JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first week of the high school football season kicks off Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.
You can find our Week 1 predictions here.
You can find our Super 10 rankings here.
You can find our top 25 player countdown here.
You can find our Georgia weekly scoreboard here.
You can find our Florida weekly scoreboard and TV highlights here.
Four to watch
(5) Mandarin at Creekside
The Mustangs went 7-4 last year and that was a testament to the coaching staff and players adjusting on the fly to numerous bad breaks. Injuries had the potential to derail Mandarin’s season, but head coach Toby Bullock didn’t let that happen. The growing pains of 2024 will pay off this year. QB Knox Annis started nine games last year and will be far more in command of the team. WR Brysen Wright is an unbelievable talent with an otherworldly catch radius. There are questions on defense after graduations and transfers, but the secondary is buttoned up with corners Brody Jennings and Tamajh Mitchell. This is a natural rivalry between schools that are roughly 20 minutes apart. The Knights are coming off their first district championship season, although they’ve got quite a few offensive question marks. Head coach Sean McIntyre has to replace a three-year starter at quarterback, a rugged running game and very good receivers. Creekside may open the season stronger on defense as its offense develops.
Mandarin-Creekside history
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Mandarin 57, Creekside 13 |
| 2023 | Creekside 23, Mandarin 22 |
| 2022 | Creekside 37, Mandarin 27 |
| 2021 | Creekside 20, Mandarin 16 |
| 2016 | Mandarin 54, Creekside 3 |
| 2015 | Mandarin 47, Creekside 29 |
| 2012 | Mandarin 28, Creekside 14 |
| 2011 | Creekside 28, Mandarin 22 |
| 2010 | Mandarin 41, Creekside 28 |
| 2009 | Creekside 24, Mandarin 21 |
Nease at (10) Ponte Vedra
The Battle of the Bridge has rapidly grown to become one of the area’s best rivalry games. The Panthers have won back-to-back games in this series for the first time, including a 24-7 win last year that propelled them to the top ranking in the state. Head coach Collin Drafts’ team turned in a 10-1 season and reached the second round of the playoffs. The Sharks have dominated this series, going 12-4 all time against their main rival, including an 11-game winning streak (2010-2020). Offensively, both of these teams have questions. Nease has to replace its starting QB, RB and top WR; the Sharks have to do the same. Both schools have good defenses, with Ponte Vedra led by Talan Babin and Reece Beck. Nease’s linebackers (Jacob Curry, Kyle Hurtado and Noah Hodge) are stout. If this one comes down to a kick, Ponte Vedra’s Noah Ash is one of the area’s top legs.
Nease-Ponte Vedra history
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Nease 24, Ponte Vedra 7 |
| 2023 | Nease 24, Ponte Vedra 23 |
| 2022 | Ponte Vedra 35, Nease 34 |
| 2021 | Nease 14, Ponte Vedra 7 |
| 2020 | Ponte Vedra 24, Nease 7 |
| 2019 | Ponte Vedra 21, Nease 14 |
| 2018 | Ponte Vedra 35, Nease 14 |
| 2017 | Ponte Vedra 24, Nease 13 |
| 2016 | Ponte Vedra 27, Nease 14 |
| 2015 | Ponte Vedra 17, Nease 3 |
| 2014 | Ponte Vedra 21, Nease 20 |
| 2013 | Ponte Vedra 52, Nease 17 |
| 2012 | Ponte Vedra 35, Nease 7 |
| 2011 | Ponte Vedra 41, Nease 0 |
| 2010 | Ponte Vedra 34, Nease 7 |
| 2009 | Nease 38, Ponte Vedra 20 |
Palatka at (3) St. Augustine
The state’s second-oldest rivalry played its first game in 1922. The oldest (Arcadia DeSoto and Hardee) started in 1921. Former St. Augustine Record sports writer Will Brown did an excellent perspective piece on this storied rivalry several years ago that explores the depth of this rivalry. St. Augustine leads the series 59-43-3. The Yellow Jackets are led by WRs Somourian Wingo and Julio Santiago in the passing game, and RB Trendell Anderson. Palatka has a new head coach in Lantz Lowery and has a very good QB in Tommy Offord. Watch out for two-way player Justin Fells, who will line up in the backfield and at linebacker.
