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: 31-9. Season: 122-34 (.782).
Week 5 predictions
Thursday, Sept. 18
Bishop Kenny (2-1) at (10) Beachside (3-1): Can Barracudas keep their winning streak going? N4J pick: (10) Beachside 34, Bishop Kenny 27.
Ponte Vedra (2-2) at Menendez (2-2): Sharks bounce back after loss to Beachside. N4J pick: Ponte Vedra 32, Menendez 21.
Stanton (2-3) vs. Harvest Community (0-4), at Providence: Blue Devils make it back to .500. N4J pick: Stanton 27, Harvest 14.
Friday, Sept. 19
Baker County (1-3) at Baldwin (4-0), 6:30 p.m.: Indians keep the Wildcats sinking. N4J pick: Baldwin 31, Baker County 20.
(4) Bolles (3-1) at (3) Oakleaf (4-0): Coin flip game, but I lean Bulldogs and their ground game. N4J pick: (4) Bolles 44, (3) Oakleaf 40.
Cedar Creek Christian (0-5) at Eagle’s View (3-): Warriors keep Saints winless. N4J pick: Eagle’s View 42, Cedar Creek Christian 6.
Christ’s Church (3-1) at Cornerstone Classical (0-3): Eagles have kicked things into gear. N4J pick: Christ’s Church 33, Cornerstone Classical 14.
Clay (0-4) at First Coast (2-1), 6:30 p.m.: Buccaneers give head coach Jarvis Parker his first winning streak. N4J pick: First Coast 28, Clay 21.
Creekside (1-3) at Winter Park (0-3): Knights build off Bartram Trail win and make it two in a row. N4J pick: Creekside 31, Winter Park 21.
Crescent City (2-2) at New Smyrna Beach (2-1): Too steep of a climb for Raiders. N4J pick: New Smyrna Beach 35, Crescent City 14.
Daytona Beach Seabreeze (1-2) at Matanzas (3-1): In a close one, the Pirates get a W. N4J pick: Matanzas 20, Seabreeze 14.
Gainesville Eastside (3-1) at (9) Bradford (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Tornadoes are so good on defense. N4J pick: (9) Bradford 28, Gainesville Eastside 7.
Hamilton County (2-2) at Suwannee (0-4), 7:30 p.m.: Bulldogs pick up their first win. N4J pick: Suwannee 21, Hamilton County 20.
IMG Academy (2-0) at (6) Mandarin (4-0), 6:30 p.m.: I respect the Mustangs for putting this monster on the schedule. N4J pick: IMG Academy 42, (6) Mandarin 13.
Jackson (2-2) at Atlantic Coast (2-2), 6:30 p.m.: Stingrays put up 40 points last week to win a shootout. N4J pick: Atlantic Coast 34, Jackson 21.
Keystone Heights (0-3) at Dixie County (0-4), 7:30 p.m.: Will the first win of the season come for the Pirates? N4J pick: Keystone Heights 14, Dixie County 13.
KIPP Bold City (0-4) at Episcopal (3-1): Eagles bounce back after first loss last week. N4J pick: Episcopal 28, KIPP Bold City 6.
Nature Coast Tech (2-2) at Palatka (1-3): Panthers have really been too up and down this season. N4J pick: Nature Coast Tech 34, Palatka 20.
NFEI (1-2) at Lee County, Ga. (3-2), 7:30 p.m.: Brutal test for the Eagles. Lee County was a state semifinalist last year in the Georgia 5A playoffs. N4J pick: Lee County 54, NFEI 13.
Old Plank Christian (3-1) at Bell (0-4): Defenders bounce back from first loss. N4J pick: Old Plank Christian 32, Bell 14.
Orange Park (2-2) at Bartram Trail (0-4): Bears have got to find a way to break out of their funk. A loss here would match the worst start in program history (2013). But that season ended with a trip to the state semifinals. N4J pick: Bartram Trail 27, Orange Park. 20.
Parker (0-3) at (8) White (3-0), 6:30 p.m.: Commanders could really push for an unbeaten regular season. N4J pick: (8) White 36, Parker 7.
Pensacola Catholic (2-1) at Providence (1-3): Crusaders spoil a possible Stallions winning streak. N4J pick: Pensacola Catholic 31, Providence 21.
Ridgeview (1-2) at Middleburg (4-0): Broncos are going to start 6-0 but the latter portion of the schedule is where it gets difficult. N4J pick: Middleburg 30, Ridgeview 14.
Riverside (0-4) at Ribault (1-3), 6:30 p.m.: Generals are better than their winless record. N4J pick: Riverside 28, Ribault 8.
(2) St. Augustine (4-0) at (5) Nease (4-0): Such a difficult game to call. Which St. Augustine defense shows up here? N4J pick: (2) St. Augustine 33, (5) Nease 31.
St. Joseph (3-0) at Hilliard (2-2): Flashes stayed unbeaten last week with good defense. N4J pick: St. Joseph 27, Hilliard 7.
Sandalwood (0-4) at Fletcher (3-1), 6:30 p.m.: Senators played well on defense in a loss to Nease last week. N4J pick: Fletcher 42, Sandalwood 14.
Santa Fe (3-0) at Fernandina Beach (5-0): I picked Pirates to lose last week so I can’t doubt them again. N4J pick: Fernandina Beach 28, Santa Fe 20.
Trinity Christian (1-3) at (7) Columbia (4-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers really could run the table this year. N4J pick: (7) Columbia 28, Trinity Christian 14.
Union County (1-2) at Fort White (2-2), 7:30 p.m.: Indians lost a heartbreaker last week: N4J pick: Fort White 24, Union County 20.
University Christian (3-1) vs. Impact Christian (3-0), at Fort Family Park: Big step up in competition for Impact. N4J pick: University Christian 34, Impact Christian 14.
West Nassau (5-0) at Yulee (4-0): This is such a good game. Warriors won it last year and I’m going with the upset pick again. N4J pick: West Nassau 31, Yulee 30.
West Oaks Christian (0-3) at Interlachen (1-3), 7:30 p.m.: Rams keep West Oaks winless. N4J pick: Interlachen 28, West Oaks 6.
Wolfson (1-3) at Bishop Snyder (3-2): Cardinals will keep Wolfpack from winning consecutive games. N4J pick: Bishop Snyder 33, Wolfson 14.
Zarephath Academy (1-3) at Mayo Lafayette (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: Hornets add another loss to Eagles’ resume. N4J pick: Lafayette 35, Zarephath 13.
OFF: Duval Charter, Englewood, Flagler Palm Coast, Fleming Island, Joshua Christian, Paxon, Raines, Tocoi Creek, Westside.