JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – High school football season is back and so are our weekly predictions for local games. Each Thursday during the season, News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will offer his picks on the games.
Last week: 33-4. Season: 91-25 (.784).
Week 4 schedule, Florida
Thursday, Sept. 11
Harvest Community (0-3) at Trinity Prep (2-2): Warriors still after win No. 1. N4J pick: Trinity Prep 33, Harvest 14.
Interlachen (1-2) at Umatilla (3-0): Rams drop this one on the road. N4J pick: Umatilla 45, Interlachen 28.
Friday, Sept. 12
Baldwin (3-0) at Union County (1-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers end perfect start of Indians. N4J pick: Union County 24, Baldwin 20.
(3) Bolles (2-1) at (10) Bishop Kenny (2-0): Crusaders have looked good but I think Bulldogs will want to prove something after last week’s loss. N4J pick: (3) Bolles 35, (10) Bishop Kenny 14.
(7) Bradford (3-0) at (6) Mandarin (3-0), 6:30 p.m.: Potentially a game of the week candidate. Tornadoes won last year, but I don’t know if they have enough offense if this one goes into the 20s. N4J pick: (6) Mandarin 27, (7) Bradford 14.
Cedar Creek Christian (0-4) at Mount Dora Christian (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Saints will have to keep chasing that first win. N4J pick: Mount Dora Christian 36, Cedar Creek Christian 6.
Clay (0-3) at Tocoi Creek (2-1): Coin flip game but I think the Toros get it. N4J pick: Tocoi Creek 28, Clay 21.
(8) Columbia (3-0) at Madison County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.: Cowboys are always a tough opponent, especially at home. N4J pick: (8) Columbia 31, Madison County 14.
Cornerstone Classical Academy (0-2) at Bishop Snyder (3-2): Cardinals stack back-to-back wins. N4J pick: Bishop Snyder 30, Cornerstone 13.
Creekside (0-3) at Bartram Trail (0-3): Surprising that both teams are still searching for their first win. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 35, Creekside 31.
Crescent City (2-1) at North Marion (1-2): Colts bounce back after tough loss to Fort White. N4J pick: North Marion 24, Crescent City 14.
Duval Charter (0-4) at Christ’s Church (1-1): Eagles back over .500 after this one. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 28, Duval Charter 7.
Eagle’s View (2-2) at Hilliard (2-1): Red Flashes keep Nassau County hot start going. N4J pick: Hilliard 22, Eagle’s View 20.
Father Lopez (2-1) at Joshua Christian (1-2): Eagles are coming off a win but it will be more difficult to get another here. N4J pick: Father Lopez 33, Joshua Christian 14.
First Coast (1-1) at Baker County (1-2): Wildcats get back to .500. N4J pick: Baker County 21, First Coast 20.
Flagler Palm Coast (2-1) at Lake Brantley (3-0): Tough game for the Bulldogs. N4J pick: Lake Brantley 32, Flagler Palm Coast 21.
Fort White (2-1) at Fernandina Beach (4-0): Most difficult test of the season for Pirates. N4J pick: Fort White 35, Fernandina Beach 31.
Godby (0-3) at Suwannee (0-3), 7:30 p.m.: Cougars in a close one. N4J pick: Godby 33, Suwannee 31.
Hamilton County (2-1) at West Nassau (4-0): Warriors reach the halfway point unbeaten. N4J pick: West Nassau 38, Hamilton County 20.
Hawthorne (3-0) at (4) Oakleaf (3-0): Conflicted on this one but I’ll go with the home team. N4J pick: (4) Oakleaf 24, Hawthorne 20.
KIPP Bold City (0-3) at Wolfson (0-3), 6:30 p.m.: Wolfpack won once last year, this game. N4J pick: Wolfson 14, KIPP Bold City 12.
Matanzas (2-1) at Jackson (2-1), 6:30 p.m.: Another game that should be close. N4J pick: Matanzas 14, Jackson 13.
Menendez (1-2) at Parker (0-2), 6:30 p.m.: Falcons bounce back from a tough loss with a big win. N4J pick: Menendez 34, Parker 14.
(5) Nease (3-0) at Fletcher (3-0), 6:30 p.m.: Test game for the Senators, but Panthers are far more battle tested. N4J pick: (5) Nease 35, Fletcher 21.
Newberry (0-3) at Keystone Heights (0-2), 7:30 p.m.: Panthers get their first win. N4J pick: Newberry 31, Keystone Heights 14.
NFEI (1-1) at Trinity Christian (0-3): Conquerors shake off rare winless start. N4J pick: Trinity Christian 42, NFEI 20.
Orange Park (2-1) at Fleming Island (2-1): Huge win for Raiders last week. Can they build off that? N4J pick: Fleming Island 28, Orange Park 20.
Palatka (1-2) at Santa Fe (2-0): Panthers get back to .500. N4J pick: Palatka 28, Santa Fe 20.
Paxon (2-2) at Stanton (2-2), 6:30 p.m.: Brain Bowl should be a good one. N4J pick: Paxon 34, Stanton 21.
Ponte Vedra (2-1) at Beachside (2-1): Big clash of St. Johns County teams here. Sharks get their third straight win after Week 1 loss to Nease. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 35, Beachside 20.
Providence (0-3) at Episcopal (3-0): Eagles make it 4-0. N4J pick: Episcopal 28, Providence 14.
(2) Raines (2-0) at Lake Mary (2-1): Finally, a tough opponent for the Vikings. It’ll be their most difficult game until a likely regional final. N4J pick: (2) Raines 34, Lake Mary 31.
Sandalwood (0-3) at Atlantic Coast (1-2), 6:30 p.m.: Stingrays are back to .500 nearing the midway point of the season. N4J pick: Atlantic Coast 34, Sandalwood 6.
(1) St. Augustine (3-0) at Riverside (0-3), 6:30 p.m.: Generals are mired in a miserable year and it won’t get better this week. N4J pick: (1) St. Augustine 42, Riverside 13.
St. Joseph (2-0) at Old Plank Christian (3-0): Flashes end perfect start of Old Plank. N4J pick: St. Joseph 34, Old Plank 14.
University Christian (2-1) at Tampa Catholic (0-3): Christians pick up a big road win. N4J pick: UC 28, Tampa Catholic 13.
Westside (0-3) at Ribault (0-3), 6:30 p.m.: Trojans get in the win column. N4J pick: Ribault 23, Westside 6.
(9) White (2-0) at Englewood (0-3), 6:30 p.m.: Commanders racked up 65 last week. N4J pick: (9) White 58, Englewood 0.
Yulee (3-0) at McLaughlin (0-2): Hornets keep on cooking. N4J pick: Yulee 38, McLaughlin 7.
Zarephath Academy (1-2) at Middleburg (3-0): Broncos stay perfect here. N4J pick: Middleburg 35, Zarephath 14.
OFF: Impact Christian, Ridgeview.