JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the return of high school football, that means the return of weekly predictions. News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney reveals his weekly picks. Predictions will be published each Thursday afternoon. All games are 7 p.m. unless indicated. For a glance at the top matchups in Week 1, check here. Super 10 rankings are in parentheses.
Last week: 1-0. | Last season: 296-104 (.740).
Week 1 picks
Thursday, Aug. 25
(4) Columbia at Gainesville Buchholz: Excellent season opener. The Tigers get a massive test right out of the gate. N4J pick: Columbia 24, Buchholz 21.
Friday, Aug. 26
Baldwin at Wolfson, 6:30 p.m.: Indians start the season with a W. N4J pick: Baldwin 34, Wolfson 7.
Beachside at Tocoi Creek: It’s the News4JAX Football Friday game of the week. N4J pick: Tocoi Creek 21, Beachside 7.
Bishop Kenny at First Coast, 6:30 p.m.: Crusaders were a tough playoff program last year. N4J pick: Kenny 31, First Coast 14.
(3) Bolles at St. Augustine: Tough opener for both teams. How do the Bulldogs look, post-Kade Frew? N4J pick: Bolles 23, St. Augustine 20.
Bradford at (7) Baker County: Excellent rivalry clash. Tornadoes in an upset. N4J pick: Bradford 27, Baker County 21.
Charlton County at Yulee: Love these Florida-Georgia matchups. N4J pick: Yulee 26, Charlton 21.
Christ’s Church at Episcopal: The host Eagles take this one. N4J pick: Episcopal 32, Christ’s Church 14.
Eagle’s View at Branford: Warriors get a win on the road to start things off. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 21, Branford 20.
Fernandina Beach at Providence: Two new coaches face off in this one. N4J pick: Providence 24, Fernandina Beach 14.
(5) Fleming Island at Clay: Golden Eagles are the best team in Clay County this year. N4J pick: Fleming 35, Clay 7.
Harvest Community at Impact Christian: First football game for the Lions … and the first win. N4J pick: Impact Christian 20, Harvest 14.
Hawthorne at Middleburg: Broncos try and follow up last year’s turnaround. N4J pick: Middleburg 28, Hawthorne 21.
(10) Jackson (0-1) at (6) Nease: Excellent matchup of programs on the rise. Depth will swing the game here. N4J pick: Nease 24, Jackson 20.
Mandarin at Fletcher, 6:30 p.m.: Excellent Gateway showdown. N4J pick: Mandarin 20, Fletcher 17.
Monsignor Pace at Raines: Graveyard is always a tough place to play. N4J pick: Raines 28, Monsignor Pace 20.
Oakleaf at Orange Park: Two new head coaches at these programs. Knights remain one of the best in Clay County. N4J pick: Oakleaf 28, Orange Park 17.
Palatka at Umatilla: Good start for the Panthers of Putnam County. N4J pick: Palatka 27, Umatilla 14.
Parker at Atlantic Coast, 6:30 p.m.: Braves are a team on the rise. If their offense can pick things up, they’ll be tough. N4J pick: Parker 21, Atlantic Coast 13.
Paxon at Englewood, 6:30 p.m.: Rams with a Gateway W to open the season. N4J pick: Englewood 33, Paxon 13.
Ponte Vedra at (2) Bartram Trail: Bears win in a St. Johns County showdown. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 33, Ponte Vedra 13.
Ridgeview at Menendez: Falcons give home fans a W in Week 1. N4J pick: Menendez 19, Ridgeview 14.
Sandalwood at Ribault, 6:30 p.m.: Teams with a lot to prove after last year. N4J pick: Sandalwood 27, Ribault 13.
Suwannee at Flagler Palm Coast: Battle of Bulldogs goes to the ones in Flagler County. N4J pick: FPC 23, Suwannee 20.
Taylor County at Fort White, 7:30 p.m.: New coach for the Indians starts with a win here. N4J pick: Fort White 28, Taylor County 20.
(1) Trinity Christian at (9) White, 6:30 p.m.: Westside supremacy on the line in this one. N4J pick: Trinity 31, White 20.
Union County at University Christian, 7:30 p.m.: Love the UC-UC matchup. Tigers were excellent last season but beating the Christians at home is a challenge. N4J pick: University Christian 29, Union 22.
Viera at Creekside: The Knights graduated a ton of players but they’re still the pick in this one. N4J pick: Creekside 19, Viera 14.
Westside at Riverside, 6:30 p.m.*: New coaches at both programs here. Antwan Nicholas picks up his first career win. N4J pick: Riverside 27, Westside 13.
Zarephath Academy at West Nassau: Warriors start things out strong at home. N4J pick: West Nassau 33, Zarephath 7.
Other games
Home team in CAPS
BISHOP SNYDER over Stanton; Chiefland over CRESCENT CITY; Hilliard over FLORIDA A&M; INTERLACHEN over Lake Weir; LEESBURG FIRST ACADEMY over Cedar Creek Christian; LIGHTHOUSE PRIVATE CHRISTIAN over Young Kids in Motion; MATANZAS over Pine Ridge; NFEI over Hollis Christian; St. Joseph over GAINESVILLE OAK HALL.
Off: Keystone Heights.