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Week 7 high school football picks: Big tests for area unbeatens Friday night

Ponte Vedra running back Campbell Parker eludes a Matanzas defender in the third quarter of their 38-10 win against Matanzas on Oct. 2. (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.

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Last week: 23-7. Season: 120-45 (.727).

WEEK 7

Thursday, Oct. 15

Jackson (3-2) at Episcopal (3-1): Tough game for both teams here but I’ll take the Eagles at home in this one. N4J pick: Episcopal 30, Jackson 23.

Stanton (0-3) at Paxon (1-3), 6 p.m.: Brain Bowl is always one of the highlights of the season. N4J pick: Paxon 28, Stanton 13.

White (2-3) at Parker (2-3), 6 p.m.: Braves have been more consistent this season so they get the edge here. N4J pick: Parker 28, White 14.

Friday, Oct. 16

Atlantic Coast (2-2) at Creekside (3-2): Knights have been solid, while Stingrays have won back-to-back games. N4J pick: Creekside 33, Atlantic Coast 23.

Baldwin (5-0) at Fort White (0-3), 7:30 p.m.: No slowing down the Baldwin Express this week. N4J pick: Baldwin 30, Fort White 13.

Bartram Trail (4-1) at Nease (1-3): Bears won’t be tripped up here. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 35, Nease 14.

Bolles (4-1) at Baker County (5-0): Game of the week is a good one. I think the Bulldogs' schedule makes the difference here. N4J pick: Bolles 30, Baker County 27.

Bradford (2-4) at P.K. Yonge (2-4): What a comeback win by the Tornadoes last week. N4J pick: Bradford 27, P.K. Yonge 20.

Clay (4-0) at Menendez (2-2): Blue Devils have been one of the area’s biggest surprises this season. N4J pick: Clay 30, Menendez 20.

Eagle’s View (3-2) at Bishop Snyder (2-4): Snyder picked up a big win last week, but Warriors have been more consistent. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 27, Snyder 14.4

First Coast (2-1) at Fleming Island (4-1), 7:30 p.m.: Buccaneers have won consecutive games. Can they do it against an upgrade in competition? N4J pick: Fleming Island 28, First Coast 20.

Gainesville Eastside (0-4) at Ridgeview (4-1): Panthers hit the five-win mark a year after notching just one victory. N4J pick: Ridgeview 30, Eastside 22.

Interlachen (3-2) at Wolfson (0-5), 6 p.m.: First win not on the menu this week for the Wolfpack. N4J pick: Interlachen 27, Wolfson 14.

Jefferson County (0-4) at Keystone Heights (3-1): Indians win big at home. N4J pick: Keystone Heights 35, Jefferson County 7.

Lee (3-0) at Columbia (0-3): Always an excellent matchup, this is an oddity when there’s nothing at stake. N4J pick: Lee 30, Columbia 20.

Middleburg (0-5) at Orange Park (1-4): Raiders put back-to-back wins together. N4J pick: Orange Park 33, Middleburg 27.

Oakleaf (3-2) at Mandarin (1-3), 6 p.m.: Big win last week for the Knights, who have yet to lose to a team from Florida. N4J pick: Oakleaf 34, Mandarin 14.

Palatka (0-6) at Hawthorne (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Panthers have scored 13 points all season and been shut out four times. N4J pick: Hawthorne 31, Palatka 6.

Ponte Vedra (4-1) at Englewood (1-3), 6 p.m.: Sharks will have an interim head coach on the sidelines and a new QB under center but it shouldn’t matter here. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 35, Englewood 7.

Providence (2-2) at Zarephath Academy (1-4): Stallions have no trouble in this one. N4J pick: Providence 35, Zarephath Academy 7.

St. Augustine (2-2) at Matanzas (2-2): Yellow Jackets put back-to-back wins together. N4J pick: St. Augustine 34, Matanzas 14.

Sandalwood (4-0) at Ocala Trinity Catholic (2-2), 7:30 p.m.: Intriguing matchup and could be the Saints most challenging game to date. N4J pick: Sandalwood 28, Trinity Catholic 24.

Trinity Christian (3-1) at Plantation American Heritage (3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Conquerors have been rolling since a Week 2 loss to Bolles, but this is a brutal assignment. N4J pick: American Heritage 30, Trinity 14.

University Christian (1-3) at Foundation Academy (5-0): Christians have struggled this season, but they go on the road and scratch out a win here. N4J pick: UC 23, Foundation 21.

Williston (2-4) at Union County (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers get back on the winning track. N4J pick: Union County 21, Willison 14.

Westside (2-2) at Bishop Kenny (1-4): Wolverines get a win before a road trip next week to face Georgia powerhouse Valdosta. N4J pick: Westside 30, Bishop Kenny 20.

West Nassau (2-4) at Fernandina Beach (4-2): Don’t know quite what to make of the Warriors this season. N4J pick: West Nassau 23, Fernandina Beach 20.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Ribault (1-3) at Raines (1-3), 2 p.m.: Not a typical Northwest Classic collision for these two. N4J pick: Ribault 19, Raines 13.

OTHERS (home team in CAPS, local team in bold)

BRANFORD (3-1) over Joshua Christian (0-2); Pierson Taylor (2-2) over CRESCENT CITY (0-4); SANFORD SEMINOLE (4-0) over Flagler Palm Coast (2-2); Wakulla (4-0) over SUWANNEE (4-2), 7:30 p.m.: ZEPHYRHILLS CHRISTIAN (5-1) over NFEI (0-4), 4 p.m.

Off: Cedar Creek Christian, Christ’s Church, Fletcher, Hilliard, St. Joseph, Yulee.


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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