JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The eighth week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.
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Four to watch on Friday night
Atlantic Coast (3-3) at Creekside (3-4)
The District 1-7A title is on the line in this one. The winner will go to the playoffs and the loser is going to need some help (and likely a perfect finish) to sneak in. The Knights have won three of their last four games including a gritty comeback win over Fleming Island last week. Jaxon Earle has been Creekside’s most indispensable player, especially in goal line rushing situations. He scored the game-winner last week. He’s also excellent on the defensive side of the ball. Stingrays QB Rocco Manago has passed for 729 yards and eight TDs. He’s also rushed for three scores. WRs Jabari McMillian and Ethan Redding have combined for eight TD catches. This is a good glimpse of pass rushers on both sides of the ball; Brian Harris at Creekside and Desmond Malpress at Atlantic Coast. The Knights had never won a district championship until last season, and now they’ve got a shot at winning consecutive titles.
Fletcher (5-2) at (4) Mandarin (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
Big game for a few reasons. The Senators are in the No. 8 spot in the Region 1-6A standings. If a team like Oviedo, ranked 10th in that region, somehow wins its district then the Senators would be squeezed from the playoffs. This is a very good test for Fletcher’s offense. It has struggled to move the ball against teams like Oakleaf and Fletcher, and Mandarin’s defense is comparable to those. QB Cruz James Bajek (1,281 passing yards, 15 TDs) has two big time targets in Joshua Jones (590 receiving yards, 8 TDs) and Diondre “Stixx” Smith (370 receiving yards, 8 TDs). Jah’myri Jennings (614 rushing yards, 8 TDs) is a big back who can move the chains. A very good matchup to watch comes in the shape of Jones or Smith against Mandarin DB Brody Jennings. Same on the other side of the ball as Mandarin WR Brysen Wright should see some coverage by Fletcher corner Elijah Keys. Mandarin’s ground game has been somewhat in the shadows this year but the Mustangs can get up and go. Shaunqueze Foster (522 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Kyree Wilson (371 rushing yards, 4 TDs) are very good. If that ground game can get going, that’s going to be a problem for the Senators.
(6) Nease (4-2) at Bartram Trail (2-4)
These two St. Johns County rivals clash in a District 3-6A game with big stakes. The Bears, who will be without head coach Cory Johns after self-reporting a possible FHSAA violation, are 1-0 in district play. A win by Bartram would set up a potential district title game on Oct. 23 at Gainesville Buchholz. Nease has lost back-to-back games (St. Augustine, Buchholz) and will be eliminated from the district race with a loss. The Panthers are still positioned well for reaching the postseason, but the Bears are not. RB Arthur Lewis IV (658 rushing yards, 8 TDs) is one of the area’s top backs and Bartram’s offense still runs through him. The passing game has struggled throughout the year. That doesn’t bode well facing a Nease defense led by a savage group of linebackers (Kru Casey, Jacob Curry, Kyle Hurtado and Noah Hodge). Bartram leads the all-time series 13-5.
Ponte Vedra (4-2) at Middleburg (6-0)
A massive step up in competition for the Broncos, whose schedule has been light on competition. Middleburg is led by the ground game of Gino Addison (371 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Travis Pinkard (349 rushing yards, 7 TDs). WR Jordan Williams has 394 receiving yards and six TDs. DLs Darius Swilley and Dominic Swilley have combined for 77 tackles, 15 TFL and nine sacks. The Sharks have won back-to-back games since a 33-20 loss to Beachside. They romped over Fleming Island in Week 6 and need to win this game to have a shot at winning District 3-5A. QB Cole Rosendahl has passed for 1,672 yards and 17 TDs. RB Alex Winkles has led the ground game (475 rushing yards, 8 TDs) and Jack Berquist (444 receiving yards, 6 TDs) has been the big-time pass catcher. LB JP Dolan and DL Reece Beck have led the pass rush with four sacks apiece.
