Hard to believe we are already nearly halfway through the season and just 7 weeks away from the playoffs.
While last week was a crucial week for area teams with district games starting, this week is about fine tuning things and getting ready for that playoff run.
Some of the top games this week involve county rivalries and bragging rights at stake.
What do the experts think about this week’s games, let’s take a look at this week’s games.
Bishop Kenny (3-1) at Baker County (3-0)
Outlook: Both teams are riding three game win streaks, which one sees the streak come to an end. Is this where we find out if Kenny is for real. The Crusaders have seemed to put it all together finally but now face a extremely huge test against a Wildcats team that hasn’t been challenged since a week one win over St. Augustine. Before you pencil in a winner remember this, BK has won four in a row in the series and has won 7 of the last 11 meetings since 2004, with the last Wildcat win coming in 2012.
Andre-Baker County
Corey- Baker County
St. Augustine (3-1) at Bartram Trail (3-1)
Outlook: These two have met 17 times and 17 straight times, St. Augustine has come out on top (see separate story on site). The odds are fully against the Bears pulling the upset, but never count them out. One thing this rivalry has taught us despite the land slide, expect the unexpected. How will this years meeting end, perhaps a Hail Mary or game winning field goal? Can the Bears finally pull of the upset win or will the Jackets prevail for a 18th straight time?
Andre-Bartram Trail
Corey- St. Augustine
Miami Jackson (1-2) at Bolles (3-0)
Outlook: Thanks to the sudden resignation of Jackson defensive coordinator Uncle Luke on Thursday, this one has lost some of its appeal to it. Jackson, coached by the state’s first female coach Lakatriona Brunson, upset nationally ranked and Bolles nemesis Booker T Washington two weeks ago 12-9 in a defensive battle forcing six turnovers. Now comes a Bolles team who is looking at this as a measuring stick for how they might do in Orlando. If they beat Jackson, can they finally beat Booker T?
Andre-Bolles
Corey- Bolles
Orange Park (2-1) at Middleburg (2-2)
Outlook: For the first time in a long time, both come into the game with winning records making this a big game finally. The 28th all-time meeting has all the makings of an intense St. Johns River Athletic Conference matchup. OP seems to finally have found an identity on offense, mixing it up successfully against Clay last week. On paper, this might be the best Middleburg team since 2003, the Broncos may have finally turned things around. Orange Park leads the all-time series 17-10 and has won four in a row outscoring its arch-rival 131-31 over the last four years.
Andre-Orange Park
Corey- Orange Park
Matanzas (3-0) at Nease (1-2)
Outlook: Matanzas doesn’t get many opportunities to play outside of the 386 area code, this is one of the few exceptions. A rare St. Johns River Athletic Conference game for the red hot Pirates, a win here and a win over Menendez later might be enough to bring home the conference trophy. The Pirates were 8-2 last season and just missed the playoffs after a loss to Deltona in a winner take all game for the runner-up spot behind Mainland. Matanzas is back and loaded again and coming off a 30-0 win over Seabreeze. Nease has the weapons on offense but can they stop the Pirates lethal offense after giving up 35 points to Ed White last week?
Andre-Matanzas
Corey- Matanzas
Clay (3-1) at Oakleaf (1-2)
Outlook: Two teams going in opposite directions meet for the sixth time, with nothing but bragging rights at stake and perhaps the St. Vincent Cup on the line. If Colin Wilson is 100% healthy, expect him to get 25 carries or more, if not look out for Tymious Goodman or Marcus Jones to share the carries. Althought, concentrate to hard on the running game and Jaylen Jenkins and Ajay Belanger will burn you through the air. A win over Clay would go along way building some confidence for the Knights who have dropped two in a row and struggling offensively averaging 15 p.p.g. Until last year, the home team had one every game in the series, look for that trend to end again as Clay gets their first win in the Dungeon.
Andre- Clay
Corey- Clay
First Coast (2-1) at Ribault (1-2)
Outlook: There is no question the Trojans have a defense, through three games they are only giving up an average of 8 p.p.g. Finally after three weeks, we saw a glimpse of the Trojans offense for a change in a 38-0 win over Paxon last week. Perhaps that was the spark the Trojans needed to get rolling again with 3 winable games before facing Fletcher Oct. 7 on the road. Book ends Jaalen Ford and Jaylen Joyner may be the best in the area and should harrass a young Bucs offense. First Coast won five in a row in the series before the Trojans pulled out the 20-13 win last year, look for the Trojans to make it two in a row.
