JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX/Varsity 4 have you covered every step of the way for Week 4 of the high school football season. We’ll have four games to watch, the next four best and the full schedule in our Thursday coverage. All game times are 7 p.m. unless indicated.
For a full schedule and results, find our Florida week by week scores and television coverage here. For our Georgia weekly updates, check those out here. Looking for our predictions? Find those here.
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Top four games
Bishop Kenny (3-0) at (5) Bolles (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Always a great rivalry, regardless of sport, these two private school powers are must-see on the field or court. The Crusaders injected this series with new life in 2022, upsetting Bolles 14-13 for their first win in the rivalry since 1977. The opportunity for another win revolves around QB Derek Heideman and the offense continuing its blistering start. Heideman has been electric, passing for 455 yards and eight TDs. Four of those have gone to JP Donovan (6 catches, 231 yards). RB Caleb Mattison has built upon his stellar freshman season with 437 rushing yards on 48 carries and six TDs. Those are Kenny’s big three and they’ve been excellent in helping the Crusaders average 39.7 points per game this season. Defense has been clicking, too. DB AJ Alicea has a couple picks for Kenny. LBs Gunnar Rogers, AJ Piper and Garrett Holloway have combined for 51 tackles. Keeping that production going against Bolles will be a challenge. The ground game led by RB Emmett Grzebin (151 rushing yards, TD) is consistent and helps try and open up the aerial attack led by QB Ethan Drumm (283 passing yards, 4 TDs). WRs Naeem Burroughs and Chase Collier can stretch the field and TE Corbyn Fordham has a couple TDs on three catches. Bolles is very good on defense, too. LBs MJ Jenkins (24 tackles, 2 TFL) and Troy Holloway (22 tackles) lead the tacklers, while DL Asher Ghioto (7 TFL) is a menace on the line.
(1) Mandarin (3-0) at (4) Bradford (3-0), 7:30 p.m., Varsity 4 Game of the Week
A heavyweight matchup between teams who played for state championships a season ago. The Mustangs are uber-talented at every level, especially on defense. Bradford’s defense has perhaps been the area’s best two seasons running. They’re physical and nasty from the line of scrimmage to the secondary. And they’ve picked up where they left off with wins over three playoff teams to open the season. RB Gino Addison has been Bradford’s big offensive threat thus far, but the Tornadoes are never going to be a 45-point a game team. They’re built to choke out opposing offenses and play a possession-type game. Bradford is strong on the offensive line, too. Jacob Ferguson and Kyren Green are movers to watch on the OL. DE/LB Damarius Lewis is a monster and Jeremiah Hill plays opposite Lewis. S Jeremiah McKenzie is the best player on the field for the Tornadoes. He’s coming off a 101-tackle season. DL Trente Jenkins (11 tackles) is a menace on that defense. Mandarin is a massive challenge, probably the most difficult assignment for coach Jamie Rodgers since facing Cocoa in the playoffs the last two years. The Mustangs have been excellent on defense to start the season, allowing just 13 points to Creekside in the opener. The secondary is loaded, with Tamajh Mitchell, Shareef Jackson and Drake Stubbs leading the way. Expect them to come up in run support more this week than others. Granted, Mandarin’s first three opponents are a combined 1-8 but the Mustangs are doing what they need to do. But things crank up this week and next when Mandarin heads to IMG Academy. On talent alone, the Mustangs are unrivaled in the area. They lost Elite 11 QB Tramell Jones to a season-ending leg injury but they may have enough talent to absorb that and keep moving. Freshman Knox Annis is young and inexperienced but he’s really good. And he’s got studs at WR in Jaime Ffrench (7 catches, 206 yards, TD) and freshman phenom Brysen Wright (6 catches, 175 yards, 4 TDs). RBs Deion Winstead, Shaunqueze Foster, Ayden Owens and Donte Perry are a backfield-by-committee but are crushing defenses. They’ve combined for 632 yards on 64 carries (10 ypc) and nine TDs.
