JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Varsity 4 has you covered every step of the way for Week 7 of the high school football season.
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
(9) Beachside (4-1) at Tocoi Creek (4-1), Varsity 4 Game of the Week
The newest St. Johns County programs have a budding rivalry. The Toros have won both (36-19 in 2022 and 38-35 last year). They collide in midseason for the first time, both with real momentum. The Barracudas have been rolling under coach Pete Duffy. They won nine straight after their season-opening loss to Tocoi Creek last year and stretched it to 11 before a 17-14 loss to Ponte Vedra. They play fast and love the pass. QB Eddie Jordan is completing 66% of his passes and has thrown for 1,534 yards (13 TDs). WR Drew Watson has 607 receiving yards (8 TDs). Maddox Hunstad (352 yards, 3 TDs), Brennan Monaco (352 yards, TD) and Drew Aldrich (165 yards, TD) are also big targets for Jordan. All of those players are underclassmen. DL Noah Lustrea has five sacks to anchor the line. The youth on Beachside is remarkable and it should be a contender for a realistic push deep into the playoffs next season. But trying to knock off Tocoi Creek for the first time is the first goal. Tocoi has been very consistent in its four seasons, the first two under Mike Kolakoski and the last two under Zach Harbison. They’ve struggled in spurts like a 28-22 OT win over a then-winless Westside, and a 35-6 loss to Bishop Kenny. But the Toros looked as good as they have all season last week in a 46-26 blowout of rival Bartram Trail. The back half of this schedule is a monster. QB Ryan Killmer is a four-year player and has passed for 772 yards and six TDs this season. RB Vincent Galella (379 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and Killmer (6 rushing TDs) are the players to watch close to the end zone on the ground. RB Davian Garcia (310 rushing yards) is averaging 6.5 ypc. The return of WR Julio Santiago after sitting out the first four games was a spark. He had 159 yards and a pair of TDs against Bartram Trail. S Karter Alvarez has a couple picks for Tocoi Creek. Blake Warner leads the team in tackles and TFL (53 and 6).
Creekside (2-3) at Fleming Island (3-2)
Two teams getting hot at the right time. The Knights started 0-3 but they’ve cranked up the offense that they’re known for. Creekside racked up games of 49 and 42 points in wins over Bartram Trail and Winter Park, respectively. RB Harrison Garrido and QB Sean Ashenfelder are offensive machines and Creekside has finally gotten those two into form. The Knights won this game in a 49-48 epic in the News4JAX Game of the Week in 2023, using it to ignite a three-game winning streak that carried it into the playoffs. Fleming Island is 7-4 all time against the Knights, but they’ve lost the last three games in the series. Interim head coach Derek Chipoletti is a proven winner and has already matched the win total from last year. QB Cibastian Broughton is a two-way threat (555 passing yards, 4 TDs and 285 rushing yards, 5 TDs). WR Trace Burney has six TD catches and 403 yards on 24 receptions. Expect a shootout in this one.
Trinity Christian (3-2) at Riverside (3-3), 6:30 p.m.
Two teams with major expectations who are on the cusp of doing something. Riverside has been an interesting team to watch. The Generals have a ton of talent, headlined by explosive, and, many times, unguardable WR Tae’shaun Gelsey. He’s got eight TD catches on 35 receptions (526 yards). Fellow WR Myles Kendrick (352 receiving yards, 2 TDs) is another explosive target for QBs Glenn Foreman III and Jaidan Delaune. For all that offensive muscle, Riverside has turned in games where they’ve managed just 14 points in a win over 1-5 Ribault, and just a TD in a 35-7 loss to Oakleaf. Trinity is in a much different season than in years past, building with a very young lineup. That young secondary has some players, including Tre Williams and Je’Tye Flornoy. LB/DL Terrell Pinkney has 4.5 sacks to front the pass rush. If that defense can drag this game into a low scoring affair, the Conquerors have a good chance in this one. But if the Generals can get into a rhythm, this one could turn one sided in a hurry.
Zarephath Academy (7-0) at Union County (5-0), 7:30 p.m.
