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Week 2 high school football playoff picks: Six area teams moving on

Bartram Trail running back Eric Weatherly shakes off a Spruce Creek defender in the first quarter of a Region 1-8A quarterfinal game on Nov. 8. (Ralph D. Priddy, Contributed photo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax sports editor Justin Barney reveals his high school football Week 1 playoff predictions. Picks are published each Thursday during the season. All games are Friday at 7:30 p.m. unless indicated. Seeds are listed in parentheses. 

Last week: 13-5. Season: 278-100 (.735).

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Region 1-8A

(3) Apopka (9-1) at (2) Bartram Trail (11-0): Tough game for the Bears, but not one I see them losing at home. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 34, Apopka 24. 

Region 1-7A

(3) Fleming Island (10-0) at (2) Niceville (11-0): Excellent matchup of unbeatens. Strength of schedule favors the Eagles in this one. N4J pick: Niceville 28, Fleming 20.

Region 1-6A

(6) Columbia (8-3) at (2) Lee (8-3), 7 p.m.: Learned my lesson from this game. N4J pick: Lee 28, Columbia 27.

Region 1-5A

(4) Raines (6-4) at (1) Wakulla (11-0): These trips have been unkind for area teams through the years, but not here. N4J pick: Raines 33, Wakulla 29. 

Region 1-4A

(5) South Walton (6-4) at (1) Bolles (8-1): Recharged Bulldogs were on a bye last week and roll here. They're going to the state semifinals in two weeks in case you were interested. N4J pick: Bolles 36, South Walton 10.

(6) Bradford (5-5) at (2) West Nassau (8-2): Tough and close game goes to the Tornadoes. N4J pick: Bradford 19, West Nassau 17.

Region 1-3A

Episcopal (10-1) at (2) Florida State University School (9-1): What a win for the Eagles last week. Winning here will be significantly more difficult. N4J pick: Florida State University School 38, Episcopal 17. 

Region 1-2A

(4) Tallahassee North Florida Christian (4-5) at (1) University Christian (9-1): These teams know one another very well. Regardless of the records, this is always a tough game. N4J pick: UC 39, NFC 21.

(6) St. Joseph (5-5) at (2) Tallahassee Maclay (8-2): Not unwinnable, but a challenge for the Flashes. N4J pick: Maclay 41, St. Joseph 21. 

Region 3-1A

(4) Hilliard (7-4) at (1) Madison County (8-2): Great win for the Red Flashes last week, but Boot Hill is where dreams die for many teams. N4J pick: Madison County 45, Hillard 13. 

(6) Union County (6-5) at (2) Mayo Lafayette (9-1): Union had a big victory last week over a tough Dixie County team that it lost to in the regular season. Tempted to pick an upset here, but I defer that to the braver prognosticators. N4J pick: Lafayette 28, Union County 23.
 


About the Author
Justin Barney headshot

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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