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A few upsets in opening week of the high school football playoff predictions

Mandarin traveled to Atlantic Coast in the battle for the Principal's Cup in Week 2 of the high school football season. The Mustangs won 47-0. (Kevin Nguyen, News4JAX)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney reveals his predictions for the first round of the high school football playoffs. All game times are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Last week: 11-2. Season: 323-78 (.805).

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Week 1 playoff predictions

Region 1-7A

(5) Spruce Creek (7-3) at (4) Flagler Palm Coast (9-1), 7 p.m.: Bulldogs should really be able to win this rematch like they did in the regular season. N4J pick: FPC 42, Spruce Creek 35.

(2) Seminole (8-1) at (7) Creekside (5-5), 7 p.m.: First home playoff game in program history for the Knights. In an upset. N4J pick: Creekside 28, Seminole 24.

Region 1-6A

(8) Tate (7-3) at (1) Nease (9-0), 7 p.m.: I think the Panthers will win but I don’t think it’s going to be an easy game. N4J pick: Nease 27, Tate 20.

(5) Oakleaf (7-3) at (4) Mandarin (7-3), 6:30 p.m.: Defense has turned into the calling card for the Mustangs. N4J pick: Mandarin 24, Oakleaf 13.

Region 1-5A

(8) Middleburg (7-3) at (1) Niceville (9-1), 8:30 p.m.: Great season for the Broncos but a difficult assignment. N4J pick: Niceville 33, Middleburg 13.

(5) Beachside (7-3) at (4) Ponte Vedra (8-2), 7 p.m.: Sharks won the first meeting in a tight game and they do it again here. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 24, Beachside 20.

(6) Fleming Island (7-3) at (3) Mosley (9-1), 8 p.m.: I’d considered taking Mosely but I’m going with the upset. Golden Eagles played a more difficult schedule and it pays off. N4J pick: Fleming Island 23, Mosley 20.

Region 1-4A

(8) Columbia (5-5) at (1) St. Augustine (8-1), 7 p.m.: Yellow Jackets won this handily in the regular season. N4J pick: St. Augustine 37, Columbia 20.

(4) Pine Forest (5-5) at (5) White (7-3), 6:30 p.m.: Heart says the Commanders but the head says the Eagles. They’ve played a brutal schedule and that’s the separator here. N4J pick: Pine Forest 30, White 21.

(6) Riverside (5-5) at (3) Escambia (8-2), 8 p.m.: Tough assignment for the Generals in the Panhandle. N4J pick: Escambia 31, Riverside 21.

Region 1-3A

(8) Bay (5-5) at (1) Raines (9-0), 6:30 p.m.: Vikings are going to barrel through this region. N4J pick: Raines 42, Bay 20.

(5) Menendez (6-4) at (4) Wakulla (7-3), 7 p.m.: Great season for the Falcons but steep climb here. N4J pick: Wakulla 28, Menendez 20.

(7) Suwannee (4-6) at (2) Godby (6-3), 7 p.m.: Bulldogs really could have won this game in the regular season. N4J pick: Suwannee 28, Godby 27.

(6) Baker County (5-4) at (3) Bishop Kenny (7-3), 7 p.m.: Crusaders got hot at the right time. N4J pick: Bishop Kenny 27, Baker County 20.

Region 1-2A

(8) Baldwin (5-5) at (1) Gadsden County (9-1), 7:30 p.m.: Indians have a brutal opener. N4J pick: Gadsden County 38, Baldwin 14.

(6) Taylor County (7-3) at (3) Bolles (8-1), 7:30 p.m.: I think this will be a little closer than expected. N4J pick: Bolles 38, Taylor County 20.

Region 2-2A

(7) Villages (5-4) at (2) Bradford (8-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tornadoes prep for massive showdown with Newberry. N4J pick: Bradford 42, Villages 7.

(6) Palatka (7-3) at (3) Newberry (8-2), 7:30 p.m.: Newberry is wicked tough on defense. N4J pick: Newberry 34, Palatka 6.

Region 1-1A

(1) Providence (7-3) at (8) Ocala Trinity Catholic (2-8), 7:30 p.m.: Stallions set up a rematch with UC next week. N4J pick: Providence 33, Trinity Catholic 27.

(5) Impact Christian (6-4) at (4) University Christian (5-5), 7:30 p.m.: Lions are dancing but playoff veteran UC is too tough in the postseason. N4J pick: UC 28, Impact Christian 13.

(2) Trinity Christian def. (7) P.K. Yonge by forfeit

Region 2-1A

(7) Crescent City (8-2) at (2) Lakeland Christian (8-1), 7:30 p.m.: Very difficult opener on the road for the Raiders. N4J pick: Lakeland Christian 35, Crescent City 13.

Rural

(12) Fort White (5-4) at (5) Jay (9-1), 7:30 p.m.: Indians with a tough draw in the opener, but I always love a 5-12 seed upset. N4J pick: Fort White 30, Jay 17.

(14) Holmes County (6-4) at (3) Union County (8-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers are going to press for a final four berth. N4J pick: Union County 33, Holmes County 13.

Sunshine State Athletic Association playoffs

All games at Villages Charter

Atlantic State championship

Fernandina Beach (6-6) vs. Frostproof (8-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: Excellent season for the Pirates but Frostproof could be a legit playoff team in the FHSAA. N4J pick: Frostproof 34, Fernandina Beach 13.

Class 5A state championship

St. Joseph (10-1) vs. Jupiter Christian (9-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.: A slight strength of schedule nod here so I’m going with Jupiter in a close one. N4J pick: Jupiter Christian 28, St. Joseph 20.

Class 1A state championship

Cedar Creek Christian (5-5) vs. Legacy Charter (4-6), Friday, 7 p.m.: Eagles rolled in the regular season against the Saints. N4J pick: Legacy Charter 42, Cedar Creek 20.


About the Author
Justin Barney headshot

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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