Andre-Ribault
Corey- Ribault
NFC (3-0) at Providence (1-2)
Outlook: A huge test for the host Stallions to see where they are at this point and a good matchup that might help them come playoff time. The seven time state champions (96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 08, 11) are loaded again and should give UC its only threat to getting back to Orlando. Quarterback Carter Bradley and wide receiver Will Mallory, who picked an offer from Ohio State this week, will be counted on heavily if they Stallions hope to steal one here. With a new scoreboard installed this week, there should be plenty of fireworks in this game.
Andre- Providence
Corey- NFC
Sandalwood (3-0) at Parker (2-1)
Outlook: These two arch-rivals have been playing off and on since 1971, when Sandalwood opened to help relieve an overcrowed Parker. Parker likely wishes Sandalwood had never opened though as the Saints have dominated the series winning the last six meetings quite easily. The Braves have the talent to get their first win since 2009, with Eric Hill running the offense. Do they believe they can win is the question? Parker had a week off and has had two weeks to prepare for this one. Without its starting quarterback, Sandalwood struggled offensively against Spruce Creek but pulled it together outscoring the Hawks 15-3 in the second half to steal a 17-14 win.
Andre- Sandalwood
Corey- Sandalwood
Fort White (2-1) at University Christian (1-2)
Outlook: UC has now lost two in a row and finally returns home after consecutive road games at Trinity and Coffee County, Ga. The Conquerors were overwhelmed in Douglas and now play a school more on its level. Dont count out Fort White though the Indians featuring Demetric Jackson and Shannon Showers gave Fletcher all they could handle earlier in the season before the Senators finally pulled away for a 20-7 victory.
Andre- UC
Corey- UC
Yulee (2-1) at West Nassau (2-1)
Outlook: When two county rivals meet its true what they say, you can usually throw out the records. With no district title on the line in this one, this one is all about bragging rights and staying alive for the county title. Is this a trap game for West Nassau, who hosts district rival Bolles next week? Can the Warriors defense which has given up at least 32 points in three straight games contain Jamari Peacock? Yulee is coming off a huge win over Suwannee last week and has a undefeated Episcopal at home next week.
Andre- Yulee
Corey- Yulee
Stanton (0-3) at Englewood (0-4)
Outlook: The good news is somebody is going to get their first win of the year, the bad news is somebody is still going to be winless. The Rams have dropped seven in a row and have been blown out by at least 30 points in three consecutive games. Meanwhile the Blue Devils have lost three in a row and have been outscored 113-0 so far this season. Over the last five years, the Devils have lost 46 of their last 50 game, including four losses to the Rams. This is a no brainer.
Andre- Stanton
Corey- Englewood
Paxon (2-2) at Atlantic Coast (0-4)
Outlook: See Akari Boss run left, see Akari Boss run right, see Akari Boss run for 200 tonight. Okay truth be told, its not the defense fault the Stingrays are winless, its the offense. The D has surrendered 14 and 16 points respectively to BK and Fletcher while holding high powered Mandarin to just 28 points. The offense on the other hand is averaging just 10 p.p.g and hasn’t scored more than 14 points in any game. Which brings us to Boss, a shifty and quick back who can wear down teams with long drives. If the defense is on the field nearly the entire game this one could get ugly.
Andre- Atlantic Coast
Corey- Paxon
Westside (1-2) at Fletcher (4-0)
Outlook: For Westside, its a tough assignment for the Wolverines defense tonight. The Senators have an abundance of weapons on offense to try to defend including Michael Young, Anthony Evelyn, Calvin Lewis, Jeremiah Payton and Trevon Williams. The defense isn’t to shabby either led by Zaire Webb surrendering 10 p.p.g and only allowed one team to score more than 10 points on them.
Andre- Fletcher
Corey- Fletcher
Episcopal (4-0) at Fernandina Beach (2-2)
Outlook: Episcopal makes the first of back-to-back trips to Nassau County this week with a trip to Yulee looming next week. The Eagles offense has been on fire outscoring its opposition 189-49 through four weeks. Can the Eagles keep it going against a Pirates defense that was scortched for 53 points against a lethal Raines team last week? With a win last week against West Nassau, the Eagles can move one step closer to becoming Nassau County champions with a win tonight and next week against Yulee.
Andre- Episcopal
Corey- Episcopal
Last week
Corey (13-2)
Andre (12-3)
Overall
Corey (34-11)
Andre (30-15)
