JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX/Varsity 4 have you covered every step of the way for Week 5 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. Predictions can be found here.
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In a pair of Thursday night games, No. 7 Ponte Vedra rocked Menendez 40-0 to stretch its winning streak to three games since a Week 1 loss to Nease. Also rolling on a Thursday night game was Creekside, which rumbled past Winter Park 45-28. It was the second big offensive game by the Knights (2-3), who beat Bartram Trail 49-42 last week.
Top four games to watch
Beachside (2-1) at Bishop Kenny (3-1)
Both teams played very well last week in close losses. Kenny led Bolles 28-13 in the third quarter before the Bulldogs roared back for a 35-28 win. The Barracudas lost to No. 7 Ponte Vedra 17-14. Both of these teams have sharp passing attacks. Beachside QB Eddie Jordan is a stat machine. He’s passed for 986 yards and nine TDs this season. His big target is WR Drew Watson (17 catches, 363 yards, 5 TDs). How will Beachside do in navigating the most difficult two-game stretch in the program’s short history? Like the Barracudas, Kenny is a strong passing offense. QB Derek Heideman (455 yards, 8 TDs) has been on a roll, and he’s got a big offense behind him. RB Caleb Mattison (437 rushing yards, 6 TDs) is averaging 9.1 yards per carry. WR JP Donovan has four TD catches on six receptions.
Columbia (2-2) at Trinity Christian (2-2), Varsity 4 Game of the Week
These teams have developed a nice rivalry over the years. Columbia is better than its record indicates. The Tigers were in a one-score game in the fourth quarter against Georgia power and defending state champ Coffee before the Trojans pulled away for a comfortable win. They lost a tough, 18-13 game to Madison County last week. The strength of the Tigers comes on the defensive front where DEs Kyten Davis and Ayden Phillips, and linemen Caden Bolstein and Jaylen Underwood set the tone. Will that pressure be able to slow down or overwhelm a younger Trinity team? This is one of coach Verlon Dorminey’s youngest teams in his career. QBs Hicks Zarah and Terel Dallas split the reps. RB Micah Anderson (132, TD) is second behind Zarah (141, 3 TDs) in rushing. DB Kaleel Vereen (23 tackles) and DL Terrell Pinkney (3.5 sacks) supply the defense. Trinity has controlled this series under Dorminey, going 7-2 over the last 11 years against the coaching duo of Brian Allen and Demetric Jackson.
(5) Nease (3-0) at (1) St. Augustine (3-0)
With regards to now-defunct Hastings High School, this is a marquee matchup between the only two current St. Johns County programs to have won state championships. The Yellow Jackets and Panthers won titles in the same season (2005) behind prolific offenses, led at the time by Nease QB Tim Tebow and St. Augustine RB Brandon James. Current St. Augustine head coach Brian Braddock was an assistant coach on that championship team. James is now the offensive coordinator at his alma mater and responsible for guiding what could be the area’s most feared offensive unit. This is the first time since 2006 that these rivals have met with unbeaten records. The Panthers won that in a 24-21 thriller that was televised live on Fox Sports Net. For Nease and coach Collin Drafts, this squad shares similarities to the 2021 team that used heavy senior leadership to go 9-4 and reach the regional final. The defense has been relentless. The Panthers have been smothering teams at the point of attack using a ferocious linebacking group and pressure at the line of scrimmage to erase teams. LB Joe Miracle III has been a wrecking ball. He’s got a team-best 5 TFL. That offense has been excellent, too, with RB KJ Perry, QB Nate Harry and WRs Brayden Felder and Maddox Spencer to get things done on that side of the ball. The Panthers haven’t been feasting on lightweights, either. They have three solid wins to open the season. But the competition ramps up significantly this week. The Yellow Jackets have owned this series, leading 34-6. On paper, this is one of St. Augustine’s better teams, with QB Locklan Hewlett, WRs Trenton Jones, Carl Jenkins Jr. and Somourian Wingo and RB Trendell Anderson daring defenses to stop them. Teams can score on St. Augustine, as evidenced by Riverside putting up 35 last week on the Yellow Jackets. But until a defense can limit what the Yellow Jackets can do on offense (like Mainland was able to in the 2023 Class 3S title game), then that teams are better served just trying to outscore them than try and slow them down. Nease doesn’t have many wins all time against its longest-tenured county rival, but it does have one of the biggest. In 2015, the Panthers erupted in the second half and wound up beating St. Augustine 23-20 in OT, a win that ended a 50-game, 11-year district winning streak. It’s the second longest in area history behind Bolles’ 19-year, 91-game winning streak that Raines ended in 2011.
