scenarios:

The News4JAX high school football Super 10 will be published on Tuesdays throughout the high school football regular season.

It wasn’t just the 43 times that Ta’Jon Nelms carried the ball that was impressive, nor was it the 194 yards the Fernandina Beach running back picked up on the ground.

The high school football regular season is down to the final two weeks.

Nolan Blackard, a junior right tackle for the Fernandina Beach Pirates, was born without the lower part of his left arm and wears a prosthetic most days. On the football field, he leaves it behind.

It’s Week 9 of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday.

Since 2006, only two players from Clay County high schools had earned a spot in the Under Armour All-America game. Now, add Orange Park offensive tackle Roderick Kearney to the list.

After more than a decade of struggles, Jackson is contending again. If the Tigers beat Raines a week from Friday, they’ll clinch the district title for the first time since 2009.

The News4JAX high school football Super 10 will be published on Tuesdays throughout the high school football regular season.