JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Varsity 4 has you covered every step of the way for Week 6 of the high school football season. We’ll have four games to watch, a couple of other notable games and the full schedule in our Thursday coverage. All game times are 7 p.m. unless indicated. Due to Hurricane Helene, the schedule covers three nights.
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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Four to watch
Gainesville Buchholz (3-2) at (3) Nease (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
A massive district collision between the perennial playoff program Bobcats and the surging Panthers. Nease has been playing on another level this year for coach Collin Drafts. They had three strong wins before last week and then took the momentum up another rung with a comeback win over rival St. Augustine. Nease trailed 21-0 in that game before an unbelievable comeback to stun the Yellow Jackets, 35-34 in OT. There’s something special going on with the Panthers and its reminiscent of their magical run to the regional finals in 2021. QB Nate Harry (11 passing TDs, 812 yards), RB KJ Perry (215 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and pass catchers Maddox Spencer (310 receiving yards, 4 TDs), Brayden Felder (255 receiving yards, 3 TDs) and Vernon Stephens (112 receiving yards, 4 TDs) are lighting it up. CB Elisha Luckett III (24 tackles, 2 INT) and LBs Kyle Hurtado (36 tackles) and Joe Miracle III (33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, INT) are leading a tough, tough defense. Even with two losses, don’t discount Buchholz. The defeats are to unbeaten Richmond Hill (35-28) and 4-1 Manatee (34-27). Buchholz has been to the state semifinals three consecutive seasons.
Ponte Vedra (3-1) at Fleming Island (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
A District 3-5A showdown between the two district frontrunners. The Sharks have already beaten district challenger Beachside, while the Golden Eagles have beaten presumptive bottom team Orange Park. RB Brian Case (401 rushing yards, 5 TDs), QB Drew Price (533 passing yards, 4 TDs) and WRs Cam Tietze (175 receiving yards, 2 TDs) and Jack Berquist (186 receiving yards) lead the Sharks on offense. But it’s the defensive pressure is what has set Ponte Vedra on another level. DLs Ryker Kemp and Martin Geary have combined for nine sacks and have set the tone at the line of scrimmage during the three-game winning streak. Fleming could easily be unbeaten at this point, with losses to Riverside (48-39) and Oakleaf (17-14) both within their reach. RB Demhir Jackson (287 rushing yards, 2 TDs), QB Cibastian Broughton (225 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 350 passing yards, 2 TDs) and WR Trace Burney (293 receiving yards, 4 TDs) keying the offense. S David Smith (31 tackles, 2 INT) and LB AJ Whitt (30 tackles, 5 TFL) lead the defense for Fleming.
Riverside (3-2) at (1) Raines (4-0), Monday, 5:30 p.m.
This series has turned into a must-see event. The Vikings scratched out a somewhat controversial win in this game last year and will look to leave no doubt in this one. Raines has perhaps the area’s toughest defense behind Bradford and can take over a game at every level. The Vikings have won three straight in this series, including last year’s 26-24 thriller. QB TJ Cole has been excellent for Raines (903 passing yards, 10 TDs, 249 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Four Vikings receivers have two TD catches or more, led by Adron Walker (271 receiving yards, 4 TDs). LB Tony Williams (29 tackles, 5 TFL), DE King Massey (23 tackles, 10 TFL), DB Jucoby Marion (2 INTs) and DL Geterius Brown (18 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks) power the defense for Raines. Riverside has been a tough team to figure out. One week, the General light up Fleming Island and keep pace with St. Augustine, and the other, score just one touchdown in a blowout loss to Oakleaf and then struggle to a 14-0 win over Ribault. The Generals have too much talent to be so up and down. WRs Tae’shaun Gelsey (379 receiving yards, 8 TDs) and Myles Kendrick (286 receiving yards, 2 TDs) are playmakers. Riverside needs to get the ball in the hands of those two more than it has been. They’re averaging a TD every 4.8 touches. RB Shermon Davis (516 rushing yards, 4 TDs) provides a punch out of the backfield. DBs Anthony Henry and Richard Pooler have a couple of picks apiece for the Generals.
West Nassau (5-1) at Fernandina Beach (3-2), Monday, 7 p.m.
The Warriors lost a 22-20 game to Paxon in Week 0 and haven’t flinched since. They’d walloped every opponent since until a 22-21 win over Yulee in Week 5. That was a massive county win for second-year head coach Gunnar Cox. There’s a very real chance for West Nassau to run the table if it beats the Pirates. That would be a 180 from how Cox inherited the program, taking it from a 2-8 team to 3-7 and now 5-1. QB Pryce Arnold (626 passing yards, 8 TDs), RB Skyler Freeman (449 rushing yards, 10 TDs, 120 receiving yards, 3 TDs) and LB Garrett Rica (56 tackles, 12 TFL) have been the leaders for West Nassau. The Pirates have been solid and could easily be 4-1 if not for a tight loss (34-26) to Fort White.
