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. This week’s predictions are moved up by a day due to Tropical Storm Helene.
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This week: 0-1 (rescheduled Week 1 game between Crescent City and Deltona). Last week: 28-7. Season: 153-34 (.819).
Week 6 schedule, Florida
Wednesday, Sept. 25, all games 7 p.m. unless noted
(10) Bartram Trail (3-2) at Tocoi Creek (3-1): Can the Toros turn the corner in the county and win a big game? N4J pick: Bartram Trail 35, Tocoi Creek 24.
Keystone Heights (2-2) at (2) Bradford (4-0), 5 p.m.: Tornadoes could easily finish 10-0. I don’t see a loss the rest of the way. N4J pick: Bradford 34, Keystone Heights 7.
Menendez (2-2) at (9) Beachside (3-1), 6 p.m.: This rescheduled game is back on the books again. N4J pick: Beachside 38, Menendez 7.
(4) St. Augustine (3-1) at Columbia (2-3): Yellow Jackets can score but I’m still worried about their defense long term. But not in this one. N4J pick: St. Augustine 32, Columbia 13.
Friday, Sept. 27
Ambassadors Christian (0-6) at Hollis Christian (0-5): Someone will get their first win. N4J pick: Ambassadors 12, Hollis Christian 7.
Clay (1-4) at Ridgeview (0-4): Both teams have been struggling but Blue Devils have been more consistent. N4J pick: Clay 28, Ridgeview 7.
Flagler Palm Coast (4-0) at Orange City University (4-1): Bulldogs up their best start in years here. N4J pick: FPC 32, University 21.
Gainesville Oak Hall (2-3) at Eagle’s View (3-2): Eagles are too much for the Warriors. N4J pick: Oak Hall 54, Eagle’s View 21.
Harvest Community (2-4) at Cedar Creek Christian (3-2): Warriors in a tight one. N4J pick: Harvest 27, Cedar Creek 20.
Joshua Christian (0-0) at YKIM (0-5), 6:30 p.m.: Ravens end their five-game losing streak. N4J pick: YKIM 20, Joshua Christian 0.
Mainland (0-5) at Matanzas (3-2): Bucs are better than their record. N4J pick: Mainland 21, Matanzas 13.
Mount Dora Christian (6-0) at Duval Charter (1-4): Tough one for the Panthers. N4J pick: Mount Dora Christian 49, Duval Charter 7.
NFEI (1-4) at KIPP Bold City (0-5), 6:30 p.m.: Eagles pick up a district W and end their slide. N4J pick: NFEI 32, KIPP Bold City 7.
Old Plank Christian (2-3) at Christ’s Church (4-0): Eagles stay unbeaten. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 30, Old Plank 7.
Orange Park (1-4) at Middleburg (5-0): Broncos feeling good and still perfect. N4J pick: Middleburg 28, Orange Park 7.
(7) Ponte Vedra (3-1) at Fleming Island (2-2): Sharks are riding a three-game winning streak. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 29, Fleming Island 18.
Providence (3-1) at Master’s Academy (5-0), 7:30 p.m.: Stallions are less than a TD away from being perfect. N4J pick: Providence 30, Master’s Academy 21.
Victory Christian (4-0) Academy at Episcopal (2-3): Tough one at home for the Eagles. N4J pick: Victory Christian 24, Episcopal 20.
Zarephath Academy (6-0) at West Oaks (1-2), 6 p.m.: No one is cooling off the Eagles. N4J pick: Zarephath 42, West Oaks 14.
Zephyrhills Christian (1-3) at Trinity Christian (3-2): Conquerors are starting to feel it as their younger players are growing up. N4J pick: Trinity 38, Zephyrhills Christian 6.
Monday, Sept. 30
Baldwin (2-3) at (5) Bolles (3-1), 6 p.m.: Bulldogs are back on track after Week 1 loss to Raines. N4J pick: Bolles 42, Baldwin 13.
Bishop Kenny (3-2) at Parker (0-4), 6 p.m.: Crusaders get back on track after blowout loss last week. N4J pick: Bishop Kenny 34, Parker 7.
Crescent City at Father Lopez (0-4): Raiders win easily here. N4J pick: Crescent City 32, Father Lopez 6.
Fletcher (4-1) at Oakleaf (3-2), 7 p.m.: Knights get back on track after two tough, close losses. N4J pick: Oakleaf 31, Fletcher 14.
Gainesville Buchholz (3-2) at (3) Nease (4-0): Picked against the Panthers last week (and in Week 1) and paid the price. N4J pick: Nease 27, Buchholz 25.
Jackson (2-3) at Wolfson (1-4), 6:30 p.m.: Tigers keep Wolfpack reeling. N4J pick: Jackson 28, Wolfson 9.
Menendez (2-2) at Westside (1-3), 6:30 p.m.: Falcons notch a district W after a weird schedule of games. N4J pick: Menendez 28, Westside 20.
Newberry (2-2) at Palatka (4-1), 6 p.m.: Panthers are rolling, but I think this will be a battle down to the final minutes. N4J pick: Palatka 32, Newberry 27.
Riverside (3-2) at (1) Raines (4-0), 5:30 p.m.: Vikings are the area’s top team and the Generals have been too tough to figure out. N4J pick: Raines 31, Riverside 20.
West Nassau (5-1) at Fernandina Beach (3-2): Learned my lesson picking against Warriors as of late. N4J pick: West Nassau 28, Fernandina Beach 24.
White (3-1) at Merritt Island (4-1): Long road trip for the Commanders. N4J pick: Merritt Island 27, White 17.
Yulee (0-4) vs. Ribault (1-4), at Riverside, 6:30 p.m.: Trojans have shown potential this season. N4J pick: Ribault 19, Yulee 16.
OFF: Atlantic Coast, Baker County, Beachside, Bishop Kenny, Bishop Snyder, Creekside, Englewood, Hilliard, Interlachen, St. Joseph, Sandalwood, Stanton, University Christian.