JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Through two weeks of the high school football season, the heavyweights are beginning to emerge.
There’s also an injury of merit to the star quarterback of the area’s top-ranked program that could make things interesting.
Top-ranked Mandarin crushed host Atlantic Coast for the third consecutive season, rolling to a 47-0 romp to keep hold of the Principal’s Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of that rivalry game. Elite 11 quarterback Tramell Jones tossed early touchdown passes to Jaime Ffrench and Brysen Wright to put the Mustangs up quick.
But even bigger news for the Mustangs (2-0) was that Jones left with a foot injury and didn’t return. That is a major injury to watch as Jones led Mandarin to the Class 4M state championship game last year and was positioned to try and break former First Coast star De’Andre Johnson career passing yardage mark. Freshman Knox Annis came on in relief of Jones and had a couple touchdown runs for the Mustangs.
Ffrench, the five-star receiver and No. 2-rated prospect in the News4JAX Super 16, committed to the University of Texas earlier Friday.
Bouncing back
Riverside had nothing on offense in Week 1 against Oakleaf. The Generals used a career night by TaeShaun Gelsey to outslug Fleming Island 48-39. Gelsey, a Super 16 recruit and Gators commit, had five touchdowns, including the insurance score in the final minutes to help the Generals hold on. Fleming Island took a 35-32 lead, its first of the game with 6 minutes, 27 seconds left before Gelsey finished things off. Myles Kendrick had two touchdowns, including a kickoff return for a score to open the game for Riverside.
The picks
A solid week of predictions, with a 36-5 mark in Week 2.
Streaking into Week 3
Through two weeks, there are 20 teams in the News4JAX coverage region who remain unbeaten. There are the traditional blue bloods — Bradford, Mandarin, Raines, St. Augustine to name a few — but also a few notable surprises. Christ’s Church (3-0), Eagle’s View (3-0) and St. Joseph (3-0) are all perfect. So, too, are newer programs like Zarephath Academy (2-0) and Old Plank Christian (2-0).
Zarephath could very likely add two more wins in a span of four days next week. The Eagles are up 34-14 on Episcopal with just over seven minutes left when that weather-suspended game resumes on Tuesday. They host Hamilton County next Friday, and a win there would make Zarephath 4-0.
Speaking of streaks, No. 10 Beachside thumped Englewood to win its 11th consecutive game. The Barracudas haven’t lost since Week 1 of 2023. In Blackshear, reigning Class 2A state champion Pierce County is also riding an 11-game winning streak after Friday’s 42-7 romp over Brantley County.
For season updates and the rest of the schedule for area Georgia programs, find that here. For weekly results from area Florida programs, find that here.
