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Week 3 high school football picks: Another good slate of matchups, close games

Fleming Island linebacker Jourdan Haynes (30) tackles Atlantic Coast quarterback Ridge Jacobs in the second quarter of a Week 10 game. Fleming Island won the game 41-17. (Ralph D. Priddy, Contributed photo)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is back and so are our weekly predictions.

News4Jax sports editor Justin Barney reveals his weekly high school football picks each Thursday. All games are 7 p.m. unless indicated.

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WEEK 3

Thursday, Sept. 17

Menendez (0-1) at Gainesville Eastside (0-1): Falcons put up 30 points last week, but couldn’t slow down White. N4J pick: Menendez 31, Eastside 24.

Friday, Sept. 18

Bartram Trail (1-0) at Mandarin (1-0), 6 p.m.: Another very good matchup, but Bears offense is going to be tough to slow. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 37, Mandarin 20.

Bishop Kenny (0-1) at Parker (0-1), 6 p.m.: Tough one here. What Bishop Kenny team shows up? What Parker team shows up? N4J pick: Parker 19, Kenny 17.

Bolles (1-0) at St. Augustine (1-0): Perhaps the game of the week here. Bulldogs looked strong in slapping Trinity Christian around last week. N4J pick: Bolles 35, St. Augustine 21.

Bradford (1-1) at University Christian (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: UC had a disappointing opener at Clay last week. Tough opponent to bounce back against. N4J pick: UC 19, Bradford 13.

Camden County (1-1) at Raines (0-1), 6 p.m.: I love these Georgia-Florida matchups. N4J pick: Camden County 28, Raines 14.

Cedar Creek Christian (1-1) at Bishop Snyder (1-1): Tossup on this one. I’ll take the Cardinals at home. N4J pick: Snyder 28, Cedar Creek 14.

Creekside (0-1) at First Coast (0-0), 6 p.m.: Knights gave Bartram Trail all it could handle last week. N4J pick: Creekside 31, First Coast 13.

Crescent City (0-1) at Wildwood (1-0): I only missed my Crescent City pick last week by 50 points. N4J pick: Wildwood 30, Crescent City 21.

Deltona Trinity Christian (2-0) at Christ’s Church (2-0): Good small school clash this week. N4J pick: Trinity Christian 31, Christ’s Church 21.

Episcopal (1-0) at Englewood (0-1), 6 p.m.: Eagles came back last week at the finish in a back-and-forth with Bishop Kenny. N4J pick: Episcopal 35, Englewood 7.

Fleming Island (1-0) at Fletcher (1-0), 6 p.m.: Another contender for game of the week. N4J pick: Fleming Island 31, Fletcher 20.

Ridgeview (1-0) at Middleburg (0-1): Hawthorne was supposed to visit Middleburg, but had to cancel, so the Panthers stepped up. N4J pick: Ridgeview 21, Middleburg 14.

Jackson (1-0) at Westside (0-1), 6 p.m.: Good test for the Tigers and new coach Christopher Foy. Wolverines struggled last week but will rebound here. N4J pick: Westside 20, Jackson 14.

Joshua Christian (0-0) at Zarephath Academy (0-2), 6 p.m.: Playing experience is the deciding factor here. N4J pick: Zarephath 19, Joshua Christian 12.

Keystone Heights (0-1) at Providence (1-0): Stallions made me look foolish last week in picking against them. Thomas Woods (165 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Cade Windham (3 TDs on 7 catches) were impossible to contain. This is a tough one though, even at home. N4J pick: Keystone Heights 23, Providence 21.

Madison County (1-0) at Suwannee (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: I’ve learned the hard way in picking against Madison County. N4J pick: Madison County 35, Suwannee 14.

Matanzas (0-0) at Flagler Palm Coast (0-0): Potato Bowl belongs to the Bulldogs. N4J pick: FPC 36, Matanzas 14.

Nease (0-1) at Sandalwood (0-0), 6 p.m.: Season opener for the Saints and a tough game for the Panthers. N4J pick: Sandalwood 28, Nease 14.

Oakleaf (1-0) at Lowndes (2-0): Brutal early season test for the Knights, who visit Titletown and MaxPreps' No. 1 team in Georgia. N4J pick: Lowndes 39, Oakleaf 14.

Orange Park (0-1) at Clay (1-0): Blue Devils already matched their 2019 win total. They double it here. N4J pick: Clay 27, Orange Park 13.

Palatka (0-2) at Ponte Vedra (1-0): Sharks roll in this one. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 31, Palatka 13.

Paxon (0-1) at Yulee (1-1): Yulee played West Nassau tough and will use defense to prevail in this one. N4J pick: Yulee 20, Paxon 7.

Ribault (0-0) at Lee (0-0), 6 p.m.: Trojans were rained out last week. This one is always tough to pick. N4J pick: Lee 17, Ribault 12.

St. Joseph (0-1) at Mayo Lafayette (0-1): Coin flip on this one. N4J pick: Lafayette 21, St. Joseph 14.

Stanton (0-1) at Hilliard (2-0): Red Flashes make it three in a row to start. N4J pick: Hilliard 33, Stanton 7.

Union County (1-0) at Newberry (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers start with back-to-back wins. N4J pick: Union County 20, Newberry 10.

West Nassau (2-0) at Baldwin (1-0): On the menu as one of the best games in town this week. These defenses have yielded all of a combined 13 points this year through three full games and three OT periods. N4J pick: West Nassau 14, Baldwin 13.

White (1-0) at Baker County (2-0): Wildcats have had the offense on the accelerator this season. N4J pick: Baker County 31, White 14.

Wolfson (0-1) at Fernandina Beach (1-1): Pirates have played very well through two weeks. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 37, Wolfson 6.

Others (home team in CAPS; local teams bolded)

AMERICAN COLLEGIATE (2-0) over NFEI (0-1); EAGLE’S VIEW (1-1) over Legacy Charter (1-0); Fort White (0-0) over ALACHUA SANTA FE (0-2); INTERLACHEN (1-1) over Parrish Community (0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Off: Atlantic Coast, Columbia, Trinity Christian.


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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