Northeast Florida high school football, Week 5: Friday night games to watch

The 2023 high school football season rolls into Week 5, nearing the halfway point for Northeast Florida.

Key storylines to watch include the latest edition of the always-intense Sandalwood-Fletcher rivalry, where the Saints are looking for their first win of 2023 at Jack Taylor Stadium; a return home for Raines to the Graveyard, where they'll meet Class 1S contender Ocala Trinity Catholic; and Clay's matchup against Tocoi Creek, which includes two prolific pass catchers in the Blue Devils' Payton Dykas and the Toros' Julio Santiago.

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Sandalwood (0-3) at Fletcher (2-2), 6:30 p.m.

No matter the records, this Gateway Conference matchup is always intense and usually close. Seven of the last 10 meetings have come down to one score, or in last year's case, one point in a 21-20 Fletcher win. The teams have combined for fewer than 500 passing yards, with Fletcher's air game limited by QB Marcelis Tate's injury three weeks ago. So watch for power running against power running, matching Fletcher's Dre Harold and the Saints' Demarii Collier.

INSIDE THE RIVALRY: LAST 10 MEETINGS

Sept. 11, 2009, Sandalwood 14, Fletcher 13

Sept. 10, 2010, Fletcher 20, Sandalwood 16

Sept. 23, 2011, Fletcher 42, Sandalwood 14

Sept. 21, 2012, Fletcher 23, Sandalwood 21

Sept. 13, 2013, Fletcher 31, Sandalwood 24

Sept. 12, 2014, Fletcher 45, Sandalwood 14

Aug. 29, 2015, Sandalwood 24, Fletcher 17

Aug. 29, 2019. Sandalwood 34, Fletcher 10

Aug. 27, 2021. Sandalwood 19, Fletcher 15

Sept. 23, 2022. Fletcher 21, Sandalwood 20

White (3-1) at Riverside (3-1), 6:30 p.m.

A District 3-2M decider in Week 5. If Riverside wins this game, their district trophy is official, while the Commanders move themselves into prime position if they win. White won 34-0 last year, forcing three turnovers, but the Generals appear much improved with Myles Kendrick and Tae'shaun Gelsey among Jacksonville's top receiver duos. The Commanders are especially strong in the secondary, with their own junior star in Joshua Patterson.

Bartram Trail (2-1) at St. Augustine (3-0), 7 p.m.

The rivalry returns. St. Augustine racked up 19 wins in a row in the series, but since Bartram Trail snapped the streak in 2018, it's been all Bears. Could 2023 have a different outcome? The Yellow Jackets' aerial attack has been nearly unstoppable, averaging more than 40 points per game with Carl Jenkins Jr., Trenton Jones and Myles Simmons piling up big numbers. Bartram Trail's Navy-committed running back Laython Biddle averages 130 yards behind a grinding line. QB health could be a factor: Both the Bears' Riley Trujillo and St. Augustine's Locklan Hewlett missed their most recent games.

INSIDE THE RIVALRY: LAST 10 MEETINGS

Sept. 20, 2013, St. Augustine 28, Bartram Trail 27

Sept. 19, 2014, St. Augustine 10, Bartram Trail 7

Sept. 25, 2015, St. Augustine 24, Bartram Trail 17 (OT)

Sept. 23, 2016, St. Augustine 26, Bartram Trail 14

Sept. 22, 2017, St. Augustine 31, Bartram Trail 28

Sept. 21, 2018, Bartram Trail 44, St. Augustine 14

Sept. 20, 2019, Bartram Trail 43, St. Augustine 40

Sept. 25, 2020, Bartram Trail 35, St. Augustine 21

Sept. 24, 2021, Bartram Trail 26, St. Augustine 14

Sept. 23, 2022, Bartram Trail 59, St. Augustine 37

Bolles (1-3) at Oakleaf (2-0), 7 p.m.

One weight lifted off the Bulldogs' shoulders last week with DJ Moore's game-winning touchdown run to avert a first 0-4 start for more than a half-century. But the schedule doesn't get easier against a revitalized Oakleaf. Fans of the power ground game, take note: Emmett Grzebin and Ty Neal keep the ball moving forward for Bolles, and Christopher Foy II is coming off a career game in Oakleaf's win over Fleming Island last week. The line battles Friday night should be well worth watching.