Last 10 St. Augustine-Nease meetings
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2023 | St. Augustine 49, Nease 30 |
| 2022 | St. Augustine 58, Nease 41 |
| 2021 | St. Augustine 28, Nease 21 |
| 2020 | St. Augustine 49, Nease 16 |
| 2019 | St. Augustine 55, Nease 45 |
| 2018 | Nease 14, St. Augustine 13 |
| 2017 | St. Augustine 35, Nease 23 |
| 2016 | St. Augustine 34, Nease 14 |
| 2015 | Nease 23, St. Augustine 20, OT |
| 2014 | St. Augustine 58, Nease 0 |
(9) Oakleaf (3-1) at (6) Bolles (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
Just the second meeting between these teams, with the Bulldogs rolling to a 44-28 win. Bolles has seldom faced teams from Clay County in the regular season. This is just the eighth game in the past 20 years matching Bolles and a team from Clay. The Bulldogs are 6-1 in that stretch (1-0 vs. Oakleaf, 4-0 vs. Clay, 1-1 vs. Fleming Island). Bolles has been susceptible to big plays through the air this season, which should mean Oakleaf QB Jack McKissock (765 passing yards, 4 TDs) has some success. WRs Jordin Price, Michael Conner III and Carlos Witherup have combined for 593 receiving yards and three TDs. RB Chris Foy II has been a monster on the ground, rushing for 574 yards and six TDs as he makes the turn towards a 1,000-yard season. DL/LB Anthony Smith (4.5 sacks) and DL Amare’ Thomas (37 tackles, 7.5 TFL) anchor the front. LBs Jermaine Robinson and Brian Copeland have racked up a combined 86 tackles. On the ground, RB Emmett Grzebin (364 rushing yards, 3 TDs) has remained the big weapon. WR Naeem Burroughs (254 receiving yards, 5 TDs) is one of the area’s top threats vertically. TE Corbyn Fordham and WR Chase Collier also need to be locked up. On defense, Simeon Caldwell, MJ Jenkins and Troy Holloway lead the way with 31 tackles apiece.
Next four to watch
Baldwin (2-2) at (8) Baker County (2-1)
The Wildcats have won two in a row since a Week 1 loss to Bradford. They’ve also won three straight in this series, including playoff games in 2022 and ‘23. QB Hudson Register (403 passing yards, 4 TDs) and a nasty defense leads the Wildcats. QB Gage Screws (796 passing yards, 10 TDs) and WR Kelvin Brown (360 receiving yards, 6 TDs) power Baldwin.
Fort White (3-1) at Union County (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
An excellent clash between the Rural class state contenders. The Tigers won this in the second round of the playoffs last season (17-10) and have thrived under coach Andrew Thomas. RB Drew Simmons (472 rushing yards, 6 TDs) paces the offense. The defense has allowed just 13 points. RB Lacosta Byrd (231 rushing yards, 5 TDs) leads the backfield for the Indians.
(4) Mandarin (3-1) at IMG Academy (3-1)
This is a monster challenge for the Mustangs going against one of the best teams in the country with a lineup that has been banged up. The Ascenders are 3-1 all-time against area teams, including a 49-20 romp over Bartram Trail last season. Trinity Christian beat IMG 27-24 in 2013.
Yulee (0-3) at West Nassau (4-1)
A Nassau County clash that’s always a good one. The Hornets lead the all-time series 10-7 and have won the last three. RB Skyler Freeman has 10 rushing TDs for the Warriors.
Week 5 schedule, Florida
Thursday, Sept. 19
(7) Ponte Vedra 40, Menendez 0
Creekside 45, Winter Park 28
Friday, Sept. 20
Atlantic Coast (2-2) at Jackson (2-2), 6:30 p.m.
Baldwin (2-2) at (8) Baker County (2-1)
(10) Bartram Trail (2-2) at Orange Park (1-3)
Beachside (2-1) at Bishop Kenny (3-1)
Bell (3-1) at Old Plank (2-2)
Bishop Snyder (3-1) at Wolfson (1-3), 6:30 p.m.
Columbia (2-2) at Trinity Christian (2-2)
Cornerstone Classical (0-0) at Duval Charter (0-4), 6 p.m.
Crescent City (2-1) at Hilliard (0-4)
Dixie County (2-2) at Keystone Heights (1-2), 7:30 p.m.
Englewood (1-3) at Stanton (1-4), 6:30 p.m.
Episcopal (1-3) at KIPP Bold City (0-4), 6:30 p.m.
Fernandina Beach (2-2) at Santa Fe (0-4)
First Academy (2-2) at St. Joseph (5-0)
First Coast (1-2) at Clay (1-3)
Fletcher (3-1) at Sandalwood (0-4), 6:30 p.m.
Fort White (3-1) at Union County (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Hollis Christian (0-4) at P.K. Yonge (2-2)
Impact Christian (2-1) at University Christian (1-3), 7:30 p.m.
Interlachen (1-3) at Bronson (0-4)
(4) Mandarin (3-1) at IMG Academy (3-1)
Matanzas (2-2) at Seabreeze (0-2)
Middleburg (4-0) at Ridgeview (0-3)
(5) Nease (3-0) at (1) St. Augustine (3-0)
NFEI (1-3) at Chiefland (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
(9) Oakleaf (3-1) at (6) Bolles (2-1), 7:30 p.m.
Palatka (3-1) at Nature Coast Tech (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
Ribault (1-3) at Riverside (2-2), 6:30 p.m.
Suwannee (1-3) at Appling County (2-2), 7:30 p.m.
White (2-1) at Parker (0-3), 6:30 p.m.
YKIM (0-4) at Harvest Community (1-4), 6 p.m.
Yulee (0-3) at West Nassau (4-1)
Zarephath Academy (5-0) at Lafayette (2-2)
Zephyrhills Christian (1-2) at Flagler Palm Coast (3-0)
OFF: Bradford, Cedar Creek Christian, Christ’s Church, Eagle’s View, Fleming Island, Impact Christian, Paxon, Providence, Raines, Tocoi Creek, Westside.
Week 6 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Sept. 20, all games 7:30 p.m.
Brunswick (3-1) at Greenbrier (2-1)
Lakeside (4-0) at Glynn Academy (3-1)
Pierce County (4-0) at Brooks County (2-2)
Tallahassee Lincoln (3-0) at Ware County (2-2)
OFF: Camden County, Charlton County