How the Super 10 fared
1. Mandarin (2-0) beat Atlantic Coast, 47-0. Next: vs. Sandalwood (0-2).
2. St. Augustine (2-0) beat Menendez, 34-14. Next: vs. Bolles (1-1).
3. Raines (2-0) beat Sandalwood, 43-0. Next: vs. Trinity Christian (1-1).
4. Bartram Trail (1-1), lost to Ponte Vedra, 28-21. Next: at Ware County (2-1).
5. Bradford (2-0) beat Dunnellon, 29-14. Next: vs. South Sumter (1-1).
6. Bolles (1-1) beat (9) Trinity Christian, 41-7. Next: at St. Augustine (2-0).
7. Oakleaf (2-0) beat Orange Park, 42-0. Next: at Fleming Island (1-1).
8. Nease (2-0) beat Creekside, 45-7. Next: vs. Ridge Community (1-1).
9. Trinity Christian (1-1) lost to Bolles, 41-7. Next: at Raines (2-0).
10. Beachside (2-0) beat Englewood, 58-14. Next: vs. Menendez (1-1).
Florida results, Week 2
Thursday’s results
Providence 35, St. John Paul II 18
Zarephath Academy 48, South Fork 30
Friday’s results
Baker County 35, Palm Bay 7
(10) Beachside 58, Englewood 14
(6) Bolles 41, (9) Trinity Christian 7
(5) Bradford 29, Dunnellon 14
Cedar Creek Christian 26, Father Lopez 6
Chiefland 51, Hollis Christian 0
Clay 23, Yulee 20
Coffee, Ga. 40, Columbia 13
Crescent City 28, PK Yonge 14
Eagle’s View 22, Harvest Community 6
Fernandina Beach 49, Wolfson 6
First Coast 54, KIPP Bold City 0
Flagler Palm Coast 56, Lake Howell 15
Fort White 41, Belleview 6
Gainesville Oak Hall 20, Bishop Snyder 7
Hebron Christian, Ga. 24, University Christian 12
Impact Christian 25, Port St. Lucie 6
Interlachen 40, Brooksville Central 6
(1) Mandarin 47, Atlantic Coast 0
Matanzas 28, Atlantic 0
Middleburg 42, NFEI 6
(7) Oakleaf 42, Orange Park 0
Old Plank 44, Seven Rivers Christian 14
Ponte Vedra 28, (4) Bartram Trail 21
Ribault 18, Jackson 16
Riverside 48, Fleming Island 39
(2) St. Augustine 34, Menendez 14
St. Joseph 55, Duval Charter 6
Suwannee 21, Lafayette 13
Tocoi Creek 28, Westside 22 (2 OT)
Union County 35, Keystone Heights 0
West Nassau 46, Ridgeview 0
OFF: White.
Week 3 results, Georgia
Friday’s games
Camden County 52, West Broward 29
Jeff Davis 32, Charlton County 0
Pierce County 42, Brantley County 7
Ware County 49, Bainbridge 7
OFF: Brunswick, Glynn Academy.
Week 3 schedule, Florida
Tuesday, Sept. 3
Zarephath Academy 34, Episcopal 14 (game resuming with 7 minutes left)
Thursday, Sept. 4
Bartram Trail (1-1) at Ware County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
Menendez (1-1) at Beachside (2-0)
Friday, Sept. 6
Baker County (1-1) at Ponte Vedra (1-1)
Bishop Kenny (2-0) at Tocoi Creek (2-0)
Bolles (1-1) at St. Augustine (2-0)
Cedar Creek Christian (2-1) at Bishop Snyder (2-1)
Clay (1-1) at Middleburg (2-0)
Creekside (0-2) at Spruce Creek (2-0)
Daytona Beach Mainland (0-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (1-0)
Deltona (0-1) at Matanzas (1-1)
Deltona Trinity Christian (1-2) at Harvest Community (0-3)
Englewood (0-2) at Ridgeview (0-2)
Faith Christian at Christ’s Church (3-0)
Fernandina Beach (2-1) at Duval Charter (0-3)
Fletcher (2-0) at Atlantic Coast (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
Hamilton County (1-2) at Zarephath Academy (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Hilliard (0-2) at Paxon (2-1), 6:30 p.m.
Hillsborough (2-0) at Columbia (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Impact Christian (1-1) at Wolfson (0-2), 6:30 p.m.
Interlachen (1-2) at Crescent City (1-0)
Joshua Christian at Hollis Christian
KIPP Bold City (0-2) at Baldwin (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
Madison County (1-1) at Suwannee (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
NFEI (1-1) at Seffner Christian Academy (2-0)
North Marion (2-0) at Fort White (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Oakleaf (2-0) at Fleming Island (1-1)
Old Plank (2-0) at St. Joseph (3-0)
Orange Park (1-1) at Riverside (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
P.K. Yonge (1-1) at YKIM, 6:30 p.m.
Providence (2-0) at Palatka (1-1)
Ribault (1-1) at Camden County (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Ridge Community (1-1) at Nease (2-0)
Sandalwood (0-2) at Mandarin (2-0), 6:30 p.m.
Santa Fe (0-2) at Union County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Seven Rivers Christian (2-1) at Eagle’s View (3-0)
South Sumter (1-1) at Bradford (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Stanton (1-2) at Episcopal (0-1)
Trinity Christian (1-1) at Raines (2-0), 6:30 p.m.
University Christian (0-2) at Jackson (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
West Nassau (2-1) at Lake Weir (2-0)
White (0-1) at Westside (0-2), 6:30 p.m.
Yulee (0-2) at Charlton County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
OFF: First Coast, Keystone Heights, Parker.
Week 4 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Sept. 6, all games at 7:30 p.m.
Bartram Trail (1-1) at Ware County (1-1)
Bradwell Institute (1-1) at Glynn Academy (1-1)
Brunswick (1-1) at Effingham County (0-2)
Pierce County (2-0) at Wayne County (0-3)
Ribault (1-1) at Camden County (3-0)
Yulee (0-2) at Charlton County (2-1)