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Week 5 high school football picks: Bounce back week for several area teams

Nease wide receiver Dom Henry (1) outruns Yulee linebacker Benjamin Thompson (7) and scores a first quarter touchdown during a Sept. 25 game. (Ralph D Priddy, News4Jax)

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. Several teams had games canceled this week due to COVID-19 concerns and were still in search of games. They will be added to the picks if those teams are able to find them.

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Last week: 21-10. Season: 78-27 (.770).

WEEK 5

Thursday, Oct. 1

Clay (2-0) at Gainesville Eastside (0-3): Blue Devils return from COVID-19 delay to stay perfect. N4J pick: Clay 30, Eastside 14.

Friday, Oct. 2

Baker County (3-0) at Westside (2-1), 6 p.m.: Wolverines have won two in a row, but Wildcats are suffocating teams on defense. N4J pick: Baker County 28, Westside 16.

Bishop Kenny (1-2) at White (1-2), 6 p.m.: How about the Crusaders last week against West Nassau? N4J pick: Kenny 32, White 21.

Bishop Snyder (1-3) at Christ’s Church (3-0): Can’t pick against CCA at home. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 35, Snyder 7.

Bradford (1-3) at Madison County (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: I’d probably take Madison County at home over a small college team. N4J pick: Madison County 38, Bradford 14.

Camden County (3-1) at Oakleaf (2-1): I love these Georgia-Florida matchups. N4J pick: Oakleaf 30, Camden 21.

Clearwater Academy (0-2) at Sandalwood (2-0), 6 p.m.: Saints keep unbeaten start rolling. N4J pick: Sandalwood 35, Clearwater Academy 12.

Creekside (2-1) at Fleming Island (3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Contender for game of the week. Knights have lost six of seven in this series. Can they reverse that trend? N4J pick: Creekside 28, Fleming Island 27.

Fernandina Beach (3-1) at Jackson (2-1), 6 p.m.: I like this matchup between programs on the rise. Pirates have their best team in years. N4J pick: Jackson 26, Fernandina Beach 24.

First Coast (0-1) at West Nassau (1-2): Warriors have lost back-to-back games. Can they end the slide this week? N4J pick: West Nassau 27, First Coast 20.

Fletcher (2-1) at Atlantic Coast (1-1), 6 p.m.: Sneaky good matchup after a major comeback win for the Stingrays last week. Senators also riding high this year. N4J pick: Fletcher 28, Atlantic Coast 21.

Florida High (2-0) at Columbia (0-1): Tigers get a replacement opponent in the Seminoles after Gainesville game was scratched due to coronavirus. Very tough test here. N4J pick: Columbia 21, Florida High 20.

Gainesville Buchholz (1-1) at Suwannee (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tough game for the Bulldogs, but they’ll win at home. N4J pick: Suwannee 30, Buchholz 27.

Hilliard (4-0) at Wolfson (0-3), 6 p.m.: Red Flashes continue to roll. N4J pick: Hilliard 34, Wolfson 13.

Lee (2-0) at Middleburg (0-3): Generals keep rolling along. N4J pick: Lee 35, Middleburg 0.

Matanzas (1-1) at Ponte Vedra (3-0): The Super 10 Sharks have been chewing up opponents all season. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 35, Matanzas 14.

NFEI (0-3) at Trinity Christian (1-1): Conquerors muscled up in the fourth quarter last week to beat Columbia. N4J pick: Trinity 38, NFEI 6.

Orange City University (0-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (1-1): Bulldogs bounce back after getting blanked a week ago. N4J pick: FPC 31, University 17.

Palatka (0-4) at Bolles (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: Bulldogs were stunned in OT last week. This won’t be close. N4J pick: Bolles 44, Palatka 0.

Parker (1-2) at Raines (1-2), 6 p.m.: Tough game for Braves stepping up in competition level. N4J pick: Raines 33, Parker 21.

Plantation American Heritage (2-0) at Bartram Trail (3-0): Can the Bears slow the Patriots down enough in this game? N4J pick: American Heritage 35, Bartram Trail 31.

Providence (1-2) at Father Lopez (1-1): Stallions have played well, despite the two losses. Facing 3A Lopez is another tough game. N4J pick: Father Lopez 28, Providence 20.

Ridgeview (2-1) at Orange Park (0-3): Panthers bounced back after tough loss to Fleming Island last week. N4J pick: Ridgeview 30, Orange Park 7.

Union County (2-1) at Hamilton County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers win big here. N4J pick: Union County 33, Hamilton County 14.

University Christian (1-2) at Baldwin (3-0), 6 p.m.: Quality matchup and somewhat of a tossup game. N4J pick: UC 28, Baldwin 26.

Yulee (2-2) at Ribault (0-2), 6 p.m.: Trojans have been close two weeks in a row. They close things out this week. N4J pick: Ribault 27, Yulee 25.

Others (home team in CAPS, area teams in bold)

Cedar Creek Christian (2-2) over ST. EDWARD’S (0-0); Taylor County (1-2) over FORT WHITE (0-2), 7:30 p.m.; Interlachen (2-2) over BELL (1-2); ZEPHYRHILLS CHRISTIAN (3-1) over Zarephath Academy (1-2)

Off: Eagle’s View, Englewood, Joshua Christian, Keystone Heights, Menendez, Paxon, St. Augustine, St. Joseph, Stanton.


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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