Northeast Florida high school football, Week 6: Monday, Tuesday night games to watch
Jacksonville's cleanup from Hurricane Ian has begun. And on Monday, cleaning up the scrambled high school football schedule also gets rolling.
A few games, like University Christian's trip to Providence, moved up rather than backward in an attempt to beat the storm. But the games still to come include a host of storylines.
Games on the scorecard include Bolles' trip to Episcopal, a private-school rivalry that pits the undefeated Eagles against a traditionally-dominant Bolles squad trying to avoid a rare fourth consecutive loss; Baker County's home matchup against West Nassau in District 5-2S; and Bishop Kenny's drive to remain unbeaten in their District 2-2M visit to Wolfson.
Soggy schedule: See Northeast Florida sports events postponed, canceled due to Hurricane Ian
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RAINES READY FOR DELAYED HOMECOMING
Better late than never: After a two-day hurricane delay, Raines celebrates its homecoming against Riverside at the Graveyard in the latest installment of a series that has produced so many classics.
There's not much doubt about the solidity of Raines' defense, which includes an ace DB in Kenton Kirkland and a devastating pass-rushing linebacker in JaMari Whitehead. Riverside counters with the athletic talents of quarterback Devin Herring, who has accounted for an overwhelming proportion of the Generals' offense. Turnovers are their problem. By fumble or interception, the Generals have coughed the ball up 17 times so far.
For the past half-century, this has been among the highest-profile Jacksonville games, including giant coaching matchups (Corky Rogers vs. Freddie Stephens in the 1980s, O.J. Small vs. Deran Wiley in the 2010s) and fantastic finishes. The last four meetings have come down to a single score. Most recently in 2019, it was the Generals ending on top, with Lee's Cobie Bates scoring both touchdowns in a come-from-behind 15-7 victory.
Inside the rivalry: Last 10 meetings
Oct. 17, 2008 Lee 36, Raines 27
Oct. 16, 2009 Raines 38, Lee 6
Oct. 15, 2010 Raines 40, Lee 20
Sept. 9, 2011 Raines 34, Lee 14
Sept. 7, 2012 Raines 51, Lee 6
Aug. 28, 2015 Raines 39, Lee 0
Aug. 26, 2016 Raines 32, Lee 28
Aug. 25, 2017 Lee 20, Raines 16
Aug. 24, 2018 Lee 16, Raines 15
Sept. 14, 2019 Lee 15, Raines 7
SURPRISING RAMS, BUCS COLLIDE AT SHIPYARD
First Coast hasn't won four games in a row since 2014, the last year of the Bucs' mini-dynasty with record-breaker De'Andre Johnson at quarterback. Englewood hasn't even finished above .500 since 2006. One of these District 1-3A squads is about to move a step closer to a very good year.
Expect low scoring in this one. Englewood's defense, highlighted by J'Sean Scarver and Julio Valcarcel, has allowed only 49 points in four games, and 36 of those came against White. Senior Miles Smith leads a Bucs defense that held Westside to 12 points the last time out.
These two teams don't meet often, but this series has been as one-sided as they come in the Gateway Conference: A Rams victory Monday would be the school's first-ever against First Coast.
PARKER, FLETCHER MEET AT BEACH
This is the other half of the District 1-3A battle, matching two teams seemingly moving in different directions. The winner will climb into a tie for the top spot in the district, along with the victor of the Englewood-First Coast game.
Fletcher's aerial combination of quarterback Marcelis Tate and receiver Anthony Vaglienti ranks among the most exciting junior pairs in the Gateway Conference, and they've helped the Senators to back-to-back wins. Parker, which nearly topped Trinity Christian in the August kickoff classic, has since dropped four consecutive games. Red-zone struggles have been a culprit, but with one win in their first district game, the Braves could begin to turn everything around.
Parker edged the Senators 9-7 last year in the Braves' first victory in the series since 2006. Fletcher has won 17 of the last 19 meetings.
Inside the rivalry: Last 10 meetings
Oct. 19, 2007 Fletcher 14, Parker 7
Oct. 24, 2008 Fletcher 21, Parker 13
Oct. 16, 2009 Fletcher 30, Parker 12
Oct. 15, 2010 Fletcher 35, Parker 6
Sept. 4, 2015 Fletcher 29, Parker 19
Sept. 5, 2016 Fletcher 35, Parker 20
Sept. 1, 2017 Fletcher 56, Parker 12
Aug. 31, 2018 Fletcher 41, Parker 7
Sept. 11, 2020 Fletcher 23, Parker 0
Sept. 3, 2021 Parker 9, Fletcher 7
SHARKS TAKE ON FPC
In a three-team District 4-4S where the third school (Nease) is off to a slow 1-4 start, Ponte Vedra's home game against Flagler Palm Coast gives the winner the early head start toward a playoff berth.
