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: 36-5. This week: 1-0 (completion of Zarephath-Episcopal game from Week 1). Season: 63-14 (.797).
Week 3 high school football predictions
Thursday, Sept. 4
(9) Bartram Trail (1-1) at Ware County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: The Gators’ loss is to defending state champion Coffee. The Bears got knocked around by Ponte Vedra’s defensive line last week. N4J pick: Ware County 34, Bartram Trail 21.
Menendez (1-1) at (10) Beachside (2-0): The Barracudas are surging but haven’t played a team of substance since Week 1 last year. This should be a good test. N4J pick: Beachside 31, Menendez 20.
Friday, Sept. 6
Baker County (1-1) at (8) Ponte Vedra (1-1): Tossup on this one, but I lean to the Sharks after seeing their defensive line last week. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 20, Baker County 14.
Bishop Kenny (2-0) at Tocoi Creek (2-0): Toros got everything they could handle from winless Westside last week. Derek Heideman has been lighting defenses up for Kenny. N4J pick: Kenny 34, Tocoi Creek 28.
(5) Bolles (1-1) at (2) St. Augustine (2-0): I’ve gone back and forth on this one. Yellow Jackets won a classic last year. I think we’ll see another shootout in our Game of the Week. N4J pick: St. Augustine 34, Bolles 32.
Cedar Creek Christian (2-1) at Bishop Snyder (2-1): Cardinals get back on the winning track. N4J pick: Bishop Snyder 30, Cedar Creek Christian 21.
Clay (1-1) at Middleburg (2-0): Broncos win third straight game against rival Blue Devils. N4J pick: Middleburg 24, Clay 20.
Creekside (0-2) at Spruce Creek (2-0): Not sure what is going on with the Knights but the offense is struggling. N4J pick: Spruce Creek 27, Creekside 20.
Daytona Beach Mainland (0-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (1-0): Bucs get in the win column. N4J pick: Mainland 27, FPC 21.
Deltona (1-0) at Matanzas (1-1): Pirates stack another W. N4J pick: Matanzas 34, Deltona 14.
Deltona Trinity Christian (1-2) at Harvest Community (0-3): Warriors still waiting for their first win. N4J pick: Deltona Trinity Christian 31, Harvest 6.
Englewood (0-2) at Ridgeview (0-2): Rams get in the win column after two tough weeks. N4J pick: Englewood 35, Ridgeview 7.
Faith Christian (1-2) at Christ’s Church (3-0): Eagles could go into Providence game on Oct. 11 unbeaten. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 28, Faith Christian 20.
Fernandina Beach (2-1) at Duval Charter (0-3): Pirates match their win total from last year here. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 38, Duval Charter 6.
Fletcher (2-0) at Atlantic Coast (1-1), 6:30 p.m.: Senators cruise to 3-0. N4J pick: Fletcher 31, Atlantic Coast 14.
Hilliard (0-2) at Paxon (2-1), 6:30 p.m.: Golden Eagles get back on track. N4J pick: Paxon 30, Hilliard 20.
Hillsborough (1-1) at Columbia (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers played better than score indicated last week. N4J pick: Columbia 27, Hillsborough 21.
Hollis Christian (0-2) at Zarephath Academy (3-0), 7:30 p.m.: The Eagles have been my surprise team of the season. The Jordan Durham Express rolls on. N4J pick: Zarephath Academy 48, Hollis Christian 6.
Impact Christian (1-1) at Wolfson (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: Lions used big time defense to win last week. N4J pick: Impact 27, Wolfson 13.
Interlachen (1-2) at Crescent City (1-0): Raiders in a close one. N4J pick: Crescent City 27, Interlachen 21.
KIPP Bold City (0-2) at Baldwin (1-1), 6:30 p.m.: Indians crank up the offense. N4J pick: Baldwin 36, KIPP 6.
Madison County (1-1) at Suwannee (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: Excellent rivalry continues but the Cowboys are too much for the Bulldogs. N4J pick: Madison County 29, Suwannee 14.
NFEI (1-1) at Seffner Christian Academy (2-0): Eagles pick up a nice road W. N4J pick: NFEI 34, Seffner Christian 7.
North Marion (2-0) at Fort White (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: High quality clash goes to the Colts. N4J pick: North Marion 24, Fort White 17.
(7) Oakleaf (2-0) at Fleming Island (1-1): Knights have been dealing this season. N4J pick: Oakleaf 34, Fleming Island 21.
Old Plank (2-0) at St. Joseph (3-0): Clash of the unbeatens and a return of Old Plank head coach Frank Andrea to a program he coached for a couple years (2010-11). N4J pick: St. Joseph 28, Old Plank 21.
Orange Park (1-1) at Riverside (1-1), 6:30 p.m.: You need to start Tae’Shaun Gelsey in your fantasy league. He found the end zone five times last week for Riverside. N4J pick: Riverside 48, Orange Park 14.
P.K. Yonge (1-1) at YKIM (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: Blue Wave with a road win. N4J pick: P.K. Yonge 28, YKIM 0.
Providence (2-0) at Palatka (1-1): Tough one to call but Panthers in a shootout. N4J pick: Palatka 35, Providence 31.
Ribault (1-1) at Camden County (3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Wildcats are off and running under coach Travis Roland. N4J pick: Camden County 38, Ribault 12.
Ridge Community (1-1) at (6) Nease (2-0): Panthers really could be the second-best team in St. Johns County this season. They’ve held their first two opponents to a touchdown so why not continue that here. N4J pick: Nease 34, Ridge Community 7.
Sandalwood (0-2) at (1) Mandarin (2-0), 6:30 p.m.: Mustangs are without QB Tramell Jones due to injury but Saints are in the beginning phase of a lengthy rebuild and have yet to score a point this year. N4J pick: Mandarin 42, Sandalwood 0.
Santa Fe (0-2) at Union County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers don’t believe in rebuilds. N4J pick: Union County 31, Santa Fe 20.
Eagle’s View (3-0) at Seven Rivers Christian (2-1),7:30 p.m.: Warriors stay perfect. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 34, Seven Rivers Christian 13.
South Sumter (1-1) at (4) Bradford (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: That defense is tough down in Starke. N4J pick: Bradford 28, South Sumter 10.
Stanton (1-2) at Episcopal (0-2): Huge win for Blue Devils last week but Eagles get in the win column. N4J pick: Episcopal 34, Stanton 7.
Trinity Christian (1-1) at (3) Raines (2-0), 6:30 p.m.: Vikings may have the area’s best defense. N4J pick: Raines 42, Trinity 7.
University Christian (0-2) at Jackson (1-1), 6:30 p.m.: Tough road games to start but UC gets back on track here. N4J pick: UC 30, Jackson 13.
West Nassau (2-1) at Lake Weir (2-0): Warriors end Lake Weir’s perfect start. N4J pick: West Nassau 24, Lake Weir 20.
White (0-1) at Westside (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: Wolverines came oh so close to ending their 19-game losing streak last week. N4J pick: White 27, Westside 20.
Yulee (0-2) at Charlton County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: Hornets get in the win column. N4J pick: Yulee 23, Charlton County 21.
OFF: First Coast, Joshua Christian, Keystone Heights, Parker.