The air raid attack led by Jordan Durham gets its first significant test of the season. Durham, whose older brother Ivory, led Raines to a state championship and was in the Mr. Football conversation, has ascended to legitimate college prospect. He’s passed for 2,404 yards and 22 TDs (just 1 INT), a yardage total that ranks second in the nation. WR Terrell Brant has 1,178 receiving yards and 16 TDs. The Eagles can move it in a hurry. The question this week is can they do that against a very good Rural team in Union County, which is a state semifinal contender annually. The Tigers have allowed just 32 points all season. They run it well, with RB Drew Simmons (634 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and QB Trenton Klein (223 rushing yards, 4 TDs) doing the heavy lifting. DL Connor Bresee has four sacks to lead the defense. A win by Zarephath would be the biggest in the program’s short varsity history.
Next four
Atlantic Coast (3-2) at White (3-2), 6:30 p.m.: The Commanders really could be unbeaten at this point. The Stingrays could added a marquee name to their win resume with a victory here.
Flagler Palm Coast (4-1) at Fletcher (4-2), 6:30 p.m.: Both teams are coming off losses. They’ve both played well against teams that they should have beaten but struggled against more difficult competition.
Palatka (4-2) at (3) Bradford (5-0), 7:30 p.m.: This has become a good rivalry over the last few years but the Tornadoes have controlled it. They’re on their way to another unbeaten regular season.
Rockledge (3-1) at (6) Mandarin (3-2), 6:30 p.m.: The Mustangs are back at home for the first time in a month. This is a tough test game for a team that has been hammered by injuries, but still has deep playoff expectations.
Florida schedule, Week 7
Thursday, Oct. 3, all games 7 p.m. unless indicated
Baker County (3-1) at Godby (4-2)
Leesburg (4-1) at Ponte Vedra (3-2)
Friday, Oct. 4
Atlantic Coast (3-2) at White (3-2), 6:30 p.m.
(9) Beachside (4-1) at Tocoi Creek (4-1)
Christ’s Church (5-0) at Mount Dora Christian (6-0), 7:30 p.m.
Columbia (2-4) at (5) Bolles (4-1), 7:30 p.m.
Creekside (2-3) at Fleming Island (3-2)
Eagle’s View (3-3) at Cedar Creek Christian (3-2)
Fernandina Beach (3-2) at Duval Charter (1-4), 4:45
First Coast (2-2) at Sandalwood (0-5), 6:30 p.m.
Flagler Palm Coast (4-1) at Fletcher (4-2), 6:30 p.m.
Harvest Community (2-4) at St. Andrew’s (1-4)
Hollis Christian (0-5) at Chipley (5-1)
Interlachen (2-3) at Oak Hall (3-3)
Lafayette (2-3) at Fort White (3-2), 7:30 p.m.
Lake Highland Prep (3-2) at Bishop Snyder (4-1)
Matanzas (3-3) at Mount Dora (4-1)
NFEI (1-5) at Episcopal (2-3)
Old Plank Christian (2-4) at Hilliard (0-5)
Palatka (4-2) at (3) Bradford (5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Parker (1-4) at Yulee (1-4)
Paxon (4-1) at Englewood (2-3), 6:30 p.m.
Providence (4-1) at Impact Christian (2-3)
Ridgeview (0-5) at KIPP Bold City (1-5), 6:30 p.m.
Rockledge (3-1) at (6) Mandarin (3-2), 6:30 p.m.
Trinity Christian (3-2) at Riverside (3-3), 6:30 p.m.
True North Classical (2-2) at University Christian (2-3)
West Nassau (5-1) at Keystone Heights (2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Westside (2-3) at Orange Park (1-5)
Wolfson (1-4) at Stanton (1-5), 6:30 p.m.
YKIM (1-5) at St. Joseph (6-0)
Zarephath Academy (7-0) at Union County (5-0), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Ribault (1-5) at (1) Raines (5-0), 2 p.m.
Georgia schedule, Week 8
Friday, Oct. 4, all games at 7:30 p.m.
Brunswick (5-1) at Bradwell Institute (1-4)
Charlton County (4-2) at Clinch County (5-0)
Cook (2-4) at Pierce County (5-0)
Evans (2-2) at Glynn Academy (3-3)
Ware County (2-3) at New Hampstead (2-4)
Saturday, Oct. 5
Camden County (5-0) at Valdosta (5-0), 1 p.m.