(10) Beachside (2-0) at (8) Ponte Vedra (1-1)
A big time Super 10 clash between the surging Barracudas and the veteran Sharks. Beachside is up to an area-high 11-game winning streak. The question about Beachside is how will it fare as it steps up into district competition. The Barracudas feasted on smaller programs as they played an independent schedule during their first two years so that 11-game streak is a bit up in the air. This is the first significant challenge in Beachside’s history. Are the Barracudas ready? QB Eddie Jordan has diced up Orlando Christian Prep and Englewood in two games (38 of 47, 735 yards, 8 TDs) but hasn’t seen a defense like Ponte Vedra’s. Jordan has been excellent in his time as starter. He’s eclipsed 3,000 career passing yards this season and has explosive targets in WRs Maddox Hunstad (9 catches, 266 yards, 2 TDs) and Drew Watson (11 catches, 228 yards, 4 TDs). The Sharks have RB Brian Case leading the way on offense (38 carries, 138 yards, 2 TDs). Defensively is where the Sharks should thrive. DLs Martin Geary and Ryker Kemp supply the pressure up front and have a solid linebacking corps behind them. Goal No. 1 will be to disrupt the timing of Jordan and force him into off-target throws.
Riverside (2-1) at (2) St. Augustine (2-0)
An excellent matchup of two very good offenses. WRs will be all over the place in this one. Riverside’s Tae’Shaun Gelsey has the game of the year so far, going off for 163 yards and five TDs on 13 catches in Week 2 against Fleming Island. Myles Kendrick is an all-around playmaker. He’s got 250 receiving yards and a couple TDs. He’s also taken a kickoff back for a score. QBs Glenn Foreman III and Jaidan Delaune rotate for the Generals, with Foreman getting the bulk of the reps. They’ve combined to throw nine TDs. St. Augustine has a trio of big time pass catchers in Carl Jenkins Jr., Somourian Wdingo and Trenton Jones. Those three have combined for 475 yards and three TDs on 30 catches. Expect all five of those targets to have big games. St. Augustine is still a bit of an unknown on the defensive side of the ball after a glut of graduation losses, especially at linebacker. The potential is there for the Yellow Jackets, but there’s also the potential for a learning curve to get there. St. Augustine QB Locklan Hewlett (USF commit) and Jenkins were both first-team All-News4JAX selections last year after guiding the program to the Class 3S championship game. Hewlett has sniper-like accuracy (73%) and is really good out of the pocket to allow his receivers room to work. RB Trendell Anderson (184 rushing yards, 5 TDs) is the name to watch out of the backfield.
Next four
(9) Bartram Trail (2-1) at Creekside (0-3)
An always packed house for this rivalry showdown which has been dominated by the Bears in the Battle of Longleaf Pine. Bartram has won 16 of 17 meetings, but its lone loss (2014) came to a down Creekside program and kept it out of the playoffs. Coach Cory Johns, now in his second season, wasn’t here back then but no doubt knows the intensity of the rivalry. Bartram RB Arthur Lewis IV is perhaps the area’s most electric all-around player (478 rushing yards on 41 carries, 4 TDs, 94-yard kickoff return for a TD). The Knights have big time offensive potential and tried to get things heated back up last week at Spruce Creek, scoring a season-high 29. Like Bartram, the Knights and coach Sean McIntyre have big offensive potential — they’ve just struggled to stop teams. Opponents are averaging 46 a game against Creekside, a number that’s only manageable if the offense can operate at a clip that it has previously.
Daytona Beach Mainland (0-3) at (3) Raines (3-0), 6:30 p.m.
A redemption game for the Vikings, who are making a case as the area’s best team. Raines lost this game 26-0 last year, its only loss of the regular season. Look for QB TJ Cole (721 passing yards, 7 TDs; 184 rushing yards, 2 TDs) to pick apart the Bucs through the air and on the ground. Mainland, the reigning Class 3S state champ, has endured a difficult start but its opposition is a combined 7-1.
