JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.
News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday. All game times are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.
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Last year’s prediction record: 353-94 (.790). 2022 record: 309-102 (.751). 2021 record: 296-104 (.740). 2020 record: 273-91 (.750). 2019 record: 291-105 (.735). Five-year total: 1522-496 (.754).
Week 1 picks
Friday, Aug. 23
Baldwin at Englewood, 6:30 p.m.: Indians in a close one for new coach Don Velvet’s first win. N4J pick: Baldwin 21, Englewood 14.
Bishop Kenny at Matanzas: Crusaders come back from Flagler County win a close W. N4J pick: Bishop Kenny 21, Matanzas 20.
Bradford at Baker County: Tornadoes have won four in a row in this series and have ended Wildcats’ season the last two years. N4J pick: Bradford 27, Baker County 20.
Cedar Creek Christian (1-0) at St. Joseph (1-0): Flashes make it to 2-0. N4J pick: St. Joseph 28, Cedar Creek 14.
Creekside at (1) Mandarin, 6:30 p.m.: This group of seniors at Mandarin has never beat Creekside. That changes this week. N4J pick: Mandarin 44, Creekside 21.
Eagle’s View (1-0) at Bell Creek Academy (0-1): Warriors put up half a hundred in their Week 0 game. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 42, Bell Creek 14.
Fernandina Beach (0-1) at Hilliard: Pirates bounce back after a Week 0 loss to Zarephath. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 27, Hilliard 21.
Fleming Island at Clay: Golden Eagles have a new coach in Derek Chipoletti who knows how to win. This has become the best rivalry in Clay County. N4J pick: Fleming Island 30, Clay 20.
Frostproof at Providence: Stallions have a sneaky good team and won’t sneak up on anyone this year. They’re good. N4J pick: Providence 31, Frostproof 13.
Harvest Community (0-1) at Christ’s Church (1-0): Eagles get out to a 2-0 start. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 34, Harvest 7.
Jackson at KIPP Bold City, 6:30 p.m.: Tigers start the Bobby Ramsay era with a big win. N4J pick: Jackson 37, KIPP Bold City 7.
Keystone Heights at Interlachen (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: Indians are a consistent bunch and won this game by 38 last year. N4J pick: Keystone Heights 42, Interlachen 7.
Merritt Island at Impact Christian: Lions smacked around Sandalwood in the kickoff classic, so don’t underestimate them this season. N4J pick: Merritt Island 33, Impact 20.
NFEI at Hollis Christian: Eagles get out to a strong start for coach Jamaal Fudge. N4J pick: NFEI 34, Hollis Christian 0.
Orange Park at Ridgeview: OP has won four straight in this rivalry. N4J pick: OP 27, Ridgeview 7.
Orlando Christian Prep at Beachside: Barracudas have the area’s longest winning streak (nine games) and stretch that to double digits. N4J pick: Beachside 31, OCP 20.
Parker at Atlantic Coast, 6:30 p.m.: Braves ended last year on a two-game winning streak and keep that going here. N4J pick: Parker 21, Atlantic Coast 14.
Paxon (1-0) at Wolfson, 6:30 p.m.: This matchup last year was arguably the worst game of the season for the Golden Eagles. They end their two-game skid to their newest rival. N4J pick: Paxon 20, Wolfson 14.
Ponte Vedra at Nease: Panthers won this in an upset last year to snatch the district title. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 27, Nease 23.
(4) Raines at (3) Bolles, 7:30 p.m.: Our game of the week is going to be an instant classic. N4J pick: Bolles 24, Raines 23.
Ribault at Fletcher, 6:30 p.m.: Senators are one of the most consistent programs around and the Trojans are in the beginning stages of a rebuild. N4J pick: Fletcher 30, Ribault 8.
Riverside at Oakleaf: Two good teams here. Can Knights turn things around after a disappointing 2023? N4J pick: Riverside 31, Oakleaf 20.
(2) St. Augustine at Palatka: Great rivalry game, but one that has been controlled as of late by the Yellow Jackets. N4J pick: St. Augustine 38, Palatka 14.
Sandalwood at Menendez: Falcons get things going with a fast start, N4J pick: Menendez 31, Sandalwood 6.
Stanton (0-1) at Bishop Snyder (1-0): Cardinals have built something under coach Travis Markoski. Stanton is starting anew under alum Ryan Carter. N4J pick: Snyder 34, Stanton 15.
Suwannee at Columbia, 7:30 p.m.: Tigers need a better start this season than they had last under Brian Allen. N4J pick: Columbia 19, Suwannee 17.
Sumner at Bartram Trail: Bears reload with some young players stepping into bigger roles. Tough opener against an 11-win Stingrays team. N4J pick: Bartram 34, Sumner 32.
Taylor County at Fort White, 7:30 p.m.: Indians in a slugfest. N4J pick: Fort White 18, Taylor County 13.
Tocoi Creek at First Coast, 6:30 p.m.: Toros are going to contend for a playoff spot. N4J pick: Tocoi Creek 30, First Coast 14.
Trinity Christian at White, 6:30 p.m.: This is going to be a different start for the Conquerors until they get some experience. N4J pick: White 28, Trinity 12.
Union County at Yulee: Hornets outslug the Tigers in a tricky opener. N4J pick: Yulee 21, Union County 17.
University Christian at Newberry, 7:30 p.m.: Christians shake off a disappointing 2023 with a tough win here against a tough Panthers team. N4J pick: UC 27, Newberry 23.
Frederica Academy (Ga.) (1-0) at West Nassau (0-1): Frederica is a very good program and the Warriors are in a bit of a rebuild. N4J pick: Frederica 35, West Nassau 12.
Westside at Middleburg: Broncos went to the playoffs last year and the Wolverines enter on a 17-game losing streak and are just 1-19 the last two seasons. N4J pick: Middleburg 27, Westside 7.
Zarephath Academy (1-0) at Episcopal: Battle of the Eagles and Zarephath with its biggest win in program history out of the gate. N4J pick: Zarephath 34, Episcopal 30.
Others (home team in CAPS)
DELTONA over Crescent City (ppd); Seffner Christian over DUVAL CHARTER; WINDERMERE PREP over Young Kids in Motion (ppd)
OFF: Flagler Palm Coast, Old Plank Christian.