Top Kickoff Classic games to watch

JACKSONVILLE – While Oakleaf and University Christian both get ready to open their season this week, the rest of the area will get to fine tune things before starting their season next week.

Kickoff Classics begin Thursday with Lee at Bolles, Matanzas at Ed White, Atlantic Coast at Ribault and First Coast at Sandalwood; before the rest continue on Friday.

Here are some of the top games to see this week and the schedule of games in the area. All games are 7 p.m. unless noted.

THURSDAY

Lee (10-2) at Bolles (12-1): This game went a long way to spring boarding Lee all the way to the state semi-finals last season after knocking off Trinity and Bolles in back-to-back weekends to start the season. With Derrick Jones back under center, a receiving core of Jurial Caldwell and Teddy Ingram and a secondary featuring Vincent Jackson and Eugene Bowman IV, this game is worth the price of admission alone. Bolles might be rebuilding or reloading depending on how you look at it and features several young guys including Josiah Johnson, Jayden McCloud and Keyion Wale, along with veterans Nick Lewis, Orlando Heggs and Mason Yost and Kyle Coffindaffer.

FRIDAY

Baldwin (6-4) at Baker County (9-2): These neighboring schools are separated by just 9.4 miles and play each other annually in the Kickoff Classic game despite the huge difference in school size. Steve Shields has done a tremendous job at Baldwin taking them to the playoffs last season while also beating Union County for the first time since 1964. The return of Gavin Screws, Fred Curry, Xavier McGriff, Kenneth Bacon, Howard Allen, Delvonte Glover and Kolby Burns should have the Indians back in the playoffs again. Jamie Rodgers has brought back a fresh breath of air in the small towns of Maclenny and Glen St. Marys with the revival of the Wildcats program. Memorial Stadium has become the hot place to go to again Friday nights thanks to players like Seth Paige, Josh Haygood, Wesley Belford, Lee Graham, Savoy Jefferson and Jackson Davis.

Mandarin (6-2) at Bartram Trail (8-5): Bobby Ramsay comes over from Yulee and looks to continue the winning tradition the Mustangs are known for. It won’t be easy though with a heavy senior class now gone and the Mustangs relying on several newcomers to take over their roles. Kyle Smith, a transfer from Sandalwood, is one of those guys Ramsay is counting on to come through. On the flip side, Bartram Trail coach Darrell Sutherland might return the most experienced and athletic team in the First Coast area led by Riley Smith, Joey Gatewood, Devin Ellison, Griffin Helm, Gunner Hitzeman, Robert French and Xavier Hutchinson.

Raines (7-3) at Columbia (7-4): A solid mix of returning starters along with several highly projected young players has coach Deran Wiley seeing the big picture again and possible return to Orlando. Among those to watch are Ivory Durham, Matt Drayton, Raynell Killian, Brandon Marshall, George Webb, Aric Horne and Javon Bosnell. Brian Allen has brought back the once dominant Tiger program and made it again one of the fiercest places to play again reviving the ‘Jungle’ atmosphere. Columbia was hit hard with graduation last year but is looking for Dylan Blair, Teon Dollard, Nathan Maxwell, Taurean Hill, Ethan Umstead, TJ Jones, SL McCall, Kylen Callum and Jaylen Brown as players to step up and fill their roles.

Matanzas (8-3) at Ed White (3-6): You may not be that familiar with Matanzas, after all its still a fairly brand new school in Flagler County, but don’t mistake them for being a bottom dweller. In three years, head coach Robert Ripley has taken the Pirates from the out house to the pen house quickly, coming one win from making the playoffs in 2015 to their first playoff appearance last season and 2016 shouldn’t be any different with the return of Trenton Steward, Branden Gilyard, Corey Steward and Devin Matthews. Kevin Sullivan is determined to get White back to the good ole days again after slipping the last few years. The return of Caleb Steward, a Virginia Tech commit, could be the answer to his problems.

Fletcher (7-2) at Ponte Vedra (13-1): Big things are expected out of Fletcher this year after last year’s late season collapse which saw the Senators fail to make the playoffs. Offensively, the Senators may have the best offense in the area with playmakers Anthony Evelyn, Jeremiah Payton, Jai Williams and Trevon Williams. I know what you’re thinking, Nick Tronti is gone as is practically the entire offense and defense from last years surprising run to the state championship game; yet don’t count out coach Matt Toblin and his staff. The defense will carry them until new starters like Jack Murrah develop.

Union County (5-5) at Providence (3-6): This game is a matchup of future Division I-A stars in Charles Strong (FSU) and Will Mallory (Miami). Strong, a senior tailback who ran for 1,279 yards and 18 TDs last season, leads the Union County offense that is hungry to get back to the playoffs after a one year absence. Ronny Pruitt is hoping to not only get contributions from Strong but Phillip Harris, Dawson Johns, Shamar Highland, Keyshawn Young, TJ Robinson and Maurice Strong. Mallory, a senior tight end who hauled in 900 yards and 12 TDs last season, is the leader on a Stallions offense that also features Carter Bradley. The duo hope to start a new playoff streak after missing the playoffs last season, which ended a four year run.

Clay (10-4) at St. Augustine (11-2): This game is so huge it might have been the Game of the Week if not for two other teams playing real games. A matchup of two of the best and most consistent programs in the area, who come playoff time will both make deep playoff runs. Josh Hoekstra has not only made Clay an area power but a statewide one as well. Thanks to Hoekstra and his staff, the Blue Devils consistently make long playoff runs each year and things shouldn’t be any different this year. Among the players to keep an eye on are Caleb Eason, Ajay Belanger, Cedric Brown, Christian Swilley, Raequan Williams and Aundre Carter, a transfer from Bradford. St . Augustine was hit hard by graduation but again has reloaded with Austin Reed, Karim Brown, Brandon Johnson, Elijah Ryan, Cedrin Daniel, Tyrek Ross and Lonell Harris.