Fletcher (3-0) at (6) Nease (2-0)
A budding rivalry and a big step up in competition for the Senators, who should break into the Super 10 with a win here. Fletcher has started strong, although the competition has been lean (Atlantic Coast, Parker and Ribault). The second half of the schedule picks up here. RB Jahmyri Jennings (165 rushing yards, 4 TDs) and QB Cruz James Bajek (336 passing yards, 3 TDs) lead the Senators. Nease QB Nate Harry (405 passing yards, 5 TDs) and WR Brayden Felder (188 receiving yards, 3 TDs) have lifted the offense, but its been the defense that has been lights out so far.
(7) Oakleaf (3-0) at Hawthorne (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
The Knights are out to an excellent start. They’re running the ball well behind Chris Foy II (503 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and watching QB Jack McKissock (552 passing yards, 4 TDs) spread the ball out to an assortment of playmakers. WRs Carlos Witherup, Mike Conner and Jordin Price have combined for 428 yards and three TDs.
Week 4 schedule, Florida
Monday, Sept. 9
Fletcher 26, Atlantic Coast 21
Friday, Sept. 13
Atlantic Coast (1-2) at Sandalwood (0-3), 6:30 p.m.
Baker County (1-1) at First Coast (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
(9) Bartram Trail (2-1) at Creekside (0-3)
(10) Beachside (2-0) at (8) Ponte Vedra (1-1)
Bishop Snyder (3-1) at Christ’s Church (4-0)
Bishop Kenny (3-0) at (5) Bolles (1-1), 7:30 p.m. (note game moved from BK to Bolles)
Branford (1-1) at Hilliard (0-3)
Bronson (0-3) at Cedar Creek Christian (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
Daytona Beach Mainland (0-3) at (3) Raines (3-0), 6:30 p.m.
Duval Charter (0-3) at Aucilla Christian (3-0)
Eagle’s View (3-1) at St. Joseph (4-0)
Englewood (1-2) at White (1-1), 6:30 p.m.
Episcopal (1-2) at Providence (2-1)
Fleming Island (1-2) at Orange Park (1-2)
Fletcher (3-0) at (6) Nease (2-0)
Fort White (2-1) at Fernandina Beach (2-1)
Harvest Community (1-3) at Trenton (0-3), 7:30 p.m.
Hollis Christian (0-3) at Middleburg (3-0)
Jackson (1-2) at Matanzas (2-1)
Keystone Heights (1-1) at Newberry (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Lake Brantley (1-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (2-0)
Madison County (1-2) at Columbia (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
(1) Mandarin (3-0) at (4) Bradford (3-0), 7:30 p.m.
North Marion (2-1) at Crescent City (2-0)
Oakleaf (3-0) at Hawthorne (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
Old Plank (2-1) at Mount Dora Christian (4-0)
Parker (0-2) at Menendez (1-1)
P.K. Yonge (2-1) at Zarephath Academy (4-0)
Ribault (1-2) at Westside (0-2), 6:30 p.m.
Riverside (2-1) at (2) St. Augustine (2-0)
Santa Fe (0-3) at Palatka (2-1)
Stanton (1-3) at Paxon (3-1), 6:30 p.m.
Suwannee (1-2) at Godby (1-2)
Tampa Catholic (1-2) at University Christian (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Tocoi Creek (2-1) at Clay (1-2)
Trinity Christian (1-2) at NFEI (1-1)
Union County (3-0) at Baldwin (2-1), 6:30 p.m.
West Nassau (2-1) at Hamilton County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Wolfson (0-3) at KIPP Bold City (0-3), 6:30 p.m.
YKIM (0-3) at West Oaks Academy (1-2)
OFF: Impact Christian, Interlachen, Ridgeview, Yulee.
Georgia schedule, Week 5
Friday, Sept. 13, all games at 7:30
Evans (2-1) at Brunswick (2-1)
Glynn Academy (2-1) at Statesboro (1-1)
New Hampstead (2-2) at Pierce County (3-0)
Spruce Creek (3-0) at Camden County (3-0)
Toombs County (3-0) at Charlton County (3-1)
OFF: Ware County.