JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax sports editor Justin Barney reveals his high school football Week 1 playoff predictions. Picks are published each Thursday during the season. All games are Friday at 7:30 p.m. unless indicated. Seeds are listed in parentheses.
Last week: 18-14. Regular season: 265-95 (.736).
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Region 1-8A
(8) Mandarin (7-3) at (1) Seminole (9-0): Mustangs start defense of their state championship on the road. In an upset. … N4J pick: Mandarin 26, Seminole 21
(6) Flagler Palm Coast (8-2) at (3) Apopka (8-1): Blue Darters are always a threat for a deep playoff run. N4J pick: Apopka 27, FPC 20
(7) Spruce Creek (6-3) at (2) Bartram Trail (10-0): Is this the year that Bartram Trail puts it all together? Week 1 starts things out the right way. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 35, Spruce Creek 14
Region 1-7A
(6) Wekiva (7-3) at (3) Fleming Island (9-0): Golden Eagles make it 10 in a row in 2019. N4J pick: Fleming Island 31, Wekiva 27
Region 1-6A
(6) Columbia (7-3) at (3) Ponte Vedra (7-2): Can't figure out the Tigers' recent skid, but I think the schedule that they've played is the difference here. N4J pick: Columbia 31, Ponte Vedra 27
(7) St. Augustine (6-4) at (2) Lee (7-3), 6:30 p.m.: Both of these teams have been up and down at times this season. Generals hang on. N4J pick: Lee 31, St. Augustine 30
Region 1-5A
(8) Suwannee (5-5) at (1) Wakulla (10-0): Bulldogs got in to the playoffs in the final two weeks, but their run ends here. N4J pick: Wakulla 36, Suwannee 21
(5) Westside (8-2) at (4) Raines (5-4), 6:30 p.m.: Back and forth on this one throughout the week. Great season for the Wolverines, but I can't pick the two-time defending 4A state champs to go out this quickly. N4J pick: Raines 28, Westside 26
(6) Tallahassee Godby (4-6) at (3) Parker (7-2), 6:30 p.m.: What a season by the Braves, who enter this one on a seven-game winning streak. I think the Cougars' schedule tips the scales here. N4J pick: Godby 35, Parker 20
(7) Baker County (6-4) at (2) Pensacola Pine Forest (7-2), 8:30 p.m.: Panhandle football is always a difficult test for local teams. N4J pick: Pine Forest 31, Baker County 21
Region 2-5A
(6) Vanguard (7-2) at (3) Menendez (7-2): First home playoff game in Falcons' history. Great season for Menendez. N4J pick: Vanguard 34, Menendez 27
Region 1-4A
(6) Bradford (4-5) at (3) Gadsden County (5-4): Why not pick the Tornadoes to win on the road? N4J pick: Bradford 28, Gadsden County 21
Region 2-4A
(5) Astronaut (5-5) at (4) Keystone Heights (7-2): War Eagles leave Keystone with a tight victory. N4J pick: Astronaut 21, Keystone 20
Region 1-3A
(5) Trinity Christian (5-5) at (4) Ocala Trinity Catholic (7-3): Playoffs shouldn't be the easiest time of the year for any team. It is for the Conquerors, who will get 10-0 Pensacola Catholic next week. Those teams have playoff history. N4J pick: Trinity Christian 31, Trinity Catholic 21
(6) Baldwin (7-3) at (3) Episcopal (9-1): Rematch game. Indians won the first by 28. N4J pick: Baldwin 34, Episcopal 28
Region 1-2A
(6) St. Joseph (4-5) at (3) Aucilla Christian (9-0): Difficult opener for the Flashes. N4J pick: Aucilla 35, St. Joseph 13
Region 3-1A
(5) Branford (6-4) at (4) Hilliard (6-4): Red Flashes move on in a tight one. N4J pick: Hilliard 23, Branford 21
(6) Union County (5-5) at (3) Dixie County (6-3): Challenging opener for the Tigers. N4J pick: Dixie County 27, Union County 20