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 week: 26-9 (.743). Last year’s prediction record: 353-94 (.790).
Week 2 predictions
Thursday, Aug. 29, all games 7 p.m. unless indicated
Providence (1-0) at St. John Paul II (1-1): Road test early for the Stallions, and one I think they pass. N4J pick: Providence 21, St. John Paul II 17.
Zarephath Academy (1-0) at South Fork (0-1): I’m telling you, there’s something special in the works at Zarephath. Eagles will stay unbeaten this week, then move to 3-0 next Tuesday when they wrap up the final 7 minutes of their Week 2 game against Episcopal. N4J pick: Zarephath 28, South Fork 26.
Friday, Aug. 30
(10) Beachside (1-0) at Englewood (0-1), 6:30 p.m.: Barracudas win their 11th straight game. They haven’t lost since Week 1 last year. N4J pick: Beachside 42, Englewood 14.
Bishop Snyder (2-0) at Gainesville Oak Hall (1-1): Tough game for the Cardinals, but they’ll get back on track next week. N4J pick: Oak Hall 31, Snyder 24.
(6) Bolles (0-1) at (9) Trinity Christian (1-0): Always a good one. Bulldogs try and bounce back after tough loss to Raines. Young Conquerors try and grow up quickly. N4J pick: Bolles 35, Trinity 14.
Brooksville Central (0-1) at Interlachen (0-2), 7:30 p.m.: Rams get into the win column. N4J pick: Interlachen 19, Central 14.
Cedar Creek Christian (1-1) at Father Lopez (0-2): Saints are better than they were a season ago, but it’s a tough one here. N4J pick: Father Lopez 30, Cedar Creek 20.
Columbia (1-0) at Coffee (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: Very difficult game for the Tigers. Coffee has won 17 straight games and the Class 5A state title in Georgia last year. N4J pick: Coffee 38, Columbia 7.
Crescent City (0-0) at PK Yonge (1-0): Raiders lost a game to weather last week. N4J pick: Crescent City 24, PK Yonge 20.
Dunnellon (1-0) at (5) Bradford (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tornadoes with another tough defensive win. N4J pick: Bradford 19, Dunnellon 13.
Eagle’s View (2-0) at Harvest Community (0-2): The Warriors of Eagle’s View have been cooking on offense. The Warriors of Harvest have not. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 32, Harvest 6.
Episcopal (0-0) at Bishop Kenny (1-0): Battle of Atlantic Boulevard goes to the Crusaders. N4J pick: Kenny 31, Episcopal 20.
First Coast (0-1) at KIPP Bold City (0-1), 6:30 p.m.: Buccaneers get back to .500. N4J pick: First Coast 28, KIPP Bold City 21.
Fleming Island (1-0) at Riverside (0-1), 6:30 p.m.: Generals were ragged in Week 1 and the Golden Eagles beat rival Clay. N4J pick: Riverside 23, Fleming Island 21.
Flagler Palm Coast (0-0) at Lake Howell (0-1): Bulldogs open with a W. N4J pick: FPC 27, Lake Howell 20.
Fort White (0-1) at Belleview (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tough Week 1 L for the Indians, but they get back on track here. N4J pick: Fort White 20, Belleview 14.
Hilliard (0-1) at Stanton (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: Tight game goes to the Red Flashes. N4J pick: Hilliard 21, Stanton 20.
Hollis Christian (0-1) at Chiefland (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Indians win big. N4J pick: Chiefland 35, Hollis Christian 6.
Impact Christian (0-1) at Port St. Lucie (0-2): Lions with a close road win. N4J pick: Impact 28, Port St. Lucie 21.
Lafayette (1-0) at Suwannee (0-1), 7:30 p.m.: Bulldogs get back on track and in the win column here. N4J pick: Suwannee 28, Lafayette 14.
(1) Mandarin (1-0) at Atlantic Coast (1-0), 6:30 p.m.: Go ahead and keep the Principal’s Cup for another year. N4J pick: Mandarin 52, Atlantic Coast 6.
Matanzas (0-1) at Atlantic (0-1): Pirates cruise after a tough week. N4J pick: Matanzas 31, Atlantic 17.
Middleburg (1-0) at NFEI (1-0): Broncos are going to have to play better than they did last week on offense. N4J pick: Middleburg 21, NFEI 13.
(8) Nease (1-0) at Creekside (0-1): This is always an entertaining series. N4J pick: Nease 31, Creekside 30.
(7) Oakleaf (1-0) at Orange Park (1-0): Knights looked great last week. N4J pick: Oakleaf 42, Orange Park 7.
Palatka (0-1) at Baldwin (1-0), 6:30 p.m.: Panthers had a tough opener against St. Augustine while the Indians rolled. N4J pick: Palatka 28, Baldwin 24.
Palm Bay (0-1) at Baker County (0-1): Wildcats played well in Week 1 but came up short. Not this week. N4J pick: Baker County 27, Palm Bay 7.
Parker (0-1) at Fletcher (1-0), 6:30 p.m.: Senators couldn’t stop scoring last week. N4J pick: Fletcher 28, Parker 14.
Paxon (2-0) at Christ’s Church (2-0): Paxon gets out to a 3-0 start here. N4J pick: Paxon 31, Christ’s Church 21.
Ponte Vedra (0-1) at (4) Bartram Trail (1-0): Game of the Week goes to the Bears. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 27, Ponte Vedra 20.
(3) Raines (1-0) at Sandalwood (0-1), 6:30 p.m.: Vikings can name their number. Saints just don’t have the bodies that they used to. N4J pick: Raines 52, Sandalwood 0.
Ribault (0-1) at Jackson (1-0), 6:30 p.m.: Tigers make is 2-0 under coach Bobby Ramsay. N4J pick: Jackson 28, Ribault 12.
Ridgeview (0-1) at West Nassau (1-1): It’s two in a row for the Warriors. N4J pick: West Nassau 21, Ridgeview 6.
(2) St. Augustine (1-0) at Menendez (1-0): This rivalry has been owned by the Yellow Jackets. N4J pick: St. Augustine 38, Menendez 14.
St. Joseph (2-0) at Duval Charter (0-2), 4:30 p.m.: Flashes keep on cruising. N4J pick: St. Joseph 28, Duval Charter 13.
Seven Rivers Christian (2-0) at Old Plank (1-0): Defenders stay perfect. N4J pick: Old Plank 21, Seven Rivers Christian 20.
Union County (1-0) at Keystone Heights (1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers know how to win. N4J pick: Union County 28, Keystone Heights 21.
University Christian (0-1) at Hebron Christian, Ga. (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: Two tough road games to open for UC. N4J pick: Hebron Christian 30, UC 27.
Westside (0-1) at Tocoi Creek (1-0): Toros cruise. N4J pick: Tocoi Creek 34, Westside 6.
Wolfson (0-2) at Fernandina Beach (1-1): Pirates in a low scoring game. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 14, Wolfson 12.
Yulee (0-1) at Clay (0-1): Both teams lost tough games in Week 1. N4J pick: Clay 21, Yulee 20.
OFF: White.