BIG TESTS AHEAD
District deciders: Key matchups on deck for Friday football
Thursday night football gave Duval County public schools an evening in the spotlight leading up to the Florida-Georgia game. On Friday, it’s neighboring counties’ turn to shine.
Notable storylines include White’s long road trip to Palm Beach Gardens to face private-school power Benjamin and its Georgia-committed running back Chauncey Bowens; Fleming Island’s challenge in District 3-4S against state No. 1 Buchholz, matching dynamic quarterbacks Cibastian Broughton and Trace Johnson; and University Christian’s visit to a Clearwater Academy International team noted for playing the state’s best.
Nease (5-3, 1-0) at Ponte Vedra (7-1, 2-0), District 4-4S, 7 p.m.
Among the biggest Battles of the Bridge on record. If the Sharks win to stretch their streak to eight games, they’ll clinch the district outright. Ponte Vedra leads the all-time series 12-2 and squeezed past Nease in a 35-34 overtime thriller, showcasing a few of this year’s stars: Sharks QB Ben Burk got 276 total yards and three touchdowns, and Nease’s Maddox Spencer gained 136 yards receiving.
Middleburg (4-4, 1-1) at Orange Park (3-5, 1-1), District 3-3S, 7 p.m.
For Middleburg, this is likely must-win football in Class 3S. Can the Raiders play the spoiler role? Orange Park sophomore quarterback Gabe Taylor leads an offense that put up 36 points against Ridgeview two weeks ago but couldn’t find the end zone last week against Ponte Vedra. Middleburg QB Jaydan Jenkins was a workhorse against Bishop Kenny, running 35 times for 218 yards in the 31-28 win. The Broncos’ 35-14 win last year snapped a nine-year Raider run in the series. Orange Park leads 22-11 all-time.
Oakleaf (2-5, 1-2) at Bartram Trail (4-4, 2-1), District 3-4S, 7 p.m.
Bartram Trail probably needs victory against either Oakleaf or Mandarin next week to stretch its playoff streak to five years. The Bears won this matchup 55-20 last year with 509 yards of total offense and four touchdowns from Laython Biddle, who’s now a member of the 3,000yard career club. Oakleaf has its own power back in junior Christopher Foy II, who topped 100 yards against Gainesville Buchholz.
Trinity Christian (5-3, 2-0) at Providence (7-1, 2-0), District 1-1M, 7 p.m.
Providence has never won in this series, and since a triple-OT playoff thriller in 2010, it generally hasn’t been close. But this is a new Stallions team, with a dualthreat junior QB in Mason Williams, a two-way athlete with multiple Power Five offers in Sam Hayward and a winning spirit. They encounter their stiffest challenge of the year in a tough Trinity D led by Cameron Anderson, Kyle Boylston, Bryce Kazmierczak and Lovell Vereen. The winner captures District 1-1M.
Palatka (7-1, 1-0) at Bradford (8-0, 1-0), District 6-2S, 7:30 p.m.
No doubt about it: Palatka is a playoff team once more. QB Tommy Offord is near 1,000 yards on the ground and Cartaveon Valentine can turn any touch into a touchdown. But can they keep it going inside David Hurse Stadium against the Great Bradford Barricade? Bradford’s defense has limited foes to 39 points all year: Torin Brazell is a sack machine off the edge, Duke Lewis has jarred loose four fumbles and Chason Clark and Chalil Cummings are simply all over the field. The prize is a district championship.
Wakulla (9-0, 1-0) at Suwannee (6-1, 1-0), District 4-2S, 7:30 p.m.
It’s straightforward enough in Live Oak: Winner wins the district, loser qualifies anyway for the regionals as an atlarge team. Suwannee edge rusher Ja’darius Cherry has a dozen sacks, and the Bulldogs will need some: Wakulla’s air attack is devastating, from Samford-committed QB Haden Klees (161 of 268, 2,702 yards, 41 TD, 2 INT) to receivers Delvion Zanders (44-825-13), Samron Brinson (40-779-12) and Georgia Tech-bound Nehemiah Chandler (30-590-10).
Friday’s games
FLORIDA
Baker County (5-3, 3-0) at Fernandina Beach (3-5, 0-3), District 5-2S, 7 p.m.
Columbia (3-4, 2-0) at Ridgeview (1-6, 0-2), District 3-3S, 7 p.m.
Fort White (6-1) at Hilliard (3-5), 7 p.m. Gainesville Buchholz (8-0, 3-0) at Fleming Island (2-6, 0-3), District 3-4S, 7:30 p.m.
Joshua Christian (1-5) at Keystone Heights (4-4), 7 p.m.
Matanzas (6-2, 2-1) at Menendez (3-5, 2-1), District 4-3S, 7 p.m.
Middleburg (4-4, 1-1) at Orange Park (3-5, 1-1), District 3-3S, 7 p.m.
Nease (5-3, 1-0) at Ponte Vedra (7-1, 2-0), District 4-4S, 7 p.m.
North Florida Educational (2-6) at Beachside (6-1), 7 p.m.
Oakleaf (2-5, 1-2) at Bartram Trail (4-4, 2-1), District 3-4S, 7 p.m.
Palatka (7-1, 1-0) at Bradford (8-0, 1-0), District 6-2S, 7:30 p.m.
St. Augustine (7-0, 3-0) at Clay (4-4, 1-2), District 4-3S, 7 p.m.
Tocoi Creek (4-4, 0-1) at Flagler Palm Coast (3-5, 0-2), District 4-4S, 7 p.m.
Trinity Christian (5-3, 2-0) at Providence (7-1, 2-0), District 1-1M, 7 p.m.
University Christian (5-3) at Clearwater Academy International (4-4), 7 p.m.
Wakulla (9-0, 1-0) at Suwannee (6-1, 1-0), District 4-2S, 7:30 p.m.
West Nassau (3-6, 1-2) at Yulee (6-2, 2-1), District 5-2S, 7 p.m.
White (5-3) at Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin (6-2), 7 p.m.
SSAA PLAYOFFS
Atlantic Championship bracket Port St. Lucie Tradition Prep (4-3) at Paxon (3-5), 6:30 p.m.
Atlantic 2A bracket
Cocoa Beach (2-6) at Stanton (1-6), 6:30 p.m.
SSAC Championship bracket Zarephath Academy (4-4) at Christ’s Church (7-1), 7 p.m.
SSAC 5A bracket
Orangewood Christian (4-4) at Bishop Snyder (5-3), 7 p.m.
SSAC 3A bracket
Ocoee Legacy Charter (2-5) at St. Joseph (2-6), 7 p.m.
SSAC Cup
Warner Christian (0-6) at Cedar Creek Christian (0-8), 7 p.m.
GEORGIA
Charlton County (2-6) at Clinch County (7-1), 7:30 p.m.
Evans (3-5) at Brunswick (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
Statesboro (2-6) at Ware County (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
BYE: Camden County (6-3), Glynn Academy (7-2), Impact Christian (6-2), Riverside (7-2), TDH Academy (1-6), Westside (0-9), Young Kids in Motion (1-5)