Next four to watch
Bishop Kenny (4-2) at Menendez (3-3): Another high stakes game. If the Falcons can pull the upset, they’ll win the District 4-3A title. If the Crusaders win, they’ll all but sew it up.
Fernandina Beach (5-2) at Yulee (6-0): Another excellent Nassau County clash. Yulee has won 11 straight games in this series and is off to the best start in program history. The Pirates are going to be a problem in the Sunshine State Athletic Association state playoffs.
First Coast (4-2) at (5) Oakleaf (5-1): The Buccaneers already have a district loss and would be eliminated from the district race with a loss here. ATH Tony Kennedy gives them a shot in any game, but the Knights may be a little too much.
Madison County (2-4) at (2) Raines (5-0), 6:30 p.m.: The Vikings are one of the best teams in the state, and the Cowboys usually are, too. This should be a good test for the Vikings, possibly their most difficult of the season.
Week 8 schedule, Florida
Thursday, Oct. 9
Faith Christian (1-6) at Bishop Snyder (3-4)
Halifax Academy (1-6) at Duval Charter (0-6), 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 10
Atlantic Coast (3-3) at Creekside (3-4)
Baldwin (4-2) at Wolfson (3-4), 6:30 p.m.
Belleview (1-6) at Matanzas (4-3)
Bell (3-4) at Interlachen (2-5), 7:30 p.m.
Bishop Kenny (4-2) at Menendez (3-3)
Christ’s Church (4-3) at Harvest Community (1-6)
(8) Columbia (6-1) at Ridgeview (2-4)
Englewood (0-6) at Riverside (1-6), 6:30 p.m.
Fernandina Beach (5-2) at Yulee (6-0)
First Coast (4-2) at (5) Oakleaf (5-1)
Flagler Palm Coast (2-4) at DeLand (6-0)
Fleming Island (3-3) at (9) Beachside (5-1)
Fletcher (5-2) at (4) Mandarin (6-1), 6:30 p.m.
Fort White (3-3) at Zarephath Academy (3-4)
Gainesville Buchholz (6-1) at Tocoi Creek (3-3)
Hawthorne (4-1) at University Christian (5-2)
Impact Christian (3-3) at Paxon (4-3), 6:30 p.m.
Jackson (3-3) at (3) Bolles (5-1)
Joshua Christian (2-4) at Deltona Trinity Christian (0-0)
Keswick Christian (6-1) at Eagle’s View (4-3)
Madison County (2-4) at (2) Raines (5-0), 6:30 p.m.
(6) Nease (4-2) at Bartram Trail (2-4)
Newberry (3-3) at (7) Bradford (6-1)
Old Plank Christian (5-2) at Gainesville Oak Hall (5-1)
Ponte Vedra (4-2) at Middleburg (6-0)
Port Orange Atlantic (0-6) at NFEI (2-4)
(1) St. Augustine (6-0) at Clay (1-5)
Sandalwood (0-7) at (10) White (5-1), 6:30 p.m.
Santa Fe (4-2) at Keystone Heights (0-6)
Suwannee (1-5) at Baker County (3-4)
TBA at Young Kids in Motion (1-5)
Trinity Christian (2-4) at Episcopal (6-1)
West Nassau (7-1) at Satellite (7-0)
West Oaks Academy (1-6) at St. Joseph (6-0)
Westside (0-6) at Parker (0-5), 6:30 p.m.
OFF: Cedar Creek Christian, Crescent City, Hilliard, KIPP Bold City, Orange Park, Palatka, Providence, Ribault, Union County.
Week 9 schedule, Georgia
Friday, Oct. 10
Brunswick (6-1) at Statesboro (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
Irwin County (1-6) at Charlton County (3-4), 7:30 p.m.
Lowndes (7-0) at Camden County (5-2), 7:30 p.m.
South Effingham (3-3) at Glynn Academy (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
Off: Pierce County, Ware County