(9) White at (8) Trinity Christian
A pair of Super 10 teams clash in Week 1. The Conquerors won this game last year (21-18). These teams are similar to one another in how young they were last season, and how well they both did. Trinity went to the state semifinals and the Commanders were 8-4 and went two rounds deep. Trinity head coach Verlon Dorminey is a living coaching legend. He enters his 35th season with nine state championships and a 335-90 record. The start to the season is wicked tough for the Conquerors, with a game at Bolles in Week 2 and then Raines in Week 3. The younger Trinity players who helped the program go 10-4 and reach the state semis are all back. That includes LB/DL Terrell Pinkney, QBs Terel Dallas and Hicks Zarah and WRs Tre Williams and Marquez Hicks. Commanders coach Lawrence Johnson has an excellent group returning, including starting QB King Boylston, his top targets Nick Roberson, and top RB Rontrez Loyd.
Next four to watch
Baker County at (6) Bradford, 7:30 p.m.: The Tornadoes have won the last five meetings in the Blood Rivalry, and look to showcase more of their vise-grip of a defense in front of the home fans.
Clay at Fleming Island: Two new head coaches in this Clay County rivalry (Jeff Gierke at Clay and Tom MacPherson at Fleming) kickstart this always good clash. Fleming Island leads the all-time series 13-6, and has won the last three games in this series.
Columbia at Suwannee, 7:30 p.m.: In a battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, the Tigers have largely dominated. The first game here was played in 1929. They’ve got an excellent team returning for head coach Brian Allen, and have won 12 straight in this rivalry. Suwannee last won in 2007.
Flagler Palm Coast at Matanzas: The Potato Bowl has been dominated by the Bulldogs. FPC leads the series on the field 14-2, but later had to give one back by forfeit so they’re 13-3. This is the first game there for head coach Patrick Turner, who has coached at Menendez and Palatka locally, too.
Week 1 schedule, Florida
Week 1
Thursday, Aug. 21
(1) Bolles at vs. Monarch at Broward Football Showcase, 8 p.m.
Young Kids in Motion at Christ’s Church
Friday, Aug. 22
Atlantic Coast at Parker, 6:30 p.m.
Baker County at (6) Bradford, 7:30 p.m.
Bartram Trail at Sumner
(7) Beachside at Orlando Christian Prep
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic (0-1) at Cornerstone Classical Academy
Bishop Snyder (1-0) at Stanton (0-1), 6:30 p.m.
Clay at Fleming Island
Columbia at Suwannee, 7:30 p.m.
Crescent City at Deltona
Duval Charter at Episcopal
Eagle’s View (0-1) at Old Plank Christian (1-0)
Englewood at Baldwin, 6:30 p.m.
First Coast at Tocoi Creek
Flagler Palm Coast at Matanzas
Fort White at Taylor County, 7:30 p.m.
Hilliard at Fernandina Beach (1-0)
Impact Christian at Zarephath Academy
Interlachen at Keystone Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Joshua Christian at Hamilton County
KIPP Bold City at Jackson, 6:30 p.m.
(5) Mandarin at Creekside
Menendez at Sandalwood, 6:30 p.m.
Middleburg at Westside, 6:30 p.m.
Nease at (10) Ponte Vedra
Newberry at University Christian
NFEI at Branford
(4) Oakleaf at Riverside, 6:30 p.m.
Palatka at (3) St. Augustine
Providence at Frostproof (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Ribault at Fletcher, 6:30 p.m.
Ridgeview at Orange Park
St. Joseph (0-0) at Cedar Creek Christian (0-1)
West Nassau (1-0) at Frederica Academy (1-0)
(10) White at (8) Trinity Christian
Wolfson at Paxon (0-1), 6:30 p.m.
Yulee at Union County, 7:30 p.m.
OFF: Bishop Kenny, Harvest Community, Raines.
Week 2 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Aug. 22
Coffee (1-0) at Ware County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Coosa Christian, Ala. (0-0) at Pierce County (0-0), 7 p.m.
East Lake (0-0) at Camden County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Glynn Academy (1-0) at Richmond Hill (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
McIntosh County (1-0) at Charlton County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Wayne County (0-1) at Brunswick (0-1), 7:30 p.m.