After losing to state-ranked Bartram Trail and Florida High, Ponte Vedra has won two straight and seems to be finding a good offensive connection with quarterback Ben Burk (53 of 89, 575 yards) and wideouts Nathan Bunkosky (18 catches, 147 yards) and Wyatt Rogers (13 catches, 250 yards). FPC's future looks bright, building around junior QB D.J. Murray (626 yards, 7 TD), sophomore running back Marcus Mitchell (610 yards, 6 TD) and sophomore defensive end Colby Cronk (12 TFLs, six sacks).
Ponte Vedra and FPC haven't met since 2012, when Cole Mazza rushed for 140 yards in the Sharks' 28-17 victory.
RIBAULT, JACKSON IN NORTHSIDE BATTLE
What could make Ribault's Tuesday night game at Jackson even bigger than usual? District 1-2M stakes and two teams on the rise.
Tigers linebacker Grayson Howard is a serious contender for the title of most productive defensive player in Florida, averaging nearly 20 tackles per game and covering just about every square inch of the field. Identifying and containing him is the No. 1 challenge for the 3-2 Trojans. Ribault has a downfield threat in wideout Kalvin Gilbert Jr. — if they have enough time to get him the ball.
Jackson beat Ribault for the first time in 10 years last November, a 13-0 shutout highlighted by three interceptions, five sacks and a 200-yard game on the ground from Fred Gaines.
Inside the rivalry: Last 10 meetings
Sept. 2, 2005 Jackson 47, Ribault 6
Sept. 1, 2006 Jackson 47, Ribault 6
Nov. 12, 2009 Jackson 21, Ribault 14
Nov. 10, 2010 Ribault 26, Jackson 9
Oct. 21, 2011 Jackson 21, Ribault 20
Oct. 19, 2012 Ribault 26, Jackson 12
Sept. 6, 2013 Ribault 32, Jackson 6
Sept. 5, 2014 Ribault 20, Jackson 6
Oct. 9, 2015 Ribault 40, Jackson 0
Nov. 5, 2021 Jackson 13, Ribault 0
TOROS CHARGE INTO PALATKA
For those who didn't circle Tocoi Creek-Palatka on the games to watch list before the season, you're probably not alone. But the second-year Toros (4-1) and the resurgent Panthers (4-0), who meet Tuesday night, have emerged as two of Northeast Florida's best stories of 2022.
On one level, it's a battle of the run game against the pass. Wendell Dean and Kaiz Ragland have combined for nearly 1,000 yards for Tocoi Creek, whose only loss has come against unbeaten Bishop Kenny. Palatka's offense has opened things up, with Jamarrie McKinnon connecting nicely with the receiver combination of Ty'ran Bush and Cartaveon Valentine.
The winner moves into prime position for a playoff berth in District 6-2S, where everyone is fighting to keep pace with unbeaten and state-ranked Bradford.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Monday, Oct. 3
Bishop Kenny (5-0) at Wolfson (2-2), District 2-2M, 6:30 p.m.
Bolles (2-3) at Episcopal (4-0), District 2-2M, 5 p.m.
Bradford (4-0) at Keystone Heights (1-3), District 6-2S, 7:30 p.m.
Englewood (3-1) at First Coast (3-1), District 1-3M, 6:30 p.m.
Flagler Palm Coast (3-2) at Ponte Vedra (2-2), District 4-4S, 7 p.m.
Impact Christian (1-2) at TDH Academy (0-4), 7 p.m.
Parker (1-4) at Fletcher (3-2), District 1-3M, 6 p.m.
Ridgeview (1-4) at Middleburg (1-4), District 3-3S, 6 p.m.
Riverside (2-3) at Raines (3-1), 5 p.m.
St. Augustine (2-3) at Matanzas (2-3), District 4-3S, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph (1-3) at Ocala Trinity Catholic (2-2), District 3-1S, 5:30 p.m.
Taylor County (2-3) at Suwannee (2-3), District 4-2S, 7 p.m.
West Nassau (1-4) at Baker County (3-1), District 5-2S, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Ribault (3-2) at Jackson (4-1), District 1-2M, 6:30 p.m.
Sandalwood (1-3) at Nease (1-4), 7 p.m.
Tocoi Creek (4-1) at Palatka (4-0), District 6-2S, 7 p.m.
Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football: Jacksonville top games, matchups, 2022 Week 6