Mandarin (4-0) at Creekside (1-3), 7 p.m.

So far, nobody has been able to put the brakes on a Mandarin squad loaded with next-level talent. For Creekside to change that, it might take a big game from junior running back Harrison Garrido along with a takeaway or two. Like Bartram Trail-St. Augustine, this is a clash of college-committed quarterbacks: Creekside's Sean Ashenfelder picked Rutgers last week, while the Mustangs' Tramell Jones chose Florida State in the spring. The Knights downed Mandarin 37-27 in a display of special-teams excellence.

Trinity Christian (2-2) at Columbia (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

Another week for Trinity Christian, another trip to a traditional power that isn't used to life at 0-3. Even with a future Florida State receiver in Camdon Frier, Columbia has struggled to find offensive consistency (44 yards rushing per game). But they've got football magnets like Jerome Carter III, a danger for a Trinity team that turned over five times last Friday at Bolles. Trinity has won the last three in the series, including a 43-30 victory last year with three Colin Hurley-to-Miles Burris touchdown connections.

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Friday's games

FLORIDA

Atlantic Coast (3-1) at Camden County (4-1), 7:30 p.m.

Baldwin (2-2) at Parker (0-4), 6:30 p.m.

Bartram Trail (2-1) at St. Augustine (3-0), 7 p.m.

Bolles (1-3) at Oakleaf (2-0), 7 p.m.

Clay (3-1) at Tocoi Creek (2-2), 7 p.m.

Duval Charter (0-2) at Harvest Community (0-3), 7 p.m.

Episcopal (2-1) at North Florida Educational (1-3), 7 p.m.

First Coast (0-3) at Westside (0-4), 6:30 p.m.

Fleming Island (2-1) at Titusville (4-0), 7 p.m.

Hilliard (1-2) at Crescent City (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

Impact Christian (3-0) at Cedar Creek Christian (0-3), 7 p.m.

Interlachen (0-4) at Keystone Heights (1-2), 7 p.m.

Joshua Christian (1-2) at Dover Specially Fit Academy (2-0), 7 p.m.

Kissimmee Victory Charter (0-0) at TDH Academy (0-2), 7 p.m.

Mandarin (4-0) at Creekside (1-3), 7 p.m.

North Marion (1-1) at Suwannee (3-0), 7:30 p.m.

Ocala Trinity Catholic (1-2) at Raines (2-1), 6:30 p.m.

Orange Park (2-2) at Nease (2-2), 7 p.m.

Orlando Christian Prep (3-0) at Union County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.

Paxon (2-2) at Branford (3-0), 7 p.m.

Ponte Vedra (2-1) at Menendez (1-3), 7 p.m.

Providence (3-1) at Christ's Church (3-0), 7 p.m.

Ribault (3-1) at Middleburg (0-3), 7 p.m.

Ridgeview (1-2) at Beachside (3-1), 7 p.m.

Sandalwood (0-3) at Fletcher (2-2), 6:30 p.m.

St. Joseph (1-3) at Melbourne Central Catholic (2-2), 7 p.m.

Stanton (0-3) at Englewood (2-1), 6:30 p.m.

Trinity Christian (2-2) at Columbia (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

University Christian (2-1) at Key West (1-3), 7 p.m.

Viera (1-2) at Baker County (1-2), 7 p.m.

West Nassau (1-3) at Bishop Kenny (2-1), 7 p.m.

White (3-1, 0-0) at Riverside (3-1, 1-0), District 3-2M, 6:30 p.m.

Williston (4-0) at Fort White (4-0), 7:30 p.m.

Wolfson (1-2) at Bishop Snyder (2-2), 7 p.m.

Young Kids in Motion (0-2) at Zephyrhills Christian (2-2), 7 p.m.

Zarephath Academy (2-2) at Mayo Lafayette (2-1), 7 p.m.

GEORGIA

Brunswick (1-1) at Glynn Academy (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

Ware County (3-1) at Bainbridge (2-2), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's games

Yulee (2-1) at Port St. Lucie Tradition Prep (3-1), 6 p.m.

BYE: Bradford (4-0), Charlton County (0-5), Eagle's View (2-2), Fernandina Beach (2-2), Jackson (1-3), Palatka (4-0)

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football 2023: Week 5 Jacksonville top games, matchups