Next three to watch
Brunswick (4-1) vs. Glynn Academy (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: This is always one of the best games annually. The Pirates have won four straight since a Week 1 loss to Camden County. The City Championship has been dominated recently by the Red Terrors who are 7-3 against the Pirates in the last 10 years. Brunswick won three in a row (2020-22) but Glynn has closed the gap in this series. The Pirates lead the all-time series 49-38-2. Brunswick RB William Heck (608 rushing yards, 4 TDs), QB Grant Moore (928 passing yards, 8 TDs) and WR Waseem Murray (286 receiving yards, 4 TDs) lead the Brunswick offense. DB Aviyon Addison has three picks. A Brunswick win puts it on a collision course for a Week 10 Region 1-5A championship clash against Lakeside.
Camden County (5-0) at Valdosta (5-0), 8 p.m.: RB Jordan Hardy (418 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and the visiting Wildcats are unbeaten under first-year head coach Travis Roland and they can take a massive step to the forefront of a brutally tough Region 1-6A with a win here.
Orange Park (1-4) at Middleburg (5-0), Varsity 4 Game of the Week: The Broncos are riding their best start since 1989 and show no signs of relenting for coach Ryan Wolfe. The Raiders need something to stop their slide.
Week 6 schedule
Wednesday’s results
(2) Bradford 40, Keystone Heights 0
(9) Beachside 41, Menendez 3
(4) St. Augustine 27, Columbia 6
Tocoi Creek 46, (10) Bartram Trail 26
Friday, Sept. 27
Ambassadors Christian (0-6) at Hollis Christian (0-5)
(8) Baker County (3-1) at Tallahassee Godby (3-2), postponed to Oct. 3
Clay (1-4) at Ridgeview (0-4)
Flagler Palm Coast (4-0) at Orange City University (4-1)
Gainesville Buchholz (3-2) at (3) Nease (4-0)
Gainesville Oak Hall (2-3) at Eagle’s View (3-2)
Harvest Community (2-4) at Cedar Creek Christian (3-2), postponed to Oct. 10
Impact Christian (2-2) at Gadsden County (4-1), canceled
Joshua Christian (0-0) at YKIM (0-5), 6:30 p.m.
Mainland (0-5) at Matanzas (3-2)
Mount Dora Christian (6-0) at Duval Charter (1-4)
NFEI (1-4) at KIPP Bold City (0-5), 6:30 p.m.
Old Plank Christian (2-3) at Christ’s Church (4-0)
Orange Park (1-4) at Middleburg (5-0), Varsity 4 Game of the Week
Paxon (4-1) at Union County (5-0), canceled
(7) Ponte Vedra (3-1) at Fleming Island (2-2)
Providence (3-1) at Master’s Academy (5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Sandalwood (0-5) at Creekside (2-3), postponed until Oct. 25
Suwannee (1-4) at Wakulla (3-1), postponed
Victory Christian (4-0) Academy at Episcopal (2-3)
Zarephath Academy (6-0) at West Oaks (1-2), 6 p.m.
Zephyrhills Christian (1-3) at Trinity Christian (3-2), canceled
OFF: Atlantic Coast, Beachside, Bishop Kenny, Bishop Snyder, Englewood, Hilliard, Interlachen, St. Joseph, Stanton, University Christian.
Monday, Sept. 30
Baldwin (2-3) at (5) Bolles (3-1), 6 p.m.
Bishop Kenny (3-2) at Parker (0-4), 6 p.m.
Crescent City at Father Lopez (0-4), 6 p.m.
First Coast (2-2) at (7) Mandarin (3-2), 6:30 p.m.
Fletcher (4-1) at Oakleaf (3-2), 7 p.m.
Jackson (2-3) at Wolfson (1-4), 6:30 p.m.
Menendez (2-2) at Westside (1-3), 6:30 p.m.
Newberry (2-2) at Palatka (4-1)
Riverside (3-2) at (1) Raines (4-0), 5:30 p.m.
West Nassau (5-1) at Fernandina Beach (3-2)
White (3-1) at Merritt Island (4-1)
Yulee (0-4) vs. Ribault (1-4), at Riverside, 6:30 p.m.
Georgia schedule, Week 7
Friday, Sept. 27, all games at 7:30 p.m.
Benedictine (1-2) at Ware County (2-3), canceled
Brunswick (4-1) vs. Glynn Academy (3-2)
Camden County (5-0) at Valdosta (5-0), 8 p.m.
Charlton County (3-2) at Lanier County (1-4)
Pierce County (5-0) at Vidalia (3-2)